Study Abroad News & Alerts

For a very long period of time Chinese students were the largest contributor of international students to the USA. China has been sending its students to pursue research and other degrees in the USA. But things have changed on a global and political level in the past couple of years. After the pandemic, Chinese students have not been getting visas from other countries that easily. Many Chinese students are being rejected for a US student visa.

Due to this reason it has been found that Chinese students are now opting to go to Canada to pursue their higher education. It is easier to get a student visa from Canada, then from the USA. This is the reason why India has overtaken China and has become the largest contributor of international students in the global market. After almost 3 years of restriction, China has finally opened its borders and has started sending its own students abroad as well as welcoming international students.

Norway is famous for its northern lights and unique climatic conditions. Studying in Norway costs international students almost nothing when it comes to tuition fees. Students only have to pay for their accommodation which can be on the expensive side. Norway has made a consistent effort to improve its standard of education. This is one of the reasons why the country is consistently ranked in the top five countries when it comes to happiness index. Today we will talk about the top medical universities in Norway for international students.

1. University of Oslo
2. University of Bergen
3. Norwegian Institute of science and technology
4. UIT, the Arctic University of Norway
5. Norwegian  university of life sciences
6. University if Stavanger
7. Western Norway, University of applied sciences
8. University of agder
9. Nord University
10. University College of Southeast Norway

All the international students have to pass their IELTS and TOEFL tests before going to foreign universities. These proficiency test.compulsory by most of the universities for international students. A lot of students take coaching to crack these exams. Here are some tips through which you can crack these two exams without taking any coaching and secure a scholarship for yourself.

1. There is a lot of online study material that you can get for free. You can download audio clips and free tests from various websites that can help you in improving your practice.
2. Make sure that you give a fixed amount of time to the preparation every day.
3. Listen to audio clips in English that will help you in improving your vocabulary.
4. Try to give as many mock tests as you can that will help you in evaluating your performance.

Money transfer is a very daunting process especially when done internationally. It is very important to understand it completely to avoid any problems once you have shifted abroad. First of all you need to select the right medium for yourself. There are different banks and private institutions that have money transfer services. You must conduct a research and then come to a final decision. International money transfer can take days so it is very important to choose a reliable source. Every service provider will charge a fee from you. Compare the market rate and select the most affordable service provider for yourself. Now that you selected the right service provider, make sure that you have all the required documents in advance. There are different methods of international money transfer. This includes Bank Transfer, Remittance Company, Online Money Transfer Company. Each of these methods is different from each other and has a different processing fee. Each of these methods has an advantage and disadvantage. Make sure that you study all of them carefully and choose the best. As an international student, it is very important to choose a method that is quick and complicated. Since you will be staying alone abroad, you don't want to subject yourself to a complicated money transfer process.

Every year, there is a change in the pattern of demand in the study abroad market. A new player enters and becomes more popular. More universities are introduced and courses are becoming more versatile. Here are some of the study abroad changes in 2023 that international students must look out for

1. Second and third tier schools will become more popular among international students. Students have realised that courses and programmes are equally and sometimes even more important than the university. Highly ranked universities are becoming more and more selective which is why international students are no longer interested in applying to these universities.
2. Visa process will become easier for international students and students will not have to wait for such a long period of time to get their visas. As international education is becoming more popular, countries have decided to take things seriously and make it easier for international students.
3. The rise of visa approval rate is also increasing rapidly. Earlier countries used to decline a lot of visas but now even countries like the USA and the UK are accepting more and more students than before.
4. India is becoming the largest contributor of international students in the global education market. Earlier China used to be the number one contributor but  things will change in 2023.
5. STEM programs are becoming more and more popular among international students because of their high placement ratios after completing courses.

As we know, the University grants commission announced the opening of international campuses of universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Yale in India. This has increased a lot of excitement among Indian students who want to go to foreign countries to pursue their higher education. UGC has taken this decision considering the outflow of thousands of students every year to different countries. This also leads to the outflow of billions of dollars. By opening these campuses in India, not only will the brightest minds of the country remain in the country but also it will prevent the outflow of money.

Today if we look at the top companies of the world, we see that most of these companies have Indian employees in abundance. In fact, companies like MasterCard, Pepsi and Microsoft have Indian CEOs. By establishing international university campuses in India, the government can ensure the rise of start-up culture and successful enterprises. It will contribute to the growth of GDP and also increase employment opportunities in the country. Students can also save a lot of money by getting the same quality of education and staying in their country at the same time.

If you are a student who has made the decision to study abroad in 2023, then there are many aspects that you must consider other than good universities and programmes. To decide a country for your study abroad journey, here are the things that you must take into consideration.

