This is the 7082nd most frequent Chinese word.
省外
"Outside the province."
In this sentence, "省外" is used to refer to locations outside the boundaries of a province in a geographic sense, indicating the students' decision to pursue education beyond their home province.
许多学生选择到省外的大学学习。
Many students choose to study at universities outside the province.
Here, "省外" is applied to emphasize cultural and traditional differences between the local province and areas outside of it, used metaphorically for geographical contrast.
省外的风俗文化与本地有很大差异。
The customs and culture outside the province differ greatly from the local ones.
In this example, "省外" refers to travel destinations beyond the provincial boundaries, implying exploration and experiencing diversity.