Having completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in my native Croatia, I’ve always envied those who studied abroad. The thought of studying abroad has always been on my mind, and I’ve asked myself things like, “Am I capable of writing an essay in English?” or what do lectures look like in a classroom full of international students?
Scholarships
International institutions provide a wide range of scholarships, often more than those available at home. If I pursued a PhD in my own country, I would most likely have to pay both tuition and living expenses.
Larger colleges frequently provide scholarships based on your nationality or topic of study. In other words, there are distinct scholarships for engineering students, Chinese students, medical students, and so on.
If you can’t decide where to go for your PhD but find a scholarship that matches you and you have a chance of receiving it, that could be your university of choice.
International scholarships and fellowships always look good on a CV, and that is what you will be thinking about as soon as you begin your PhD: how to strengthen your CV and present yourself as a promising young researcher.
Publications
If you want to be a professor someday, you’ll need a few academic articles by the end of your PhD.
Having publications means that your work is accessible to everyone on the planet, and that anyone may read your articles and papers, no matter where you send your next job application.
Of course, you can get published if you study in your own country, but if you are pursuing an international PhD, you will most likely be writing in English.
Having published works in English increases your chances of getting referenced, boosting your citation index and impact factor.
Simply said, if you write in English and graduate from a university with a global reputation, more people will be able to read and apply your work. And the more people who mention your work, the greater your chances of future employment.
Networking
Studying a degree in a country with a high number of international students is always beneficial. However, as you begin your PhD, you should start networking on a different level than when you were an undergraduate.
Thinking about your future profession becomes your primary focus, and you want to meet as many people from as many different areas as possible. Not only as prospective contacts and potential colleagues or employers, but also to hear about their experiences.
Everyone’s road to a PhD is unique, but you might benefit from guidance, tips, and techniques for certain milestones in your own PhD journey.
Another big opportunity that arises when pursuing a PhD is the attendance at conferences and seminars, which will allow you to build an excellent academic CV. You never know who will send out a call for papers or invite you to be one of the keynote speakers!
Teaching
In most situations, doctorate students participate in teaching. Depending on the subject you are researching, it could be at the start of your PhD or later in your second or third year.
Teaching is a valuable experience if you wish to stay in academics. PhD students frequently provide laboratory demonstrations or assist with seminars and tutorials.
What’s fantastic about teaching is that, in most circumstances, you must complete training to obtain ‘permission to teach’, which is a huge advantage once you finish your studies. As a result of your English teaching expertise, you will be able to apply for teaching employment anywhere around the world.
There are numerous benefits to pursuing an international degree, and here are just a few of them. The fact that you choose to relocate abroad and start over demonstrates your independence and adaptability, both of which are highly appreciated abilities wherever you choose to work after graduation.
