Study Abroad News & Alerts

Studying abroad is an experience of a lifetime in itself. Many students aspire to study in an international university but only a few of them get the opportunity to do so. If you are one of these fortunate students then make sure that you are making full use of all the privileges that you have been given. One of the most overlooked things that students do while studying in an international University is not develop a close relationship with their professors. These are the reasons why you must develop a close relationship with your professors-

• Your college professors have allocated office hours that are meant for student visits. During these office hours, you can visit your professor for any problem that you may have related to university work.
• By forming a close-knit relationship video Professor you get in their good books. Becoming a professor's favorite it may help you in a lot of ways such as assignments, internship opportunities, and many more. It will also be helpful for your further studies as they will easily give you a letter of recommendation from their side.
• Your professors at universities will be very experienced and educated. Their guidance is very precious and as a student, you have the privilege to take their guidance for free.
• In your class, your professor may not be able to give you one-on-one attention because of the huge number of students in the class. But outside the class room you may clarify any doubts that you have and your professor will be the best person to go to  for the same.

It is a fact universally known that Canada has become an important sport for international education. Students from different parts of the world are coming to Canadian universities for the quality of education that it provides. If you are a student who is planning to study in Canada then here is a list of Canadian universities that don't charge any application fees from students.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary recognizes that a lot of students on domestic and international levels cannot pay the application fees. This is why it offers an application fee waiver where you can submit a form asking for waiving of the application fees. Prior to this form, you have to submit the official application form of the university. In case your request is rejected, you can refill the application fee waiver form.

University of British Columbia

Both domestic and international students have to pay the application fees here. But under certain circumstances, you are eligible for an application fee waiver which are-

• If you are a student from the 50 least developed countries in the world then you are eligible. Here is the list of these countries' least-developed-country-category
• If you are a senior citizen above the age of 65 years at the time of application submission.
• If you are a domestic student applying for the chemistry department.

Quest University

This is a university of its own kind where students have the flexibility to design their own courses. Initially, there are no application fees but after admission students have to pay a security deposit of C$500 for domestic students and CA$5,000 for non-Canadian citizens, and permanent residents.

While applying for international universities, you will see that a lot of them require a letter of recommendation from teachers or principals of your previous educational institute. Letter of recommendations are very important as they serve as a proof to validate all the qualities that you have written about in your college application. It helps in serving the purpose of demonstrating you as a genuine candidate who is not forging anything. Here are some myths related to LOR that you may come across-

• It is generally perceived that grades and your academy report matter the most while applying for a university. The truth is that everything counts equally and has the same amount of importance.
• Many people undertake the importance of letters of recommendations by thinking that nobody really reads them and they are just for show purposes. The truth is that these letters of recommendation are read thoroughly to assess the student's profile.
• It is a common belief that a letter of recommendation from some highly authoritative person is impressive and stands out from the rest. This is also not sure. Mostly while going through your letter of recommendation the assessor won't even look at the name of the person who has written the letter. They will just check what they have written and the authenticity that the letter holds.
• A lot of students collect a pile of letters by thinking that the more letters there will be the better chances of selection are there. This is also not true as quality is always selected above quantity.

It is very important to realise that during the selection process in universities, the selectors look beyond just high grades and academic achievements. You can increase the probability of selection by understanding the pattern which universities follow during the selection process. One has to understand that universities these days look for all-round students who also have the ability to become leaders of the future. Here are some tips to ensure that you get into your dream university.

• It is important that you have not failed any of your GPA.
• Extremely low grades are not entertained.
• Your application essay should be devoid of any errors.
• Your application must show that you are a rigorous student.
• In your application it must come across that you are a competitive student and not someone who likes to be in the average category.
• Make sure that you tell them that you are a versatile person who is very much accommodative and receptive towards new experiences and learnings

In today's world, the professional aspects and STEM category which is science, technology, engineering and medicine are really high. These disciplines offer a very promising career with high-paying jobs. This is the list of STEM majors-

• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer science
• Engineering
• Earth sciences
• Health sciences
• Information technology
• Mathematics
• Physics

Within these majors there are hundreds of branches that you can pursue. For example in biology you can go on into many subfields, including marine biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology and more. With time and with new needs more and more fields are coming into form. With so many options now it may get very difficult for a student to decide what they want to pursue. In this case self introspection is very important because these disciplines are not at all easy. Thus it is important that you pursue subjects that you are truly interested in. It is important to also notice that although STEM courses may seem like they Are completely focused on maths and science but that isn't the case in reality. Humanities is also a core foundational stone in these disciplines because while doing anything you cannot ignore the psychological and philosophical aspects of it. Teachers in STEM courses are very determined towards making these programmes interdisciplinary and dynamic.

