Wanderlust is a term which is used to describe a strong feeling that makes people feel like they need to travel to faraway places. The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your education to satisfy this need and it really is possible to learn and explore the world at the same time.
Studying abroad can be a great way of visiting new places whilst also getting the education that you need to start your career. In this article, we are going to look at the benefits of studying abroad and how you can combine it with a love of travel to visit new places.
Keep reading if you are keen to know more about how to do this...
Deciding Where to Go
If you are thinking about going to study abroad there are so many options available in terms of courses. There are also endless amazing countries to choose from like Australia, Norway, Canada and Portugal being some of the most popular study abroad destinations.
Of course, you’ll need to choose somewhere that offers you the course that you’d like to do as well as finding somewhere that is within your budget. Once you’ve done made a short list of potential destinations and courses, you can narrow down the options and choose the place that you’d most like to visit.
You will also need to check flight prices to make sure good deals are available.
Choosing What to Study
Before doing anything you will need to find out exactly what you want to do and achieve whilst you are away. Do you want to progress your education, learn a new language, pick up a new skill or do something practical like a course which includes work experience or an internship which can really benefit your career.
There are lots of options, lots of colleges and universities offer semester, year long or summer study abroad programs, whilst some companies offer study tours which offer a taster of what the experience is like.
You can also find lots of language schools worldwide who offer short and long term courses, for example you could study French in France, learn Spanish in Spain or for something more exotic book a Portuguese language course in Brazil just to name a few options.
There are also lots of online courses and classes available where you just need a connection to the internet. If the idea of going to work abroad appeals to you then you could take an online TEFL certification course which provides you with a recognised qualification to teach abroad.
With TEFL courses, and similar options you can literally study from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer!
Keeping Costs Down
If you want to be able to travel while you’re studying, make sure to choose somewhere that gives you the opportunity to visit other countries nearby.
This will help you make the most of the experience and visit as many places as possible. If you choose to study abroad in Europe we recommend somewhere like Portugal which has a low cost of living, great transport connections and also cheap places to study/stay.
For example, you can go and study in a incredible city like Lisbon and stay in Collegiate’s student accommodation which is cheap and in a central location close to the universities and within walking distance of some great sights.
Lisbon is a fantastic study abroad destination and will cost you the fraction of the price of a city like London, Paris and Barcelona.
The Benefits
There are so many great things that you can experience when you study abroad.
You’ll be able to experience a new culture, make new friends by getting to know the people that you are studying with, progress your learning/career and also get to see new places.
By living and studying abroad you’ll understand how the country works and you’ll get insights that simple travel would not have given you.
Studying abroad will also let you make connections with people who are from this country and it is very likely that you’ll want to come back and visit them someday.
You’ll find out where to get the best local cuisine – not just the tourist places that you would find if you stayed in a holiday resort. If you stay there for long enough you might even learn a new language from simply being around people who speak it every day!
Final Thoughts
Studying abroad is an amazing way that allows you to travel and get some further education at the same time.
You’ll get to experience things that you never would if you simply travelled to this country with your friends or family. You should always travel if you feel the draw and once you are finished studying abroad, you can make the choice if you want to start your career or see more.
Don’t give up your studies just to travel because you really can do both at the same time!
