As exciting a prospect as studying abroad is, it is important that you seize the opportunity with both hands, maximising your fulfilment. With so much unexplored territory, studying overseas presents an enviable chance to spread your wings, embrace new cultures, and make memories which define your years of education, however, it is important to make the most of what’s on offer, rather than simply treat the programme as a sunny university.

One of the most attractive aspects of studying abroad is the capacity for sampling new cultures. Whereas a gap year presents a few months of exploring various societies and customs, studying abroad allows you to immerse yourself in a new lifestyle, learning about, and experiencing the traditions of the country you are living in, from an internal perspective. This gives you a day-to-day opportunity to learn more about what is on offer. To maximise your cultural appreciation, it is important that you seek out and engage in culture-specific activities. Although studying abroad should not be looked at as a holiday, the opportunity to explore as an extra-curricular perk should be pursued. As such, your schedule should include time to liaise with locals and become part of the community. If, for example, your university is located in a particularly historical town, participating in tours may broaden your horizons to how the town came to be. Many locations will hold festivals and carnivals, enabling you to witness and participate in local traditions. Similarly, living and studying near the coast may present opportunities to explore the nautical pastimes which locals pride their town upon. This could involve fishing expeditions, scuba diving, or wind surfing. Such activities are likely to compliment your studies, and open your mind to aspects of life which may not be a part of British culture.

Local life

Sampling local cuisine can also give your studies a decidedly international appeal, again differentiating it from studying at a UK university. Experiencing a wide variety of cultural foods can expand your pallet and enhance your appreciation of food. By familiarising yourself with local cuisine, you may wish to pursue cookery classes, or learning from local friends, providing you with a skill to take home, and one which will likely make you very popular with friends and family.

Another facet of studying abroad which can add to your experience is that of language. Although many popular courses overseas are taught in English, learning as much of the local language as possible will, obviously, boost your scope of communication and through liaising with members of the community, widen the possibilities open to you. Not only this, but living in another country for three years provides an excellent opportunity to improve your proficiency in another language. As well as providing you with a highly desirable skill, one which is smiled upon by employers, it will also help you to integrate yourself into the community, thus personalising your experience.

The opportunity to sample new lifestyles is one of the principle draws of studying abroad, and there are many ways to maximise this. Embracing culture, cuisine and language all enable you to blur the line between tourist and citizen.