More And More Students Are Choosing To Study At Colleges And Universities In Foreign Countries | Band 8 IELTS Essay Sample

More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in foreign countries. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Here is a band 8 IELTS essay on this topic written by one of our students. Need help with IELTS writing? Get your IELTS essays, letters and reports corrected by me.

Band 8 IELTS essay sample

Students all over the world choose to pursue their tertiary education at a renowned international university. Although studying abroad can be expensive and has some downsides, in my opinion, its benefits outweigh the downsides.

The main benefit of studying abroad is that an international degree is coveted all over the world. Students also get to interact with people from different parts of the world and this improves their skills and world view. Furthermore, youngsters who study abroad often choose to work part time to earn their living. This experience teaches them the dignity of labour and value of money. Staying away from family in a foreign land also makes them more independent and confident.

Admittedly, on the other hand, not all families can afford to pay tuition fees, travel, accommodation, and miscellaneous expenses. Parents might end up spending all their savings on their children’s international education. Moreover, when parents manage to secure admission, some children take things for granted and spoil themselves as they lack supervision. While others might get homesick and consequently lose focus and end up giving up on their studies. 

Considering both sides of the coin, it is not hard to see that the merits of studying abroad certainly outweigh the demerits. If students can stay focused and work hard, they will definitely reap rich benefits from an international degree.

In conclusion, although there are minor disadvantages to studying abroad, the benefits an international degree offer far outweigh the downsides. Hence, in my opinion, those who can afford it should definitely pursue it.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.