Young students making their way through university are constantly looking for ways to boost their resume to help gain a ‘leg up’ in the increasingly competitive jobs sector.

By the end of a degree, it is common for a student to have undertaken an internship and have a portfolio of work. It has also become increasingly popular among students to add the experience of student exchange to their list of university achievements.

Especially in professions that revolve around current affairs and global awareness, such as careers in journalism and media, is it time universities made student exchange a compulsory part of the course?

In some European countries as well as schools in the United States, all students must experience international study.

As anyone who has been will tell you, it is an amazing social experience but the real benefit comes from personal growth.

La Trobe University Bachelor of Journalism student, Nick Harrison has recently returned from exchange to the University of Oregon in the US and says it was the experience of a lifetime.

“Living away from home in a new culture helps you to grow as a person, the new perspectives you learn from interacting with people will come in handy later on,” he says.

Travelling whilst studying at university has become commonplace among students. Considering students have so much time off between semesters and over the summer, if you can afford it why not travel purely for leisure rather than for study?

Harshini Egorov, coordinator at the La Trobe Abroad office on campus, says exchange is more beneficial as it adds value to a degree and can improve your chances of future employment.

“We want to increase and encourage more students to go on exchange because the University has funds to give,” she says.

La Trobe is the second most generous university in Victoria, after the University of Melbourne, when it comes to offering financial assistance for international study, Harshini says.

According to the La Trobe study abroad office, approximately 15 per cent of the La Trobe student cohort currently participates in exchange but the University aims to increase that number to 20 per cent by 2015.

The cost of exchange is a huge deterrent for students and depending on what countries you are eligible to study in, living expenses can be high. However the university does supply students with grant money and scholarships. Students can also apply for OS-HELP loans that will be added on to their HECS fees.

With hard work and diligent saving, the costs can be managed and the experience will be well worth the price.

International student, Adele Johnson, is studying journalism at the University of Sunderland in England and would encourage people to go on exchange.

“Studying my field in a different country has been really interesting – I get to see how it compares to home, but it also gives me a chance to broaden my job opportunities,” she says.

“I’m currently in the middle of a 12 week internship with Time Out Melbourne magazine, an opportunity that will seriously benefit me when I return home. I can say I have worked with a company that has branches worldwide.”

The time away from loved ones may also be a deterrent for students. Although Adele has been able to handle being away from home, she suggests others may not.

“I’m not sure it would be fair to make exchange compulsory for a person to do. I’ve left my family, friends, my whole culture and way of life behind for a year and there’s times where I really struggle with that,” she admits.

Compulsory exchange may not be necessary as yet, but in a generation of over education and underemployment it is becoming harder to enter the work force with a degree alone.

As the number of university students travelling or undertaking an exchange program increases, it is something that students of a global generation should seriously consider.

Lauren Colosimo is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University and a staff writer for upstart. You can follow her on Twitter: @laurenacolosimo