A not-so-rare decision that many Canadian business students decide to make is to study abroad at some point in their academic careers. In fact, 11% of Canadian students do study abroad at some point (Canada, 2020). Whether it be a full undergrad program, master's, Ph.D., or just a semester as part of an exchange program, it is a wonderful opportunity for many to consider that grants unforgettable experiences and access to a whole new world of knowledge. However, there are no doubt many challenges when one decides to leave their home country for post-secondary education. From language barriers, to culture shock, to budgeting, and applying for visas, students must prepare themselves for what lies ahead. But there is an interesting set of challenges a business student might particularly meet while completing their schooling abroad that is very interesting to explore. With every challenge comes a great opportunity though! Let’s take a look at what business students, and perhaps other students alike, may encounter when studying abroad!

Challenge: Unfamiliarity with the Local Market/Industries

Throughout many business courses, examples and analogies about Canadian or North American businesses or our local industries are used, whether it be for a case study, or the subject of a project. No surprise that most countries do this as well with their local firms! This can become a bit of an obstacle for any international students who are not familiar with the national economy and business atmosphere. Beyond learning the material and theory, international students must also make an effort to research these examples being used in their coursework that may be common knowledge to their peers. It should be acknowledged that many multinational companies are common and used everywhere, or there are more American-centered organizations that infiltrate classrooms all over the world as well. This challenge may leave foreign students feeling out of the loop and more behind than their peers who don’t face this, but it helps that the longer you are staying in a region, the more familiar you become with the local economy!

Opportunity: Becoming more Knowledgeable about International Business and Different Countries’s Industries

On the flip side, being exposed to a learning setting that mentions new organizations and different regional industries helps international students be more educated about international business. Of course, this is especially useful if one has the intention to pursue a career later in global business or work at multinational companies, but even if they do not, it certainly keeps students better informed about how business is conducted all over the world. This knowledge can be used to contrast and compare with how business is conducted in Canada, and what we can learn and apply from these overseas companies. If you find yourself on a different continent, there will be a formidable opportunity to familiarize yourself with the whole continent's economy and its cultural differences as well. Learning about differences in consumer preferences, organizational behavior, and business ethics is an excellent way to become a more rounded business academic, and will be valuable knowledge some day soon in your career!

Challenge: Different “ Ways to do Things”

Let’s set the scene: You are assigned a group project with other peers in your class. Some of you are international students from various home countries, and some are local students. You are assigned a simple business case study. Easy right? Well, you enter the shared document to contribute to the work, and it seems like everyone is doing a different project with no structure whatsoever! As you talk with your teammates to determine what is going on, you quickly discover that everyone’s definition of a simple case study is quite different!

This may be a common issue one will face, in situations beyond studying abroad as well. Academic work has different standards in different areas, whether it be the structure of a report, writing styles, citation requirements, or even what a title page should look like! What makes the situation more complicated is when different people insist their way is the right way, since in a way, no one is wrong, right? Well, the true right way is what will be accepted and graded correctly in the region you are in. Your best bet is to consult your professor or a well-intended local in your school to give you the right indication. This challenge may be frustrating to many, as it pulls the rug from under your feet: all the basic rules you’ve been practicing for years are not right anymore, and you need to learn a whole new way of doing things! This is once again an obstacle that gets better over time with practice, just remember to not be too stubborn and insist on “your way”!

Opportunity: Learning New Ways to Excel at School

While relearning the rules and regulations may not be too fun, there are exciting opportunities when it comes to being exposed to new ways learning is done in foreign countries. This can look like courses taking a more hands-on approach, having different interactive elements, using new technology tools, or approaching material from a different angle. One may find that these new ways of learning business may work better for them and should look at applying elements of their coursework back home. Similarly, students may learn study techniques from their peers that work well, or discover resources that everybody uses at this school. Whatever it may be, you should be encouraged to keep an open mind and explore new ways to benefit from your academic journey so that you graduate as a person who has the tools to keep learning the best way you can!

Challenge: Navigating New School Systems.

In Ontario, the post-secondary education system is quite familiar to many of us: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. Of course, there are many variants to this and many different paths to take. While this system is also applied in many different places in the world as well, there are certainly different post-secondary sequences that are confusing when encountered. For instance, there are the Grandes Écoles in France, which are the specialized top-level education institutions that present alternative paths to undergraduate and master's degrees, usually meant for fields such as engineering, architecture, business administration, and more. So if you were to study in France, how do you know if you should aim for a Grande École or a master’s program? What are the prerequisites for these alternate education paths? Unfortunately, this article won’t provide you with the answers to those questions, but it is a reminder that as an international student, you must do your due diligence to understand these education paths and to make sure you choose the right one for you. While business students are lucky that not all career paths require certifications that are region-specific (not all though, such as those following a career in accounting), they should still be aware of what programs open doors in what areas. It is crucial to double-check and check again that the program you would be enrolling in will be accepted and useful in Canada if you were to return. While the experiences will be priceless, the costs of studying abroad for the wrong degree are not!

Opportunity: Gain Unique Accreditations and Certificates

If you’ve managed to get yourself into the right program at your international university, you may be able to opt-in on some great experiences that will earn you qualifications for certain skills that can certainly boost your CV or LinkedIn profile! Different schools offer many different programs that can get you accredited for various things, such as digital marketing tools, sustainable development, consulting, etc. These programs may be offered for free and not take up too much time as well, so what's to lose? Even if these certificates may not mean the most back in Canada, the badge of accomplishment shows future employers your dedication towards continuous learning and that you are capable of learning new skills. These opportunities should be taken advantage of everywhere, so don’t miss out!

There are undeniably many more challenges and opportunities that international business students face that are not mentioned above. Part of the studying abroad experience is facing these ups and downs as they go through. The benefits that students get once completing a business administration education abroad are immense, and one of these benefits is creating people who are resilient and can overcome challenges when faced with the unexpected when in the workplace. If you are considering studying abroad in any capacity as a student, I highly encourage you to take the first step in making it happen! If you are a TELFER student at the University of Ottawa, check out the TELFER international exchange program to learn more about how to participate in the program and all the wonderful institutions you can attend!

https://telfer.uottawa.ca/en/students/international-exchange-program/

References:

• Canada, G. A. (2020, October 19). Canada’s International Education Strategy (2019-2024). GAC. https://www.international.gc.ca/education/strategy-2019-2024-strategie.aspx?lang=eng#:~:text=The%20report%20of%20the%20Study,the%20United%20States%20(16%25).