Study Abroad News & Alerts

Many international students are not able to fully understand the importance of a cover letter in securing a job. All the times have changed, some things have remained equally important in the recruitment industry. One of these things is a cover letter. Around 78% of the recruiters will prefer employees who have a cover letter over the ones who do not. By not including a cover letter, you are reducing your chances of getting selected. It allows you to convey your X factor to the recruiter. The recruiter is easily able to distinguish and will give priority to your resume.

Make sure that you customise all of your cover letters separately for each and every position that you apply for. Do not copy down from any source as your employer will definitely figure it out.

Australia is set to make a lot of changes in its policies related to international students from July 1, 2023. Previously Australia made a big change in part-time work related decisions for international students. To attract more students, Australia decided to let international students work for unlimited hours to support themselves. But eventually the government realised that this would compromise the quality of education. So from July 1, 2023 international students will be allowed to work 48 hours per two weeks. Before the pandemic this was 40 hours per two weeks. Also international students will be able to stay for a longer time period after completing their education in Australia. Australia will be giving a two year extension for post study work visa. So from now on, international students can live in Australia for two years more than the already existing tenure. For example, an international student pursuing a bachelor's degree could stay for two years in Australia after completing their education. But from July 1, 2023 onwards, students who have completed their bachelors degree will be able to stay for four years in Australia.

It is very important to make a lot of connections as an international student in college. This helps you in getting jobs and internships. Here are some networking tips that can help you in building connections that will be useful for you in future.

1. Do not wait for a very long period of time to break the ice. Start introducing yourself to people as soon as you meet them. This reduces the chances of any kind of awkwardness and you tend to become friendly with them easily.
2. Try to be generous and do not sound rude. Listen to what others have to say patiently and do not be rude to anyone.
3. Try to get experience as much as possible. Initially start working for low stipends and grow exponentially over the period of time.
4. Be active on platforms such as Linkedin.
5. Try to leverage your personal and professional connections as much as you can for your career.

There are multiple factors that you must consider while choosing the best medical school for yourself. If you have applied to various medical schools and are confused about which to select, then here are the factors that you must consider.

1. You must go to each and every medical school and select the one that you like the best in terms of the environment.
2. Question, if the medical school that you are choosing is beneficial to you in terms of your long-term goals and career.
3. It is also very important for students to have security which is supportive. If you can, try to meet the faculty members as it will be really helpful for you in deciding.
4. Distance is another factor. If you are interested in studying nearby your native place, then you can choose a medical school which is in proximity so that you can stay close to your home. 
5. Cost is another big factor while choosing medical schools. You must choose the medical school according to your budget.

New Zealand has a lot of  universities that offer quality education to students. Management is a very popular program that is actively chosen by international students around the world. Here is the list of the best universities in New Zealand for international students.

1. University of Auckland
2. Auckland University of Technology
3. Victoria University of Wellington
4. Massey University
5. University of Otago
6. University of Canterbury
7. University of Waikato
8. Lincoln University
9. Massey University, Palmerston North
10. University Of Auckland Business School

European schools have started accepting 23% more international students in the past one decade. The schools have become more inclusive and accepting when it comes to international students. The concept of foreign education is flourishing in becoming more rampant. People have started sending their children to foreign countries for higher education. This is the reason why there has been a worldwide, 50% increase in the number of international schools globally.

In Europe alone, there has been a 32.3% increase in the number of international schools. Students and parents from around the world are choosing Europe as the perfect destination for higher education. Europe has a very structured and liberal schooling system. It allows students to develop on a personal level more than other curriculums that are followed around the world.

STEM programs are progressively chosen by most of the students. It is suggested that these programs have better career prospects. Students are able to get better job opportunities after completing these programmes. Data science and statistics are one of the most demanded skills in today's world. Here is the list of the best institutions for data science and statistics courses.

1. University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is among the top 10 universities of the UK and top hundred universities globally. The Department of statistics and data science is very progressive. Students get excellent educational facilities

2. ETH Zurich

This university needs no introduction as it is one of the leading research institutes in Europe. The university offers a Masters in statistics and masters in data science program.

3. National University of Singapore

The goal of this university is to reach excellence in every field. It has a special department of data science and statistics. Students can choose to study a bachelors or a masters degree in data science and statistics.

