Study Abroad News & Alerts

There are a lot of myths associated with studying abroad that are not true. Still they are deeply embedded in the minds of a lot of international students and lead to irrational fear. Here are some of the myths related to studying abroad that or not true at all-

• Studying abroad costs you tons of money and is not for everyone

This method is totally untrue as there are a lot of budget friendly options, especially in Europe where you can study for almost free. These universities also do not compromise with the standards of education.

• Scholarships are difficult to get

This is not true at all. Scholarships are available for students from different walks of society. Even if you're not meritorious you can apply for a lot of scholarships. There are scholarships for students from humble backgrounds as well which are called need-based scholarships.It's true that not everyone can get a scholarship but your chances of getting a scholarship are not negligible.

• International students are not treated well

This is a general believe that a lot of students have about studying abroad. The truth is that international students are given a lot more importance than native students. This is because they are the major contributors to the economy of a country. There are special help centers for international students where they can communicate with the people of authority regarding any problem that they have faced and it will be resolved quickly.

English has now become the global language. Around 17% of the people in the world which is roughly 1.35 billion people can speak this language. It has become the most spoken language of the world and is used as the source of communication in many parts of different continents. As an international student it becomes important for one to be able to speak English fluently in order to communicate well. This is why universities require international students to give an IELTS or TOEFL exam to prove their proficiency in English. Here is how you can improve your English for totally free-

• The best way to improve English is through language learning apps. There are a lot of apps that you can download from the play store or App Store which will help you in getting better in this language slowly and steadily. Some examples of English learning apps are duolingo,Hello English, Lingbe and Memrise. 
• Try to read as much as you can. Reading every day makes a lot of difference. Not only will you learn sentence construction but will also get to know a lot of new words. This will help in improving both your grammar and vocabulary.
• Start listening to English songs and watching English movies with subtitles. Initially you will have some difficulty in understanding what is being said or sung. But what time you will be able to easily understand both movies and songs without even the need of subtitles.
• Try to speak in English as much as you can. Even if your English is grammatically wrong, make sure that you are speaking what you have learnt. This is the best way of remembering things such as new grammar rules and words. Otherwise just learning and cramming will make you forget all of it in  sometime.

The UK is an expensive country when it comes to accommodation and study. In fact London is one of the most expensive cities in Europe for accommodation. So if somebody tells you that you can't study in the UK for cheap, it would be hard for you to believe them. But it is actually very true and there are a lot of students who have been able to do this. Here are the steps that you need to follow in order to study in the UK for cheap-

• First of all you need to make sure that you have all the necessary documents with yourself. Make sure that you have performed well in your high school and try to maintain consistency in your scores.
• Now you must decide what you want to study and for that you must also select a university for yourself. Also have some back ups as well.
• Now there are a lot of different ways of getting funded. You can get scholarships from your university, from the government of the UK, from private organizations in your country or the UK and from the government of your country. Make sure that you apply to all these resources so that you are able to get feedback from at least one of them.
• Also researching for your accommodation early on can also save a lot of money. People under look this aspect of studying abroad and end up spending so much money on their accommodation. Planning where to live and how much to spend early on can help you manage your finances a lot. 

As we know that parents and students these days are becoming very selective about schools. For many years people have been fanatically running behind famous universities and colleges. No one actually really cared about what kind of schooling a student got. But schooling years are actually the building blocks of one's life. It is in a school that a student gets prepared for the university and its challenges ahead. Here are some international schools that all the parents and students must know about-

• Tanglin Trust School

The school in Singapore gives the opportunity to students to choose their curriculum. As a student you have the opportunity to choose between IB and A levels for yourself. This means that nothing is imposed on you and whatever you want to study is a decision that you take by yourself.

• Marlborough College Malaysia

This school follows a British curriculum. It fosters self discovery and change among students so that they are able to successfully explore different parts and things about themselves. As they grow up they will be able to introspect themselves as well as the society confidently.

• British International School Ho Chi Minh City

The school follows a British curriculum and teaches students from age 3 to 18. Students from around 50 nationalities study here. The student faculty ratio is very low. Generally a class in the school has no more than 18 students to promote personal attention.

According to a recent study done in Canada, it has been found that most of the international students in Canada had been living in selective provinces. These provinces are the areas where residents are most likely to get a permanent residence.

 It was found out that more than 70% of the international students live in 10 selected provinces in Canada. Out of these 10, Quebec represented the highest population of international students. This was followed by Manitoba and Alberta where 80% of the students were international. Other provinces where international students are in high numbers are British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.

