Study Abroad

Overseas education is a major decision which affects our life directly in a big way. It can make or break your career and you need to consider various factors while taking the decision: which course should I select?

Here we have listed down certain factors/ steps you should consider while finalizing a course for overseas education:

Interest

Studying abroad is fun yet challenging and you need to be fully ready for it mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. That is why a person should have genuine interest in the course and be truly convinced about it. You should never follow any ‘fad’ and go blindly for any course abroad. Otherwise, it can become very taxing and more difficult than necessary. Also, no matter how good a course is, you can make the most out of it, only if there is genuine interest and passion for the subject.

Selection of broad discipline:

First decide the field you want to pursue and then use research material available (especially online) and list down courses you seem interested in. Keep the list comprehensive in the beginning. You can narrow it down later based on the following factors.

Scope and Employment opportunities:

At the end of the day, employability matters. So, choose a course which has a good scope, a good pay scale and growth opportunities. Do research online, talk to your peers, seniors, and professors. At this point it is also important to finalize where you want to work. Some industries might have better scope in your home country while some might be more lucrative abroad. So, you must make a decision accordingly. The ultimate value and financial returns on your course matter a lot, especially in cases of student loans.

Also be aware of the kind of lifestyle in this work field ahead and decide whether that is the kind of life you want to build.

Choosing the location / country

One should decide on a country or location based on certain factors like student visa requirements, accommodation options, weather, living cost, transport, language, etc. All these factors affect you significantly as you will be living on your own in this new country and city.

University selection

While choosing the university all these factors must be studied:

• Ranking of the university worldwide
• Standing of the university in jobs market- employability
• Campus placement
• Quality of Faculty
• Co- curricular activities and extra certifications
• Overall infrastructure and access to library, computer labs etc.
• Internship opportunities
• Pre requisites for admission and whether you can fulfill those- like GRE/GMAT requirements, language requirement, Letter of Recommendation etc.
• Accommodation options
• Access to financial aid and Scholarships – this is a big determining factor in your final decision.

Your own capability

After all of this, you should ask yourself, “do I have it in me to complete this course successfully?” Each course has its own demands and you must be honest with yourself. Ask yourself if you can cope with the curriculum and are willing to put in the required efforts. After all, all the hard work, time, money, and efforts put in will pay off only if you are honest and real about your capability.

What tools can you use for research?

While choosing a course you should use different sources on the internet including our own website here. Also, visit websites of the universities you have shortlisted. If possible, visit university fairs which keep happening in your city. You can even take professional advice from education counselors who will help you make the right choice. Talk to past alumni and seniors from your field. This will get you the necessary insights and information.