International Student Office

Studying abroad is a dream for most students, but the reasons to pack up your bags and live in a foreign country are different.

Here you find the most important reasons to study abroad:

1. Learn the language:

There is no doubt that you improve you language skills if you study abroad. You will use the language on a  daily basis, so your vocabulary will increase dramatically. But even more important: you will become more confident and therefore you will decrease your fear to express and talk in a foreign language and you will find out that it is ok to make mistakes.

2. Career plus:

Experience abroad is a great competitive advantage for you when you compete with others for a job. Most companies put a high value on this experience and the skills you have gained from living abroad. Yes, you could even say it is  one of the most powerful criteria for the decision whether you will get this great new job or not. Most Human Resource Managers hope for open-minded, flexible and independent employees that have a talent for languages. All these qualities will be strengthened during your study abroad program. So it is not just a great adventure to study abroad, it is also a stepping stone for your career!

3. Experience new foreign countries:

Studying abroad is of course a great experience, combined with adventure, new friends, a bunch of funny stories and anecdotes, that you will even tell your grand-children. You also get to know a foreign culture, new opinions and also a deep insight that is only possible if you stay there for more than just holidays. Because of that, studying abroad is never comparable to a holiday – even a very long one – because through your study abroad you not only get to know locals you get the chance to experience the normal way of life there, with all its positive and negative aspects.

4. Start being independent:

I am not saying that you are a mummy’s boy if you do not study abroad, but it is a completely different experience if you move out from home to study in a foreign country far away from everything you know and rely on, compared to studying within you home country. In a foreign country you are forced to pull the strings and rely on yourself without a safety net of family and friends. Besides that there are a lot of other differences, after you managed to find an apartment, buy a car, start your study and organize thousands of other small things you can definitely be proud of you. With that you easily can increase your self-confidence!

5. International network:

Networking – the “in” word of the past years, which offers career improvement and professional chances. If you study abroad, you will find friends from all around the world. Those friends will also go back to their home countries and sooner or later start their careers there. Within a few years your roommate may be the manager of an international company and will be able to support you with words and deeds. And never forget: an extensive and well-kept international network is always a big advantage for your future!