Study Abroad News & Alerts

Preparing for the LSAT can be exhausting as it requires hours of study on a stretch. But you can achieve whatever you want if you study effectively and efficiently rather than doing hard work that doesn't have any velocity. Here are some prep tips for you-

• The reading section of the LSAT is very complex because of the difficult passages that they give each year. At the same time, you also have to maintain a fixed pace so that you don't run out of time. Try to practice essays that are extremely difficult and fix the time period so that you become accustomed to solving such passages.
• Learn to take the stress and function with it. Practice it till the time you become immune to stress and it doesn't bother you anymore.
• Try to meditate every day as it helps in maintaining your composure. This will help you in combating examination anxiety.
• Don't go by the theoretical norms and try to solve the paper logically. Your logic is your biggest strength and uses it as much as you can.
• Make sure that you are taking care of your body and have healthy meals. Exercise daily and try to strike a healthy balance between studying and rejuvenating. This exam is not only based on the mental aspect but is also a physically draining exam for you. Keep your body healthy and active.

Estonia is located in the northern part of Europe with a population of just 1.3 million people. It is known for its architecture, history, and lush green forests. What is even more special about this country is the well-developed education system that it has. It has a very highly developed IT and also offers free healthcare to students. Also, Education is free for all at the Ph.D. level in Estonia. It will cost you around 1,660 and 7,500 euros per year to pursue a bachelor's in Estonia. Here is a list of some highly inexpensive countries in Estonia-

• Tallinn University

This university was founded in 1919 and is one of the oldest universities in the whole country. It is named after the capital of the country. It has six schools: humanities, education, science and health, governance, law and society, digital technology, film, media, arts, and communication.

• University of Tartu

This University was founded in 1632 and is the most popular university in Estonia. It is the national University of Estonia, and most of the courses here are taught in the Estonian language. Although there are many English-based courses available as well. It is ranked 296th  globally in the list of the top universities of the world.

• Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)

This university is also known as TalTech. This university was founded in 1918 as the only technological University in Estonia. European students do not have to pay any tuition fees whereas students from outside of Europe have to pay their fees.

A Lot of schools in India have started accepting the curriculum of foreign boards leaving behind the traditional methods of CBSE. International Baccalaureate (IB) and the UK’s Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) have lately become very popular in India. Despite the high tuition fees that these schools charge, the demand has been growing aggressively. Between the time period of 2018 and 2021, the number of students in IB schools increased by about 24 percent. Currently, in India, we have 204 IB World Schools and 338 authorized programs. The majority of parents who enroll their students in these foreign boards said that this is the path toward a bright future for their children. By making their children study in schools that are affiliated with foreign boards they are ensuring that their children are accepted into prestigious international universities in the future. Around 50% of the students studying in the schools end up in international universities in some foreign countries. The rest of the students get a seat in some of the premier private institutions of India like Ashoka University and OP Jindal University. Foreign boards make sure that their students go through an overall development during their school period. They focus on aspects like critical thinking, leadership, personality building, and research which CBSE lacks.

The title of this article may seem a little off-putting to you. This is because generally, you come across articles guiding you about the best countries for studying abroad. Very rarely do you see articles telling you to not study in some particular countries? It is important for you to be aware of what country you must avoid considering studying in if you're planning to go abroad to pursue your education. Here are those countries-

• Avoid countries like Thailand and Fiji if you don't like summers and can't bear the heat. Both of these countries are extremely humid and hot throughout the year. It is very difficult for students to adjust to the climate. Choose Russia or Canada instead for a cool temperature.
• If you are vegetarian or vegan, don't ever think about studying in Portugal or Japan. Both of these countries barely have any dish that is fully vegetarian. The right choice is India or Germany for this.
• Don't think of studying in China and Japan if you are a nature freak and like being close to nature. Both of these countries are high on human resources and are extremely capitalized. You will very rarely get to see any countryside or nature. New Zealand and Scotland are recommended options.
• European countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece are known for their natural beauty and beaches. If you're looking to accelerate your career opportunities and are a person of competitive nature then avoid all of these countries. For this South Korea should be your choice
• If you are a student who is concerned about your security then avoid studying in Brazil as it has high crime rates. Choose Japan instead because Japan is very low on crime.
• Are you a student on a budget crunch? If yes then cut the name of England from your list and instead add countries like Peru and Hungary.

