There was a recent study where they looked at a sample of a thousand German students and concluded that their time studying abroad helped their personal growth, or 'sojourning' as the common phrase in the country. They stressed the role played in this accelerated personal growth by the social up shift that follows studying abroad (or 'foreign mobility').

Although foreign students have to face some significant challenges (to come to a greater geographical distance from familiar acquaintances although simultaneously facing the challenge of developing and sustaining new social relationships within an international and intercultural context), it was eventually found to be a worthwhile endeavor.

Although this could involve travelling abroad as a 'world geographical mobility' visitor, the 'start of professional life' could be more interested in students. It can be an additional stress to transfer to a new location for one's first job out of university or college; but this study shows that when one is already used to new environments from 'staying' abroad, it is not so much of an issue.

That is to say, studying in another country is not the only way to boost one's personal development; it will also have a beneficial impact, but perhaps on a much smaller scale , for example, joining extracurricular groups within your own country. When asked what they would say to those students considering living abroad as part of their studies, they express their own first-hand knowledge, not scientific rhetoric or results. However, once they return home, do students continue to grow or mature as quickly? Although new places can be explored and interaction with strangers can be initiated, it is worth it if a student regresses once he returns home. They also state that once students have returned home, it is a maturation process.