Now is right about the time you are probably trying to decide whether to do a year abroad or not. I’m here to tell you why YES is definitely the right decision. I spent my year abroad working as an English language assistant at a school in Cologne, Germany, and loved every minute of it. Although I primarily went to improve my language skills, there are plenty of other aspects where it enriched my life and student experience, so even if you don’t speak another language these reasons will help you to take the plunge and experience a semester or year abroad.
1. Stay a student for longer
It’s simple. Most students regret their time at university being over after just three short years. Why not extend your time by spending a year out, and where better to do it than in an exciting new city abroad? I for one am glad that my time as a student is not yet up. And if you study a subject where doing a year abroad is not par for the course and you’re worried about all your friends graduating without you: don’t. There are plenty of opportunities to meet new people once you’re back in Exeter and you’ll find a great bunch of fourth years to hang out with and you’ll all be able to share your exciting stories from the year.
2. Get some work & life experience
Get ahead of the crowd – graduate with a year’s worth of work experience or life abroad experience under your belt. Employers really value students that have done a year abroad as it shows you are open to broadening your horizons and able to overcome challenges. Things like making friends in a new city, settling in at a foreign university, or simply learning to live without your favourite brand of tea are all things that will make you older and wiser. (I think!)
3. Living abroad is too much of an exciting opportunity to pass up!
Okay so maybe some of you can’t see yourselves living abroad your whole life, but it sure is good to experience it at least once. If you missed out on a gap year, then this is the perfect opportunity to get away and experience a new culture.
4. Brexit
Who knows whether the opportunity to get Erasmus funding or easy opportunities to work & abroad in Europe will still be available in a few years’ time? Next year is the perfect time to make the most of these opportunities before they might get taken away.
5. It’s good practise for starting afresh
After university you will almost definitely be leaving Exeter. Whether that means taking a job back home, doing further study elsewhere, or working in another new city, a year abroad can help you to get used to fresh starts. It’s good to know that if you’ve done it once, you can do it again, so this is definitely a plus-point that will carry with you throughout your future.
6. You get to live in an exciting new city
Okay so you might think you’re already very happy in Exeter, but each city has something great to offer! I experienced carnival in Cologne, the Cherry-blossom festival in Bonn, Easter in Munich, and St Christopher’s Street Parade in Berlin to name just a few. These are things I might otherwise never have seen, so the best way to get yourself out there and see these things… is to get out there!
7. It may help you decide what you want to do in the future or where you want to live
For those of you that can do a work placement as part of your year abroad, this is a great way to find out what you do (or definitely don’t!) want to do in the future. Plus you can test out working in a new company in a new place – These opportunities are harder to find once you’ve already graduated!
8. Learn a language
Whether you’re a language student going on an obligatory year abroad or another student embarking on this adventure, you can always learn new language skills. If you stay within Europe you’ll get the Erasmus funding and be able to take your pick which language you fancy learning… Portuguese… German… Czeh… Polish. Who wouldn’t love to understand how to order a coffee in each language?
9. You will learn how to get through tough times
Living abroad isn’t just ups. There may well be moments when you find yourself missing out on events back home, feeling lonely, or simply missing family, but completing a year abroad gives you that sense of achievement from proving to yourself just how resilient you are. Once you find ways to overcome these struggles you will not only feel proud, but also better equipped to face struggles that you may face in the future.
10. Make friends with people from all over the world
Doing a semester or year abroad means you will inevitably make friends with people from all over the globe. This in itself is an exciting experience, you will learn so much about other cultures and other people, but what’s more, if you manage to keep these friendships going once you’re back in the UK, you’ll have a whole host of people to go and visit in exciting locations. Perfect! I met Belgians, French, Polish, Danish, Dutch… the list continues. Where else would you be thrown into such an interesting mix of people, but a year abroad?
A Dane, an Irish, a Dutch and an English support the German team in the European Championships.