University Fairs in United Kingdom

A recent British Council study shows a third of students aged between 16 and 30 are interested in some form of overseas study

A love of travel and adventure, the opportunity to experience a different culture and the chance to build their confidence were found to be the key motivations.

Studying overseas has become more popular, with half of those considering a university course in another country wishing to study at undergraduate level, a new survey by the British Council shows. A third of the students polled, aged between 16 and 30, said they were interested in some form of overseas study.

The United States remained the most popular destination for studying abroad, followed by Canada, Germany and France.

There has also been a surge in interest of UK students in university courses that offer studying or working in a European country through the EU’s Erasmus programme, which has more than doubled in seven years, according to figures.

Recent Erasmus statistics show that during the 2013-14 academic year, nearly 15,600 UK students spent up to a year in another European country through the initiative, up 115% since 2007.

Figures from Generation UK China, a campaign launched two years ago, show that the numbers of students going to the Asian country to study or work have grown from about 6,500 in 2013 to nearly 7,400 last year, the British Council said.

In a similar initiative launched for British students to gain experience in India, the British Council received more than 2,500 applications for the initial 500 places.