4. University of Toronto

This Canadian university is known by most of the students were interested in studying in Canada. It is one of the leading institutes of Canada. Its Department of statistical sciences offers programmes in data science and statistics.

New Zealand has a lot more to offer to international students other than just its mystic beauty and breathtaking landscapes. New Zealand is a neighbouring country of Australia, which is also a very famous study abroad destination. Over the past few years, New Zealand has also made a name for itself in the field of study abroad. One of the major reasons why students choose New Zealand is its low unemployment rate.

Only 3.4% of the people in New Zealand are unemployed which is a great achievement. This signifies that there are plenty of work opportunities for someone who actually wants to work. People in New Zealand are also very friendly and welcoming. There is no crime rate with respect to international students and negligible racism.

As we know that many students want to pursue STEM courses while going for higher education. But mostly these courses are very expensive to pursue. Here are some unconventional countries that offer affordable STEM courses at nominal tuition fees.

1. Germany

Germany is not an unconventional option but it is very important for all interested students to know about the country. Most of the public universities in Germany do not charge any tuition fees. Also, after-study prospects in Germany are also great.

2. Ireland

Ireland is a great country for students who want to pursue their engineering degree. The country is more affordable than the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

3. Italy

Italy has some of the oldest universities in the world. These universities charge very less tuition fees and most of the courses are taught in English.

In a recent survey, it was found out that 9 out of 10 International students studying in France recommend it as the best study abroad destination for international students. France performed very well in terms of high-quality education at nominal tuition fees. Also the country offers one of the best after study opportunities for international students. International students spend an average of €860 as monthly expenses while living in France. Also they pay an average tuition fee of €2800. 48% of students have said that they work part time while studying to support their education. All of the students have said that there were plenty of work opportunities for international students to support themselves.

In the year 2021 to 2022, the number of international students going to France hit the record high number. It seems like France as a study abroad destination is becoming more and more popular with time.

According to recent reports, the government of the UK might ban  international students from bringing spouses and children along with them on a study Visa. Only those students who are pursuing high-value degrees will be allowed to bring their spouses and children along with them. As per reports, students pursuing degrees in mathematics, science and technology will be allowed to bring their families while studying. Also if you are pursuing higher level degrees like research or Masters, then also you will be given preference.

The decision has been taken considering the eight times increase in the number of support visas in the last year. With the rise of international students, there's also a rise of support visas through which families of international students also come to the UK. It will become very difficult for the country to accommodate so many people all of a sudden. This is the reason why the UK is thinking of implementing the new policy. No official announcement has been made as of yet.

Last year, Australia uplifted all the restrictions on the number of hours international students could work part-time. International students were allowed to work on limited hours. The decision was taken by the Australian government to welcome more international students to the country. But the studies of international students were severely affected as a result of working without any restrictions. This is the reason why Australia decided to amend the laws. From July 1, work restrictions will be imposed again. Now international students will be allowed to work 48 hours per two weeks. Before the pandemic international students were allowed to work 40 hours per two weeks. Eight extra hours have been given to students for extra support. Now international students studying in Australia will not be able to work for unlimited hours. Equal amount of attention should be given to studies and part-time jobs for a proper balance.

Italy has some of the oldest universities in the world. The education system in Italy is very well structured. Also, it is culturally and historically very rich as a country. If you are interested in pursuing your education in Europe, then Italy is a great option. Here are some of the best universities in Italy for international students that either do not charge any tuition fees or charge very negligible tuition fees from international students.

1. University of Padua
2. Politecnico di Milano
3. Sapienza University of Rome
4. University of Milan
5. University of Pisa
6. University of Florence
7. University of Turin
8. University of Siena
9. Free University of Bozen-Bolz
10. University of Naples Federico II

Schools with international Baccalaureate Programmes are becoming very famous among students and parents. It is a more liberal way of teaching students which helps them explore their hidden capabilities. Spain now has over 200 such schools out of these 200 schools, 49 or public schools. The Spanish government has said that it has been their goal to offer more versatile programs to students. Now with the number of schools, it will be easier to achieve their target.

The IB schools in Spain offer four kinds of programmes. These are primary years program, middle years program, diploma program and career related program. The first IB world school was opened in 1977 and now there are 5000 IB schools around the world. In 2022, 4500 students took the DP exam in Spain only. This means that the popularity of IB school and its curriculum is increasing every year.

