The advantages of earning your master’s degree abroad

Attending a foreign school for a master's program can be surprisingly affordable. Tuition and other school expenses in the United States are much higher than in other countries. Some countries have no cost for their tuition, even for foreign students.

If you are ready to take the plunge and earn your master's degree, you may be poring over catalogs and websites trying to determine which school makes the best choice. Many people automatically limit themselves to the U.S. when looking at graduate schools, but earning a degree from a foreign university offers many benefits both while earning your degree and after graduation. You are not limited by a program of study when you are considering studying abroad. You can find a master's or Ph.D. program in nearly any field you can imagine. The college will surely have an international office to help you navigate the process of applying and traveling to the school to begin your study program.

Competitive costs for an outstanding education
Attending a foreign school for a master's program can be surprisingly affordable. Tuition and other school expenses in the United States are much higher than in other countries. Some countries have no cost for their tuition, even for foreign students. Most others offer much more reasonable costs for tuition than what is available in the U.S. While tuition is less expensive in foreign countries, you will still have living expenses. Depending on the country, these can be very affordable or surprisingly high. Use the internet to find other graduate students who earned degrees at universities you are considering and get an idea of the cost of living in the area. Even areas that have a higher cost of living are often more affordable for students than working adults.

Graduate school loans are available to cover tuition and living expenses. You can begin to repay these loans after you graduate and are employed in your field. This frees you up to concentrate on your studies while working on your graduate program. This is beneficial not only because it allows you to focus on earning a degree, but also because it is unlikely you will be able to find employment as a student in a foreign country.

Earn experience that helps you stand out
Earning your master's degree from a foreign university will provide a very different experience than earning your degree domestically. In addition to learning the skills that go into completing, you will gain valuable insight into dealing with foreign agencies and different cultures. If you have considered working abroad, a foreign program can be a great first step in making that happen. Most international study programs provide an option for graduates to remain in the country for a particular amount of time after their graduation to search for a job. If you find employment during this time, your employer will handle the administrative details of allowing you to remain in the country.

Polish your language skills
Even if your foreign language skills are extremely basic, by the time you finish one semester at your foreign university you will be amazed at your skills. The quickest, most effective way to pick up a new language is through immersion. Even if your fellow students and professors have English-speaking skills, being surrounded by another language, spoken naturally with the cadence and native slang that goes along with that, will help you master the language quickly.