Still unsure if studying abroad during your undergraduate studies is worthwhile? Know that there are numerous advantages to enhancing your skills. studies Abroad — especially if your educational institution has partnerships with foreign universities, which facilitates student access.

At ESEG – School of Engineering and Management, the partnership with Leiria Polytechnic Institute This program allows students to complete a semester of their undergraduate studies in Portugal. Through an agreement between the two institutions, the student is exempt from tuition fees at IP Leiria, but is responsible for covering accommodation costs, mandatory insurance, and personal expenses.

With academic mobility, students can take courses at another university outside of Brazil., expanding not only professional horizons, but also getting to know another culture and even a new language.

Want to understand more about this topic? In this post, we'll show you the advantages of studying abroad during college. Check it out below.

Expanding knowledge about your field.

Exchange programs can complement your academic training. Although they follow basic guidelines, each educational institution develops the curricula for its courses. In this sense, they... They can bring up subjects that address differentiated issues within a specific field of study relevant to the professional.

In addition to being an opportunity to take different courses and expand your knowledge within your field, an exchange program can also serve to learn or improve your learning of a foreign language — if you choose a country that does not have Portuguese as an official language.

During an exchange program, students are frequently exposed to the host country's language in classes and interactions with people. Therefore, they develop their communication skills much faster than in regular language courses. This can be very advantageous, since other languages—especially English and Spanish—are a requirement for many job openings and postgraduate programs.

Upon returning, some institutions allow credit transfer for courses taken abroad. In the case of a so-called "sandwich degree," you receive a certificate validated by both universities at the end of the course.

Possible discounts or scholarships

Several international universities offer discounts or even... bags Study program for Brazilian students. Good performance, high grades, and awards during their undergraduate studies may be some of the criteria used for evaluation. Thus, one excellent academic performance This increases your chances of getting discounts on course fees.

In addition to keeping an eye on announcements and scholarship opportunities offered by the destination university, it's also a good idea to check what partnerships your institution in Brazil has. To find out about the advantages offered for your course, it's worth consulting the academic mobility department of the university.

Many universities have agreements with other educational institutions abroad, which help facilitate access to courses outside the country and may even allow participation in international academic events.

Support in the country of origin and abroad.

To study in other countries, it may be necessary to obtain specific visas and fulfill a series of bureaucratic requirements. In this sense, an advantage of participating in exchange programs offered by your university is having a point of contact both in your home country and abroad. This allows students to ask questions and seek assistance with the procedures, if needed.

The documents required for an exchange program depend on the student's objectives—taking undergraduate courses, doing an internship, participating in short-term academic activities, or taking a language course, for example—and the length of time they will spend in the other country. The duration depends on the chosen program: summer course, one- or two-semester exchange, etc.

The partnerships make it much easier for students to attend., with the simplification of the application and enrollment processes for the exchange program.

Opportunity to do an internship

You can also use your time abroad to do an internship at an international company. This way, you put your college knowledge into practice, enrich your resume, and gain more value in the job market.

Furthermore, internships can also supplement a student's income, as some companies offer stipends. Whether paid or unpaid, It is a valuable opportunity for the student, as it serves as preparation for the daily routine of the profession.

Expanding your network of relationships

Living abroad can also serve to broaden... networking, Meeting people who are relevant to your career growth and exchanging experiences. Deepening your contact with professors and professionals in the field — in the case of an internship — They can be useful in a future selection process for postgraduate studies, master's or doctoral programs., or even in the search for first job.

The job market highly values international experience, as it demonstrates the professional's initiative and interest in... seeking new skills and knowledge.

In addition to interacting with other professionals in your field of study, an exchange program is a conducive environment for making friends and expanding your network. It's not uncommon to find students in the same situation as you, seeking an international experience. This allows you to establish connections with people from various nationalities.

Personal development

In addition to expanding one's network of relationships, an experience abroad also has an important dimension: the personal one. Exchange programs provide an enriching experience for the student's growth as an individual.

Far from family, friends, and their comfort zone, exchange students will need to deal with completely new situations and face cultural and linguistic barriers. To accomplish any activity, they need to develop their knowledge and even confidence, since most of them will present challenges.

In some cases, the student will need to communicate in another language to achieve what they want or need. And each country has its own particularities, from the culture as a whole to the way its inhabitants think. Therefore, This experience will require him to learn to deal with differences and think more globally.

Doing an exchange program during graduation Studying abroad can bring many opportunities for the student, such as enriching their resume, gaining a competitive edge in the job market, learning a new language, and even personal growth. Therefore, it's worthwhile to research educational institutions that encourage this practice—and, of course, to look for the program that best suits your chances of pursuing your goal of studying abroad.

Do you want to pursue a degree?
in an educational institution that facilitates exchange programs? Then, get in touch And speak with one of our representatives. Learn more about the advantages of being an ESEG student.