Guide To Study Abroad
The thought of leaving everything back at home to study abroad can be daunting, but the process of it shouldn’t have to. Are you also planning to study and have a career abroad? Don’t fret, as we have got you covered.
Don’t let the numerous study abroad myths nowadays deter you. Although it may seem like there are many obstacles between initially considering a program and actually arriving on campus, meticulous planning and an optimistic outlook can help a lot. How does studying abroad work? This question can be answered in a nutshell by saying that the key choices you’ll have to make are when to study abroad, what to study, and how to pay for it. Make sure everything fits into your schedule before we go into the specifics of how to study abroad.
We will prepare you with the best tips and tricks you can implement if you have made the decision to study abroad. Before that, let us look at this studying abroad infographic to review what the article may entail.
Choose what you want to study
You might already know what you want to pursue, or you may be confused among a few popular courses. Whatever it may be, this might be high time to figure out what course you want to go ahead with. You can research the subject, its future job prospects, and the salary it can help you land. It must also be something you are passionate about and what drives you. Some of the popular programs to study abroad are:
- Computer Science and IT
- Business and Management
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Law
- Medicine
- International Relations
- Hospitality & Tourism
Tips & tricks to choosing what you want to study
- Focus on what you enjoy doing the most
- Research online for different career paths
- Look through the curriculum of fields you are interested in
- Start eliminating the programs you don’t wish to pursue
Decide the location of your choice
Your travel budget and preferred field greatly influence your choice of study location. But before selecting a specific country, you also need to consider other things. Take the following into account before finally making the decision.
- Are you open to attending school in a place where English is not commonly spoken?
- Do you intend to work while you are a student? If so, look for a place that offers unique part-time opportunities to students.
- Do you prefer living in a bustling city or a small and peaceful city?
- How comfortable are you traveling daily to your university?
- Do you want to further your education in a region that is fairly close to yours?
- Are you an avid traveler?
In the end, pick no more than two or three ideal locations and start weighing each option’s advantages and disadvantages.
Apply to multiple Collage/Universities
Don’t just apply to one university and wait to hear back from them. Chances are that even if you have stellar scores and an excellent letter, recommendation, or essay, you might still not hear from them. You should therefore submit applications to at least two or three schools.
You may apply to more than that, but be aware that there is a restriction on how many times international students can apply to universities in some countries.
But to be on the safer side, apply to more than 1 school, and you can also apply in multiple countries to increase your chances of getting selected.
Take the English Proficiency Test
You must first show proof of your English language ability in order to enroll in a university overseas that offers English-taught programmes. The popular ones that most universities accept are:
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE
- Advanced C1
You must get a decent score in any one of these exams to be eligible to apply abroad. You will be tested on the following key competencies:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Writing
- Reading
Every test will have a specific structure, but it generally entails hearing individuals with varied accents, selecting the correct answers to multiple-choice questions, writing a letter or essay, selecting the correct answers to questions from various passages, and performing a variety of other tasks.
The finest piece of advice we can offer you is not to take these tests lightly. They will assess your grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and a variety of other skills. You can also opt for a spoken English free online course that will help you improve your skills.
Apply for scholarships
Check out if you need to apply for the scholarship when filling out your admission form or after receiving a confirmation from the university. Whatever the case may be, start your research about what scholarships are available for your choice of university.
Some of them require repayment, whereas others, like grants or scholarships, don’t. However, you must fulfill the prerequisites for applying for the scholarships. There are also many different needs.
Some eligibility criteria would include educational qualifications, financial requirements, research needs, and other factors. Do not rush to apply if you do not match the requirements.
Apply for a Student Visa
After accepting the offer letter, the most crucial action is to apply for your student visa. Not everyone will be required to apply for a visa, but you must have a few documents ready if you do. You will need a visa if you wish to study in countries like Canada, the US, Australia, China, UK & more.
Following are the documents required for the visa in India
- Proof of admission
- Passport
- Evidence of language certification (if needed)
- Evidence of financial means
- Passport size photographs
- Previous education record
- Vaccination results (if required, it varies by the country)
What if you get confirmed at multiple universities?
Personal preferences: Contemplate your goals for the future for a while. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years, and what does your end goal look like?
Curriculum and faculty: Fetch more specific details about the future programs you will be taking. Do they plan to assist you once you graduate? Do some more study about topics like internship possibilities, faculty & mentorship, and placement opportunities.
Infrastructure and equipment facilities: You must take into consideration the kind of library, gym, academic guidance, and various other services are present or not.
Accommodation and educational expenses: Calculate the tuition fee and the overall expenses that may incur. Decide how you will pay and then compare the total cost in the different locations.
