Education & Career Success Guide: study abroad tips

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Top Places for Indians to study abroad

In the US, Trump’s policy of ‘America for Americans first’ is making the environment less welcoming for international students.

After a student and her family have spent a fortune on overseas education, most expect the former to get a high-paying job in that country and gain permanent residency, if not citizenship.

But with most popular destinations, barring Canada, imposing tougher work visa norms, Indian students are now exploring newer destinations.

Two categories of Indian students go abroad for studies. The first hopes to use a foreign degree as a means to emigrate. In the second category, there are students from affluent families who want quality education and international exposure, but plan to come back once their course ends.

For the first category, the UK is no longer attractive as job opportunities have become scarce after Brexit.

Tighter visa norms mean students cannot stay back to hunt for a job once the course gets over.

In the US, Trump’s policy of ‘America for Americans first’ is making the environment less welcoming for international students.

For students who plan to study abroad and then return to India, the UK is still fine as a destination. But most students are now becoming wary of going to the US owing to Trump’s aggressive rhetoric.

Indian students are hence exploring newer destinations now. Let us now look at a few emerging destinations for Indian students.

Hong Kong

It has globally renowned universities like the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

It is one of the few countries where international and local students are charged the same fee. Hong Kong is also quite liberal in offering scholarships based on marks.

Studying there can be cheaper than studying in some of the private colleges in India.

Engineering is a much sought after course. Universities also let students do a semester in another country, thereby enhancing global exposure.

France and Spain

France is emerging as a magnet for students who wish to pursue business studies, humanities, and fashion design.

French is one of the most commonly taught international languages in Indian schools; so many students are familiar with it.

Campus France, a French government initiative, has done a good job of spreading awareness in India about French educational institutions. Bachelor courses at public universities in France have low tuition fees.

Two of the world’s top management schools -- HEC Paris and INSEAD Business School -- are located there. Other globally reputed institutions include The Paris University of Political Studies (popularly known as Sciences Po), ESSEC International Business School and The American Business School.

However, scholarships are not common, and job opportunities scarce. It is suited for students who wish to return to India when their course ends.

Most students go to Spain for degrees in business management, economics, and other liberal arts courses.

Colleges also allow students to complete a couple of semesters in another country.

Both France and Spain now have universities that offer four-year undergraduate degrees, which allow students to apply for Masters Degrees in US and Canada.

Singapore and China

Both are cost-effective destinations, and they also offer scholarships.

Singapore is popular among students who wish to pursue a Management or MS degree, while China is attracting students who wish to study medicine.

China is setting up joint venture universities in its effort to reach its target of attracting 5,00,000 international students annually by 2020.

Lithuania

The Kaunas University of Technology and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University are among the popular universities.

Lithuania is known for courses in laser technology, agricultural and medical sciences, engineering and arts. It’s also much cheaper to study in Lithuania compared to other popular destinations.

The country offers plenty of work opportunities.

Countries like Germany continue to be popular for engineering, Italy for design and Russia for medicine.

How to get a student visa

You Visit 19:51 visa

Check if you are eligible. Keep documents ready. Plan in advance to avoid last-minute delays

Student visa rules vary from country to country. You may want to research and plan in advance to avoid delays

After months of hard work, you have received your final admission offer from your dream university.

The next step, and of course, one of the most important, would be to get a student visa.

A student visa permits a foreigner to enter a country for the purpose of receiving an education.

Each country has a different visa and different set of rules.

It is an unfortunate truth that several promising Indian students in the past have received admission offers, but have been unable to study in a global university because their visa was denied.

It is important, therefore, to understand and approach the process methodically.

Here are some tips:

Do your research and be prepared

The process of applying for and getting a student visa is a complex one.

The reasoning behind it, however, is simple. The visa is a filter, acting as an instrument that countries can use to keep potentially dangerous or troublesome individuals out of their country.

Depending upon which country a candidate is applying to, the concerns can range from security to the possibility that the candidate is looking to illegally immigrate.

Doing some comprehensive research into the country and its visa rules will help candidates better understand what is needed of them.

For example, applying for a Canadian study permit requires, in addition to an acceptance letter from an accredited institution and a valid passport. It also requires the following

Proof that you have money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation;
Convincing the immigration officer that you are going to be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record, and that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies;
Complete a medical exam to show that you are in good health.

While each country will have different rules, these largely reflect the concerns of immigration officers for the more prominent study abroad destinations like the USA, Australia, and UK, in addition to Canada.

Understand what is required and plan ahead

There are three cardinal subjects that a candidate should research to be adequately prepared for the visa process.

First is the documentary requirement. Each country has its own rules on which documents can be produced and for what purpose.

Second, candidates should check to see if there’s a visa interview for the country they are applying to.

Finally, candidates should evolve an understanding of the timelines involved.

How long would each separate step of the process and the final visa issuing take?

