Many people dream of studying abroad to boost their CVs, improve themselves in their professional fields and stand out in the market. However, the pandemic and travel restrictions in many countries postponed the dream of thousands of students, who had to cancel their studies or move them for 2022 or 2023.
Professionals studying abroad acquire useful skills for corporate opportunities and gain experience that may help in case they would like to start their own business one day. The advantages of studying abroad vary from fluency in a foreign language, experience in communicating with people of different cultures, dealing with situations that are beyond common daily life, adapting to new conditions and developing global perspective on issues related to the sector in which students work or study.
If you’ve already decided that you’re going to return to school next year, want to invest in international education but still don’t know where to start, read on! In this post we will help you plan this great experience so that you can enjoy each step of it.
1. Discover the best course to take according to your professional and personal situation
If you are an undergraduate or recent-graduate, you can use your vacations and choose between short-term courses that address topics related to the area you study and major in. This way you will gain more knowledge in the field you are familiar with by discovering new markets, cultures and people.
If you have already graduated, you can choose between a postgraduate degree, an MBA or opt for short courses aimed at more experienced professionals, which is a good alternative for those who want to gain more practical experience by meeting local executives, people from different business sectors coming from all over the world. This way you can also improve your language.
And for those who already occupy higher managerial positions or run their own businesses, this type of courses can also help you develop innovative projects using concepts discussed globally! When choosing, take into account your goals, priorities as well as your current professional situation: can you take a longer course and take a few months away from your current position? Or would you be able to work remotely? If you would, you could think of long-term courses, but if you don’t have that flexibility, it’s possible to take a break or use your holidays in order to study abroad for 2 or 3 weeks, come back home and bring new ideas to implement in your company or in your business.
2. Choose an ideal location for your goal
Which skill do you want to improve? This is an important question when choosing which country to go to and which institution to choose.
There are many options like the United States and Europe that are favorite destinations for many students simply because these regions are considered a reference in many business areas and thus can provide important experience for studying professionals. Who would not like to go to London or New York to learn more about communication, business management and strategies in today’s digital and globalized reality?
In addition to choosing the country of destination, choose an agency that has enough experience in taking people to study abroad. Visit the website, get in touch, understand the admission process, find out if it is possible to get scholarships, seek testimonials from students who have already travelled with this agency and follow all the registration steps.
In addition, it is important to know if a student needs a business or tourist visa. Visa types will depend on how long you will be in the country. It is worth remembering that consulates in many countries have been closed for long months, which can make it difficult to schedule an appointment. Find out what the requirements of the destination country are and how the chosen agency or an educational institution can help you in this process. It is also important to pay attention to the new requirements imposed by countries because of the COVID-19. It is important to find out what the country of destination requires of the student after the pandemic, which vaccines are accepted, if it is necessary to present a PCR test, if the country requires quarantine, among other requirements.
3. Prepare for your stay and plan your trip: read about the local climate, the best accommodation options, and see how to get around
The experience of studying abroad goes beyond academic journey. Find out about the location of the college you are going to, see how far from your accommodation it is located and what the most efficient means of transport are to get around.
It is also important to conduct a research on accommodation. Many universities offer rooms in student dormitories, where you share a room with 2 or 3 students. There is also the option of hotels or Airbnb, alone or sharing with a roommate. Find out about the climate in the country according to the season you go. Nobody wants to have hard time of freezing or sweating and having to spend more than expected on clothes and accessories, right?
4. Focus on your studies: do some research on how your area of expertise is approached in the country of your destination, read papers of relevant authors and prepare questions to ask in class
In academic experience abroad, you will discover new things in your area of expertise. Before travelling, it is worth conducting a research on the business reality of the country of your destination; it is also important to understand the relevance of a particular region, state or city for your area of study.
Try to find out as much as possible about local professionals, companies, influential and respected authors who address the topics you will study.
See if the chosen institution offers materials to help you prepare for the trip, so that you have pre-class activities to do in advance, for example, read articles and write down your questions that you can ask later in class; this way you will be prepared and put everything you learn into practice.
5. Enjoy the experience as much as you can!
Simply enjoy it! The experience of studying abroad can be beneficial in many areas of your life besides the professional one.
In addition to standing out in the labor market, living in a reality different from yours, you learn about new perspectives that you would not discover otherwise. At the end of the day, you will be in a new place, full of people willing to learn and exchange their ideas and knowledge.
Keep being focused! You will make a huge investment that can change your life and provide you with unique opportunities! Study hard, bring news and stand out!
This is your chance to network! Just imagine keeping in touch with professionals from different parts of the world and learning about different languages, cultures and economies and even working on international projects!
Now that you know where to start, how about planning your trip? At IBS Americas you have an opportunity to choose among destinations such as Italy, London, California and New York to study Management, Communication and Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Project Management, Leadership, Sustainability, Innovation and many other courses!
There are five options of the world top universities that serve as a reference in building global leaders; all of them are located in proximity to business centers close to large enterprises and even the headquarters of the UN and the WTO!
In addition to that, you can still apply for scholarships! Find out more about available courses and complete the Application Form!