Studying Abroad: Where to Study and What to do.
As the application season is approaching (September), many high school students and undergraduates seeking graduate studies may begin contemplating where they plan to go next for learning. It can be a turbulent, yet exciting time for many, as they embark on the next phase of their journey.
This article collates years of experience advising students on immigration and academic matters, including college applications. We summarize some of the key lessons which can be taken from others who have successfully gone through this process, to help make your time a little easier. (This article is focused mainly on studies in North America, and to a lesser extent, Europe/the UK).
Where to Study?
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. Cost of living is the first major factor to consider. Many students often prefer to study in locations where they have a family member nearby, who can help them with accomodation and “finding their feet.” Oftentimes, having a specific program of interest, and a particularly well reputed institution can also determine where a student decides to venture for their studies.
Increasingly, immigration concerns are becoming a major factor in determining where a student will decide to go. For example, when choosing between the UK, US, or Canada, many students often opt for Canada, if they are interested in settling and working in Canada after their studies. In the United States, many graduates can end up spending a decade or more in the US, to eventually lose their immigration status, when their visa runs out. Canada, on the other hand, offers pathways to residency and citizenship, for graduates of Canadian colleges and universities. That being said, the United States offers a far larger menu of options, in terms of institutions, programs, courses, and ultimately, career opportunities.
Tuition and expenses are also a major concern when it comes to selecting the right institution. There are now a large amount of shorter diploma, certificate and professional courses available to students, which help prepare students for specialized work in a short period of time. This can be in a number of fields, from IT, to hospitality, law and even accounting. These programs can also be less costly for individuals on a lower budget. There are then other programs which are “world renowned,” and which may require a higher budget, or a stellar academic record. The bottom line is that whoever you are, it is likely that there exists a suitable opportunity to study for you somewhere.
Another factor to consider is where in a country or region, you wish to study. Some areas are cheaper than others, for example, studying in Toronto, Canada, or New York, USA, would be more expensive than studying in Windsor, Ontario, (Canada) or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), in terms of living expenses. However, living in a larger city may present greater work opportunities post graduation. Some students may also envision a future for themselves in London, or Europe, as opposed to somewhere far off like North America. Perhaps they’ve studied in a British Curriculum school and can see themselves living and working in Europe, as opposed to anywhere else. These are applicant dependent concerns, which should be worked out prior to the submission of your applications.
What to do
Prior to launching your application, we recommend that you shortlist a set of at least 5 potential universities and programs, to which you would like to apply, and which trigger your interest. As a backup, and particularly if you are interested in applying to more than one Country, it is highly recommended to apply to even more. Before you launch your applications at the selected universities, also make sure you understand the tuition and expenses associated with your studies. Check to see if any scholarships will be available to you as well, and what the process is for applying.
The last step before you launch your applications, will be to check the immigration requirements for the countries in which you wish to apply. In many countries, after being accepted to a university, you will have an immigration application to file, regardless of your nationality. This will include submitting bank statements, covering letters, and other documents to immigration authorities. It would be a good idea to check on these requirements in order to make sure you can comply with them, before you start the journey.
As for the applications, you will need your school transcripts, college transcripts (if applying for a graduate program), as well as personal essays, work experience letters and other documents required by your program.
As you can gather from above, the process of studying abroad is quite a hefty one, before it even begins! Therefore, we have a dedicated service line for students who wish to make their time before their studies more calm, relaxing and managed. For any assistance with your study permits, or university applications, get in touch with us today at:
info@borderlesscounsel.com