‘I had always planned to include a year abroad as part of my degree,’ says Anna Hayman, a UK student currently studying at the University of Hong Kong.

‘Being able to fully immerse yourself in the culture of a place brings a whole new meaning to what you are learning,’ she says. ‘Classroom study doesn’t quite match up to having a conversation with a taxi driver in Beijing!’

Fewer than 2% of UK students currently study abroad, despite the opportunities it offers – including improved employment prospects.

Compared to countries like Germany, which aspires to have half of its home students spending at least a semester abroad, and China, which offers a comprehensive set of scholarships for domestic students to study overseas, the UK looks like it's lagging.

This situation, and its potential impact on the UK's competitiveness, will be the subject of a roundtable discussion between policy-makers and students at this year's Going Global conference, the British Council's annual further and higher education event.

With the increasing globalisation of higher education, a highly-educated, internationally mobile workforce is emerging across the world.

But the UK, with its imbalance between inward-bound foreign students and outward-bound domestic students, is at risk of falling behind.

Global competition

'New urban populations are a wellspring of employment for a graduate workforce with experience [of] studying and working in international settings,’ says British Council CEO Martin Davidson.

'While the US and the UK continue to dominate the world's higher education market, each faces competition. Our research indicates that the market share of both is declining.

'To keep up with the rising stars, the UK needs to encourage its young people to spend time studying abroad.'

Anna Hayman's experience goes some way to explaining why so few UK students spend part of their undergraduate degree abroad.

'Financial support is definitely one of the main barriers to studying overseas, especially outside the EU,' she says.

'But as UK universities create more global exchange links, UK students will be much more knowledgeable about the opportunities available to them.'

Career benefits

The economic climate means it's unlikely that the UK will be investing in scholarship programmes for outward-bound students, such as those available in China and Malaysia.

However, steps can be taken to improve the situation.

The British Council is currently developing a web portal which will detail opportunities for overseas study to UK students, such as the Hong Kong Scholarships for Excellence.

More course-accredited student exchange programmes, and a broadening awareness of schemes such as Erasmus, the European Commission's educational exchange programme, could help improve the UK's position.

For Anna, forethought has been crucial in her decision to spend a year abroad.

'I know I want to work overseas during my career and it is very beneficial for career prospects to have your first experience of living and working abroad prior to graduation,' says the Business and Accounting undergraduate.

Besides the enhanced career prospects, studying abroad gives students the chance to develop culturally and socially – and can be fun.

'If you fully immerse yourself in the experience, take every opportunity to learn outside of the student 'bubble' and network, who knows where it could take you,’ says Anna.

'It's only a year in your whole life, and it could end up being one of the best!' 

See photos from UK students studying on the Erasmus programme