The Best Essential Overseas Education Tips

Reasons to study overseas are often overlooked these days. However, with globalization like never before, most countries are quickly improving the education standards of the institutes within.

This begs the question, why look elsewhere for education, when you can comfortably earn a degree in your hometown or somewhere closer?

The answer to this question is a contradiction to the question, itself. To grow as an individual, we often have to step out of our comfort zone.

By choosing to study in a different country, not only will you be exposed to different cultures, and ways of thinking and living, but as you no longer have your family and your closest friends to reach out to, you learn to become more self-reliant and independent.

Another benefit of studying abroad that is exciting but is rarely talked about is the ability to explore a new country. You have all the benefits of a tourist, but so much more.

By the time you’ve settled in, you will know not to fall prey to tourist traps and experience the culture and societal offerings of the country on a much deeper level.

Countries with part-time jobs on offer, will add on to your experiences and make you that much more prepared to take on the world when you start working.

In addition to being able to earn as you study, there are always the perks that come with student discounts.

As an international student, you not only get to interact with local students but students from other countries as well. Exchanging thoughts, values, experiences, and ideas can be very rewarding and personally enriching. Many students make friends for life.

Of course, there are tons of career benefits that come with studying in a different country. Perhaps the most significant advantage is the value employers attribute to candidates that have studied in a different country. There is the promise of fresh ideas that could positively impact the company, and perhaps improved knowledge on topics as well.

Courses in another country could also equip candidates with additional skills that candidates studying in the same country may not possess. These reasons are usually why candidates with a degree from a university in another country are typically paid higher.

In addition to scoring points with potential employers, an international degree can also really lend a boost to your application to study further. If you have earned a degree or certificate from a university in another country, the admission committee will know that you can adapt and adjust to new cultures and locals, and this instantly gives you an advantage.

The most typical way to study overseas is by applying to a university for a specific program. In this case, you will begin by selecting a program. Once you are sure of the program you want to pursue, you will have to decide which university or universities that offer this program will be the right fit for you. For help selecting the right universities, consider these 21 factors to select your best schools.

Now, that you know which universities you wish to apply to, make sure you meet all the requirements before filling out your application and submitting it. After submitting your application and have received a favorable admission decision from the university, be sure to collect an official admission decision document.

While applying for a master’s, bachelor’s or postdoctoral degree is undoubtedly the most popular way to study abroad, there are other ways to do this.

• As a student already enrolled in a course, you could always consider transferring to a similar program offered at a university in another country. For this to work, your university will have to be an accredited one.
• You can explore programs offered by a third party provider.
• For those of you, keen on research, global independent study opportunities are a great option. These opportunities will allow you to complete a project with a mentor or professor in a different country.
• You can also pursue field research in a different country to supplement a course.
• Applying for internships in another country, can help your career.
• Service learning programs, which will require to volunteer for a service learning trip to another country can be a beneficial option for you.
• Finally, you can also enroll in a language school in another country to master the country’s language.

There are several factors to consider in order to answer this question satisfactorily. Most counselors believe that the best options for Indian students are the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the UK.

Another good indicator of whether a country is a good option for your higher education is its QS ranking. As per the QS 2018 rankings of countries based on the strength of their education systems, the top 10 countries are:

1. USA
2. UK
3. Australia
4. Germany
5. Canada
6. France Also worth considering is student livability. Having a look at where your target university’s city is placed on the list of good student cities will help you figure out what life will be like at that university.

Here are the top 10 best student cities as per the 2018 QS rankings:

1. London
2. Tokyo
3. Melbourne
4. Montreal
5. Paris
6. Munich
7. Berlin
8. Zurich
9. Sydney
10. Seoul

Also interesting to note is that Dublin ranked first among all the cities for inclusion and tolerance towards international students, while New York was considered the best city to find a job after graduation.

While there are maybe several countries with cheaper education, exploring the opportunities in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Hungary and France are wise as these countries also offer high-quality education at reasonable costs.

Germany

A country that is fast becoming an educational force to reckon with, Germany is among the five best destinations for higher education. Courses of excellent quality offered at little to no costs, make Germany extremely popular. While private universities charge around 4000 euros per semester, public universities do not charge tuition fees. You can choose from over 17,000 programs from over 380 universities.

Sweden

While students from the European Union are exempted from paying tuition, international students outside the European Union will have to pay between 8000-14000 euros a year, which is quite reasonable in comparison with a lot of other countries offering the same standard of education. Keep in mind that PhD programs at Swedish universities are fully funded.

