Studying Abroad: Advantages and Disadvantages

1. Advantages of Studying Abroad

The most important advantages of studying abroad include:

• Access to new academic majors that are not available in the student’s home country, or having a greater chance to enter fields they couldn’t study at home due to low grades.
  For example, a student in Jordan who does not qualify to study medicine locally may search for countries that accept him in that major, such as Ukraine.

• Self-development and personal growth as a result of living alone abroad. Students learn to depend on themselves to meet their needs and manage their daily life.

• Obtaining a globally recognized degree.

• Building new friendships and relationships and getting to know people from different backgrounds.

• Promoting a positive image of the home country, introducing its culture, products, and advantages to the host country, which may help boost tourism in the student’s homeland.

2. Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

The most important disadvantages of studying abroad include:

• Brain drain and migration:
  Studying abroad may lead students to stay outside their home country after graduation to find suitable work.
  For example, if a student studies petroleum engineering while his country does not produce oil, he will search for job opportunities in countries that do, which may result in long-term migration.

• Cultural shock:
  Differences in traditions and customs between the host country and the home country may cause psychological stress and confusion.
  This is more common when an Arab student studies in a Western country, so it is often recommended to search for countries with similar cultural and religious backgrounds.

• Exposure to exploitation and risky behavior:
  Some students may be influenced by bad company, leading to drug use or involvement in illegal activities.

• High expenses:
  Since students depend on themselves for food, rent, laundry, and other needs in addition to tuition fees, studying abroad requires a significant financial investment.

3. Studying Abroad

The number of students who wish to study abroad has increased for various reasons. Academic study is an important way of gaining knowledge, and students often look for majors that meet labor market demands and allow them to innovate and develop.

However, studying abroad involves both risks and opportunities. Whether the experience is positive or negative depends largely on the country where the student chooses to study.