Does studying abroad help academic achievement?

Abstract

Studying abroad as part of a degree has become commonplace for many students in European and other developed countries. Universities actively promote opportunities as part of internationalisation strategies. Whilst research has looked into the 'abroad' aspect of study abroad, there is less literature on the 'study' aspect, and in particular the effects that the period has on academic achievement. This article provides evidence that studying abroad has a beneficial effect on overall academic achievement. The article compares the final degree grades of students at Sheffield Law School (UK) who participated in a year studying abroad, with those who did not.Interviews with students across the period deepen the qualitative dimension to the research by exploring how students felt about their academic experience. Whilst few students opt to go abroad for the purposes of improving grades, most feel that the additional confidence and maturity, alongside deeper knowledge of their subject and a break in the pattern of their studies, contributes to their higher achievement.

Mobilising international student mobility: Exploring policy enactments in teacher education in Norway

“…Given that the official policy rationale for mobility in Norway is to enhance the quality of education, it is striking how individuals mainly associate mobility with personal experiences that can transform into professional development; or, what previous literature suggested as the opportunity to learn from contrast (Cardwell, 2019; Teichler, 2017). Evidently then, quality is not necessarily only about what students learn academically or professionally when going abroad but can be achieved through the mobility experience itself .…”

“…While it is difficult to ascertain clear and specific student outcomes of mobility, much evidence points to short‐term mobility as a potential opportunity for learning from contrast , which can increase students' international understanding, abilities to reflect, personal confidence and maturity. These benefits may in turn influence students' academic and general competencies (Cardwell, 2019; Teichler, 2017). Notably, for teacher education, much research centres around social and cultural purposes of mobility, and demonstrates how undertaking periods of practice teaching abroad can develop students' intercultural competence, which is often seen as a professional necessity for teaching in increasingly diverse classrooms (Cushner & Mahon, 2016).…”

International mobility for early career academics: does it help or hinder career formation in Japanese studies?

“…Studies of international mobility in higher education tend to be student focussed, on either recruitment and retention (Brandenburg and de Wit 2015) or international education. Research on undergraduate study abroad programmes shows improvements in academic performance (Cardwell 2020), with possible positive secondary effects on career outcomes. However, research on the direct impact of mobility on students' career development is less certain.…”

Two sides of the same coin? Internationalisation and employability - students’ perceptions of employability and career outcomes from International Studies

“…A considerable body of scholarship based on returned-students' experiences touts personal, intercultural, academic and professional benefits: enhanced personal development, skills, and knowledge (Dwyer & Peters, 2004;Mueller, 2021); intercultural sensitivity (Medina-Lopez-Portillo, 2004); improved communicative capacity (Jackson, 2011); overall academic improvement (Cardwell, 2019); career enhancement and the acquisition of various transferrable skills (European Commission, 2014;Jones, 2013;Potts, 2015;. A broadening of educational and occupational choices, lifestyle, perspectives, change in behaviours, personal and social skills are similarly listed among the long-term impacts that accrete to study abroad participants (Dwyer & Peters, 2004;Fry et al, 2009).…”