Study Abroad News & Alerts

As the whole world is outraged with the ongoing Russia –Ukraine conflict, America has decided to cut off all sorts of ties with Russia. This is done to ensure the well-being of American citizens and to show America’s silent protest against Russia’s actions. Other than the financial-political sanctions many American universities such as MIT have cut off their associations or collaborations with Russian colleges and universities. According to the U.S government, this is an autonomous decision taken solely by universities and not under the influence of the U.S government.

Though the pandemic is over, we will be facing its consequences for the next 15 years. The whole dimension of studying abroad has been radically changed and we are gradually getting used to it. After almost two years of virtual classrooms, the quintessential education system is coming back to its original form. But it is safe to say that the pandemic has left some everlasting impacts which will remain imperative even in its absence. One such is the introduction of hybrid classes which is a mixture of online and offline classes which is a more flexible form of lectures. SAT’s have now become optional in many colleges and are now not a compulsory criteria for students. Visa norms have become less strict and there is a huge improvement in student services offered by colleges.

A portfolio is a student’s reflection of his/her academic and extra-curricular history. Different universities and colleges have their subjective criteria to enroll students. Generally, a university sees factors such as GPA, IELTS score, SAT score, and extracurricular activities to examine a student. In order to build a good portfolio, it is important for a student to understand that quality should always be chosen over quantity. Instead of listing 10-15 different achievements, you can just add five or six of your best achievements. Consistency in scores is another important factor that universities find attractive. Students who have actively taken part in other activities such as sports, drama, social services dance, etc always have an edge over the others.

Israel in the past few years has gained its reputation as a country with a supreme quality education system. The country provides an excellent education to its students and now is aiming towards the global student category. It has been consecutively for three years ranked number one by the Bloomberg Innovation Index for research and development intensity. These are the top three scholarships offered by Israel government to Indian students-

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Scholarships - This scholarship is offered by the Israel government to students studying in the courses like M.A., Ph.D., Post Doctorate, or research studies. The duration of this scholarship can go from eight months to a year.

• Excellence Fellowship Programme for International Postdoctoral Researchers - This scholarship is offered by the Council of Higher Education in Israel and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and is offered to students conducting research in any areas of STEM. It is offered to 20 international students for a period of two years where they are awarded $47000 annually.

• Ph.D. Sandwich Fellowship Programme - This scholarship is given by the Planning and Budgeting Committee to PhD students of any field studying in Israel. Students are given 80000 NIS annually under this.

Studying abroad not only helps you increase your academic proficiency but also develops your personality because of the new experiences you gain. Most people are apprehensive about the idea of studying abroad because of the financial drain it causes. But today we will be listing some countries which offer you almost if not totally free education which won’t burn your pocket.

• Germany - Germany is a popular destination for studying among international students where all the students can study for almost free in the public universities. 

• Czech Republic - Czech Republic is another European country providing free education but to enjoy its benefits, students must know the local language. To study the same course in English they have to pay the tuition fees.

• Norway - Norway also provides free education to students irrespective of their nationality but students must know the language of the country as the courses are taught in that only.

• Finland - Finland has a world renowned education system and it also provides free education to students in most of its public universities. Students from EU can enroll for free while others have to pay for studying the same course in English.

• Sweden - Sweden provided free education to all the EU students while others have to pay the fees.

• Brazil - Most of the public universities in Brazil provide free education to all the students. But before the enrollment all the students need to undergo a language proficiency test to ensure that they are fluent in Portuguese.

• Greece - All the EU students can study for free in Greece whereas other international students can study at a very low rate.

The Irish government has announced the reopening of the country’s eight universities and has laid down the detailed plan for the functioning of these universities like normal times before the pandemic. This includes a ‘Greet and Transfer facility’ which involves picking up students from airport and dropping them safely to their destinations. Free corona tests and vaccinations are also provided to students. The government aims at the resuming of all the classes in offline mode by September 2022. Once the students have cleared all the necessary criteria they will have to wear masks and follow other important rules inside as well as outside the campus.

Ever since Germany has uplifted the travel restrictions for international students, there has been a rise in demand for German universities among international students. A latest survey by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) concluded that around 330000 international students are enrolled in the German universities. There has been a 13% hike in the enrollment rate of first year students after the decline during last winter session. The increase comes majorly from students from Turkey, India, Iran, Italy and France. 31% of the German universities providing higher education saw an increase of at least 5% or more in the enrollment of international students.

