One of the key reasons why students leave their home country and study abroad is the high-quality of education offered. For some, it is a chance to live independently and explore the world. Studying abroad has a lot of positives and on 26th September 2020, five Strathmore University international students gave their experience through a live webinar.

What should I consider when choosing what and where to study?

When deciding what and where to study, start by thinking about your academic interests and your career goals. Take some time to research specific courses, subjects, and options for internships or work placements. Look at the campus location, rankings, the amount of time you would like to spend away from home, and the total cost of studying and living overseas.

Beyond the course, think about what kind of lifestyle you prefer – do you want to be in a cosmopolitan city or a quiet country town? Would you prefer to choose a city where there are other students of your nationality? Do you want to live on campus?

In addition, if you would like to explore the option of staying in the country to work after your studies you will need to find out about the migration policies in place and also be aware that migration policies can change at any time.

What are some of the advantages of studying abroad?

Natasha Muhoza who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2018, reflected on how studying abroad helped her be self-reliant as she lived away from her home country, Rwanda. Living away from your family and friends means learning to take care of yourself as you prepare your future professional and personal life.

Arsene Akilimali, who was born and bred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and due to graduate this year with a Bachelor of Commerce, shared his insights on how one gets the opportunity to explore foreign places, meet people with backgrounds different from their own and broaden their perspectives of the world. This, he adds, helps one develop cross-cultural awareness and gain insights into the value of life experience.

Moreover, studying abroad expands your networking circle as Daniel Ochieng and Gloria Okorir both from Uganda discovered. You meet new people from all around the world. Your connections go global and some of them may even lead you to new professional and social opportunities in the future.

Another key thing that one learns while studying in a different country is language. All our alumni agree that learning to speak a foreign language is key. While living abroad, one gets the opportunity to learn, practice, and apply the new language daily. As a result, it makes you blend in without feeling like a foreigner.

Studying abroad allows you to see the world through a different lens. It gives you an opportunity to look beyond your culture and experience and learn from another.

 

This article was written by Annete Karanja.

 

Would you like to share your experience of living through the circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic? Kindly email: communications@strathmore.edu