Comparing and contrasting study abroad trends of Brits and Americans
New research on US and UK students compares their propensity to study abroad, with three top trends standing out:
- 56% of US respondents are considering studying overseas, compared to only 20% of UK respondents;
- US students who want to study abroad appear to be more interested in doing so in order to travel and explore other cultures, whereas UK students see study abroad as a conduit to working for international companies and living overseas;
- Only 24% of UK students and 22% of US students felt they had enough resources to make an informed decision about overseas study.
These top findings are among the results of over 10,800 responses from both countries that appear in "Broadening Horizons: Breaking through the barriers to overseas study", the latest research report produced by Education Intelligence, the British Council’s global research arm. The enthusiasm to study abroad shown by the American students is surely a welcome sign, given that only a small proportion of US students pursue degrees overseas compared to other nations. As the 2012 Open Doors Report showed, about 14% of American students receiving Bachelor’s degrees this past year have studied abroad at some point during their undergraduate programmes, while only 1% of US students are studying abroad during a single academic year (273,996 out of the more than 20 million students enroled in US higher education). It appears the challenge lies in making sure students are aware of the opportunities before them and ensuring information on study abroad options is available, accurate, and easily accessible. The report highlights:
"Access to information resources for students seeking an overseas study experience is crucial at every stage of the decision-making process, whether the information is to do with funding, course choice, programme length or destination."
The main resources students in both countries relied on included internet research, teachers and lecturers, and international or study abroad offices. Student recruitment agents, more commonly used in traditional sending markets, were noticeably left off the list. This "info gap" echos findings from two reports ICEF Monitor reviewed last autumn based on survey responses from 4,000 freshmen at US-based institutions. Results showed that campus services were unable to meet student demand in the areas of career planning, study skills and financial guidance. In addition, difficulty accessing information was cited as a challenge for UK students interested in post-overseas-study work rights, according to another ICEF Monitor report from last year. It remains to be seen who will step in and give US and UK student services the boost it may well need.
Motivations to study abroad
The British Council report indicates both academic and non-academic drivers for study abroad. The main academic motivations identified by students wanting to study overseas from both the US and the UK were similar: gaining credit for a current study programme and improving language skills. To a slightly greater extent than in the US, UK students indicated that they felt there were limited degree options at home and that study abroad was a way of widening their academic opportunities. But when looking at the non-academic factors identified by UK and US students, it starts to get interesting. Both groups shared the desire to have a unique adventure and travel overseas; however, UK students tended to place greater emphasis on their potential overseas study experience as the beginning of an international career and as something that would improve their employment prospects.The report went on to explain:
"In focus group discussions, US students expressed concern about pursuing academic opportunities in other countries owing to the high standard of domestic provision, which they also felt was something recognised by future employers. Instead, they pursued study abroad to develop soft skills and add non-academic weight to their resumes."
When asked to clarify their main non-academic drivers, the respondents considering overseas study indicated the main purposes of the experience were to...
- have a unique adventure: 84% US vs. 58% UK
- travel overseas: 66% US vs. 46% UK
- improve employment prospects: 19% US vs. 48% UK
- start an international career: 30% US vs. 47% UK
- become self-sufficient: 36% US vs. 22% UK
- build self confidence: 30% US vs. 36% UK
Among US students, the report notes that there was a considerable difference in opinion between those contemplating studying abroad and those who were not or were undecided. Of those considering overseas study, 88% said they believed it would give them the edge they needed when applying for a job, compared to only 59% of those not considering or undecided.
"Most notably, 27% of those not considering or undecided about overseas study said that they did not know whether studying abroad would give them the additional skills they felt they required. This indicates that there is a lack of knowledge about and understanding of the wider benefits of international study among US students."
The attitudes US students are showing towards the reasons for study abroad appear to be in line with the US Department of Education's (DOE) recently announced international strategy: "Succeeding Globally through International Education and Engagement". According to the strategy, which aims to prepare American students to succeed in a globalised world, graduates face a unique set of challenges such as a highly competitive job market where students are competing with peers from around the world as well as needing to communicate and collaborate with people from other countries. Patti Peterson, American Council of Education (ACE) presidential advisor on internationalisation and global engagement, said the job market had changed, and that most big-name companies were looking for employees with a more global mindset. “They talk about wanting employees who are comfortable in multicultural teams, and working and interacting with staff in other countries,” she said. In order to achieve these results, the DOE aspires to equip US students with the skills to succeed in a multicultural environment by enhancing their understanding of other cultures, languages, and religions through travel and study abroad opportunities.
Destinations and programmes of study
The British Council report outlines four general categories for students pursuing overseas study:
- those looking to develop their language skills,
- those pursuing academic excellence in one subject in a world-class institution,
- those who are after international career opportunities,
- those who are seeking a unique travelling experience.
Which category people fall into often determines their study destination.
Trends in destination choices for UK and US students were consistent, with two minor variations: the US top ten included South Korea and Ireland, whereas the UK top ten included Canada and the Netherlands. While 29% of UK respondents selected the US as their first-choice study destination, 22% of US respondents listed the UK as their first choice.
Cost topping the list of concerns
Financial concerns and a lack of information were the biggest barriers to studying overseas for all respondents, regardless of whether or not they had decided they wanted to study abroad. Other hesitations included language ability, difficulty leaving friends/family, safety abroad, cultural fit, ease of obtaining a visa, degree recognition and health care costs. For students who were not considering study abroad or were undecided, not surprisingly, help with funding was cited as a major factor which could potentially lead them to pursue a period of overseas study. Foreign language training and inspiring info sessions from study abroad alumni or instructors would also help to sway their opinions. The report concludes, "When students were asked whether they had considered studying a full degree overseas in a destination where the fees were considerably less than at home, there was a real lack of awareness about the study alternatives available to them and the actual costs involved. As traditional host destinations, the UK and the US have not been the focus of institutional and national education marketing campaigns that could attract students to consider full degree study overseas. It may only be a matter of time before the UK and the US are targeted more strategically by marketers and this trend begins to develop."