Smart planning and finance management can make a huge difference in your expenditure. This strategy also applies to your study abroad plan. Studying abroad is generally considered extremely expensive which is why a lot of students refrain from taking this decision even though they are very interested in the whole idea. But you must know that making smart decisions and doing deep research can actually help you cut down your costs a lot. Here are the steps that you can take to make your study abroad plan affordable-

• Taking loans is always an option for those students who do not have the capital investment for their study abroad plan. There is a lot of loan lending in financial institutions that offer a student loan at very low interest rates. Make sure you do your research about the same and select towards the best for you.
• Having a clear credit record is very important in getting a loan. Make sure that you have all the necessary documents ready so that there is no problem at the last moment.
• Many affluent people and big organizations usually sponsor students from underprivileged and economically humble backgrounds. You can approach these people and organizations and there are chances that your education can get totally sponsored. This sort of financial help is very different from scholarship as it's not given from your university or the government.
• Many universities have started different plans for international students in terms of fees payment. Now students can pay their fees in EMI's and they do not have to submit all the sea amount at once.

Selecting  what subject you want to study in your high school can be a very important decision as it sets down the plan for your further higher level education. You will be able to select programmes in your university on the basis of subjects that you have studied in your high school. A lot of times you would have heard your parents, teachers and educational counselor telling you to select math. Maths is undoubtedly Vaani the most important subject. In a lot of courses across the world, Max is an important subject while selecting a program in university. Here are the requirements that different countries have for their bachelors and masters program-

• In India, it is compulsory for architecture, chartered accountancy and engineering students to have math as one of their principal subjects in their high school. If not, they are not able to pursue any of these courses. Besides this a lot of other programmes such as BBA, BCom and BCA also require math as a compulsory subject. Having math as one of her core subjects in class 12th also gives you an edge over competitive exams such as CAT.
• Universities in the UK pay a lot of attention towards the subject you have studied in your high school. It is very important for students who have math as a core subject in high school if they want to pursue programmes in business, architecture, economics, computer science and engineering.
• Universities in the United States of America are quite liberal and do not reject a student just because he or she didn't have math as one of the primary subjects in their high school. But for prestigious universities like Ivy colleges or Massachusetts Institute of technology it is important to have studied math in your high school.

The experience of studying abroad is very exciting and full of new experiences. As a new student who is all by himself in a foreign country, it may initially become overwhelming for you. But chances are high that over the period of time you will learn to accommodate yourself. Here's what you can expect from your first week as an international student in a foreign country-

• you will probably be settling down in your new accommodation trying to adjust with the new climatic conditions and surroundings. It is advised that you figure out all the important locations such as a hospital, supermarket and bus station nearby your location so that you have an idea of where you need to go for all these things respectively.
• Even if your classes have not yet started officially, you must initiate a contact with your university and try to visit it once in person before their classes officially start. This will help you in getting acquainted with the distance between your accommodation and the university. Also try to meet your professors in order to get an idea of their personality and your program.
• Get yourself a bank account in that country and get all the necessary stuff such as a debit card and a cheque-book.
• Start traveling and exploring things around your accommodation so that you get familiar with roads and routes.
• Try to get comfortable and acquainted with your new surroundings. Try to socialize with your roommates or housemates if you have any. Make contact with your neighbors as well. 

Australia is a very famous tourist destination. But over the years it has expanded its education department as well. Today it has become one of the leading providers of international education and attracts thousands of students annually to its universities. Here are the top reasons why you should choose Australia as your study abroad destination-

• Australia has some of the best universities in the world which are ranked highly among the rankings of global universities.
• The cultural environment and immigration policies in this country are very favorable for international students.
• The study and work visa doesn't take a lot of time to process. This means that you do not have to face the issue of back logging unlike a lot of European countries.
• The cost of education is slightly expensive but less than that of the United States of America and the UK. Australia is actually less expensive than New Zealand as well in terms of accommodation as well as tuition fees.

The United States of America is one of the most expensive countries in the world for studying and living. The cost of education here is really high and now that the US is facing High inflation, tuition fees for universities have increased even more. But through smart research and intelligent decision making, you can actually study in the United States of America on a very low budget. Here is the step-by-step guide for you to be able to study in the USA for cheap-

• Always check the English requirements especially if she were from a non-English speaking country. A lot of people undermined the importance of English proficiency tests such as IELTS and TOEFL. By scoring high in these tests you can actually get a lot of scholarships and discounts on your tuition fees. 
• Always be very clear about what you want to study. Shortlist two or three programmes related to the field that you are interested in and be sure about them. Now list down your priority universities and don't keep changing after sometime. Be hundred percent sure about your choices. 
• Now research about all the scholarships and financial aids that these universities offer to international students. Also find out about the scholarships that are given to students of your country in specific. By doing so your chances of getting the scholarship is higher than getting a scholarship which is meant for all the international students. 
• Find out about the requirements of the university and make sure that you are prepared for them. For example if your university focuses more on extra-curricular activities then you must begin the preparation from high school only. Have your target set and be prepared for them in advance so that you do not have to worry in the end.

