Is Studying Abroad the Best Option for Nigerian Students?

Nigerian students who can afford it or have access to scholarships are leaving the country in droves. What are the benefits of studying abroad?

According to Campus France, Nigeria’s outbound students grew by a staggering 45 percent from 2010 to 2013 and by another 30 percent from 2013 to 2015. While a 2017 report by UNESCO’s Institute of Statistics found that Nigeria has 71, 351 degree-seeking students outside its shores. However, many believe that that number is only an estimate.

Some popular destinations for Nigerian students include the United Kingdom, Ghana, United States, Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine. Undoubtedly, all these statistics establish the movement and presence of Nigerian students abroad.

Without really straining, anyone familiar with the Nigerian education system can easily point to its numerous failures. Few examples include incessant strikes, lack of a conducive and safe learning environment.

An NOI poll revealed that the poor perception of Nigerians towards the country’s educational system is currently fueling an upsurge in the number of citizens seeking to pursue foreign degrees abroad.

Similarly, the majority of the poll’s respondents maintained that Nigerians with foreign degrees and certificates fare better than their local counterparts, particularly in terms of academic performance, job excellence, and contribution to society.

What are the benefits of studying abroad?

Studying abroad takes you right out of your familiar zone, which broadens not just your education but your life experiences generally. Below are some of the benefits of studying abroad.

Experience a new culture and gain new perspectives

Going abroad to study thrusts you into a completely different environment from where you’re coming from. Just like you, other nationalities who bring with them their own culture come to the same country to study. This gives an opportunity to experience a rich and diverse mix of cultures. And with this experience comes new perspectives.

Competitiveness in the labor market

Employers generally look more favorably on job applicants who studied abroad. The fact that you were able to function and compete in a different environment gives your resume an edge in the talent pool. An Erasmus Impact Study found that 64% of employers consider an international experience as important for recruitment.

Increased career opportunities

Depending on your field, going abroad to school increases your career opportunities. This is why you should do some research before choosing a school abroad. Look at your field and see what opportunities might be available for you. Choose where candidates in your field are in higher demand.

What are the disadvantages of studying abroad?

Is study full of advantages only? No. The following are some disadvantages of studying abroad.

Culture shock

Leaving the environment you’ve been familiar with all your life to one that is completely new can be shocking. It takes a lot to adapt to a new language, weather, food, mannerism, and dress style can be a lot. Some people adjust quickly while others take a great deal of time.

Homesickness

Another problem with moving abroad to school is homesickness. Suddenly finding yourself in a new place where you don’t know anyone can cause loneliness, homesickness, and even anxiety. Socially competent people can minimize the impact by making friends as quickly as possible.

Budget constraint

The way you spend in your home country will definitely differ from the way you spend abroad. Severity depends on the exchange rate. Due to high costs, you may find yourself unable to live on your budget comfortably. Also, most tuition fees are unaffordable to low-income earners and you might require a scholarship to cover costs.

5 factors you should consider before choosing a school abroad

Deciding on a school of choice to study abroad can be confusing. To make a good decision, there are a host of factors to consider that may not immediately come to mind at the time of your search. Below are some of them.

Visa regulations

Many students get admitted into schools abroad, only for their visa applications to be denied, forcing them to defer their admission. So when you’re trying to choose a school, it’s wise to consider the country’s visa regulations. Go for schools in countries with less visa hassle.

Language barrier

You don’t want to choose a country where you don’t understand a word of the local language or one where you have a steep language learning curve. If you must, then you have to start learning the language way before your application cycle comes around.
However, there are countries where the local language differs from the one they use in certain schools. So check to make sure they correspond.

Course of study

This is one of the most crucial factors. Most people have standards and the trajectory they already imagine for themselves. So before you choose, do as much research as possible. Look at schools around the world that offer your course and then go through their course modules to see if it’s comprehensive enough. Also check the school’s ranking.

Finances

One thing that’s usually front of mind for most students looking to study abroad is costs. The presence or absence of adequate funds will broaden or narrow your choice. If you don’t have a lot of money, you may check to see which scholarship opportunities are there and which ones you qualify for.

Career opportunities

Some people go abroad to study with the intention of staying back afterwards. Others want to head back home immediately after. Whichever category you belong to, you need to know the opportunities available to advance your career. This knowledge might prompt you to change the destination of study or even course.

How Worldwide Integrated Network and Education can help you study abroad

Now that you know the benefits of studying abroad and the opportunities it opens up to you, what next?

Many of our clients come to us feeling overwhelmed on the next step to take after they’ve made a decision.

We provide visa counseling services, admission processing, and also, all our clients get the benefit of choosing from any of our 100+ affiliate colleges and universities.

With over 16 years of experience, we’ve worked with over 7000 clients to kickstart their study abroad journey and you can be one of them. Learn more about our services or contact us directly at admissions@winenetedu.com to begin.

Also read: Problems International Students Face