While going through the website of many famous universities, you might have come across the term holistic evaluation. Many famous universities claim to evaluate their college applications in a holistic way. But what does this term even mean? Holistic evaluation means that an equal amount of weightage is given to all the aspects of an application. It means that just because a student has merit doesn't mean that he or she will easily secure admission.

Your extra curricular activities and achievements, your volunteer work and your letter of recommendation will have equal amounts of importance. Famous universities are now looking for individuals who are leaders and active participants in every field. No single field can overlap other fields. Now students will have to pay equal attention towards all the facets of college application.

In a recent report, it has been found out that the number of European students going to the US for higher education have been increasing every year. Despite the free education system in most European countries, many students choose to study in the US. Out of all the European countries, students from the UK are on the top of the list in the number of European students going to the USA. This is followed by Germany, France, Turkey, Spain and Italy.

Other important countries include Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands. A lot of it also has to do with the recent Russian invasion on Ukraine. There has been a 5% increase in the number of European students going to the US for higher education after the war. But there has been a significant drop in 2021 to 2022, if compared to the year 2016 to 2017. The world economy is still recovering from the after effects of the pandemic. The improvements will be made slowly.

Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity. Not only you get the required exposure but also some of the most outstanding professional opportunities as well. As an international student, you might have thought of applying for a scholarship. Getting the scholarship makes the whole process quite easy. But not everyone is able to secure a scholarship as the competition is very high. Here are some tips through which you will be able to secure a scholarship for yourself.

1. Try to seek help from someone who has already been selected for a scholarship. This person can help you in guiding the exact steps you need to take to be selected. You can also approach professors for the same.
2. Try to go for unconventional scholarships where the competition is low. There are some scholarships which are very famous and not known by everyone. The chances of getting selected for this particular kind of scholarship is low. Try to go for other scholarships which are lesser known.
3. Prove your eligibility in the application. Try to get the application checked from some people. Personal touch and write things that are true.
4. Remember that you must apply for multiple scholarships. Do not rely on just one single scholarship.
5. Apply as early as you can. This is always beneficial.

Australia has been recovering from the loss of the pandemic for the past one year now. It has made a lot of changes in its international policies especially related to international students to boost economic growth. Now Australia has decided to change some of its policies related to international students. First of all, students will no longer be able to work for an unlimited number of hours from July 1, 2023. Australia made these changes to attract more international students and let them support their education by working more. But later on it was found out that this policy was hampering education.

This is the reason why Australia has decided to take back the policy. The restriction will make sure that students are paying equal amounts of attention towards their education and work. Additionally, the government of Australia has announced that students who choose to pursue specific degrees will be allowed to stay in Australia for longer than usual. This decision has been undertaken considering the labour shortage. Specific skilled individuals are required in some industries which is why this decision has been taken.

Back in 2018, Kazakhstan was the eighth largest market for sending students to various countries for study abroad. more than 80% of students from Kazakhstan choose China and Russia for studying abroad. One of the major reasons is the close economic ties of Kazakhstan with Russia. But the recent Ukraine and Russia's war has left Kazakhstan in a conflict. It has been found that the Russian education system is becoming isolated because of the current situation. Many countries have started by quoting Russia which is why students are apprehensive if a Russian degree will be valuable or not. Many countries close to Kazakhstan also sent their students to Russia for higher education.

But now the situation has changed. Countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan will no longer send their students to Russia. Many exports have said that this is the right time for Kazakhstan to rise as the new study abroad destination. Kazakhstan is home to many universities that offer versatile courses. The economy of Kazakhstan is also an upper middle economy and has been performing well since the last two decades. If the current situation continues, then it is highly likely that Kazakhstan will see the return of many of its native students along with a lot of international students as well.

ChatGPT has gotten the attention of the world since the day it was launched. But it is safe to say that it is a controversial invention which has got the attention of people for all the right as well as for the wrong reasons. Many people are arguing if it will really work for the benefit of society or not. Many schools have banned ChatGPT as this tool helps students in cheating on their assignments without even being caught.

 But is it really helpful and can this tool be used for the benefit of the education industry? According to some experts, ChatGPT is not a perfect AI tool, but it can help a lot of teachers. It can also decrease the work of teachers. Teachers can create assignments with the help of this tool without taking much time. It also helps in revising and making sure that there are no mistakes. Teachers can also design question papers with the help of ChatGPT.