You would have seen a lot of your friends and relatives going to Canada for studying or working and subsequently settling down there. This trend has become a bandwagon and everyone is just going to Canada in solidarity without giving it the second thought. It is a generic belief that Canada is easier to get into as compared to other countries and work opportunities are also better here. But there are a lot of reasons why you must immigrate to Canada for studying and working purposes. Here are the reasons why you should move to Canada for studying-

• Studying here is quite affordable. In fact, it is one of the most affordable countries to study in when it comes to North America. North America as a continent is known for expensive education but Canada has some very affordable study programs.
• The quality of life is very good here. But you will not have to spend a lot of money in order to have a good lifestyle. Things are not excessively expensive here and you can easily afford every thing even if you're earning moderately
• It is true that universities in Canada are not very strict when it comes to accepting students. They're actually very easy to get into when you compare them with the universities of the United States of America and other European universities.
• The number of jobs here are very high, especially for postgraduate programmes. Canada has been facing a major labor shortage and has been actively looking for human resources. This means the chances of getting a job just after your post-graduation are very high. 

SATs are the deciding factors for your future. It depends totally on these exams whether you will be getting into your dream university or not. Even though a lot of famous universities have made these tasks optional for applicants, they are still given a lot of weightage during the selection process. This is why you must take these tests very seriously and prepare for them with all your devotion and attention. Here are some tips for all the students were just about to give their SATs-

• Generally appearing for an SAT can cost you somewhere around $50. But you can actually give these SATs for free as well. There are a lot of offers and aids for students who cannot afford to give this Jazz. Make sure that you avail these offers to be able to appear for your SATs for totally free.
• Start preparing for these tests early on. You cannot risk scoring less in these tests as they have a lot of weightage in your university application.
• You need not give both SAT and ACT. You can just give either of them and you'll be fine. Selecting which you want to give totally depends from person to person . Both of these are different from each other and you must decide after taking a practice test. Figure out what you are better at and appear for that test only.
• Take formal training if you feel like it. You can enroll in an online test prep course as it will also save time of commutation. You can just study at home and clear all your doubts through these online programs. 

There are a lot of famous international scholarships that are specially meant for Indian students. Generally they cover the total cost of education and students do not have to spend a penny from their personal expenses. These scholarships are-

• National Overseas Scholarship Scheme

This scholarship is offered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Only students from economically backward societies are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Students can apply to study in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. All their cost of education is covered under this scholarship. Students can apply for Masters and PhD programmes.

• Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship

This scholarship was meant to address the problem of climate change between India and the United States of America. Students can study different programmes such as Energy Studies, Earth Sciences, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy, Smart Cities, Agriculture, Public Policy, Environmental Engineering, and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

• Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

The scholarship allows Indian students to study in Canada, France, Portugal, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. This scholarship support students through granting 50% of the total tuition fees in aid and the rest 50% is given to them as loan which has to be repaid.

Famous universities like Yale, Harvard's and UCL have withdrawn themselves from famous university rankings like US news education and QS world rankings. They have stated that the criteria used by these famous rankings are full of flaws and not up to the mark. These rankings have been accused of being biased towards certain countries and universities. Since these universities do not stand for discrimination and inclination towards certain geographical areas, they have decided to withdraw themselves from these rankings.

 A lot of parents and students throughout the world are dependent on these rankings for admissions and selection of universities. If their goal is not at most transparency and accuracy, then there is no use of these rankings. A lot of universities are also against the parameters that are used by these rankings organizations as they feel like they give more importance to superficial stuff like infrastructure and other such facilities. Many universities have committed to providing need-based college scholarships to a lot of financially weak students. Factors like these are underlooked by these ranking organisations, which is why universities are now boycotting these rankings in solidarity.

If you're planning to study in Canada, then you must understand that Canada is home to hundreds of universities and colleges. Out of all these educational institutes, not every university or college is worth your time and money. This is why you must precisely and carefully choose your educational institutions. Here is a list of top management universities in Canada which you can enroll in as an international student for the best results-

• Schulich School of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Ivey Business School
• HEC Montreal
• UBC Sauder School of Business
• Smith School of Business at Queen's University 
• Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University
• Alberta School of Business (BUS)
• John Molson School of Business
• Queen's University

Two year colleges in the United States of America are becoming very popular among international students. Instead of the conventional four year bachelor's degree, these colleges offer a bachelor's degree which gets completed in two years. This helps in saving up a lot of money in the form of tuition fees and accommodation. Also you are eligible to get a full-time job faster at a younger age.

