For most international students, the appeal is possibly a combination of getting a high-quality education, experiencing a new culture and language, acquiring a global mindset, and growing future employment opportunities. The idea of leaving home and heading off into the unknown might be daunting for some but studying abroad is also an exhilarating opportunity that leads to better career prospects and getting a hands-on experience of how the world works. The type of exposure you have will vary, majorly depending on where you go. So make sure to pick the right academic destination based on your interests as well as the reputation of the academic institution.
Choosing where to study abroad is not an easy task most of the time. You need to reflect on practicalities such as the costs of studying, which includes tuition costs and cost of living, career prospects after graduation and your overall safety and wellbeing. You should also contemplate about the kind of lifestyle you wish to lead during your stay. You get to choose between big cities or small towns, cultural hub or excellent sporting facilities. Whatever your choice may be, ensure to match them with your academic destination to give yourself the best chance of enjoying your stay there.
Once you’ve decided where you want to study, you need to think about the program and the university. Look carefully at the courses offered by the institutions and shortlist them. Also, research about the local area and lifestyle, admission necessities, and expenses. On finalizing your program and academic institution, start thinking about your application(s) as the process differs for different universities and countries. In general, each institution will provide complete details of the application process on its official website.
The length of your stay will depend on the program and the level of degree you have chosen. Usually, an undergraduate degree will take 3- 4 years of full-time study. Whereas a graduate degree such as a master’s degree or its equivalent will take one or two years. A doctoral (Ph.D.) program will typically take 3- 4 years. At many foreign universities, there is an option of studying for a shorter period. Student exchange programs let you study for a year, a semester, or even just for a couple of weeks.
Consider applying as early as possible. Essentially, the earlier you are accepted into a university, the sooner you can make travel arrangements. To avoid any setbacks, make a list of all the application deadlines set by your chosen universities on your calendar. The application cut-off date might differ from one university to another, but the starting date of the programs are often during September or October. Applications will mostly be open from early January or February until June or July.
Entry requirements differ between universities and countries, so confirm the information provided by your future university before submitting any documents. In general, if you are applying for an undergraduate program you will need to share documents that verify completion of your secondary education to check if you are in line with the required grades (e.g. your GPA, A-level grades, or equivalent) for the program you are applying for. If you have an international qualification and are uncertain if it is accepted, you should contact the admissions department of the university. For non-native English speakers who aspire to study in English-speaking countries, you may need to provide proof of your English-language proficiency by taking an English-language test such as TOEFL or IELTS. Similar tests may be required for those studying in other languages.
They might ask you to provide some supporting documentation as part of the application process. The requirements may vary depending on the country and university, but international students are frequently requested to provide the following documents: 1. Passport photos 2. A statement of purpose 3. CV/résumé. 4. Academic references or recommendation letters. 5. Certificate and records of your secondary education. 6. Proof of English-language proficiency like TOEFL/IELTS certificate for schools in English-speaking countries, or other language tests. 7. Admissions test results such as GMAT/GRE results for graduate programs
This entirely depends on the country you wish to study and the language your course will be in. If not a native English speaker but want to study a course taught in English, you have to prove your English speaking ability by providing English-language test results. Some of the common tests accepted as proof of your proficiency in English are TOEFL and IELTS. In case of proving your proficiency in a language other than English, there are also similar tests such as the DELF/DALF and TCF-DAP (French) or the DSF and TestDaF (German). Before taking a language test, confirm which results are accepted by your chosen school to ensure you don’t waste your effort and money on the wrong test.
As a forthcoming international student, most schools don’t expect you to attend an admissions interview in person, although there might be some exceptions, especially for the competitive programs. Some universities hold international interviews in various locations around the world, so you might have to attend one of these. There is also an increasing trend of using the video interviewing process. This is like any other interview that happens after setting up a time and date and will take place online via an application such as Skype.
As soon as you are accepted by a university, you should get started with the travel documentation process. Make sure you have a valid passport and travel insurance as well as a student visa if you need one. Make sure you have adequate time to get your passport/visa approved so that you’ll be traveling legally. For more information on what travel documentation you'll need, visit the government website of your chosen country to find information for travelers, visitors, and international students. All the travel information you need will be listed on these official sites. On the other hand, you can ask your university for guidance. Often, admissions departments will help you prepare for your travels, and, in some countries, they even apply for the student visa on your behalf. Double-check with your university regarding this.
If you’re an EU citizen planning to study in another EU country, then you don’t need a visa. However, as a rule, if you come from outside of your chosen country’s geographical region, you will need to apply for a student visa. This usually only applies to long periods of international study. If enrolled in a shorter exchange program that lasts three months or less, a tourist or visitor visa may be sufficient.
To estimate the cost of studying abroad, you need to consider the average tuition fees for international students in the chosen country as well as the cost of living. As a reference, the average tuition fees for international students studying in the UK is around £10,000 (~US$14,200) a year, with an additional £12,180 (~US$17,300) per year for living expenses. In the US, the average yearly tuition fee is US$25,620 at public universities and $34,740 at private universities, with an additional recommended budget of at least $10,800 to cover your living costs. Remember that undergraduate programs in the US last for full four years. In some countries, there are no tuition fees at all. Noteworthy examples include Germany and Norway.
Although many international students may find it difficult to get a student loan to fund their studies, there are numerous alternative funding opportunities like scholarships, fellowships, studentships, sponsorships, grants, and bursaries available to make studying abroad more affordable. Your chosen university is the best place to get funding information, so make sure to meticulously go through the school’s entire website or contact the school directly. Many scholarships are granted based on academic merit and are highly competitive. There are also many funding schemes targeting specific groups of students, such as students from developing countries and women studying in male-dominated fields.
Scholarships for studying abroad can be found in many places. Your first place to start with will be the website of your chosen university, where you’ll find information on available scholarships. Sometimes the university will also list external scholarships, such as those offered by the government or business partners of the school. If not, you should research governmental schemes in your home country and your country of study, as well as funding offered by external organizations relating to your field of study (e.g. an engineering firm might offer a scholarship for engineering students).
If your chosen university has readily available campus accommodation, it is likely that you will be able to apply for a place in these student hostels. If not you will need to find your own accommodation. If money is not an issue, you can consider renting your own flat, while those on a smaller budget can find shared accommodation with other students, or use spare room listings found online. In any case, you should make sure you do your research before signing anything or handing over the money. Your university’s student support team and student union should also offer advice on how to find accommodation locally.
This will depend on whether your student visa allows you to work or not. In some countries, there are limits on the amount of paid work you can undertake during your studies. Often there is a limit of 20 hours paid work per week during term time, with full-time work permitted during holidays. If you don’t need a student visa, it is more likely you’ll be able to work as many hours as you like, as long as this doesn’t affect your studies. Do check with the university and/or official government site. If you do work during your studies, it’s not a good idea to rely on your wages to fund your living costs, and in many cases you’ll need to prove you already have enough money to support yourself when you are applying for your visa.
If you have more questions regarding studying abroad that haven’t already been answered, feel free to ask them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!.
