Reasons to Earn a Degree Abroad

Earning an undergraduate degree at an overseas university can be daunting for students. The language barrier can be intimidating. Navigating a foreign culture can be a challenge. And the higher education system can be drastically different than in a student’s own country.

But there are plenty of benefits, too. Just ask the increasing number of students — about 4.5 million in 2012 — making the choice. Here are nine reasons to join them.

Graduate Faster

International students can graduate a year early by heading to the U.K. and Continental Europe, where bachelor’s degrees are awarded after three years, says Bill Durden, dean of Bath Spa University’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, set to open in fall 2015.

Graduating faster means students can enter the workplace sooner and spend less on tuition.

Save Money

“Getting a degree abroad is much more affordable than at an American university,” says Pam Joos, a university counselor for high school students at the Washington International School, a private school in the District of Columbia with an international focus.

Many three-year programs in the United Kingdom and Europe charge less for tuition than at many private U.S. institutions. Some countries — like Germany and Norway — don’t charge tuition at all, even to international students.

Get a Quality Education

Students looking for a top-notch education shouldn’t only turn their heads to the U.S., experts say.

“You have excellent universities in Europe and England,” says Bernd Huber, president of the University of Munich. “In many respects, the education in Europe is at least as good as the education at many U.S. colleges and universities.”

Prospective undergraduates can also find great options in Asia and beyond.

Impress Employers

Earning an undergraduate degree abroad may make hiring managers look twice at a student’s resume.

Pursuing a degree overseas signals to employers that students have flexibility, cultural awareness and an understanding of how other people work and think, says Anne Mullen, who advises international students and others as senior tutor at Oxford University’s St. Anne’s College.

Learn a Language

For Chakrit Jacky Mettakhun, a Thai citizen who enrolled at Canada’s McGill University for a better education, leaving his country was both thrilling and terrifying. The main source of his terror? Insecurity about his English skills.

“I was excited but at the same time I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can make friends,'” Mettakhun, then a senior, said. But by his last year, he was confident enough with his English that he hoped to work in Canada before returning home.

Travel

Having a study abroad experience can have many personal benefits, including giving students the chance to explore the world.

Take, for example, American Alena Nicholson, who decided to earn her bachelor’s degree at Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom. Nicholson was able to take a quick flight to Iceland for a memorable school trip during her freshman year — an experience she says wouldn’t have been possible if she’d been in the States.

Expand Your Network

Students who earn a degree overseas walk away not just with a diploma, but with an international network of friends who could even become professional connections down the road.

“The more global your university experience, the bigger the chances you will have an alumni network that will be very global as well,” says Jocelyne Younan, who heads up recruiting of international undergraduates for McGill University.

Gain Independence

Many schools in Europe and beyond tend to have a more hands-off approach than American universities, where there’s an expectation that school officials will guide students through their college experience, experts say.

“It’s a totally new challenge,” says Waters Cahill, a Chicago native who plans to graduate this spring with a degree in international management from McGill University. “What other time in my life am I going to live in a different country?”

Broaden Your Horizons

Studying overseas is also likely to have some intangible benefits, such as developing a student’s sense of cross-cultural understanding. Earning a bachelor’s degree abroad can also expose students to interests, hobbies and people they would never have met otherwise.

“If you make the right choice, it can be the opportunity of a lifetime,” Mettakhun says.

Learn More About Studying Abroad

Visit U.S. News Education to learn more about pursuing an undergraduate degree overseas, including whether it’s the right move for you and how to convince your parents if it is.

Follow U.S. News Education on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more higher education news and explore our Best Global Universities rankings to find the best school for you.

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Reasons to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree Overseas originally appeared on usnews.com