Endowments are a form of charity made by big universities to help students who come from financially underprivileged backgrounds to get quality education at a lower or negligible price. This also serves a purpose that helps universities as well which is tax exemption. Many universities in the US make millions of dollars of endowments annually which has helped thousands of students and made their life better. Here are the universities in the US offering highest endowments-

• Harvard University (MA) $53,200,000,000
• Yale University (CT) $42,300,000,00
• Stanford University (CA) $37,800,000,000
• Princeton University (NJ) $37,000,000,000
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology $27,400,000,000
• University of Pennsylvania $20,500,000,000
• University of Notre Dame (IN) $18,400,000,000
• Texas A&M University $16,900,000,000
• University of Michigan—Ann Arbor $16,800,000,000
• Washington University in St. Louis (MO) $13,700,000,000

Switzerland is home to 10 public universities which offer its native students almost free education. Besides this, there are a number of polytechnic institutes, private universities, and specialized universities. Most of these universities are highly ranked and very prestigious which is why a lot of students apply for studying in Switzerland. In the year 2020 around 12300 students enrolled in the universities of Switzerland. Switzerland offers financial assistance from the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students. Only some students are eligible for this scholarship depending on the course and the university. Some scholarships are specially given to students from a particular country.

The United States of America has always been the country of dreams for many students. It is one of the most difficult countries to get into and is highly selective. The universities in the US are highly reputed and very expensive as well. A lot of students get accepted into American universities but still don't enroll because of financial issues. Here are the scholarships that Indian students can apply for if they want to study in the US.

• Harvard University Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by Harvard University which is an Ivy League college. This college looks after all of your needs from your tuition fees to accommodation to other financial needs.

• MIT Scholarship

Around 60% of the students at MIT are scholars. All the students who submit an application for financial assistance and complete the CSS Profile 01 are automatically eligible for an MIT Scholarship.

• The Stanford University Scholarship

Stanford is located in California and is one of the top educational institutes in the United States of America. The parameters that Stanford University takes into consideration while offering a scholarship are the size of the family and the family's financial situation.

With the digitalization of the market, it is now easier to apply for a visa than it was earlier. To apply for a student visa Naav students just need an I-20 form from the institute they want to attend. This form ensures that the student is lawfully enrolled in an institution. Now the US offers different sorts of visas to students. This includes-

• J student visa

This is a student visa that allows immigrants to study or teach in the United States of America for a time period which can range from weak to a few years. The eligibility for this visa is-

• The age limit must be between 15-18.
• Accommodation must be pre-decided. 
• Students must be permitted to study full-time.
• Financial support 

Documents required are-

• International passport
• Form DS-160 payment receipt
• Form DS-160 confirmation page
• DS-7002 Form
• Passport photograph
• SEVIS authorization certificate
• Proof of financial capability

M1 student visa

M1 student visa allows the immigrant to partition non-academic professions. These immigrants can study part-time and the amount of time for which the visa is issued is six months.

Eligibility factors are-

• Enrolment into a US institute enlisted on the SEVP program.
• Showing proof of sufficient funds.
• Proof of English proficiency through the IELTS test or some other English proficiency test.

Required Documents-

• Valid passport
• Proof of English language skills
• Proof of education qualifications
• Proof of financial resources to cover expenses etc.

 F student visa

This is the visa that most students who want to study full-time in the US apply for. This allows you to work part-time and also to move freely throughout the country without any restraints.

Eligibility-

• Acceptance as an undergrad student by any SEVP-enlisted US institute
• English proficiency
• Sufficient funds
• Enrolment as a full-time student

Documents required-

• Valid passport
• Form I-120A-B
• Payment receipts
• Transcripts from previously attended institutions and more

Artificial intelligence and robotics for the future of humankind. We are on the path of developing AI and Robotics to a level where they will have an equal intellect to that of humans. But pursuing these degrees can be extremely expensive. Hence here are the scholarships in the field of Robotics that students must know about-

• The Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program (WU Scholars)
• University Of Leeds UK Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarships 2023
• RMIT University Ph.D. Scholarship In Robotic Intelligence For Construction Waste Sorting, Australia 2022-23
• QuantHub Women in Data science scholarship
• Orange Knowledge Programme
• Türkiye Scholarships For International Students
• Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Program USA
• Fully Funded MEXT Japan Scholarships 2023
• Chinese Government Scholarship Scheme 2022-2023
• Global Korea Scholarship

As per the Australian government, you need around 21041 Australian dollars annually as an international student to survive in Australia. So it automatically becomes imperative for a student to work part-time in order to support their financial needs. Every country has its own rules and laws when it comes to working hours and wage rates for jobs. Here are the things that you must know about working part-time as a student in Australia-