London is a very beautiful city in the UK. Throughout old modern transitions that it has been subjected to, it has been able to maintain its rustic beauty as well. Here are some tips for you that will come in handy while studying in London-

• Don't overpack a lot of clothes. Only pack clothes that you will practically wear. Try to include articles that you can layer on top of each other.
• Never be afraid of traveling solo and going to places without any company. London is a very safe city so you don't have to worry about your security that much.
• Get out of your comfort zone and try to be the icebreaker. This is the only way you will make new friends and develop a network that will come to your own use only.
• Make a money map and decide the allocation of your expenses. Always remember that The currency that you are spending money in is different from the currency of the country that you come from.
• Always remember that study is the primary reason for your immigration. Don't let any other thing distract you from your goals.

Australia is one of the most expensive countries in the world for education. The average cost of studying here can be more than that of the United States of America and the UK. But one must also consider the fact that it is the IT hub of the world and hence the land of many opportunities. By careful research and selection of, you can study in Australia on a budget without compromising on the quality of education that you attain. The first step towards this is the selection of the right city for yourself. Here are some cities in Australia that will save up a lot of your money as they are very inexpensive.

• Canberra

This is the capital city of Australia and a very livable as well as the affordable city. The cost of living in this city will depend on the lifestyle that you want to accept. You can get accommodation for A$160 per week for a room in a shared house to A$400 to A$500 per week for a home with two to three bedrooms.

• Brisbane

This city in Australia is known for its warm behavior towards job seekers as it has a lot of opportunities for everyone. The average expenses for a student vary from A$556 to A$1,120 per month depending upon how much you spend.

• Gold Coast

It is the largest non-capital city in Australia and is located an hour down south of Brisbane. Weekly costs — inclusive of rent, food, utilities, and transport — total A$350 to A$700.

F-1 visa applies for a student visa for studying in the US. An f-1 student is applicable if you plan to study at a US college or university, private secondary school, or an approved English language program. If you are a student whose F1 visa is about to expire then here is what you need to do-

• You should understand that an F1 visa is applicable as long as you are pursuing your study in the USA. If your F1 visa has expired before the completion of your study then you have to apply for a new one.
• Make sure that you have all the documentation that is required for applying for a new visa.
• Evidence showing your intention to return to your home country upon completing the program, including evidence of compelling social and economic ties to your home country.

The vitality of doing an internship during your bachelor's and master's is unquestionable. Doing an internship during your college duration gives you an insight into the professional and capitalist world. It teaches you millennial behavior. Employers generally prefer students who have previously worked in some professional domain. Additionally doing an internship also provides you with financial support as you start earning through an internship. But not every student is available to enjoy this added perk of an extra income through internships. A lot of internships that students pursue during their college tenure are unpaid. But just for the sake of experience students are advised to pursue internships that are unpaid. The question is whether these internships are really worth your time. Well, this totally depends on your field. A lot of times pursuing an internship that is unpaid can also bring a lot of benefits for your own skill development. Students get to learn a lot of new skills during their work period which helps them further. Whereas in some internships, working for free can be very draining and exhaustive. Make your own decision by being smart enough to understand what is chasing at the moment.

Scotland is a beautiful country in Europe that is also a part of the United Kingdom. For years it has been outshined because of the ever-encompassing glory of England and its prestigious universities. But if you dig deeper and do your research, you will find that Scotland is home to some of the most highly developed universities. The best part about studying in Scotland is that it is much cheaper than in England. Here are some of the best universities in Scotland-

• University of St Andrews
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Stirling
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Heriot-Watt University
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Robert Gordon University
• Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
• Abertay University
• The University of the West of Scotland

Getting a fully funded scholarship is a dream of every student. It is once in a lifetime kind of opportunity that only selected students to get. By getting a fully funded scholarship you don't have to worry about your tuition fees and even accommodation expenses as everything will be financed by your university. But there are many other facets of a fully funded scholarship that many students don't know about. Before applying for a fully funded scholarship, here are the things that you must know about.

• Check what sort of expenses will a fully funded scholarship cover for you. Mostly all the scholarships specify everything that will be covered under their expense to maintain clarity of thoughts from the beginning. Some scholarships will cover your entire tuition fees but you would have to pay for your accommodation by yourself. Whereas some scholarships will fund you entirely by covering your university fees as well as your accommodation expenses.
• Most of the scholarships come with terms and conditions so make sure that you check all these vigilantly in advance. Some of the most common terms and conditions laid down by scholarships are-
• A student must return back to their native country once they are done with their education.
• The student must work with the organization that has given them the scholarship for a legally binding time period.
• Students must achieve a certain minimum grade throughout the scholarship otherwise it will be discontinued.
• After getting the scholarship, the student is not eligible for any other scholarship that can help them simultaneously.
• A lot of scholarships that you may come across will also be fake. Do authenticity research about scholarships so that you don't become a victim of some online trap.
• Remember that not all scholarships are transferable. This means that if you choose to change your educational Institute in between your scholarship tenure, then there is a probability that your scholarship will be discontinued.

