Postgraduates want to study abroad, but only if English is the first language.
A survey of more than 500 students and graduates by graduate recruitment website Milkround has revealed three quarters are thinking about postgraduate study abroad, but more than half are put off by having to write assignments in another language.
As a result, English-speaking countries such as the U.S.A, Australia and Canada are among the most popular destinations among would-be overseas students. The top reasons for UK students studying abroad were the experience of living in another country and the chance to explore somewhere new, appealing to 72 percent and 65 percent of respondents respectively.
Despite the majority of postgrads hoping to stick to working in English-language countries, learning a second language appealed to 37 percent and a quarter stated they wanted to improve a language they already knew.
Among those actively thinking about postgraduate courses, seven out of ten would choose to study at the top university for their subject, with the next most popular consideration going to where they completed their undergraduate degree (37 percent). Opting for the cheap option was frowned upon with just 14 percent saying they would go to the university charging the least for its tuition fees.
When asked if there was any particular country they’d like to study in, 39 percent said America, Australia got 11 percent of the vote and eight percent said Canada. Germany was the most popular country for study that doesn’t have English as a first language with 14 percent wanting to study there. France (12 percent) and Spain (nine percent) were just ahead of Canada. Despite these European countries making the list of the most popular study destinations, more than half (55 percent) said having to write assignments in a foreign language was the least appealing element of study abroad and 35 percent complained about speaking another language.
Milkround spokesperson Mike Barnard said: “Learning a second language opens doors in the graduate jobs market, particularly if you’re looking for a career in business or finance. There are often roles reserved only for those with language skills so it’s surprising students don’t want to stretch themselves and study in a country where English isn’t the first language. It would be hugely beneficial and help them stand out from the crowd when applying for job, however just completing a postgraduate course will boost employment opportunities wherever it is studied.”
Milkround also asked those who weren’t considering postgraduate study about their views on taking their learning further. Just over half (54 percent) said they would consider going abroad with eight out of 10 preferring a country which speaks English as a first language. America was favoured by 45 percent, followed by France (16 percent), Australia (13 percent) and Canada (12 percent).
