Pupils Explore University Opportunities Overseas

A good number of Bablake pupils study for part of their degree outside the UK; some, like Sapna Mohan, who is now in her 3rd year at McMaster University in Canada, commit to a full degree abroad.

Whether it is expense, concerns over living in a country where English is not the first language or merely a feeling that this would take our pupils out of their comfort zone, we have found that, while a number ask about the opportunities, very few have ended up studying abroad for a full degree.

Last night, a good number of our pupils, along with their parents, had the opportunity to talk to 9 universities from Europe and beyond, at the first 'Study Overseas' fair we have hosted. The event was arranged by our Careers department in conjunction with The Student World. Sheena Ferrero, Associate Director of International Recruitment for IE University in Spain, summed up some of the advantages of study abroad saying: 'The entire world is working with the rest of the globe, so having the ability to converse in different languages and the awareness of different cultures and what might be the norm in one country and rude in another are great skills to develop- ones employers are actively looking for on CVs when hiring new graduates. Now students have the opportunity to obtain a well respected degree (while still studying in English), walk away with another language and have an unforgettable life-changing experience.'

L6th pupil Georgia Gunson, who was looking at opportunities abroad related to Medicine and Languages, said: 'I found the event really informative and it opened my eyes to the options for study abroad. It also inspired me to look at the recently published Times World University rankings.'

Head of 6th Form Mrs Alison Tumber and Head of Careers Mr Mark Woodward have always been convinced that more Bablake pupils should seriously consider the advantages of ensuring an international experience forms at least part of their Higher Education path. Last night also gave them further conviction that our pupils might also consider a broader range or combination of subjects for a degree.

Antony Adams, Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer for The Student World, commented: 'We really enjoyed visiting Bablake School. The event gave students the opportunity to learn about the many benefits of studying abroad. With competition for jobs so fierce, students really need to consider how they can diversify their CV and stand out from the crowd.'

The final word should go to Sapna Mohan, our former pupil studying at McMaster University in Canada: 'There are many advantages in studying abroad- independence, the chance to explore a new country and the broader opportunities for networking are just three. Granted, you have longer periods away from home and the winter conditions- last year it reached minus 30 degrees- can be tough to cope with, however the overall experience is one I would recommend.'

The universities and schools represented were ESADE (Spain), Fontys (The Netherlands), University of Groningen (The Netherlands), Hult (USA), IE University (Spain), Jacobs University (Germany), Radboud University (The Netherlands), Sciences Po (France) and SEG (Switzerland). The Student World also offered advice on Dentistry and Medicine courses abroad.