Studying abroad? - Go for it !

[Pip]

Last year I had the opportunity to conduct a research project in Ghana. I was enrolled on the Environment and Development masters at Lancaster University, UK and the major component of this course is an overseas individual research project in a developing country. The overseas project and location are largely your own choice and I couldn’t believe such a course existed when I came across it. My placement was linked with a university in Ghana so I was able to work alongside fellow research students and explore our different approaches, methods, knowledge bases and experiences.

Going through many of the same motions that you do back home with students of another culture was great in so far as how little things change when you’re playing pool in the student common room with pop idol on TV in the background, or having to be creative with the finances to when money gets tight at the end of the month. On the other hand it was most definitely an eye opener in terms of what it actually means to study computer science without computer labs, to have to pay at the internet café to type up your coursework or to have an all night power cut the night before an exam. Students are students the world over and we can learn so much from each other’s resilience.

Unfortunately, the financial implications of studying abroad closes the door for this type of exchange for the vast majority. Even when there is funding available it’s not always accessible to those who really need it. There is definitely a need to make exchange opportunities accessible and feasible for students from all countries.

I’d definitly advise anyone considering studying abroad to go for it and if you have the chance to, assist others to do the same.