How To Apply For Studying Abroad: A Step-By-Step Guide

NDTV

6 days ago

Study Abroad: If you dream of studying abroad, getting an international degree, studying in a new culture, you must know why you want to study abroad and how you would manage everything. Here is a step-by-step guide about how to plan and prepare for studying abroad. Knowing why you want to study abroad will help you make better decisions ahead of your journey.
Before applying for studying abroad, you should:
Research about the countries that meet your academic goals, for example, whether they provide the respective degree you want to pursue or help you develop new skills, and personal goals may include managing your finances, your well being etc.
Thoroughly compare education systems, cost of living and visa options of various countries.
Shortlist the countries that meet your goals.
You can use the official website of universities to research about the countries and their programs.
Things that a student needs to find out:
1. Eligibility Requirements
Every country has their own requirements which may vary. Common ones include:
Academic Transcripts: You must have your official academic records from high school or the respective university.
Language Proficiency Test: Common language tests include IELTS, TOEFL.
Letters of Recommendation: These are written by your professors, teacher or even employers, who can vouch for your skills.
Statement of Purpose: This statement will include details like your reason for applying, your goals and why you are a strong candidate for the respective program.
Standardised tests: These tests vary by the country and the programs that you choose. Common tests include SAT, ACT for undergraduate programs, GRE or GMAT for postgraduate programs.
2. Fill Out The Application Form:
Fill the application form for the program, upload documents and pay the application fees. You must make sure to keep check of deadlines for the application form, standardised tests which have to be booked 3-6 months prior.
3. Apply For Visa
Once your application has been accepted, you should apply for a student visa. Ensure to timely apply for your visa in order to not derail plans. You will need documents like:
Proof of acceptance
Proof of funds
Passport photos and travel documents
Medical or police certificates
4. Budget Management
Managing your finance matters a lot while studying abroad. Create a budget by considering things like whether you would live in a small town or an expensive city area, cook your own meals or eat outside etc. Plan for your budget by keeping these in mind:
Tuition fees: fees that will be paid annually or per semester.
Accommodation: whether you will live in a family house, a hostel or maybe rent out a place.
Daily expenses: daily expenses of groceries, transport to be considered while making your budget.
Health insurance - often mandatory for international students.
Emergency fund - keep certain funds for unexpected costs like medical care, laptop repairs etc.
You can keep applying for scholarships offered by your university, government sponsored programs, to get help with finances.