Here is a link for your help-

finaid.org/scholarships

Both IELTS and TOEFL are English proficiency tests meant to check and mark your language skills. In order to study abroad, appearing for one of these tests is necessary. They serve as proof to testify your ability to speak and write in English. International universities, especially the ones that are based in English-speaking countries have a requirement to submit one of these test scores during the application process. Apart from these two, there are many other language testing exams but these two remain the most popular. All the students who prepare for studying abroad go through this confusion of which out of these two exams to pick.

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A lot of people think that TOEFL is the easier one out of the two but that is not the case. Both of them are equally difficult. IELTS and be given in both online and paper mode. The results of the online mode are out in 3-5 days whereas paper-based tests take around 13 days. The assessment of the test is based on the concept of ‘bands’ ranging from 0 to 9 where 0 is the lowest and 9 is the highest. The exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes long.TOEFL on the other hand is held only in online mode and is 3 hours 15 minutes long. The scores are usually in the range of 0-120, where 0 represents the lowest number and 120 represents the highest number. TOEFL is generally demanded specifically in countries like the UK, Canada, and some European countries. IELTS is accepted across the UK. In the US, to date, many universities insist on having a TOEFL score. So choose the test depending upon the university that you are aiming for.

Ireland is a promising destination when it comes to studying abroad. A lot of universities in Ireland are leading institutes in the field of research and development. The Irish government over the years has made a lot of improvements in the education sector of the country. This has strengthened the study sector here due to which Ireland is one of the top choices for a lot of students who want to study in international universities. Here is a list of universities in Ireland which are cheap but at the same time offer quality education.

• Dublin Business School
• Griffith College Dublin
• National College of Ireland (NCI)
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology 
• Maynooth University
• University College Cork
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Cork Institute of Technology
• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Limerick

Public universities in Ireland will cost you around 14,000 - 21,000 euros a year. Private colleges will cost you 12,000 -14,000 euros annually.

The counseling schedule of NEET UG 2022 will be announced by The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) very soon. The NEET UG counseling will be held for 15 percent All India Quota (AIQ) seats, AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU, AMU, and other open seats. Students who have qualified for the NEET UG exam 2022 will be eligible for this counseling. The MCC will conduct the AIQ counseling in four rounds- AQI round 1, AIQ round 2, AIQ Mop-Up round and AIQ Stray Vacancy round. The NEET counseling for AIQ quota will be held on the basis of all India ranks (AIR). The AQI seats will also include a reservation quota.

• NEET UG Counselling 2022: Quota-Wise Seat Distribution
• 15 percent All India quota seats, MBBS, BDS seats of States
• All India quota government-aided
• All India quota private
• State government quota, Institutional quota.
• Central Universities, National Institutes.
• Deemed to be universities.
• Management, NRI quota.

Very often you may have come across articles telling you about the most affordable countries in Europe for international education. As we all know that education in most European countries is free for its native and EU nation's students. For international students, the fees are almost negligible or very less. Today we will talk about the European cities in particular, which offer very affordable education to international students so that your decision-making can become more precise in terms of where you want to study.

• Warsaw, Poland

Poland is one of the cheapest countries not only in Europe but in the whole world. The living expenses here are said to be more affordable than in 69% of the countries in the world. Warsaw in Poland is the city of history as it has been a witness of civil conflict, invasion, and immense suffering in the past. a month here costs 2,715.25 Poland z?oty (approximately US$550.76 at the time of writing) without rent.

• Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a famous tourist destination in Europe famous for its deserts and ice creams. The city is beautifully built with breathtaking architecture. It also offers high-quality education to students, especially in the medical field.

• Zagreb, Croatia

Well thinking of Croatia you might perceive an image of a country that is highly underdeveloped but we have to bring to you that what you think is extremely wrong. The country is actually very beautiful and has been the shooting location for a lot of popular Hollywood projects. The capital city of Croatia, Zagreb is home to some of the oldest universities in Europe.

The driving force behind gaining education for most students is to be able to earn once one is done with studying. Many students nowadays choose their career options considering their earnings and job opportunities rather than going behind their passion. Here is a list of the most high-paying jobs today and the degrees you need for the same.

