5 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Study Abroad Destination
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So you have decided to study abroad but are confused about where to go and which university you should choose. Do not worry, you are not the first one to be here. You should keep a few factors in mind at the time of selecting an ideal study destination for your higher studies. Want to know important things to consider before choosing a study abroad country? Check here
5 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Study Abroad Destination: Is it just the university, university rankings, cost of studying, cost of living, quality of life and education system that you should consider before making your decision to study abroad? We believe this is not it that you should consider, in fact, there are several other questions that you should ask yourself before making this life-changing decision to move abroad for higher studies. Read this article to learn about the major questions that you should ask yourself to make a better and informed decision.
- Select a Course
- Career Prospectus of The Course
- What is the Return on Investment?
- Opportunities Available for Spouse/Family Members
- Value of The Degree in India
- How to Choose the Right Study Destination Abroad FAQs
Select a Course
The first thing every student must consider, irrespective of what kind of return on investment you expect, is the course one is planning to pursue. While most of the top colleges across different countries offer brilliant opportunities, the fact remains that there is always one particular course that would have more advantages in one country than the next.
Taking for instance the top courses students apply for in universities abroad. Research showed that more students opt for MS courses than MBA courses at the post-graduate level. Now, while many top-ranked universities belong to the USA (which continues to be the first among equals for study abroad destinations), we cannot ignore countries like Germany and even Australia that offer good quality education at a fraction of the cost (for Germany!).
Also, if you are interested in taking up a language course in French, for obvious reasons France and Canada would offer better opportunities and credence as compared to any other study abroad destination. Hence, we suggest that the first step a student ought to take is to understand which course to take. Once that is done, go to Question 2.
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Career Prospectus of The Course
Often I have come across students who are more interested in looking at the rank of the college rather than the kind of opportunities the location offers. What is important to understand is that the reason why you are planning to go abroad is to take a jump in your lifestyle which comes with a dream job. Now, if that is the reason, how would taking up a course, say like aeronautical engineering in some obscure land help if there is no industry nearby?
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Every curriculum requires industrial training. Be it at an undergraduate level or a postgraduate level or indeed at the research level, the fact remains that there are top companies which attract the best. And though the top companies hire from the very best, they also tend to reach out to the local colleges for their interns and special training.
Hence we highly recommend that once you have chosen the course you are planning to undertake, look at the cities that the universities/ institutes are close to and what kind of industries mark that region. Ideally, it should be closer to the big names in the industry of your choice. Not only would this ensure a better set of job opportunities after completing the course, but also help you assimilate to the culture of the region, hence assisting a better performance at the job.
Other Useful Reads:
What is the Return on Investment?
You are going to invest your time, effort and hard-earned money of your parents. It is really important that you have an idea about the return on investment. A return on investment, simply put is the expected earnings after the course divided by the cost of acquiring the necessary education. Explaining it further, while the cost of pursuing an MBA is considerably higher, the returns of the degree are higher still. However, the student must consider calculating the same for specific countries.
A good way to do this is by researching the job and salary statistics of the country as per the industry. Often, the relevant statistical data is easily available for the discerning. So before you finalize a country, also understand what kind of pay-outs you can expect from the job which you are hoping to get after completing your education. Unless and until your aspirations are purely academic, you would be wiser to calculate the expected salary.
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In case the pursuits are academic, even then a return on investment can be calculated by understanding the kind of research facilities available in the country you are planning to go to and the tie-ups that the university enjoys with the research centres in the region.
Opportunities Available for Spouse/Family Members
Perhaps more relevant for students applying for postgraduate courses as against the undergraduate courses, the other thing a student should also research is the options for spouses in the country. While some countries are mindful that you would want to bring your spouse or child along, they do not necessarily have many opportunities for them. As such, it becomes a critical determinant and must be considered.
Especially for students who are in the middle of their careers and have a working spouse, understanding this is important for while you increase your income, you might want to add your spouse’s income rather than forego it.
Related Blog: Student Spouse Visa Information of Different Countries
Value of The Degree in India
The final thing and arguably also the first thing a student must evaluate is the value of the country’s degree in India. Usually, degrees received from foreign universities are valued in India. However, it is important that we choose the right study destination and university for higher education.
One country might offer a cheaper cost of living but a must stricter entry requirements while another country might offer you easier admissions but have rather a high cost of living. Irrespective, we believe that these are the things one cannot truly avoid but when deciding which is the best country to study abroad…think of the first 5 questions and chances are…no matter what your choice, the country would offer you the best value for your time and money. Start your research with the country pages at Shiksha Study Abroad to understand about the countries and then make an informed choice.
Also Read: Consequences of Choosing the Wrong University Abroad
Feel free to mention any query in the comment section and we will be happy to answer your question. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors
How to Choose the Right Study Destination Abroad FAQs
Q. How do I choose the right country to study abroad?
A. Every country comes with its unique set of benefits of studying abroad, followed by its different application procedures. The decision of choosing the right country should be based on your preferences, interests and budget along with a mix of several other factors. Below are some points that you should critically think about while choosing your abroad study destination as these points will help you make an informed decision.
- Finance
- Post-study work opportunities
- Safety
- Language
- Visa Process
- Required exams
- Accommodation
- Cost of living and studying
- University Rankings
- Personal budget and ROI
Q. Which destination is best for abroad study?
A. The best country for your higher studies depends on your preferences such as
- Academic Focus
- Cost of Living Expenses
- Cost of Studying
- Language preferences
- Job Opportunities
- Scholarships
Q. What are the 5 steps to study abroad?
A. The five steps to study abroad include the following:
- Country Selection
- University and course shortlisting
- Checking eligibility and taking the required tests
- Submitting the required documents and test scores while completing the application process
- Visa Application
Q. How do I decide whether to study in India or abroad?
A. There are a number of reasons that can help you in making the right decision whether to study in India or abroad.
- Firstly, if you are a person who has never lived away from home then you may find studying abroad a bit difficult. However, if you are determined to make an informed decision and ready to explore a world full of opportunities, then studying abroad can be the right decision for you.
- Secondly, your choice to study in India or abroad must depend on the university you are getting your chances of studying at. In India, the top universities conduct physical entrance examinations which are really difficult to crack because they are designed to gauge through lakhs of applicants to find only the most genius minds against a limited number of seats. In most cases, students often find it difficult to crack these exams and due to the lack of proper research, they end up settling for whichever university they get. So, make sure you do thorough research and shortlist some universities that suit your preferences the best and have the course of your interest. You must then further filter your choices by other preferences like location, budget, accessibility, ease of admission, and various other factors. But make sure you stick to the list and get admitted to a university for which you are strongly confident, whether in India or abroad.
The application process at the University of Manchester can change depending on course chosen and level of study. The steps to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the university are given as follows:
UG Application Process:
- Student must apply through the UCAS common application portal.
- They can go to the website and select the course that they are interested in.
- Students are required to meet the eligibility requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
- Once they have decided on the course, the important documents are to be submitted such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
- You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
- Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
- The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
PG application process:
- Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
- Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
- Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
- Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
- Know the exam pattern.
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus.
- Solve previous year question papers.
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems.
- Revise regularly.
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well.
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.
Starting research
Shortlisting colleges
Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
Scholarship & finance
Visa application
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
Comments
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3 years ago
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4 years ago
4 years ago
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4 years ago
4 years ago
Dear Thanima It is recommended to choose a country based on your budget to study abroad and college that you like. Please refer to https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/ms-in-psychology-from-abroad-ds11509286 for suitable options.
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.