A recently released report from the Canadian Bureau for International Education found that 86 per cent of Canadian students are interested in studying abroad. However, the report also found that 80 per cent of students would require financial assistance in order to participate in an exchange program.
So it comes at no surprise that a very low percentage of students actually do end up studying abroad.
The costs of going to school in a foreign country are high: students are not only required to pay tuition to their home university, but must also cover travel costs and living expenses, as well as adding on an extra semester or academic year to their studies.
Studying abroad is also mandatory to students of specific programs, such as the Bachelor of International Business here at Carleton.
Bursaries and scholarships are available through some universities depending on the location and duration of studies, but more financial aid should be focused on covering the day-to-day expenses that come with travelling abroad, especially the cost of food and living.
More awareness should also be directed to those bursaries and scholarships, as many students dismiss the option of studying abroad on the basis that they cannot afford to do so, missing out on potentially life-changing opportunities.
Studying abroad shouldn’t be only accessible for the privileged few.
