Get to Know About the Study Abroad Opportunities After 12th

Going abroad to continue further studies immediately after completing the 12th standard examination is a coveted opportunity for thousands of students in India. However, it may seem overwhelming to decide the course, shortlist the colleges to apply to, prepare for the necessary examinations, work on the admission materials/documents, apply for the student visa and make financial arrangements. This blog aims to simplify your understanding of the process.

Let us begin with a sneak peek into some facts related to UG abroad.

Advantages of Studying Abroad after 12th

Experiential Learning: All international educational institutions integrate experiential learning into their curriculum. It helps you earn real-time hands-on experience and thus build towards your professional competencies.

Flexible Curriculum: The flexible curriculum offered by most international universities helps you practise your soft skills, build networks, and gain professional exposure while continuing your studies.

Multi-cultural perspective: Studying abroad aids perspective. Being part of a diverse cohort will inspire ideas and help you acquire the best of the industry tricks.

Inter-cultural Communication Skills: Being put into richly diversified groups will encourage communication and enhance your interpersonal skills, a necessity in the professional realm.

Self-dependent Skills: Adjusting to new schedules and adapting to new cultures, beyond the comfort of your home, will help you build the tenacity to step out of the box and perform.

How to Study Abroad after 12th

Applying to a foreign university after the 12th involves dedicated planning and preparation. You must ensure a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above in your secondary education. Thereafter, as non-native English speakers, you will have to take the English Language Proficiency tests and score in the range of 79 – 80 for TOEFL test iBT and in the range of 6 – 7 for IELTS test. Next, you have to shortlist the programs you wish to apply for and thoroughly complete the application process. Once you receive an offer from your desired college, you must immediately start applying for the visa.

How to Shortlist UG Programs for Study Abroad?

This can prove to be an overwhelming process, given the number of options available to students. The best way to approach the same is to take it one step at a time. Here is a step-by-step demonstration of the factors that you must take into account while shortlisting UG programs for studying abroad, including the best courses to study abroad after 12th:

1. Decide Your Course: Firstly, you must be absolutely confident about the program you wish to pursue. If you intend to pursue further studies in Computer Science, you must be able to portray related experience and adequate interest in the subject.
2. Decide the Location: This is important. Decide on the country/location that you wish to pursue your post-secondary education from to be able to narrow down your research criteria. Look into factors such as budget, culture, climate, affordability, safety concerns, further study opportunities, internships, research opportunities, networking etc.
3. Research: Once you have decided on the location, look into the available programs in the area. Do not simply go by rankings. Look into the curriculum, resources, faculty, and research and scholarship opportunities provided by the individual programs. You will also need to verify the criteria and documents required to apply to ensure you are eligible for the program.
4. Make a List: Divide your shortlisted colleges into categories of Dream, Reach, and Safe. It will help you make a conscious and informed decision w.r.t. the application process and aid you in keeping realistic expectations.

Application Requirements to Apply to UG courses in Foreign Universities

To apply to UG programs abroad, including foreign courses after 12th, you must fulfil the minimum score requirement criteria and achieve the necessary minimum scores in the required standardised tests. Study Abroad USA prefer a minimum high secondary score of 70%, programs in the UK and Australia prefer a high school score of 60% while colleges in Germany can be very competitive with a preferred minimum high school score of 90% and above. Do check the individual program requirements to ascertain if they need you to convert your grades to GPA. Besides, you need to submit the following documents:

• Official academic transcripts – If you apply with only class 11 scores and are yet to take your 12th exam, you will have to furnish your 12th result after you receive an admit from the college.
• Mark sheets
• Standardised test score reports
• Statement of Purpose or Common App Essays
• Additional Essays – A few programs may ask you to submit additional essays. Check the individual program requirement before submitting your application
• Letters of Recommendation – Preferably from your subject teacher. If you have pursued an internship, you can submit one recommendation letter from your reporting head.
• Few programs may also ask you to submit a detailed resume.
• Proof of finance – You need to submit needed documents to justify that you have the necessary means to pursue education abroad.

Which Exams Do I Need to Take to Study Abroad after 12th?

You will have to take the standardised tests to be eligible to apply to study abroad after 12th.

• ACT or SAT to test your verbal, quantitative, and reasoning skills. While you can take either of these tests, keep in mind that the ACT will additionally test your critical thinking skills. One of the main differences between the SAT and the ACT is that the ACT includes a science section and the SAT does not. The SAT test scientific skills through some of the other sections but does not have a dedicated science portion as the ACT test does. As universities SUPERSCORE, it is advisable to take both tests as higher scores of a single section across two tests will be taken into consideration.

English Language Proficiency (ELP) Tests – You must take the IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or PTE tests. However, check if the particular program you are applying to specifies the ELP test that you must take. For instance, IELTS is the preferred exam in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, TOEFL is the preferred exam in USA and Canada, and PTE exams are preferred in a few universities in the USA and the UK.

• Other language proficiency tests: Few programs may necessitate your knowledge of other foreign languages such as French, German, Chinese etc. based on the location. Although most educational institutions abroad deliver lectures in English, few do mandate knowledge in the native language.

What are the Available Scholarship Opportunities?

If you are planning to pursue your bachelor’s degree abroad, you need to make proper financial plans. Many foreign universities offer merit-based and need-based scholarships and can also waive off tuition fees under given specifications. A good mix of excellent academic records, good skill-set and active extracurricular pursuits is taken into consideration while awarding merit-based scholarships, while proven financial need will help you earn need-based scholarships. Usually, applications are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships and several universities have their scholarship programs. However, in a few cases, you may need to submit additional materials such as essays to justify your need and qualification for either need-based or merit-based scholarships. Ensure checking the scholarship page to determine the ones that you are eligible to apply for.

For further queries on applying to Undergraduate Courses Abroad, or to know more about the Top Universities in the USA, Upcoming Intakes to Study in USA, Study Abroad, Scholarships in USA, Study in USA get in touch with our expert advisors at Manya-The Princeton Review.