New Zealand has announced that it will be reopening its borders for international students from April 2022. The complete reopening will be done in five stages throughout 2022. The former visa process before the pandemic will be resumed from October 2022 which will allow the students to begin their studies from 2023. This announcement was made by Education New Zealand (ENZ). The ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said that this will be a crucial step in bringing back the education sector of New Zealand on track. Moreover students from countries like Japan and South Korea which are waived from visas can come to New Zealand in July for short trips of up to three months before they begin their programs.

Recently a survey was conducted by DAAD to find a report on the most widespread problems faced by international students in Germany. According to this survey, most of the students find themselves and their skills incompetent to study in Germany. A huge spectrum of problems such as language barriers, different academic criteria and adjusting in a foreign land are faced by students. According to the students there is a big contradiction between the official linguistic needs stated and the actual linguistic needs required on a daily basis. Students find it very difficult to cope and it is during the time of writing the Final Thesis stage, students feel the most pressurized. The international student market in Germany sees a lot of students dropping out every year from their respective programs. Although according to the survey reports, 76% of the master’s students wish to stay in Germany, most of them have to leave due to undesirable circumstances such as unavailability of jobs. The solution suggested is that universities must make their services more versatile and look after problems specific to international students.

A recent report by IRCC in the year 2022 shows that the students who have completed their degree in Canada earn more as compared to those who have earned a degree from a university of another country. The initial earnings for Canadian graduates are higher as compared to others. The reports states that the value of Canadian degree is higher and ensures high paying jobs. The number of students shifting to Canada since last two decades has been increasing exponentially as students have increasingly found Canada a suitable option for studying and settling.

The government of Australia has announced that all the engineering graduates who are eligible under Skilled Recognised Visa holders will have their visas extended to compensate the time they lost due to the lockdowns during the COVID 19 pandemic. Students will be given extra six months besides the usual time for the purpose of living studying and working. According to the official statement given by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affair students can remain in Australia until April 2024.

The extension aims to not only benefit the engineers but also the Australian economy which is in a need of skilled engineers for the purpose of recovery from the fiscal trauma caused due to the pandemic.

The experience of studying in Canada is unparalleled as it is very diverse and a land of opportunities. Some of the advantages of studying in Canada are-

• The quality of education in Canada is very high and is worldwide renowned.

• The crime rate of Canada is very low and it is very safe for international students.

• Canada has a lot of work opportunities and is in requirement of man power. Thus, finding jobs after completing your education is very easy.

• The quality of life in Canada is very good as the wage rates are very high. Canada is technologically advanced and naturally beautiful.

The latest research shows that UK, Canada and USA are the top choices among the students who wish to study abroad. On the top comes the UK which is a priority for 49 per cent of the total students, followed by Canada which accounts for 36 per cent and then the USA for 18 per cent. The data is derived from the applications submitted by the students to study abroad in the year 2021. The most popular courses among students include MBA, MSc Data Science and Computer Science. Some ‘on the rise’ in demand courses are MSc Management, Business Analytics and Project Management. Experts say that the rise in demand to study in the UK is majorly because of the new Graduation Immigration Route. 

2021 has seen a hike in interest of students to move out and study overseas. This shows that students are more actively becoming interested in exploring new countries and expanding their horizons.

Choosing to leave your country and studying overseas is a life changing decision that some students make. The stress and apprehension that comes with this decision is very obvious. The criteria of studying in a foreign university is more complex as the country to which the student shifts, is a foreign land where he/she doesn’t know anyone. The cultural shift along with the pressure of living alone and handling everything independently can become overwhelming sometimes. Besides this, the cost of studying in a foreign country can be three or four times more as compared to studying in one’s home country. Here are some factors that students should keep in mind while choosing a university abroad-

• Budget - Undoubtedly, studying abroad is more expensive than studying in one’s own country but the high tuition fees have their own benefits.  Students must select the country and the university in which the want to study considering their budget. Some universities offer a lot of scholarships or provide financial aids in terms of stipends etc. 

• Educational Prospects and Opportunities - A university with a good academic reputation and profile is more opportune for students as it helps them in get a job of their wish. Students must check the rankings and affiliations of the university and the type of curriculum they follow to teach students. 

• Job Opportunities - It is very beneficial for students if the university provides placement opportunities to them after the completion of their degree. This reduces the risk of unemployment and the makes the return on investment as well very high. 

• Student Satisfaction Rate - Generally, all the universities write positive things about themselves but the real feedback of the university can be taken from its students. Before deciding to study in the university a student must conduct a research and read about the feedbacks of the current students studying in a particular university. This helps in drawing a critical conclusion about the university.