• Before applying for a part-time job make sure you scrutinize your visa completely because not every student is eligible for a part-time job. Earlier students were allowed to work for 20 hours a week during the semester but this rule didn't apply during semester breaks and holidays. Recently this law has been changed and students can work for unlimited hours even if the semester is going on. But this is eligible only for certain sectors like healthcare, disability care, aged care, agriculture, and tourism.
• A lot of students are confused about the types of jobs that they will be eligible for while pursuing their studies. Generally, the university that you are studying in has a lot of vacancies for students in libraries, canteen, labs, and other places. If you don't like doing jobs like these then you can also apply for babysitting jobs and other jobs in the tourism industry which is very popular in Australia.
• To apply for jobs your first destination should be your university placement center. Other than that you can apply on sites like Indeed, Seek, and Jobactive.
• As per the latest update, the minimum wage rate in Australia is 21.38 Australian dollars per hour. You can be paid upto 50 Australian dollars to 80 Australian dollars per hour depending upon the skill that your job requires

Austria ranked 16th in the list of the best countries in the world for students. It has become a popular study abroad destination among international students as it lies in the heart of Europe. Like other European universities, students in Austria don't have to pay any tuition fees for their education in Austria. Students from other European nations that are a part of the EU and EEA also don't have to pay any tuition fees. For international students, there are also a lot of options where the university will charge you very less or a negligible amount of fees. Here are the universities that you can consider if you are planning to study in Austria.

• The University of Vienna

The University of Veena is one of the oldest universities in Austria. It is ranked among the top hundred universities of the world as per the QS World University rankings. The university has 15 faculties and five centers. Students from 140 countries come to study here. International students can expect to pay 726.72 euros per semester, plus a student’s union fee of 21.20 euros.

• The University of Salzburg

The architecture of this university is breathtaking. The university has six faculties including the Faculty of Catholic Theology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Faculty of Digital and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, and Faculty of Social Sciences. International students can expect to pay 726.72 euros.

• Johannes Kepler University Linz

This is a rather new university in Austria which is why it is equipped with all the latest technologies. An international student can expect to pay around 747.92 euros.

Australia has established a lot of private and public educational institutions to attract students from across the globe. It is also home to some of the most prestigious universities and research institutes in the world. Australia also offers a lot of scholarships to international students which gravitates them toward their universities. On top of that, Australia has also relaxed laws pertaining to international students and their working hours as part-time workers to help them. All of this adds up to the evergreen popularity of Australia among students. Australia's hospitality and IT sector has always dominated the world. It has a lot of jobs in this field and hence studying here increases the probability of an international student getting a high-paying job and settling down in Australia only. But one must understand that even though Australia might be less expensive in terms of university fees, the cost of accommodation here is more expensive than that of the US. Here is an average estimation of rental expenditure through various options-

Accommodation

Hostels and Guesthouses - $90 to $150 per week

Shared Rental - $95 to $215 per week

On campus - $110 to $280 per week

Homestay - $235 to $325 per week

Rental - $185 to $440 per week

Boarding schools - $11,000 to $22,000 a year

Other living expenses

Groceries and eating out - $140 to $280 per week

Gas, electricity - $10 to $20 per week

Phone and Internet - $15 to $30 per week

Public transport - $30 to $60 per week

Car (after purchase) - $150 to $260 per week

Entertainment - $80 to $150 per week

This means that on average a student needs $21,041 per year (or $1,754 per month) to support themselves.

Here is a list of the jobs that will make you the most amount of money in Australia.

• Construction managers    $130,000 – $210,000
• Civil engineering professionals    $80,000 – $130,000
• Early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers    $70,000 – $80,000
• Registered nurses    $75,000 – $85,000
• ICT business and systems analysts    $90,000 – $130,000
• Software and applications programmers    $90,000 – $110,000
• Electricians    $70,000 – $110,000
• Chefs    $60,000 – $70,000
• Child carers    $50,000 – $60,000
• Aged and disabled carers    $50,000 – $60,000

Dual degree programs are generally those degrees that offer the benefit of two separate programs in one combined degree. A combined MBA-MD degree is one in which the education of business and medical school are combined together for students. Although the medical field is considered a very noble profession as it saves the lives of thousands of people. But it is also notably one of the few fields where a lot of money is put at stake on a daily basis. It won't be wrong if we call it a business as services are provided in exchange for money only. So to any medical professional with a futuristic perspective on the field, this degree is apt for you. Not only will it teach you everything related to the medical profession but also will teach you how to run a successful medical institution. And for that, you don't have to pursue two different courses and go to two different universities. All of this will be taught to you in an integrated curriculum. Of course, combining these two courses is not an easy task for both the institution and also for the students who have to study them as medicine itself is draining enough. But this is suitable for students who are planning their future in terms of long-term goals and understand what the future demands.

