Thursday 4 December 2014

Studying Abroad: Where Should I Go?

With globalization these days, it is common for parents to send their children abroad for their education. Considering how easy it is to get around and stay in touch with today’s technology, parents are less concerned with sending their children to countries with a more established education system. While the traditional western destinations like the United Kingdoms and the United States remain a popular destination, Asian countries in particular have climbed up the rankings tremendously in the past decade. In fact, 4 out of the top 5 best education systems in the world rank as 1) South Korea 2) Japan and 3) Singapore 4) Hong Kong and 5) Finland with the United Kingdom taking the 6th spot and the United States hovering outside the top 10 at 14th spot.

Of course, that is not the only variable when it comes to choosing the ideal location for your child. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of the top 3 education systems in the world.

1) South Korea

The country itself is a beautiful place, and the weather there is beautiful as well. For a developed country, it is also relatively cheap to live in, and the country itself is steeped in culture. The only con is the language barrier. Only a minority of Koreans speak English, and most lessons are conducted in their own native tongue. South Korea is known for their advancements in hardware and software technology, citing a strong education in the IT sector as a factor.

2) Japan

Very much like Korea, Japan is a developed nation with beautiful scenery and weather. They are also renowned for their food, and not unlike Korea is steeped in culture. However, they also suffer from the language barrier, and while English is more widespread in Japan than it is in Korea, most foreigners will have to adapt to the Japanese language to be able to survive in Japan. Cost of living is also more expensive than it is in Korea.

3) Singapore

Singapore is the first nation amongst the list where English is the most widespread language in use. Singapore is a mish-mash of different cultures and foods, being a country of immigrants, and while they are a small nation, is as much a developed nation as anyone on this list, if not more so. Boasting the 2nd lowest crime-rates in the world (behind Switzerland), and many world-class amenities (world’s best airport, world’s best port… the list goes on), and has even been listed as the number 1 spot to visit by the Lonely Planet for the year 2015. With regards to education, Singapore has always been known to produce some of the brightest minds, and of late, the island nation has begun to focus on creative education as well. Those seeking Game Development Courses, or say, a Diploma in Graphic Design will find that there are many world-class institutes offering these programmes as well. Cost of living is reasonable, although housing can be expensive. There is however, a large number of student hostels that are relatively cheaper than the average house.


Well, that’s it for today; but for those who wish to add on to the other countries or have any questions, please feel free to do so in the comment section below. In the meantime, good luck with your search, and take care!