So, you have decided to pursue your higher study abroad. But with so many options how are you going to decide which study abroad destination should you pick? Are you aware of all the important points to consider before making the right choice for yourself?
Studying abroad done right can prove to be a milestone decision for anyone. The excitement of living in a new country, experiencing new cultures, meeting people from different countries, networking with them, managing your own expenses, working part-time, there are so many thoughts that come to mind of an aspiring student. Navigating through them in a logical manner with the help of the right resources and guidance can help one make the right decision.
There is a whole world of choices waiting for you with thousands of top universities to choose from across the globe. Every university has several in-demand undergraduate, graduate, and master’s programs or courses to offer with specific and unique advantages of their own.
While deciding to pick programs too much unorganised information can be overkill enough to overwhelm anyone. With each new information, every program and university may seem worth considering. However, that’s not how one decides on an important decision like this one.
The first step towards deciding on an international university is to understand the importance of planning ahead. Planning will require your time and patience. You may get bogged down with all the time that goes into research and information overload thereof, but if you have your end goal in focus and convince yourself that the efforts put in will help you decide on the best, it will make your journey much easier.
Here are our top tips to help you start your search for the best university to study abroad in 2022:
A lot of students apply for study abroad programs every year. Each one has her/his own reasons. Based on the intent some succeed and some don’t. Thus, the reason why you decided to study abroad matters the most. It acts as your foundation to one of the biggest decisions of your life. You have to be honest about it with yourself first, to be able to find the right resources and mentors to help you with this decision.
Ask yourself- why do I want to study abroad? Is pursuing an international degree a dream for me because it will give me an opportunity to live abroad with a better lifestyle or I want to study abroad because it will help me pursue my educational and career goal further in a manner which may not be possible in my own country.
Knowing the answers to these questions is crucial as they will help you decide not just the programs and university but also the duration of your studies. For instance- if you want to study abroad for the experience of it your points of considerations for picking universities suited to your requirements are going to be different than those who want to study abroad for gaining more specialized education or knowledge in subjects of their choice.
If you only want to study abroad for the experience of it you may want to make sure that the programs you choose are relevant in your home country or elsewhere. As you may want to come back and work in your home country. The duration of the programs will also matter as you may or may not want to stay in a particular destination for long.
On the other hand, if you want to study abroad for gaining specialized knowledge in the field of your choice then you should focus on the different kinds of programs made available by top universities, look at employment post degree, quality of faculty teaching the courses, scholarships, etc.
This may sound obvious, but dig a little deeper and you may surprise yourself with the answers you get. Like everything else, your reasons to like a particular subject may vary. You may like a subject because it is mainstream today and everybody around you may be preparing to specialize in it for the job prospects it has to offer. Another reason could be parental guidance. Parents often influence their children with their future expectations and gathered information on this aspect.
However, what matters is your own interest and the reasons behind them. To find the right fit, among other things, you should be aware of your aptitude, skills, learning style, and social character.
For instance- If your interest lies in knowing more about past happenings, exploring historical monuments if you like to relate how the past is influencing the present then a degree in history, archaeology or arts will serve your purpose better and forcing yourself to take up Robotics or Microbiology. Just because both these streams seem to be generating a lot of interest these days doesn’t mean you need to invest in them.
Picking up subjects based on your interest will help you look for the right kind of programs. Specializations at international universities with up-to-date curriculum can help you deepen your knowledge as per your interest and professional requirements. Studying a subject of your choice and finding the right course at a university for your choice will keep your interest high during your study period abroad.
The return on your time and money invested will be high, as you will be more involved in your studies. For example- if you know your specific interest in engineering then accordingly look for programs that help you further your interest. Studying civil engineering when auto engineering interests you more, will not prove to be beneficial for you in the long run.
While researching, there can be a number of criteria to choose a university or a program. Making your own list of criteria based on your interests and needs will help you find what you are looking for much faster as the list will be tailored to your specific needs. These could be anything from scholarships to university ranking, programs offered, research opportunities, internships, exchange programs, student support programs, alumni support, etc.
Choose a basis what’s right for you, take suggestions but avoid deciding on subjects to study the further basis of other people’s interests, expectations, and opinions.
Once you are clear on the subject/s you want to study further the next important factor in helping you pick the best international university for yourself are your finances. It is always a good idea to have your finances in place before taking an important decision.
You should have a clear understanding of how much you can spend on your studies abroad. If you are a working professional you should know how much savings you have in place for this particular goal, how much the banks can lend you, what are the interest rates, what are the eligibility criteria for education loans, do you meet those requirements, etc.
If you are dependent on your family for finances then have an understanding of the money available to you for this purpose, how much will you have to manage on your own in terms of living expenses abroad, will you have to take up a part-time job as and when you are eligible or would you want to dedicate all your time to your studies? All these points factored in together will help you arrive at the money you have in hand to pursue your dream of studying abroad.
Basis the final amount you should look for universities within your budget. You will have to look at universities across different countries with exchange rates in mind. Apart from tuition fee, factor in other fees like administration, library too to arrive at a conclusion.
Studying abroad is an expensive proposition, so paying attention to finance related details is vital in making a decision on which university or universities to apply to.
Look at all the program options available at a university basis your subject interest. Do not give up if the university of your choice is beyond your scope due to financial constraints. There may be lesser known places and universities that may be offering quality education at a lower price with some minor tweaks in the programs. Do your full research to see how you can choose the best university abroad suited to your needs.
With subjects and finances in place, the next thing to consider while looking for the best universities for yourself is university ranking. Today there is no dearth of information on this aspect. There are a few popular world university ranking systems like QS “World University Ranking”, Times Higher Education World University Ranking, and Academic Ranking of World Universities to refer to.