• Cardiologist

With time many people are facing heart ailments and that is why this field of medicine has become increasingly in demand. Cardiologists typically earn around US$351,827 per year. To become a cardiologist you have to be prepared for four years of medical school, three more years learning general internal medicine as a resident, and another three specialized training after that.

• Anesthesiologist

This is a doctor specialising in developing anesthetic plans and explaining this to their patients. This is to ensure that there is a minimum risk during the surgery. Anaesthesiologists earn around US$326,296 per year on average. Like other doctors, to become an Anesthesiologist you have to spend many years in medical school before you can practice. This includes the standard four years of medical school, a one-year internship, and a three-year residency.

Cultural exchange programs are for those students who want to experience life beyond campus and learn new things in different countries. Generally, a student joins a cultural exchange program during the last years of high school or by taking a drop year after graduating high school. Though there is no age restriction for joining cultural exchange programs. You could be at any point of your life and pursue anything. These are some great cultural exchange programs-

• The Disney Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP)

Under this cultural exchange program, you will get the opportunity to live in one of the four housing complexes at Disney. To be eligible, you must be fluent in English and above the age of 18. You must also be enrolled in an accredited, degree-issuing college or university; and return to school for at least one term following the program. Graduates can also participate.

• Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad offer a lot of internship opportunities across the globe. The participating countries include Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific. For some opportunities, You must be at least 15 or 16 years of age whereas for others 18 years of minimum age is required.

• Absolute Internships

Through Absolute Internships, you can as a student stay in different parts of Asia and Europe. They offer three types of unpaid internship programs: on-site internships, remote internships, and high school internships in various industries ranging from advertising and graphic design to real estate.

There is a huge misconception about medical colleges that they only offer degrees in the field of medicine. This narrative is completely false as a lot of med schools offer degrees in the field of humanities and social sciences. Here are some of the med schools in the US that offer degrees and disciplines other than medicine.

• University of Colorado
• George Washington University
• Thomas Jefferson University
• University of Maryland
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Vermont
• Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of New Mexico
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (NY)
• Brown University

Recently there has been a huge rise in the number of students from India going to the US to pursue courses in the field of Business Analytics, Data Science, MIM, and STEM-based courses. For decades China has been the highest contributor of international students in the United States of America but recently it seems like China's position has been relegated. According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, a total of 77,799 Indian students received F-1 visas from January to July this year, as opposed to 46,145 secured by China. In the last couple of years now, there has been a cut short competition between China and India in terms of the student visas that are issued by the United States of America. But in this competition, China always managed to surpass India with a few thousand more visas. This year India has managed to receive double the amount of student visas that have been issued to Chinese students. Experts have attributed this to the pandemic as it brought a cultural shift in education with itself. India was able to camouflage with this new ecosystem of education very quickly and this is the reason why so many student visas are being issued to Indian students.

Indian students make a huge contribution to the education market of the world. Every year thousands of Indian students immigrate from India to foreign countries in order to get an education. Especially after the pandemic, the trend has amplified to a large extent with a lot more students now wanting to study abroad. As of 2021 800000 students were studying abroad. The number is likely to double by 2024 reaching 1.8 million students. Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK are likely to remain the top choices of Indian students to study abroad. One of the top reasons why many students from India want to study abroad is the high-quality education that western countries offer. Students believe that getting top-quality education will promise them a future full of good opportunities. Also, there is a demand and supply gap in the Indian education system where the top institutions of the country do not have enough seats for all of the students. Thus a lot of students were left with no other option but to study abroad. Private institutions in India are equally expensive to study abroad in a university. But studying abroad at a foreign university will give you a lot more exposure and the opportunity to explore. The number of students immigrating to foreign countries for education purposes is likely to rise exponentially through the years.

When one thinks of studying abroad, the names of both Canada and the USA come to mind of an individual. Both of these countries are home to some of the most prestigious educational institutes in the world. Both of these countries are also among the top five countries for international education. Another similarity is their geographical proximity as both of them lie in the northern American continent. So what is it that makes these two countries differ from each other? Well, it's the cost of accommodation and the tuition fees that plays a major role in deciding what country you want to study in. The US and Canada also have different post-graduation work visa rules which you must know before coming to a decision. In terms of application fees, the average application fee is US$45 but some unis charge as much as US$100. In Canada, it varies from as low as CA$30 to as high as over CA$200. When it comes to university fees, Canada charges 40% fewer fees than American universities and on average, the difference is US$4,000. Canada also offers more scholarships and financial aid to students than the USA.