Overcoming & Thriving: Students University Journey Abroad

Three challenges and opportunities students will face at university

The word challenge is associated with the ideas of effort and difficult. Opportunity, on the other hand, conjures the idea of change under different or new circumstances and scenarios. Both 'challenge' and 'opportunity' will happen during university years, and they go hand-in-hand. Let's highlight three areas, from a Spanish point of view, where students may face challenge and opportunity in having chosen to study abroad at an international university.

Language

Even though Spanish has become a popular language for students to study in high schools the world over, most students are not fluent in the language. This is especially true if they are coming to Spain to study a degree fully taught in English. This may seem to be an obstacle, but it is just the case for the first months. With proper academic support and immersion in the country, international students are able to achieve a working fluency in Spanish in a remarkably short amount of time. In turn, this means that there are doors that open not only to the Spanish job market, but also across the Atlantic in Spanish-speaking Latin America.

Schedules

Both academic and personal schedules in Europe are very different from the rest of the world and even within Europe, they vary from country to country.

When it comes to Spain and talking about class schedules, students could either have a morning or afternoon block of classes in which they should expect a minimum of four sessions per day.

Social schedules are also quite different in Spain: lunches and dinners are later. However, this awards students much more flexibility with the schedules and personal time. It's not uncommon to see people finishing a late lunch and then immediately others starting dinner at the same restaurant!

New Academic Approaches

Students will also notice there are big differences in academics compared to what they may be used to in their home countries. Most courses are evaluated using various methods such as group assignments, individual papers, exams, and participation.

This could be challenging for some students, but it is a great opportunity for students to develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and public speaking. Furthermore, this is advantageous for students who may be coming from a secondary education system that is heavily theory-based.