There are two sides to every door. This research investigated the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad at a university in south west England through a sequential exploratory mixed methods design. Except for slight differences in ranking of the perceived top study abroad benefits, interview and survey findings regarding advantages were mostly consistent, suggesting that study abroad issues are generally double-edged to include both positive and negative effects, including for one-year Masters programmes in Britain. In terms of employment advantage, instead of a traditionally so-called ‘Western’ or ‘Eastern’ country of origin commonly stated in existing studies, this research suggests that the degree of economic development seems to be strongly related to differences in international students’ homeland employment opportunities. Finally, advantages rather than disadvantages of study abroad experiences were reported more strongly by research participants throughout the study.
There are two sides to every door. This research investigated the
advantages
and disadvantages of studying
abroad
at a university in
south west
England through a sequential exploratory mixed methods design.
Except for
slight differences in ranking of the perceived top
study
abroad
benefits, interview and survey findings regarding
advantages
were
mostly
consistent, suggesting that
study
abroad
issues are
generally
double-edged to include both
positive
and
negative
effects, including for one-year Masters
programmes
in Britain. In terms of employment
advantage
,
instead
of a
traditionally
so
-called ‘Western’ or ‘Eastern’ country of origin
commonly
stated in existing
studies
, this research suggests that the degree of economic development seems to be
strongly
related to differences in international students’ homeland employment opportunities.
Finally
,
advantages
rather
than disadvantages of
study
abroad
experiences
were reported
more
strongly
by research participants throughout the
study
.