1. It is very important to choose a country that offers you the best combination of course and the University of your choice. You should never compromise on either of aspects and make sure that your cost as well as your university is beneficial in terms of your future.
2. As an international student, you must also explore the after study prospects in the country. Become familiar with the visa formalities and legal processes of the country after completing your education. Also find out the scope for your course in the country after completing your education.
3. Always check the eligibility requirements carefully. A lot of times students do not check the eligibility criterias and submit their visa applications which eventually get rejected. This leads to a lot of time wastage.
4. Also look at the accommodation and living expenses. Sometimes a country is inexpensive in terms of its tuition fees, but is very expensive when it comes to living.

It is very important to have a rough estimate of the total study abroad expenses that you will have to make in your complete journey of study abroad. A lot of times people overlook certain expenses which actually add a lot of money to the cost. This is why it is very important for each and every student to create a budget before deciding to get into an international university. Here is how you can make a budget for studying abroad.

1. First of all, you should start from the basics by calculating your tuition fees, your travel expenses, and your accommodation for your total years of a degree.
2. Then you can also add a certain extra amount for the fee hikes that you might experience while studying abroad.
3. Other than your basic expenses, there are also a lot of regular expenses such as your transportation and food. This is the money that you will have to spend on a daily basis. You can get an idea of your daily expenses by the help of other students who are already studying in the same country.
4. You will also have to add your cost of books which is one of the most important parts of your study abroad journey. Books are generally expensive while studying in universities so you must make the budget likewise.
5. Other than this, you will also have to spend some amount of money on college application, fees, visa fees and giving proficiency tests like IELTS.

The government of India has been pushing international collaborations with famous universities around the world to facilitate study abroad. The government has taken this decision to improve the process of study abroad and make it more efficient for students. According to the latest news, Dartmouth College will be partnering with India to facilitate new student exchange programmes.

Barbara Will, vice provost of academic initiatives and a professor of English at Dartmouth, and Bob Lasher, senior vice-president for institutional advancement at the Ivy League university are on their week-long trip to India currently. Earlier Dartmouth College had a program with the University of Hyderabad which had to be closed due to the pandemic. Now the university officials are looking forward to having new collaborations with Dartmouth College.

Ireland is a great place to study abroad. Not only does it have one of the best universities in the world, but it is also home to some of the best tourist places. Here is a list of the scholarships that the government of Ireland offers to international students studying in Ireland.

• Open study/research award.
• DCU Taught Masters Program award.
• Hugh lane Gallery Curatorial Award.
• RCSI PhD Award.
• UCD taught Masters Program Award.
• Peter Real analog Bernal awards.

Recently Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited India for a couple of days to celebrate 75 years of India-Australia friendship. During his tour, he announced that Indian degrees will be recognised across Australia under the Australia-India education qualification recognition mechanism’. Also, Geelong's Deakin University will be the first Australian university to open an overseas campus in India. A new scholarship called Maitri has also been announced for Indian students who want to study in Australia

All these policies are finalised to strengthen the relations of India and Australia. It will also help Indian students to study in Australia. Under the new mechanism, all the degrees obtained in India will now be recognised in Australia and vice versa. This means that Indian students who have pursued their education in Indian universities can now look for great work opportunities in Australia with their degrees. This is a start of a new friendship journey between India and Australia and also the celebration of the previous 75 years of friendship.

If you are an international student who is preparing to give your SAT test then you must know that there are some recent changes in the pattern of the exam. The SAT exam will soon go digital and will be conducted Digitally all across the world. International students will be able to take the digital SAT exam from 2024. The domestic PSCT students will get the opportunity somewhat sooner than international students.

The Digital exam will be shorter than the previous written exam. The reading section will be shorter and more precise. It will include reading material such as poetry, passages, history and literature. The maths section which was previously divided into calculator and non-calculated based questions will now be combined. Students will be able to use calculators for all the math-based questions. The scoring scale will remain the same as the previous pattern.

There is no such change in the syllabus and students will have to prepare for the similar syllabus as before. The key is to practise as many sample papers as you can.

Many international universities across the world have made standardised tests like GMAT, SATs and others optional for international students. This is the reason why there has been a major drop in the number of students appearing for the standardised tests. To tackle this problem, standardised tests are going through major pattern changes. GMAT is going through the biggest change since 1997. From now onwards, GMAT will consist of three sections. 45 minutes will be given to students for each section. GMAT will also allow students to bookmark their questions. Students will also get the opportunity to change up to 3 answers per section if they feel like it.

Earlier GMAT used to consist of four sections. Candidates had a total of three hours and seven minutes to give the examination. The new test on the other hand will just take two hours and 25 minutes. The analytical writing assessment portion has been eliminated out of the GMAT examination.

There are not many universities in the world which are entirely dedicated to creative arts. Creative arts is becoming a very popular discipline among the younger generation. The younger generation is driven by the concept of creativity and innovation rather than just money. Here is a list of the best creative art universities for students who want to pursue a career in this field.

1. Royal Northern College of Music

This college was established in 1973, and his dream college for all the music enthusiasts out there. It offers an undergraduate degree in music which is one of the most popular music degrees across the world.

2. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

This university has given some of the most renowned celebrities in the field of music and dance to the world. This institution was established in 1872 and offers more than just a regular degree to students. Students get practical exposure by collaborating with some of the most famous artists of the world.

3. Norwich University of the Arts

This is a perfect place for students who want to study in a peaceful environment that fosters their creativity and innovation. The institute offers courses in creative arts and is located in a very safe locality in Britain. It was also ranked among the top five creative schools in the world in 2020.

4. University of Wolverhampton

This institution was established in 1851 and is known for its massive infrastructural facilities. It has attractive features like a 3-D lab and a huge music studio for students.

Writing your personal essay is a daunting process. There are many students who have been able to write excellent personal essays that have helped them in getting selected in their dream universities. Here are some of the ways through which you can write a great personal essay on your own.

1. Start with making an outline with what different things you want in your essay. Include all the major points that you think will help you in making your essay look better.
2. Make sure that your introduction is worth reading. Most likely all the selectors will go through your introduction part more attentively than the rest of the part of the essay.
3. Make sure that you write an essay that is impactful and proceeds in a form of story. Don't just write factual information about yourself and your achievements.
4. Make sure that you are very direct in your essay and write things that are easy to understand.
5. Always give a conclusion to your essay that sums up whatever you have written. Also, make sure that there are no grammatical errors as they do not give a good impression.

Singapore is one of the top study abroad destinations in the world. It is also quite expensive in terms of studying but gives a great ROI. The quality of education is very high and the teaching system is quite advanced and systematic. Here are the steps to get a student visa to Singapore.

1. All the students below 19 years who want to study a full-time course in Singapore will have to get their applications assessed by Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) directly. 
2. Students above 19 years will have to give an interview to the embassy to get their visa.
3. Candidates are informed by the embassy a month before their scheduled interview date through email.
4. It takes at least 2 to 4 months for the Singapore Embassy to process a visa application so you must wait for that amount of time.
5. There are some important documents that you will require for your Visa process. First of all you will need your highest qualification mark sheets, your bank statement and birth certificate. It is also important to submit your passport details, your employment status, your identity card and your parents’ important information.

Ireland is very close to England and is a great study abroad destination. It is much more affordable than England in terms of tuition fees and accommodation. Also it is not a highly populated country which is why students have access to more opportunities in this country. It also has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. So students have a great time studying here. Here are some of the best universities in Ireland for medical aspirants.

1. University College Dublin.
2. Trinity College Dublin.
3. University College Cork.
4. Ollscoil na Gaillimhe-University of Galway.
5. Royal College of Surgeons - Ireland.
6. University of Limerick
7. University of Galway
8. National University of Ireland, Galway
9. University College Cork
10. Maynooth College, Ireland

Switzerland is a country which looks straight out of fairytales. It is beautiful throughout all the seasons, which is why it attracts thousands of tourists from around the world. It has some of the best universities in the world when it comes to STEM programmes. Let's look at the top universities that offer scholarships in Switzerland for STEM courses.

1. University of Geneva Excellence Masters Fellowships
2. ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarships
3. EPFL Excellence Fellowships.
4. UNIL Master's Grants in Switzerland for Foreign Students
5. UNIL Master’s Grants in Switzerland for Foreign Students
6. Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Scholarships
7. EPFL global Leaders Fellowship Programme
8. Excellence Scholarships of the University of St. Gallen
9. Nestle MBA Scholarships for Women from Developing Countries
10. University of Lausanne Master's Grants for Foreign Students

In a recent survey that has been done among the students of the USA, around 60% of the students have said that they want to study in foreign countries for the coming semesters. There has been a 523% increase in the number of students from the USA going to different countries for studying abroad. This is shocking data as the USA has been called as the top study abroad destination in the world for a very long period of time. But suddenly, students from the USA are no longer interested in staying in their own country. In the academic year 2021- 2022, only 14,000 students from the USA went to study abroad. But now, students are more eager to travel to different countries and begin their journey. One of the main reasons why American students are no longer interested in studying in the USA is the high cost of studying. Even for native students, education is very expensive in the USA. But when we look at the fee structure of universities in Europe, it is very affordable. Other than the affordable fees, the universities also offer tons of scholarships for international students.

There are a lot of international universities around the world that focus on gender equality. These universities make an active effort to provide the needed help to the female students to help them get the equality of opportunity. Such universities are very conducive for women and help them in their growth. Here are some of the universities that celebrate their female students and give them the needed attention.

1. The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester has several programmes in activities that involve active participation of female students to give them recognition and support.

2. Heriot-Watt University

This university also offers special facilities to all the female students, including female help groups and scholarships.

3. University of Bradford

The University of Bradford also makes sure that all the female students with exemplary qualities get the required recognition. It organises various tests and programmes where such skills of all the students, especially the female students are shown to the world.

4. University of Leicester

The University of Leicester often organises programs that help in brainstorming and self recognition. Through its creative programmes, both male and female students get to know each other and their qualities