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Study abroad : Subject Guides

Why study education abroad?

Find out why studying teaching and education abroad can be so rewarding. We’ve got some insights on what you’ll study, how long it’ll take you and your potential career prospects.

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You may have imagined yourself confidently standing up in front of a class and delivering a stellar lesson demonstrating your creativity and knowledge of a subject. Well, this is possible, but it takes time, effort, experience and quite a bit of studying to get you there. That’s why many international students opt to study teaching and education abroad. We delve into how to become a teacher, some of the best reasons study an education and teaching degree abroad and some of what you can expect.

 

What does a degree in education involve?

 

While you will naturally associate an education degree exclusively with becoming a teacher, there is much more to a qualification in the subject that just this. You’ll explore areas of several humanities and social sciences subjects including psychology, anthropology, historyphilosophy and sociology. Knowledge of these areas will augment and develop your understanding of the key areas of education and teaching practice. 

 

You may be wondering how long it will take you to become a teacher. Generally, an education degree is a three to four-year qualification, with a practical teaching component. You also do have the option of specialising in other areas of teaching or education once you have finished your undergraduate degree, for example, science education or education policy. You can pursue your studies in the area to PhD level as well. 

 

If you’re looking to apply to study for an education degree abroad you will need to be able to demonstrate a good level of achievement in your international baccalaureate, A-levels or high school diploma. Generally, this would need to be a minimum of a lower B average. Your English language score for IELTS should be about 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5. entry requirements do differ, so make sure you check with your university. 

 

Explore some of the universities offering education degrees in the UK:

 

 

What will I study for an education degree?

 

You’re probably eager to find out just what you might study in an education degree when studying abroad. There are differences between curricula and universities, but some of the fundamental areas you’ll likely touch upon will be:

 

  • Language and communication 
  • Educational theory 
  • Education and psychology
  • Education policy 
  • The economics of education
  • Pedagogy and learning theory
  • Education for specific subjects 
  • The psychology of learning 
  • Diversity in education 
  • Neuroscience and learning 
  • Education practice 
  • Gender and education 
  • Education for age groups 
  • Social theory

 

Assessments in an education degree usually take the form of written assignments, seminars, examinations, a dissertation and a practical in classroom assessment. In some countries, there is also the necessity to be accredited. For example, in the UK you will need to have status as a qualified teacher (QTS).  There are also many areas of education specialisation

 

Confused about some of the reasons to study education? We have a few:

 

  • It’s a rewarding and stimulating profession 
  • You have the opportunity for further study 
  • You’ll gain a wide range of knowledge and skills
  • You can apply your skills in a variety of settings
  • You have the potential to work globally
  • Flexibility (not to mention school holidays)

 

Discover some of the institutions in Canada where you could study education:

 

 

What are the benefits of studying education abroad?

 

If you’ve been debating about whether it’s a good idea to study education abroad, there are a few reasons why you may want to give it some serious thought:

 

  • You can earn an internationally recognised qualification
  • It’ll enhance your professional profile 
  • You’ll live and learn in a new culture and environment 
  • You’ll gain experience of a different education system and teaching practices
  • You’ll meet and make friends with new and diverse people 
  • You’ll develop initiative, independence and creativity
  • You’ll enhance your personal and professional knowledge
  • You’ll develop key language skills 
  • It’ll provide you with a platform for further studies and qualifications
  • It’s an experience that’ll give you lifelong memories

 

You never know, studying education abroad could also open up the opportunity for you to continue living and working in a country, as teachers are always in demand. 

 

Want to study education in the USA, but aren’t sure where? We have a few options:

 

 

What are the graduate prospects for students studying education abroad?

 

Earning a qualification in education abroad can open up several doors for you. There are many sectors of education where the degree could be applicable apart from just in the classroom including:

 

  • Lecturing 
  • Educational management 
  • Educational policy 
  • Educational trainer 
  • Educational consultant 
  • Curriculum developer 
  • Education administrator 
  • Careers advisor 
  • Counselling 
  • Educational therapist
  • Charity worker 
  • Special educational needs practitioner

 

Some of the employers that you may end up working for include:

 

  • Private schools 
  • Universities 
  • Social services 
  • Government 
  • Charity sector 
  • Business 
  • Community organisations
  • Independent examination boards
  • Independent education inspectorate 

 

The employment rate for graduates of education degrees is good with over 75 per cent finding work and more than 60 per cent finding a job in the education sector. Interest in the subject among your fellow international students also remains strong with over 100,000 expressing interesting in the subject over the past year on Hotcourses Abroad alone. Check out what the post-study landscape for international students looks like in different countries. 

 

With a better sense of what studying education abroad is like and where it may lead you, deciding if it is right for you will hopefully be a bit easier. You might also find our take on why you should study for a master’s degree abroad interesting. We also have a great guide on the difference between professional and academic degrees, as well as a useful studying abroad application guide

 

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