Nursing Study Abroad

Types of Nursing Study Abroad Programs

There is a wide variety of nursing courses available to those looking for enhancing their nursing skills by studying abroad.  Have a look at these potential academic plans for nursing students who want to study abroad:

• Enroll in a short-course program abroad: For instance, the CEPA Europe Study Abroad Program can give nursing students an ideal two-week long European experience. Students travel from France to Switzerland and Germany, studying at some of the most famous medical institutes in the world and gaining a truly international experience.
• Enroll in another country for a semester: Students can do this to gain a competitive advantage in their career field. They can complete courses relevant to their program of study in an affiliated university abroad.
• Enroll in an undergraduate nursing program abroad: Students will have the option of going for a complete program in a different country. This could be a wonderful opportunity for people looking to diversify their skills and bring in new knowledge from different places.
• Internships with Foreign Medical Facilities: As part of your program, you might be required to complete an internship program. For this, you can travel to a different country and take advantage of the diverse conditions there. You may also participate in an educational goodwill trip to offer much-needed medical services in under-privileged nations.
• Enroll in a graduate nursing program abroad: If you are done with your undergraduate studies and are looking to pursue further studies, numerous universities abroad offer fantastic nursing programs.

Many nursing students are hesitant about spending time abroad fearing that it might result in a late graduation. This problem is easily solved if you choose to enroll in a study abroad program that is relevant to your major. In addition to that, some students worry that skills they learn abroad might not be that applicable or needed in their home country. This should not be a concern since the more diversified your nursing knowledge is, the greater an authority you are considered in any medical facility. Having learned the nursing practices common in various parts of the world would actually put you in a good position as far as your career and professional practice goes.

Destinations for Nursing Study Abroad Programs

Once you have made up your mind about choosing to go for a nursing study abroad program, the next step would be to narrow down destinations. Even though countless countries in the world have amazing nursing programs, there are some places you might want to spend some extra time on researching:

• Europe: Europe has countless great options for nursing students who want to study abroad. Consider Scotland’s University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Both these schools offer programs in a diverse set of medical concerns, including the Cancer Care and Specialist/Advanced Practice paths.

Germany: Nursing students coming to Germany for advance education, internships or semester exchange programs stand to benefit greatly from the country’s healthcare system. Hamburg, Germany is home to the Asklepios Group, which is the largest private operator of hospitals in all of Europe. Therefore studying the concepts of medicine and nursing in Germany would give you the chance to be on the cutting edge of medical technology.

• Asia: Asia is home to state of the art medical facilities and has contributed heavily to the advancement of this industry. Nursing schools are becoming a common phenomenon in various parts of Asia. The KEI Study Abroad at MUIC in Bangkok, Thailand, is an amazing opportunity for students looking to study nursing at one of Thailand’s most prestigious universities. Similarly, the KEI Study Abroad Program at Symbiosis International University is the ideal opportunity for students who wish to pursue a nursing program in Pune, India, one of India’s fastest developing cities.

Singapore: Looking at a more specific location in Asia, Singapore is considered one of the four “Asian Tigers”, with a budding economy and a well-developed healthcare sector. The stable and efficient economy ensures that the medical facilities here are always well-funded, and engaged in the betterment of the profession of medicine as a whole. The Parkway Hospital Group is the major healthcare provider and the Gleneagles Hospital is its flagship hospital. With Singapore’s commitment to excellence, choosing a nursing study abroad program in Singapore might benefit you greatly and teach you high quality skills and knowledge to apply throughout your career.

• Australia: Australia offers wonderful study abroad opportunities to students looking to get some nursing experience. It has a lifestyle among the best in the world and a very solid healthcare system, which can provide wonderful opportunities to learn from. The hospitals in the country are some of the best in the world, giving nurses ample opportunities to learn in top-notch working environments, with professionally qualified medical personnel, modern technology and equipment.

Look into the Prince of Wales teaching hospital in Sydney if you are planning to go for a program in Australia.

Costs of Living Abroad

This is one of the primary concerns you will face when you decide upon studying nursing abroad. You will need to plan this really well. These would include basic costs such as the following:

• Residence: The ideal residence would be university hostels or residence halls affiliated with the college. This would most certainly be the cheapest in most countries since universities are known to give subsidized accommodation. If not the hostels, you can always go for a shared apartment with a group of friends. This way you can live independently and split the costs with your roommates. Other options include studio apartments or living with a host family. Make sure you check the residence agreement thoroughly. A lot of residence plans do not include utilities. You need to keep in mind an additional cost for electricity, gas, internet, laundry, etc.
• Transport: Whether you live close to your campus or far away, this would be a very relevant concern for you. Make sure you research thoroughly on the following modes of transportation:

• Buses or trams
• Trains or Subways
• Taxis
• Air travel
• Personal car

Travelling on a bus or an inter-city train would be the cheapest in most countries. Most developed countries have a highly developed metro system that is cheap, fast and safe. You might even get additional discounts via your student ID.

• Food: Once you move to a completely new land, you need to figure out your food concerns at the earliest. Try and get used to the local cuisines, since they would be the most easily available. Dine out every now and then but do not make it a habit. Get your entire month’s groceries especially when the grocery stores are running discounts. A useful tip would be to cook several meals at a time and freeze portions for later use.

If you are planning to go for a nursing study abroad program, there are countless opportunities available for you to learn from. Make sure you do your research well and then make a well-informed decision.