Why study abroad?

For hundreds of years Scottish students have ventured abroad in search of new academic challenges. Perhaps one of the earliest examples of this by a St Andrews student is Andrew Melville, who went from his studies in St Andrews to the teachings of Ramus in Paris in 1564, returning to St Andrews many years later to become Principal of St Mary's College. Studying abroad has changed a lot since then, but some of the fundamental reasons to go abroad remain the same: an interest in new academic challenges and the desire to experience another culture and to see more of the world.

A report by Universities UK has shown that there is a positive correlation between outward mobility and improved academic performance and employment outcomes.

The report demonstrated that graduates who were mobile during their degree were less likely to be unemployed (3.0% compared to 3.8% of non-mobile graduates) and more likely to have earned a first class or upper second class degree (91% compared to 80.3% for non-mobile graduates). And the report further notes that mobile graduates who were working in full-time, paid employment had a higher average salary (+5.5%) six month after graduating, whilst 78.3% secured a 'graduate-level' job within six months of graduating compared to 73.2% of non-mobile graduates.