University rankings are based on several criteria like quality of education, program, faculty staff, average class sizes, research opportunities, the importance of research output, employment rate, and diversity of students, student satisfaction survey, and more.
Hence, for decision –making a university’s ranking is considered as one of the most important factors. That said, aspiring students should also be aware of how each list complies, what methodology has been used, and were there any good universities or colleges that did not participate in the exercise.
University rankings provide vital information to students for a comparative study between top universities while researching which universities to apply to. Most of the top ranking systems now take into account program or discipline based ranking too. For a student along with an overall strong reputation of a university, its past record of delivering particular programs should also be taken into consideration.
For example –if you are interested in finance, and you find a university that overall ranks high but may not be the best for finance related programs, look for alternatives. A lower ranking university in the list may have a better track record with delivering finance related programs than the top ones.
Therefore, top-ranking universities may not always be the right match for you. Your subject interest, finance, and aptitude all put together will help you decide the best university for you based on your needs. Not to forget that a degree from a reputed university may provide a head start to your career but in the long run, individual skills and talent determine one professional success.
It saves time if you already know where you would like to study. If not then popular study abroad destinations for international students are Canada, US, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. You may start your search by researching about each of these international destinations to understand what makes each of these countries so popular among international students.
Look for the type of study programs they offer, student facilities, living costs, employment opportunities, student friendliness, cultural openness, weather conditions, and more. Map those factors with your own requirements such as how far can you be from home-as far as the US or you would be want to be closer home somewhere in Europe, do you know some people like family or friends in the country you wish to go to, where would you like to study and live –in a big multicultural city or a small relaxed one?
These are some factors that should be taken into account alongside culture and language concerns. Food and language can be a major consideration for those who want to travel abroad for a longer period. Language is particular can become an obstacle if you are not aware of the local language, as carrying on daily tasks can become a challenge.
Hence students generally prefer places where English is widely spoken or at least most of the population understands it. Other than the language community matters a lot. For example- do a thorough research of how many students from India study in the country and city you want to go to. How active is the local Indian community there and what kind of support do they extend to Indian students? These factors count as they help provide a safe environment for students when studying abroad.
One of the most important reasons to study abroad is to have a successful career later in the future. Therefore, considering the employment opportunities a university has been able to provide its students is of utmost importance. All top universities have a good employment track record. However not every student makes it to these top universities. So, no matter what university you choose for yourself looking at its employment rate is extremely important.
For the program you want to study, look at how well is its curriculum tied to future industry requirements. The program/s and the university you decide to study both should be able to prepare you for a successful future career.
You should research, what kind of student programs are in place for the enhancement of employment opportunities beyond the classroom. Does the college provide support with career counselling, do they help improve on necessary soft skills, how good is their internship and campus recruitment program, what kind of salaries have been offered in the past to students graduating from that particular college?
Other than these major factors other points to consider while picking an international destination to study are the climate and landscape. Weather conditions vary a lot from country to country. Some of you may prefer warmer climates and others may like colder weather.
In countries like Australia, Spain, parts of the USA the temperature may soar high during summers, and countries like Canada, Russia, and Germany experience really low temperatures during winters. So depending on your liking and preferences you may like to pick a destination.
Similarly, your inclination for capital or big cities compared to smaller ones can also help you decide where to study at an international location. Universities in bigger cities have a busier and vibrant environment compared to the ones in suburban or remote areas where the environment is more quiet and relaxed.
If you prefer a slower pace of life then a university in a remote area would perhaps make your experience more worthwhile than studying in a big city. These are some pertinent questions you should try to find answers for to take the right decision on which university to pick for your studies abroad.
Ques.1 How do I choose a university abroad?
Ans. Consider the following essential points to decide on which university to study abroad
Ques.2 How do I decide which university to go to?
Ans. To decide on which university to go to look at your interest areas and needs such as finances, your aptitude, skills, career opportunities language, and culture. Look for universities that can fulfil most of your requirements and at the same time provide quality education.
Ques.3 What factors should students consider when choosing a country to study abroad?
Among several other factors, a student’s own comfort and adaptability to cultural change, food, language, ability to manage living expenses, local community support, and safety are some of the few considerations.
Ques.4 Which country has the most Indian students?
The United States of America has the most number of Indian students studying across various universities. The USA has the most number of high-ranking universities in the world with one of the best higher education systems.
If you want to study in a top-ranking university in the USA, UK. Canada, Australia, Germany, or New Zealand act now. At Manya, we provide admission consulting services to help you reach the goal of studying in a high ranking international university. As a study abroad consultant we have helped thousands of students like you make it to their dream colleges. So, contact our counsellors today to experience a smooth process to your admission into a top international university. Also, get unlimited support on applications, essays, scholarships, and programs available.
Our team of admission advisors will be happy to assist you, as they do for many other aspirants like you.
If you are planning to study abroad and searching to match your profile with the best suited university, Experts at Manya – The Princeton Review have gathered important information of top Universities from abroad. Surely, this information will help you narrow down your quest for universities. You can access accurate & authentic information related to rankings, application fees, average tuition fees, cost of living, scholarships, latest updates, and much more from more than 1000+ universities. You may also search for universities by name, country, or courses in common specializations, such as Physics, Finance, Business, Language and Culture, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Computer and IT, Media and Communication Marketing.
Manya – The Princeton Review offers end-to-end study abroad services encompassing admissions consulting services, test preparation, English language training, career assessment, and international internship opportunities to study abroad aspirants.
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