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Living in a new country alone for the first time, adapting to a new lifestyle and culture, potentially learning a new language: studying abroad can signal a monumental change in a person’s life.
Making the decision to study abroad is just the first step. There are many things to research and consider when preparing to live and study internationally. On top of that, there is a plethora of university options from all around the world.
We aim to simplify the entire process by breaking it down into steps. Here, we will guide you through the process of choosing your perfect university and study destination to make your study abroad dreams a reality.
Research
Studying abroad is a significant decision and so the initial research phase should be extensive.
The first thing that you may want to research is the destination. Choosing the right region, country and city is particularly important as it will form the backdrop for, not only your studies, but your experience of living abroad.
It will impact how easily you can travel home if it is near or far away from your home country. There will be considerations such as language, food, and culture. It will allow you to choose whether you would like to live in a major city or somewhere that is more rural, coastal, or quiet.
Some things that you might want to think about are the cost of living, the size of the student population, the climate, and the availability of student accommodation.
Once you have decided on your study destination, you may want to explore the location’s top-ranking universities. The QS World University Rankings will allow you to look up the best universities in your chosen destination to ensure a high-quality education.
It will even allow you to choose a category of priority such as the school’s academic reputation, its international research network, employment outcomes, sustainability and much more.
Finally, you will need to do some research on the programmes that your desired university offers. Different students will have different preferences when looking at the course content of a programme. Some will have a clear idea of their career ambitions and will prefer a programme that allows them to specialise in a specific topic. Some will not be as certain of their career plans and will benefit from a programme that gives them a wide range of knowledge and transferable skills.
As well as the course content, students may want to find out the price of the programme, the mode of teaching: online, in-person or hybrid, the duration of the programme and the research or internship opportunities available.
You can start your research today by using the course matching tool on the Top Universities website.
Scholarship opportunities
Looking at scholarship opportunities is an important part of your research as it allows you to have a better understanding of the options that are affordable for you.
QS is a great place to begin looking for scholarships through our ImpACT programme. We offer many opportunities to a range of prospective students including female students, LGBTQ people, military personnel, STEM students, business and management students and many more.
All the information about these scholarships is available on the Top Universities website. There are also plenty of articles on scholarship opportunities and applications to aid in your research.
Alternatively, students may look for scholarships funded by the university, by the local government or by private organisations. For help in looking for these, our scholarship guide has an extensive list of options from around the world and provides information on how to apply.
Immigration requirements
Another thing that you should consider during the research phase is the immigration requirements. In order to obtain a student visa, should you be accepted into the university of your choice, you will need to meet specific requirements and provide a set of documentation.
The visa requirements will vary from country to country. It is important to do your research before applying so that you will know what to expect. Some common requirements for obtaining a student visa include:
A passport
A letter of acceptance from your university
Proof of funds to support yourself and pay for your course (this may include scholarship information if that applies to you)
Proof of language proficiency
Proof of health insurance or means of paying any medical bills
A clear criminal record
Medical clearance
Councellor
If research and preparation is proving to be a challenge, speaking to a counsellor may help. There are plenty of counsellors who are available to talk at QS Apply. We have experts from regions all over the world ready to help you and answer any questions about study destinations, universities, applications, and documentation.
Application
When you have done all your research, understood all of the visa and university requirements, and decided on a programme that you would like to study, you should begin your application.
The application process is different for every university, but many will ask for:
Proof of identity
A photograph
A transcript of your previous academic achievements
A language proficiency test
A passing grade at an entrance exam
Professional or academic references
An interview
A cover letter
For help with the application process, the counsellors at QS Apply provide an excellent service.
When you have received your acceptance letter you can begin preparing for your move. Firstly, make sure that you fully understand your acceptance letter. Note whether your offer is conditional, based on your upcoming exam results, or unconditional.
Also note any deadlines mentioned in the letter and make sure that they are noted in your calendar. They may include an enrolment deadline, an application for financial aid deadline or an accommodation application deadline. It may also highlight the date that you should arrive in the country, the first day of classes and any welcome activities or events that you might be interested in.
Next, start the visa application process. You may be familiar with this from the research that you did prior to your application. It would be beneficial to go over the process and requirements a final time to make sure that you haven’t missed anything.
During your studies, you may decide that you would like to do some part-time work. In many countries, a limited number of hours of part-time work is allowed as part of the student visa.
Trained or qualified workers or people plan on working for more than 20 hours per week will often need a work visa as well as a study visa. It is vital that students who are intending to do any work while studying understand the exact terms of their visa and what it allows.
Misunderstandings or mistakes could lead to problems with the police and the immigration department of the local government. Make sure that you understand your visa terms completely and speak to an expert or representative at your local embassy if there is anything you are unsure about.
Employability
Employability is an important consideration for many students who choose to study abroad. Many students choose to study internationally as they believe a degree from their chosen university will enhance their career prospects.
Therefore, taking advantage of the career opportunities and employability activities that your university offers is very important. These may include careers fairs, internship and work experience opportunities, and job placements at the university.
