I decided to study abroad because to me it seemed like a no brainer. A goal of mine was to move to a foreign county for a year after I graduated university to see more of the world. With studying abroad I had the ability to meet this goal within my studies, whilst also knowing that I had a wealth of support from a vast array of people behind me.
I was one of the students that studied abroad in second year for the last semester. I knew studying abroad in second year would allow me to still have a work placement year. This was something that was really important to me, as I wanted to gain as much experience as possible before being let lose into the world of work. I also knew that it would make me stand out to employers, as not many people can say they have studied abroad in addition to completing a work placement.
Initially I was torn between Mahidol University in Thailand and a University in Japan. This is because I wanted to push myself to venture out of my comfort zone, and immerse myself in entirely new culture. Studying abroad can be scary thought, therefore what pushed me towards my final decision of studying abroad in Thailand was the inspiration I received from a previous Study Abroad Ambassador. He had studied at Mahidol University the year prior, and any questions I may have had about the university he was able to give me in-depth personal responses. Having a student insight to the university put me at ease and turned that daunting feeling into excitement.
Every amazing memory that I made with my friends whilst I was out there was a stand out moment to me. Yes… very cliché I know, but also very true. Never would I have thought that in the short time I was there for, that I would make such amazing friends to travel with. There are so many amazing travel opportunities when you are there, for example flights to India for £200 round trip.
Another reason I chose Thailand is because I did my research into the living costs and this is one of the cheapest places I could have studied. Studying at Mahidol University in Thailand actually cost me less money than studying at Northumbria, and yes that also does take into account my flight there and back. There are more good university’s that Northumbria are partnered with that are also cheap. If you do your research you can also save money like I have done as well as getting the experience of studying abroad, learning new skills and gaining friendships.
Studying abroad has taught me a number of things, the most obviously ones being my cross cultured communication skills, my organisational skills and my confidence. These are some of the most sought after skills that employer look for in graduates, and studying abroad allows you to develop hugely in them all. My goal is to be the CEO of my own company and to be able to lead and motivate my employees as effectively as possible. This experience allowed me to work with a number of people from different cultural backgrounds, and learn different cultural preferences to how tasks can be undertaken. I have no doubt that my study abroad experience will provide me with an abundance of knowledge to help me reach my future career prospects.
First of all, make sure you have done some thorough research into each University that Northumbria offer. If you are stuck between a few University’s I would recommend choosing the one that is most out of your comfort zone, because that is the one where you will be able to maximise your academic and personal development the most. Take the leap of faith; study abroad because it will be the most rewarding and exciting experience of your life.
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