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Thinking of studying abroad?

Studying abroad could give you a whole new perspective on your subject – and on life in general.

Making a success of it might also give you an edge in the job market, showing you are adaptable and can rise to meet a challenge. Employers are increasingly looking for people who have international experience and language skills.

If you’re planning to do your degree at a UK university

Many UK universities take part in schemes allowing students to study or work abroad for part of their course, like the Erasmus scheme.

One of these schemes could be a good option if you only want to do part of your course abroad, rather than the whole thing. For more information on such opportunities, see ‘Spending part of your degree course abroad'.

• Spending part of your degree course abroad

If you’re planning to do a degree with an overseas university

If you want to do your degree with a university based overseas, you should start planning well in advance - 12 to 18 months in most cases. You’ll need to:

• research possible countries and courses
• check whether the institution – and the qualification you’ll get – is recognised
• think about practical issues, such as visas and course entrance requirements (for example, some universities might ask you to take a language test)
• consider how you’ll fund your studies

Before you make any decisions about whether – or where – to apply, follow the links below to get an idea of the issues you’ll need to consider.

• Studying at an overseas university: doing your research
• Studying at an overseas university: funding