US news has declared its list of annual rankings for the year 2022-2023. There are a number of parameters that they take into consideration before making the final rankings. These parameters include placement records, infrastructure, student-faculty ratio, extracurricular activities, and a lot of others. The top national universities for the term 2022-2023 are-

• Princeton University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• Harvard University 
• Stanford University
• Yale University
• University of Chicago 
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Pennsylvania
• California Institute of Technology 
• Duke University 
• Northwestern University 

The best liberal arts universities for the term 2022-2023 are-

• Williams College
• Amherst College 
• Pomona College 
• Swarthmore College
• Wellesley College 
• Bowdoin College
• Carleton College 
• United States Naval Academy
• Claremont Mckenna College 
• United States Military Academy at West Point

Along with the list of best universities on a national level and discipline vice, the US news has also released a list of universities offering the best courses in the business and computer science fields and an undergraduate level. Here is the list of universities with the best business programs.

• University of Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• University of California Berkeley
• University of Michigan,Ann Arbor
• Carnegie Mellon University 
• New York University 
• University of Texas Austin
• Cornell University
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Indiana University-Bloomington
• University of Southern California
• University of Virginia

Universities offering the best computer science programs-

• Carnegie Mellon University 
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• Stanford University
• University of California Berkeley
• Cornell University
• Georgia Institute of Technology 
• Princeton University
• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
• California Institute of Technology 
• University of Washington 

Regional colleges and universities are those educational institutes that focus on undergraduate programs. Less than half of their degrees are offered in the discipline of arts and humanities. Here is the list of the best regional universities-

• Providence College 
• Bentley University
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Loyola University Maryland
• The College of New Jersey
• University of Scranton
• Bryant University
• Emerson College 
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• Saint Joseph University 
• Marist College 

Best regional colleges are-

• The United States Coast Guards Academy 
• Cooper Union for Advancement of Science and Arts
• United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Maine Maritime Academy 
• Grove City College
• Pennsylvania College of Technology 
• The University of Maine at Farmington
• Elmira College 
• Alfred State college 
• Colby-Sawyer College 

Some countries like the United States of America are highly selective when it comes to giving visas to students for study purposes. The chances of getting a student visa in these countries are highly selective or comparatively less. This is because of two reasons, one is obviously them being selective and the second is high competition. Hence today we have bought a list of countries for you that are highly immigration friendly and will issue a student visa to you very easily. These are-

• Canada

This is a very predictable name in the list. According to a survey Canada offers the highest number of permanent residents to immigrants which is around 97.5% of international students are able to receive a PR. Canada’s Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) gives international students an open work permit for a minimum of 8 months to a maximum of 3 years.

• Australia

Earlier Australia used to be a very rigid country when it came to visa rules. But post-pandemic Australia has devised a lot of immigration rules and has become rather flexible now. Recently the Australian government made a lot of changes in their immigration process and made the whole journey of immigration very easy for students.

• New Zealand

New Zealand ranks 14 on the list of human development index which means that the facilities provided by the government in this country are top-notch and population friendly. Kiwi government offers around 1 to 3 years of post-graduation work visa. You can apply for permanent residence once you have completed at least five years in the country.

If you are an aspiring student who is planning to study abroad then you might have come across a lot of opinions from people regarding the same. During your research time, you would have read hundreds of articles telling you to do this or that and at one point in time, you would have got very confused. So here we are at your rescue today and busting some myths about studying abroad that a lot of students encounter on a daily basis.

• One very common myth is that studying abroad is extremely expensive. This is a totally false narrative as there are many countries across the globe that offer free education to international students and besides that, there are so many scholarships that you can avail yourself.
• Going to a country that speaks a totally different language that is alien to you is impossible is another belief among many students. A lot of students don't know that these countries offer courses that are completely taught in English so you won't have a hard time understanding what is being taught to you. Over time you get accustomed to people and language and it won't be a big problem for you.
• Many students here are homesickness and isolated which is totally understandable as you have to settle down in a totally new please all bio self. But the key is to have faith in yourself and know that no matter what, you will make it through. Like you. a lot of students also leave their homes and settle in a new country and there are highly likely chances that you will meet a lot of students like yourself.
• Many students think that working part-time will refrain them from having a lot of on-campus and off-campus experiences as a student. You must know that doing part -time jobs while studying is a big part of the culture in the west, so you won't be alone in this process. Besides this, as a student you would be allowed to work only 20-25 hours a week depending upon the country so you must not worry about that.