A final year law student’s perspective on study abroad
If you think about study abroad, certain buzzwords may come to mind, such as ‘intercultural’, ‘eye-opening’, ‘culturally-enriching’, but what do these words really mean? Cultural experiences are of course incredibly subjective and depend on an individual’s expectations. Study abroad is invariably marketed as an overwhelmingly positive thing; it is certainly a privilege. For some, it is a gateway to a long-term future in another country, for others, it may be a temporary departure from their routine in their home country. My personal experience of studying in Germany for an academic year largely falls into the latter. I was in a privileged position in that I did not have the pressure to set the foundations for a long-term future in the country, and so the main ‘goal’ during this year was to ‘gain cultural experience’ and to complete 10% of my degree by passing my units in German law. Thus, I had plenty of time to discover and reflect on what was ‘eye-opening’ or ‘culturally-enriching.’ After the experience of studying abroad, I think that to view study abroad as inherently ‘culturally enriching’ is misleading. It gives the impression that you are almost promised a ‘culturally enriching’ experience just because you have boarded a flight to another country. Rather than becoming fixated with study abroad as a highlight reel of ‘eye-opening’ experiences, I believe the main goal is to be proactive and constantly challenge yourself both personally and professionally, and hope for some experiences that you consider ‘culturally-enriching’ along the way.
Taking a walk in the German countryside in June
From a personal perspective, it’s true that study abroad demands a whole new level of independence from you. From sorting out immigration issues, to figuring out how you will get home on the same day with a three-hour Deutsche Bahn delay, a study abroad experience may throw hurdles at you, and makes you realise you are far more resilient than you thought. From a social perspective, it is the people that you choose to surround yourself with who may have a profound impact on your experience and your attitude towards your host country, your home country and the wider world. Although I can’t say I was the best at this, it’s important to retain an open mind throughout the whole experience, if some aspects don’t live up to your own expectations. Whilst the memories of the grey, cold January in a small German city did not inspire excitement to return for a second semester, I am grateful for the people and places I got to know better in the summer semester, which would not have happened if I had not given the place another chance.
It is worth mentioning that a challenge with living abroad for an extended period of time is you may miss out on developments in your home country during this time. From a career’s perspective you may miss out on internships or deadlines that fall when you are still occupied with studying abroad under the different term dates of the foreign institution. Equally, you may miss out on milestones in the lives of your home friends. However, acceptance and planning your next steps after you return home may alleviate this.
A city break in Brussels
Most importantly, the academic and professional skills gained from study abroad cannot be understated. From an academic perspective, the experience of studying a foreign legal system may enhance your understanding of law as you may compare different approaches to common problems across countries. This knowledge may help you to demonstrate your interest in postgraduate studies in comparative or international law courses in particular, a route I am keen to pursue. Moreover, the language skills you gain are useful if you want to use legal sources in the foreign language for research at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Advanced knowledge of a language may also be sought after by law firms or non-law firms who work with clients in the language. It is important to emphasise that in a globalised world, where we live and work amongst people of multiple nationalities, the ability to build networks with people from different countries is a social skill that is valuable for postgraduate study, the legal profession and careers outside the law.
‘Having spent a year abroad and having immersed yourself in a foreign language environment, you gain many valuable skills such as adaptability, resilience and cross-cultural competence. These will make you stand out from other applicants during job interviews and recruitment. You will also have greater career prospects where you can make use of your improved language skills.’ Katarzyna Gorska, President of Research for Change and 4th year Law and German student.
Outside the central train station Cologne
Overall, different study abroad experiences may vary vastly depending on the place, your personality, and the personalities of the people around you. Whilst different people may experience varying extents of ‘cultural enrichment’, study abroad will definitely challenge you personally and academically, helping you to become a more appreciative and empathetic person in the process.