At the earliest point possible, students should take the knowledge they have gained from their research and chart out a plan.

There is always a clear start day for the academic semester; using that as a point of reference, candidates can makes a clear timeline of when they should apply for their visa.

Being aware of the documentary requirements, they can also plan the time and order in which they should apply for and collect the required documents from their bank branches, teachers, etc.

Prepare for the worst

While planning, it is very important to remember that plans often go awry.

Candidates should leave massive swathes of time in reserve, just in case there is some last-minute hassle.

There are times when a candidate planned ahead and moved early, and even though their visa was rejected the first time, they could re-apply and get it on the second attempt.

Students should be prepared for every eventuality and err on giving themselves as much time as possible by allocating time and setting their deadlines strategically.

Things to be always keep in mind

Regardless of the specifics of visa processes for different countries, some basic precautions and guidelines tend to apply across the board. For instance, students should take care to ensure that all their documents are genuine.

However tempting it might be, any attempt to defraud a country’s embassy is likely to be found out and basically ensure that you will never be able to travel to that country, even as a tourist.

They should also undergo a medical examination to ensure that they are fit to travel, and get medical insurance for the duration of their studies, as it has become mandatory to do so.

Study abroad: How to get the perfect score in IELTS

You Visit 09:34 study abroad tips

Don't just mug up new words. Use it in your conversation. Take regular mock tests and/ learn from your mistakes

When it comes to realizing your dreams of studying abroad, there are several different tests and barriers that you will have to navigate.

Alongside your application, the visa, and examinations like the SAT, the IELTS is an essential requirement for this dream.

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS is a standardised test for English proficiency taken by non-native English language speakers.

Over 10,000 institutes of higher learning in English-speaking countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand use your score in the exam as evidence of your proficiency in English.

Getting a good score in this exam lets the institution you’re applying to know how good your language skills are. Not doing well in this exam could mean being rejected.

Follow these five tips to crack the examination:

Find and address weaknesses

The most efficient way to improve is to find your weaknesses and work on them.

While applying abroad, you will have dozens of things to deal with and prepare for; the more efficiently you prepare for the IELTS, the better.

Take some mock tests and let the data drive you.

Which questions did you get wrong? Is the issue one of a subject or field of knowledge, or is it a type of question that is leaving you stumped?

In the IELTS, a candidate is tested on their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Additionally, your grammar is evaluated throughout. Being able to identify where you are struggling the most will help you focus on that issue.

If a type of question is leaving you stumped, practice it. If your writing is bringing down your score, then working on improving it specifically as opposed to revising every aspect will be a more efficient way to improve your score.

Self-evaluate

Doing mock tests to find your weaknesses is just the first part of the self-evaluation you will constantly have to undergo to direct your preparation and revision efforts.

Frequently doing online and offline mock tests will help you understand how to approach the test.

In an examination like the IELTS, this can be very useful -- it can help you gauge which structure to follow, which words and vocabulary to employ, how to put those words in a well-constructed sentence, and so forth.

Giving mock tests also has the added benefit of making you accustomed to the process and steadying your nerves for the actual examination.

Developing your vocabulary

One of the most important qualities tested in the IELTS is your vocabulary.

In the desire to do well, students often rote-learn new words. However, vocabulary is not about mugging up the meaning of words, but understanding how and when it should be used.

The best way to expand your vocabulary in the most effective way for your exam is to learn a new word, and then make it a point to use it in conversation.

To become more familiar with the word and to recognize the best ways and forms in which to use it, make it a point to find instances of the word being used in literature or media and study it.

During the exam, speak confidently and directly to the examiner and be careful and precise in what you say.

The idea is not to impress the examiner with what you know, but how you communicate it.

Organise and link your ideas, create appropriately structured sentences, speak clearly and lucidly, and use the right words at the right time to express yourself.

Focus on skill improvement

At the point that your familiarity with the language is getting better and you are becoming more proficient in English, it is time to focus on method and process.

Improve your listening skills by familiarizing yourself with the sound, the situation, and the speakers.

Involve friends and family in your preparation -- let them help you understand where you might be going off track.

Having someone you trust giving you consistent feedback will help you get an objective understanding of how you’re doing.

Polish up your reading

The reading module of the IELTS isn’t challenging because reading is difficult; it is challenging because it requires comprehensive and thorough reading with a strict time limit.

There are several different methods that are recommended to help people crack this section. Some suggest reading the questions first and then noting the answers as they occur in the passage and answering them.

Another is to read the topic of the passage, read the first and last lines of each paragraph, and then move to the questions to understand what exactly has to be found while reading the entire passage.

Essentially, you have to practice this and determine what approach works best for you.

Settle on an approach, and then practice this until you have optimised it.

All the best!

Top Places for Indians to study abroad

How to get a student visa

Study abroad: How to get the perfect score in IELTS

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