All of us have that one dream of ‘Studying abroad’ in our bucket list. We dream of living in our favourite cities, studying the culture, meeting new people and living our dream life. But when the question rises of how to fulfil this dream, our minds get stuck. But do not fret. In this article, I am going to tell you all the ways in which you can achieve your perfect life.
Table of Contents
Start planning!
As we all know, dreams can only come true if we work for it. And when it comes to studying abroad, planning comes the foremost thing to do. The first task to do in studying abroad is making a plan on what exactly you want to do. Before getting onto the plane, first lets make sure whether this trip will be beneficial for you by asking a few questions.
- When is the correct time for me to go abroad?
When it comes to doing Master’s or PhD programs, this may be an easy question for you. When it comes to pursuing Bachelor’s degree however, there is an option for you to not to pursue your whole degree abroad. It is entirely possible that you can study one or two academic years in your home university and then get transferred to complete the rest of your degree abroad. For this option, you have to see where studying abroad fits your academic requirements and work commitments.
Although, depending on your university or your major, you may be left with much little choice. You have to go through your university’s student exchange programs or connect with your academic advisor to make sure you have all the information before planning your trip.
- What is the cost of studying abroad? Can I afford it?
These are probably the most important questions that you should ask yourself before deciding to study abroad. Lets face it, studying abroad can be very expensive. Cost can be a huge roadblock when studying abroad as the cost of living is higher there than our home country. But we have options for that as well. You can apply for various student jobs and make money easily using your creative skills. Applying for scholarships is also an excellent option as they majorly offset the cost. There are a lot of Government-funded scholarships, University-funded scholarships and also private financial aids available.
Do your Research
Once you decide roughly on what you want to pursue and the ways to pay for it, start your research. List down your preferred countries and search about the universities which offer your major. If you are considering doing short term courses, it may be better to search if any home universities have partnerships with universities abroad. This will turn a major benefit in transferring credits and gaining more weightage in your certificate.
If you haven’t zeroed down on any country yet, then search for ‘Top 10 countries to Study abroad’ or search for ‘Top 10 universities’ for your chosen major. These ranking are based on the testimonies of students who have been there, hence it will give you a clear idea to decide on which country to go to.
Read about Top 10 countries to Study abroad here – https://yocket.com/blog/best-countries-to-study-abroad
While looking for universities, it is essential to consider which place is the best for your career. It is important to study at a city which is known for the job. For example, if you are a fashion major or considering to make a career in fashion, cities like Paris, Milan, London, New York, etc are best for it. So consider the major of your study while choosing the city you want to study.
Another essential part of decision-making in studying abroad is budget. The cost of living in certain countries like Britain, USA and other major countries are higher, whereas countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe have lower cost of living. If you are strict on keeping a low budget, considering the cities with lower cost of living is extremely beneficial.
Once you have chosen a general location, you can start researching about the universities. Education search engines like EUgateway.in, Edwise, Leverage Edu etc. help you to navigate and assess the journey and guide you to your destination.
Want to know more about studying abroad? Click here to Book your FREE Consultation Call with our Head Mentor
The application process
Once the list of universities you want to apply is created, the next step is a smooth cake walk! Here are the basic requirements for your application.
- Grades
As we all know, grades are extremely crucial while applying for any abroad courses. Some universities have specific GPA requirements and they only accept the students who meet their criteria. Depending on the grading system, you may need to convert your grades and then apply for the university.
- Test Scores
Most of the foreign university programs are taught in English. If English is not our first language, you need to take a test to prove your English proficiency. Tests like TOEFL and IELTS should be taken and their scores should align to their admission criteria. You can go to the university’s website to know about the passing criteria of these tests.
Read about Best sites for IELTS preparation here – https://global-exam.com/blog/en/ielts-websites/
Read about Best sites for TOEFL preparation here – https://www.intelligent.com/best-toefl-prep-courses-and-classes/
Another thing you have to look after while applying is that whether those universities have their own general standardized tests. For examples, American graduate schools ask students to take the GRE tests before applying to their schools.
- Personal Letter
Some universities require a personal letter or a study abroad essay to be submitted. This personal letter speaks about why you would be perfect fit for the university. Talk about your strengths and showcase your personality through this letter.
Here are some Personal Statement examples – https://zety.com/blog/personal-statement
- CV
Along with this you should attach a CV highlighting your academic and professional qualifications. The CV should also cover your skills and major achievements. Your CV should include your contact information, your academic history, your professional experience, qualifications and skills, awards and other recognitions, licenses and certificates etc.
Here are some Examples of CV for university application – https://resume.io/resume-examples/college-admissions
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
The LOR is an essential item when it comes to applying for universities abroad. Some schools ask for academic references from your home university. It is important to choose the right teacher while writing the LOR. Teachers who know you very well and know your achievements can draft the most apt LOR for you. When asking for LOR provide them with your CV or Resume and provide them with all the details of your preferred universities. Doing this will make drafting the LOR smooth and customize them.
- Interview
Only major universities usually ask for an interview via phone or video call. Although its scary, it is one of the best ways to impress them with your personality. With the two-way-interaction, you can also ask questions about the curriculum of the college and decide if the college is best for you.
- Sample work
If you are applying for art-based programs like fashion designing, art or music etc, adding a sample work with your application will be most beneficial. Your sample work reflects your talent and personality and hence can leave a great impression on the selectors. This can also be used for other theoretical fields such as literature and science, where you can submit any of your research papers related to the subject you want to major in.
Acceptance of offer
Once you have sent your application, the university verifies all the attached documents and notify you if your application is accepted or rejected. But what if you are accepted in more than one school? Now you have to choose which school to go to. There are a lot of factors while deciding on which college you want to go.
Getting your priorities straight is the first thing to do. What is the school offering you? How will this school help you in your career growth? What kind of teaching staff do they have? How dynamic is their student life? What is the cost of living and tuition? Are they offering any scholarships or financial aid? All these questions should be answered while selecting a university’s acceptance offer. As you are going to be spending your crucial years in this place, it should be somewhere you actually want to be.
Although studying abroad has a lot of advantages, it is tough. It gives you the opportunity to meet other cultures but living in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, away from your family, although looks blissful, can be torturous at times. Hence it is essential for you to be at a place where you can feel comfortable and enjoy your life. Wishing you an amazing study life at your favourite place on earth and hope that you fulfil your dreams.
Want to know more about studying abroad, Click here to Book your FREE Consultation Call with our Head Mentor
In case, if you feel that we have missed something important in this article and needs to be included for its betterment, feel free to share your suggestions with us through comments or mail us at rudrasupport@gyaannirudra.com.
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Wishing you all a splendid and exponentially growing career journey ahead.
Ashwathi Anoopkumar is a student pursuing her Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has content writing experience of 1.8 years and is currently working as a Sales and Marketing intern at Littoral Communications Pvt Ltd.
Hey there! I just finished reading your blog, and I must say, it’s incredibly informative and helpful for anyone looking to kickstart their study abroad journey. Your insights and tips are spot-on and will undoubtedly guide many through the process with confidence. Thanks for sharing such valuable content!