How can a humanities graduate decide if studying abroad is worthwhile beyond just rankings and salary?

As a humanities graduate, you should stop measuring study abroad purely by rankings or your expected starting salary, because that misses where the real value of your degree actually sits. Your return on investment comes from the resources, networks, and personal growth that a specific programme gives you, so judge each option on those terms instead.

A Framework for Weighing Your Decision

Questions to Ask Before You Commit

• Does this specific country hold primary sources or fieldwork sites you genuinely need, or could you research the same topic at home?
• Are there cultural ministry grants, fellowships, or university endowments built specifically for international humanities students in this country?
• Does the post-study work visa let you stay long enough to use what you have learned, or does it force an immediate exit?
• Will the total cost push you into debt that limits your future non-profit, academic, or creative career choices?

My Advice

Write down your specific research question and check, university by university, which one gives you real access to the people, archives, or fieldwork your topic needs, then rank your shortlist by that alone before you even glance at overall rankings. Talk to your funding office about niche humanities grants in your target country, since those often exist quietly outside the big-name scholarships everyone else is chasing.