In addition, many students will often prefer to stay in their study destination after graduation due to the career opportunities available or their lifestyle preferences. It would be advisable to look into visa conversion, how easily you will be able to change from a student visa to a working visa after graduation, or speak to a career's advisor or international student representative at your university.
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How to choose the right university to study abroad
Holly Hemmings
Updated Sep 05, 2024Save
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Living in a new country alone for the first time, adapting to a new lifestyle and culture, potentially learning a new language: studying abroad can signal a monumental change in a person’s life.
Making the decision to study abroad is just the first step. There are many things to research and consider when preparing to live and study internationally. On top of that, there is a plethora of university options from all around the world.
We aim to simplify the entire process by breaking it down into steps. Here, we will guide you through the process of choosing your perfect university and study destination to make your study abroad dreams a reality.
Research
Studying abroad is a significant decision and so the initial research phase should be extensive.
The first thing that you may want to research is the destination. Choosing the right region, country and city is particularly important as it will form the backdrop for, not only your studies, but your experience of living abroad.
It will impact how easily you can travel home if it is near or far away from your home country. There will be considerations such as language, food, and culture. It will allow you to choose whether you would like to live in a major city or somewhere that is more rural, coastal, or quiet.
Some things that you might want to think about are the cost of living, the size of the student population, the climate, and the availability of student accommodation.
Once you have decided on your study destination, you may want to explore the location’s top-ranking universities. The QS World University Rankings will allow you to look up the best universities in your chosen destination to ensure a high-quality education.
It will even allow you to choose a category of priority such as the school’s academic reputation, its international research network, employment outcomes, sustainability and much more.
Finally, you will need to do some research on the programmes that your desired university offers. Different students will have different preferences when looking at the course content of a programme. Some will have a clear idea of their career ambitions and will prefer a programme that allows them to specialise in a specific topic. Some will not be as certain of their career plans and will benefit from a programme that gives them a wide range of knowledge and transferable skills.
As well as the course content, students may want to find out the price of the programme, the mode of teaching: online, in-person or hybrid, the duration of the programme and the research or internship opportunities available.
You can start your research today by using the course matching tool on the Top Universities website.
Scholarship opportunities
Looking at scholarship opportunities is an important part of your research as it allows you to have a better understanding of the options that are affordable for you.
QS is a great place to begin looking for scholarships through our ImpACT programme. We offer many opportunities to a range of prospective students including female students, LGBTQ people, military personnel, STEM students, business and management students and many more.
All the information about these scholarships is available on the Top Universities website. There are also plenty of articles on scholarship opportunities and applications to aid in your research.
Alternatively, students may look for scholarships funded by the university, by the local government or by private organisations. For help in looking for these, our scholarship guide has an extensive list of options from around the world and provides information on how to apply.
Immigration requirements
Another thing that you should consider during the research phase is the immigration requirements. In order to obtain a student visa, should you be accepted into the university of your choice, you will need to meet specific requirements and provide a set of documentation.
The visa requirements will vary from country to country. It is important to do your research before applying so that you will know what to expect. Some common requirements for obtaining a student visa include:
Councellor
If research and preparation is proving to be a challenge, speaking to a counsellor may help. There are plenty of counsellors who are available to talk at QS Apply. We have experts from regions all over the world ready to help you and answer any questions about study destinations, universities, applications, and documentation.
Application
When you have done all your research, understood all of the visa and university requirements, and decided on a programme that you would like to study, you should begin your application.
The application process is different for every university, but many will ask for:
For help with the application process, the counsellors at QS Apply provide an excellent service.
Testimonials
Offer acceptance
When you have received your acceptance letter you can begin preparing for your move. Firstly, make sure that you fully understand your acceptance letter. Note whether your offer is conditional, based on your upcoming exam results, or unconditional.
Also note any deadlines mentioned in the letter and make sure that they are noted in your calendar. They may include an enrolment deadline, an application for financial aid deadline or an accommodation application deadline. It may also highlight the date that you should arrive in the country, the first day of classes and any welcome activities or events that you might be interested in.
Next, start the visa application process. You may be familiar with this from the research that you did prior to your application. It would be beneficial to go over the process and requirements a final time to make sure that you haven’t missed anything.
During your studies, you may decide that you would like to do some part-time work. In many countries, a limited number of hours of part-time work is allowed as part of the student visa.
Trained or qualified workers or people plan on working for more than 20 hours per week will often need a work visa as well as a study visa. It is vital that students who are intending to do any work while studying understand the exact terms of their visa and what it allows.
Misunderstandings or mistakes could lead to problems with the police and the immigration department of the local government. Make sure that you understand your visa terms completely and speak to an expert or representative at your local embassy if there is anything you are unsure about.
Employability
Employability is an important consideration for many students who choose to study abroad. Many students choose to study internationally as they believe a degree from their chosen university will enhance their career prospects.
Therefore, taking advantage of the career opportunities and employability activities that your university offers is very important. These may include careers fairs, internship and work experience opportunities, and job placements at the university.
In addition, many students will often prefer to stay in their study destination after graduation due to the career opportunities available or their lifestyle preferences. It would be advisable to look into visa conversion, how easily you will be able to change from a student visa to a working visa after graduation, or speak to a career's advisor or international student representative at your university.
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