Study and Work Abroad

Students wanting to study overseas may also want to work abroad if they don’t have enough saved or covered for personal expenses. This can be tricky because international visas for study don’t always incorporate the option to work abroad. In some cases this can be quite an administrative and bureaucratic juggle. To what degree depends largely on the country you intend to study in and whether or not you can legally combine the two – work and study.

Countries requiring professionals in a given field, teaching for example, can combine student options to work and study abroad. What that means is that you get a pay check while completing your degree – not something to sniff at! Apprenticeships in foreign countries might allow you to finish your practical component while working. Some places pay really well for foreigners, like Dubai who import huge volumes of foreign labour in fields like engineering. The options for work abroad generally fall into four categories which are teaching, lows skilled employment, government jobs or internships.

For teaching jobs a minimum standard for most places, even third world countries, is now either a bachelor degree or a TESOL type course. That is true for teaching within an educational institute but not necessarily for private employers. In the latter scenario teaching would fall under the options available for low skilled employment. Low skilled workers who want to work abroad can apply for a work visa or alternatively, it is common practice to enter a country with a visitor visa, find a job and then look for work. The severity with which the local government will view this depends greatly on the country and place specific immigration rules. For low skilled workers it is the only way into some countries and it is not viewed negatively at all.

Many governments have private sector jobs available at overseas locations. These are usually skill specific and quite competitive. Those interested in working for the government in an overseas position should contact the appropriate department directly for application procedures, information about available countries and to plan a suitable program of study to meet those eligibility criteria. Another sage word of advice is to check out the culture of a country before you decide on any work abroad in that nation. There will be cultural differences that are just too hard to take for some. Other may think they can go to a new place and show them the ‘right’ or ‘better’ way to do things. This is not advisable on so many levels.

If you can get an internship, this is a very cool option to complete study and work abroad at the same time. Anyone looking at a future in international relations should consider an internship. Either an internship can be during university or after graduation and it is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door and acquire the experience needed for that first career track position. A lot of international corporates like taking on interns. They know they can get the same (or better) quality work as an entry-level employee for less money. It’s a win-win situation all around.

The final thing to consider as you study and work abroad are the options for staying. If you love the place it is possible to extend work visas beyond set study timeframes or even to apply for permanent residency. Keep this in mind as you work and study abroad. If you stay with a company for a good length of time offering a good service and work ethic, chances are excellent they would considering making you permanent.