Eligibility Criteria to Study Abroad for Indian Students

Like in any Indian university, you would need to prove your eligibility to get an admission, the foreign universities also demand the same. Read this article to learn the common eligibility criteria for studying abroad.

Indian students who wish to study abroad after 12th need to fulfil certain eligibility criteria - (1) for university and (2) for visa application. A great part of being eligible for your chosen program includes passing English and subject tests, collecting required documents, filling out the university's application form timely, getting accommodation fixed before you move to abroad and managing finances. This article determines eligibility criteria of studying abroad for Indian students.  

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Why Study Abroad?

These days studying abroad is not just a dream because of reasonable tuition fees and low cost of living coupled with various education loans and scholarships available exclusively for Indian students. Perks of zstudying abroad are-

• state-of-the-art facilities,
• renowned faculty,
• healthy student-teacher ratio,
• favourable post-study work options and job opportunities for international students, and
• improved living standard.

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When to Apply for Studying Abroad?

Students thinking about how to study abroad should first know their options. This is why the correct knowledge of when you should apply for studying abroad come into use. 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. Students are advised to check with their college/ university and course, for the exam requirement. They should only apply for the exam that is accepted by their institution of choice. In case there is an option between two exams, the decision rests on the candidate to pick an exam of his choice. The time required for preparing for these examinations would depend on the existing proficiency and aptitude level of the candidates. Candidates may require 2 to 4 months of preparation before the exam date.

How Many Times can You Appear for Exams?

All the exams mentioned exhibit different rules for taking the exam. For example, IELTS can be taken 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. The 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 the GMAT an unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests.

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Details on Exams Required for Studying Abroad

As mentioned, candidates would have to appear for various language and general exams to be eligible for studying abroad. Read on to know more about these exams.

Language Exams include:

1. TOEFL measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand North American English in college and university settings. ETS, that has developed the TOEFL exam and also administers it, sets the questions in the exam and sends each examinee their score report. 
2. IELTS measures the language ability of candidates willing to study or work in an English-speaking country. Apart from academic purposes, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and certification agencies use IELTS scores to evaluate English proficiency.
3. PTE Academic is a two-hour-long computer-based test that focuses on day-to-day English rather than the high-level English. The multi-level grading system ensures a better understanding of the student’s proficiency in the English language.
4. CAEL 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. 

Also Check: 5 Steps to Choosing the Right College

General Exams include:

1. 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.
2. GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue MBA, or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical, and reasoning skills.
3. 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 to pursue MBA or business or management courses.
4. ACT – Also referred to as American College Testing is a standardized test that is required to be taken by students looking for admission to 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.
5. LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test and is taken by students who want to take admitted to law schools. The students are evaluated on the basis of reading and verbal reasoning skills.

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Admission Documents Required to Study Abroad

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, another important aspect of a candidate is eligible for admission to universities/colleges abroad and how they should study abroad that is, what documents are required to successfully submit admission application for the same. These documents include:

• Letter of recommendation (LOR) – Students also require a 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 their achievements and learnings. Some universities demand Admission Essays in place of Statements of Purpose. Essays are generally required to pursue a specific course like an MBA.

Still, confused about college admissions? Get advice from our Shiksha Team of Overseas Admission Counsellors who are always ready to help you with all your queries. It is advisable for students to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to, and appear for the exam accordingly. Many educational institutes accept specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore before preparing for the exam students should check with the university they aspire to get into.

Best of luck!

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