Norway

Universities in Norway are funded by the government. Apart from a registration fee of around 70 euros, you will not have to pay any other form of fees to study at a Norwegian university. However, keep in mind that most courses at the bachelor’s and master’s levels are taught in Norwegian. All PhD programs are taught in English.

Hungary

Often overlooked, the quality of education at Hungarian universities are quite good. Several programs are taught in English and are very reasonably priced. A bachelor’s program will cost around 1000 euros a year, while a master’s program could cost about 3000 euros a year. As the living expenses in Hungary are quite low, you should be able to spend a lot less for the entire duration of your program.

France

With two types of institutions for higher education, there is a drastic difference in the costs you will incur depending on which type you choose. The prestigious Grande Ecoles are considered to be very prestigious and are usually a lot more expensive. However, public universities in France are known for the high quality of education they offer and are a lot more reasonable.

While the Grande Ecoles can charge as much as 12000 euros a semester, public universities cost around 250 euros for a bachelor’s program, with engineering programs priced at approximately 620 euros a year and medical programs at approximately 450 euros a year. Master’s programs could cost you around 260 euros a year and PhDs cost around 400 euros a year.

The jury is out on this one, but the two top contenders seem to be Canada and Germany. Both countries offer high-quality education and have excellent job prospects for students in addition to relatively easy transitions to permanent residency after graduation.

Germany is presently ranked third among the best destinations for higher education, and Canada is close behind. Canada’s visa-friendly policies are making the country a very attractive country to immigrate to, and the job market is thriving.

This is perhaps the broadest of questions that students interested in studying overseas ask.

In order to answer this question, there are several factors to consider.

The country you select, the location of the university within this country, the level of the program you decide to pursue, the subject you select, tuition, housing, and transportation, are major factors that will influence the costs you will incur while studying overseas.

The approximate annual cost for an MS program overseas in some of the most popular countries are as follows:

USA

• Tuition: ₹25 Lakhs
• Living costs: ₹9 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹34 Lakhs

Australia

• Tuition: ₹15 Lakhs;
• Living costs: ₹10 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹25 Lakhs

UK

• Tuition: ₹13 Lakhs
• Living costs: ₹12 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹25 Lakhs

Germany

• Tuition: ₹40 Thousand
• Living costs: ₹5 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹5.4 Lakhs

Canada

• Tuition: ₹13 Lakhs
• Living costs: ₹6.8 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹19.8 Lakhs

Singapore

• Tuition: ₹12 Lakhs
• Living costs: ₹6 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹18 Lakhs

New Zealand

• Tuition: ₹14 Lakhs
• Living costs: ₹7 Lakhs
• Total annual cost: ₹21 Lakhs

If you are interested in a scholarship to ease the financial burden of studying abroad, there is a lot of research you will have to do to locate a scholarship that is right for you.

You will have to filter out most of the scholarships and only apply for the ones you are eligible for based on the criteria provided by the scholarship providers.

There are several types of scholarships on offer such as location-based scholarships, program-specific scholarships, subject-specific scholarships, student-specific scholarships, university-provided scholarships, organization-provided scholarships, and government-funded scholarships.

Germany, Norway, and the Czech Republic offer free education to all students irrespective of their nationality.

However, if you are interested in Norway or the Czech Republic, you will require a certain level of fluency in the local language as most programs are offered in Norwegian and Czech, respectively.

Universities in the Czech Republic offer programs in English, but they charge around 70,000 rupees for these programs.

The US is the best country to pursue an MS in Computer Science in the US. With a range of specializations to choose from, amazing research opportunities, and the largest number of really good schools for computer science, it is no surprise the US is the best country for a master’s degree in computer science.

Also, interesting to note is the amount of R&D funding universities in the US receive compared to others elsewhere in the world.

The US is the best country to pursue your master’s degree in electrical engineering. A variety of majors in the field, well-qualified faculty, and a massive R&D budget contribute to making US universities the best place to earn a degree in electrical engineering.

The US, which is the birthplace of the MBA, still dominates the global scene with their highly ranked business schools.

Most business schools offer two-year MBA programs and completing an internship is part of the graduation requirement. The length of these programs often allows students to build their networks and explore the best career options.

Very often, students are absorbed by the companies they intern with as well.

Most of the top destinations for higher education prioritize the safety of international students at their universities a priority.

Here is a list of the safest popular destinations for higher education according to the Global Peace Index of 2018.

• New Zealand
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Singapore
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• Australia
• Sweden
• Germany
• The Netherlands