In 2020 to 2021 around 1000 students enrolled in these two year colleges. Most of the international students still do not know about them which is why the enrolment rate is not so high. Here is a list of all the colleges and universities which offer at two year program-

• Miami Dade College
• Northern Virginia community College
• Orange Coast College
• Valencia College
• Montgomery College
• Dallas College
• De Anza College
• Santa Monica college
• Lone star College system
• Houston community college system

A lot of students have graduated with an associates degree from a community college. After graduating from a community college they have been successfully able to land a job with an annual package of US$50,000. The tuition fees in community colleges are also very low. This is what we can call smart decision making which has led to high returns. The investment has also been very low. Students have little knowledge about what an associate degree can do in your career. Associates or one of the highest paid professionals and their starting salary is also very high. Here are the highest paying associate degree jobs that you can select as your career path to achieve financial stability early on in your life. 

• Geographical and hydrologic technicians
• Medical equipment repairers
• Environmental engineering technologies and technicians
• Life, physical and social sciences technicians 
• Paralegals or Legal associate
• Civil engineering technologists and technicians
• Computer network support specialists
• Radio, cellular and Tower equipment installers repairers
• Drafters 
• Mechanical engineering technologist and technicians

Becoming a lawyer is Johnny of passion and honor. You have to give many years of your life in practice before you actually become a professional lawyer. It is not an instantly rewarding degree. It's a gradual process and you get the fruit of your hard work after a long period of time. But this doesn't stop a lot of students from pursuing this profession. Maybe it's the magnetic jam of this profession that propels a lot of students towards it. Pursuing a degree in law can be expensive. Generally students look for affordable options especially if they want to study abroad. Here are some law schools that you can consider for an affordable education-

• The University of Law, UK

This university offers a three-year online law degree course that students can enroll in. This course will cost you somewhere around £6800. You can also apply for their scholarship which can go up to £3000.

• Taylor’s University, Malaysia

This university is one of the most famous universities in Malaysia. It offers a Masters in Law degree that students from different countries come to pursue here. The judicial system of Malaysia is very similar to that of India which means that Indian students will be able to understand their curriculum very well. Malaysia is one of the most affordable countries to study and live in so you do not have to worry a lot about your budget.

• Free University of Berlin, Germany

We all know that Germany offers free of cost education to all the international students irrespective of their country of origin. Free University of Berlin is one such public university that offers top programmes at no cost at all.

• National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Indian students are one of the top groups of international students in Taiwan. The National Taiwan University is ranked at 77th number and QS world University rankings. It's College of Law is ranked among the top 10 law schools of Asia. Taiwan is also very inexpensive country to study in.

Universities in the UK are going on Uma strike from 24th November to 30th November. This means that around 70,000 faculty staff from over 150 universities in the UK arguing on a mass strike. This can be one of the largest or even the largest strike in the history of education. There was a similar strike in the UK bank in 2019. The strike was initiated mainly because of pension and salaries related problems. The faculty was demanding a hike in salaries as they claimed that the universities had not been taking their demands into consideration.

Due to the current ongoing crisis in the UK, the faculty is demanding a 3% rise in the pensions and salaries. Other than this a lot of extra demands have been put forward as well. This includes bridging up of gender based income gaps, decreasing weekly work hours to 34 hours a week, decreasing work load and paying attention towards discrimination related to ethicity and disabilities. Other than this difficulty has also put forward another requirement. Due to the excessive capitalisation of education, universities have been hiring teachers on short-term basis as per their own requirements. This has decrease the work security of professors and teachers. A solution regarding the same has also been demanded.

People these days are more interested in starting their own business and becoming the master of their destiny rather than working for others. Servitude has become a practice of history and now everyone wants to become the leader. This is the change that this generation is bringing due to which we are able to witness the birth of hundreds of start-ups. Not all of these become successful as people start off without formal training and education. You need to study entrepreneurship before becoming an entrepreneur. Here is the list of top  universities that offer undergraduate programmes in entrepreneurship that all the  business enthusiast can enrol in-

• University of Houston 
• The University of Texas at Austin 
• Babson College 
• Tecnológico de Monterrey 
• The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Baylor University
• University of Maryland
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Miami University
• Northeastern University