Dearth of Information Keeps Many Students From Studying Abroad, Survey Finds

From http://chronicle.com/article/Dearth-of-Information-Keeps/137707

Dearth of Information Keeps Many Students From Studying Abroad, Survey Finds
By Karin Fischer
March 6, 2013

A lack of fluency in a foreign language or a reluctance to leave family and friends have often been seen as hurdles to studying abroad. But a far greater deterrent, according to a survey of more than 10,800 British and American students, may simply be a lack of information about overseas study.

Just 24 percent of American and 22 percent of British students said they had enough information to make a decision about studying abroad.

By contrast, 82 percent of British and 79 percent of American respondents considering study in another country said they felt confident speaking a foreign language (although, at the same time, the Americans included lack of language ability among their top reasons for sticking close to home).

The findings are part of a study of perceived barriers to study abroad, conducted by the British Council, Britain's educational and cultural-relations agency, in conjunction with the National Union of Students in the U.K. and Zinch, an online network of college-seekers in the United States. The online survey was conducted from October to December 2012.

Read the full article at http://chronicle.com/article/Dearth-of-Information-Keeps/137707