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So what now? Following up a UK university degree

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Leaving your home country to study abroad brings a lot of prestige. But it’s not a guarantee of success. Far too often students go off to study in the UK fueled with nothing but hope, only to realize when they graduate that they don’t know how to take advantage of their expensive new degrees. Are employment prospects better in the UK or at home? Should you go right to work, or stay in academia?

We decided to take a look at the most popular options and the pros and cons of each one. Follow the link below to read more!

1. Taking your skills home

For most international students, the plan is to use their new degree to open doors back home. We can’t deny the merits of this goal. A degree from a UK university still carries an undeniable cachet, and many employers do respond to the prestige associated with a former overseas student.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that piece of paper will carry you all the way. No degree can help if you do badly in a job interview, for one thing. And there is growing evidence that going to school overseas isn’t the big break that many believe it to be. Studying abroad deprives you of networking opportunities in your home country that you’ll need as a fresh graduate. You may also be trained in skills that aren’t in demand in your home country.

So you may want to consider…

2. Working in the UK

Not everybody heads back home after graduation. Why not stay and use your new training in the market that it was meant for? The UK government actually makes it easier for graduates of UK universities to get a working visa than for others, probably because they’d prefer to have you stay and pay back the university’s investment in you.

The downside to this idea is that even with the streamlined visa application process, it’s still a hurdle that you wouldn’t face in your home country. You’ll need to be prepared to leave the country if you haven’t found a job by four months after graduation. In addition, you’ll have to compete against locals for the jobs you want, putting you at a disadvantage.

If this sounds like a contest you’d rather not face, you might consider…

3. Going to graduate school

Continuing your studies is an often-overlooked option. Going for a postgrad program, whether in the UK or at home, can improve your marketability. You’ll avoid the stress faced by those who enter the work force right away, and have more time to plan your career path.

However, that breathing room comes at the price of valuable job experience. When you do enter the market, you’ll be competing not just with younger fresh graduates, but also with those who graduated at the same time as you – only they’ll have several years of experience and networking to their advantage. You’ll have to make excellent use of your planning time to make up for their head start.

Whatever you choose, it’s important to make the choice with a clear eye and your full attention. There are plenty of students who have tried for each of these options and achieved success. But you need to know what’s best for you and how to fit that in with your long-term goals. Good luck!


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