Want to Study Overseas? Here are the Answers to your Questions

The desire to study overseas is increasing among students. The realisation of the young generation that foreign countries are better for study and better living conditions than studying in India makes them migrate to foreign countries for studies. Reasonable tuition fees, low cost of living coupled with education loans and scholarships have allowed students to make their dream of studying overseas a reality. With state-of-the-art facilities, renowned faculty, and a healthy student-teacher ratio studying abroad has become popular among the youth of the country. 

Also, after their study, students have a chance to get to stay back thru post-study work options as well as the well-paid job opportunities. Studying abroad is considered as not only a guarantee to the growth of the candidate but also for a better quality of life.

Are you someone who wants to pursue higher education overseas? Do you want to know what you need to do to choose to study abroad? Then this article is for you.

How to Apply to Universities Overseas

Step -1

First of all, it is important to make a decision about which course you plan to study abroad. Also find out which country and which university has the course you need.  Once you have chosen the course, it is important to ensure that you are eligible for the program you have chosen before applying for the chosen course. Because it is common today to drop out of studies after spending a huge amount of money to study abroad. It is always advisable for students to apply well ahead of the deadline to avoid any last-minute trouble. For example, students who are aiming for the September intake should ideally appear for these exams by February so that they can apply comfortably before the deadline.

Preferred Universities and Courses Study abroad

Also find helpful advice on government websites to confirm that your nationality is accepted. (Consider the acceptance rates of your desired program. If there’s a low acceptance rate, come up with a backup plan.)

Step-2 

Next step once you’ve chosen a course to study abroad is to put your documents together.  Some common documents you will need to study abroad are:

• Transcripts
• Passport & ID
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR) : Students also require Letter of recommendation (LOR) while applying to different universities. The LOR should be from a faculty member from your previous education institute. In case you are a working professional, your employer can also give a letter of recommendation.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP):  Apart from the LOR, students also need to submit a Statement of Purpose highlighting your achievements and learnings. Some of the universities demand Admission Essays in place of Statement of Purpose. Essays are generally required for pursuing a specific course like MBA.
• Exams

Step-3 

Students who want to pursue higher education abroad need to pass language tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and general tests like SAT, GMAT, GRE and ACT to qualify for admission. If your program has an entrance exam, register right away. 

All the exams mentioned have different rules for taking the exam. For example, IELTS can be taken for an unlimited number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as desired, but cannot be taken more than once in a 12-day period. Same holds true for PTE; it can be taken as many times as one wishes to. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test. You can appear for GMAT for an unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests. 

English Language Tests & Qualifications

Language Exams

• TOEFL : Test of English as Foreign Language or more commonly referred to as TOEFL, measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. The TOEFL test has been developed and is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), which sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. TOEFL exam is required for admission at colleges and universities where the medium of instruction is English. Apart from academic purposes, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency.

• IELTS : International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language proficiency exam that measures the language ability of candidates willing to study or work in a country where English is the language of communication. The exam mainly assesses the ability of test-takers to communicate in the four basic language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Apart from academic purposes, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and certification agencies use IELTS scores to evaluate English proficiency.

• PTE (Pearson Test of English) : PTE Academic is a computer-based test which assesses the Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing abilities of non-native speakers of English who need to demonstrate their academic English capability — often to obtain places at English-speaking universities, higher education institutions or as proof of their language ability for a visa application. The three-hour long computer-based test focuses on day-to-day English rather than high-level English language and tests a student on his/her ability to effectively understand the language as spoken daily. The multi-level grading system ensures a better understanding of the student’s proficiency in the English language.

• CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment Test) : The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) is a standardised test of English in use for academic purposes. It is designed to describe the level of English language of test takers planning to study in English-medium colleges and universities. The CAEL Assessment tests the ability to use English as it is used in Canadian universities and colleges. It allows test takers to experience what it is like to participate in a Canadian post-secondary classroom. The CAEL Assessment offers a unique alternative to other standardised tests of English because it is a topic-based performance test. It comprises an integrated set of language activities. A person taking the test needs to read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions and write a short essay – all on one subject.

General Exams 

• SAT : The Scholastic Assessment Test evaluates the aspirants on the basis of literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in higher education. This test measures how well the aspirants can solve problems-skills they learned in school that they would be using further in college. The SAT exam is generally taken by students who have completed their schooling or students in high school to get admission in UG courses.

• GMAT : The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue MBA, or business or management related courses. The aspirants is measured on English, mathematical, and reasoning skills.

• GRE : The Graduate Record Examination is also taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Also, many business schools also accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

• ACT : Also referred to as American College Testing is a standardised test that is required to be taken by students looking for admission in undergraduate schools based in the US and Canada. ACT exam has been developed to evaluate the written, mathematical, verbal and scientific skills of the candidates.

• LSAT : The Law School Admission Test is a standardised test and is taken by students who want to take admission in law schools. The students are evaluated on the basis of reading and verbal reasoning skills.

Step- 4

Next step is to book an interview with your university. An admission interview is common for select programs at schools like the University of Oxford. In general, you can expect them to ask questions like: 

• Why do you want to study there?
• What is your background?
•  What are your future plans? etc.

As with any interview, the best way to prepare and be confident is to practise beforehand.

Step-5 

After you’ve passed the interview, you can finally book an appointment for a student visa. This is usually straightforward, and you’ll do it after you get a letter of acceptance to your university. Some of the documents you’ll want to prepare are:

• Application form
• Your passport 
• Medical and background information
• Receipt of payment for your university tuition fee
• Bank statements

Step-6 

Finally, make sure you have the funds to study abroad. Best scholarships are available for Indian students according to their needs to study abroad in the form of a financial aid or scholarship to help them pursue their dreams. Either you can apply for these scholarships. If not, you can use savings, student loans, grants, or other means to pay for the program.

Academics, achievements, hobbies, abilities, affiliations with various groups or professional aspirations are among the factors used to grant scholarships. Governments, huge enterprises, local businesses, professional organisations, and universities may all provide these scholarships. Some forms of the scholarships are as given below:

• Government Scholarships
• University scholarships
• Merit-Based Scholarships
• Students-specific Scholarships
• Subject-specific Scholarships
• Private Scholarships

How to Study Abroad from India with Scholarship

Apart from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, the top five countries for Indian students to study abroad are Germany, France, New Zealand and Singapore. Students explore new countries in response to changing trends to earn a degree with international relevance.