How to Choose a University Abroad?
As soon as a prospective student decides to go to university, he or she faces an extremely difficult task: to choose from thousands of educational institutions in the world the one that will provide him or her with all the above-mentioned advantages. In the case of foreign universities, it is especially important to be guided not only by their big name. Many factors come into play. How to make this difficult choice and what exactly should be taken into account?
1. International rankings
2. Cost of tuition and living expenses
3. Country, city, campus
4. Enrollment statistics
5. The educational process
6. Student life
7. Visa and part-time work opportunities
8. Employment and immigration opportunities
1. International rankings
The first thing applicants inevitably do when choosing a university is to look at international rankings. There are quite a few of them, but there are usually three dominant ones:
QS - from the British company Quacquarelli Symonds;
THE, from the British magazine Times Higher Education;
ARWU - from the Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Each has a unique evaluation methodology with its own pros and cons. As the sources from online essay writer point out, QS allows you to quickly find out how a university is ranked in different areas of society (based on surveys of employers, teachers, etc.), because of which it is often accused of bias. At the same time, ARWU reflects a university's success relative to its most prominent academic achievements, losing sight of many other indicators, such as student learning conditions or opportunities for the development of a novice researcher.
2. Cost of tuition and living expenses
Cost is one of the most important criteria in choosing a university abroad. The UK and USA are the most expensive, followed by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. A little bit lower cost - in Western Europe and Asia. It will be cheaper to study in Eastern Europe and Baltic countries. Of course, these are rather average figures.
3. Country, city, campus
Safety and standard of living. Pay attention to the safety and standard of living in the country and city where you are going to spend several years. There are indicators such as crime index, peacefulness index, quality of life, high cost of living, and others for this purpose.
Climate and weather conditions. For example, James Cook University in Australia is considered one of the best places to study the ocean, but will a tropical climate suit you?
Campus location. In general, the comfort of studying and living abroad depends a lot on the city you choose. Look at where the campus is located. Are there nearby green spaces, bus stops, cafes? What leisure and travel opportunities do students have in the city?
What are the facilities and infrastructure of the college? Be sure to ask about the housing options and facilities offered by the university. Does it have laboratories, research centers, libraries. How are they equipped?
4. Admission statistics
Of the statistics of the university, which can usually be found in a special section or an annual report on their website, the following are important:
Admission competition. Overall competition for admission is probably not going to tell you anything. Try to find out the information for a particular department/direction/program.
Grades for incoming students. Do not rely on the minimum scores listed on websites, among other entry requirements. Instead, research the profiles of actual students from https://essaywriterhelp.co who have been admitted in past years (GPA, SAT, TOEFL, and other test scores).
Percentage of internationals in the university. Is there a quota for international admission? What is the percentage of students from other countries?
Consider all of these criteria together to assess your chances of admission and, ultimately, your comfort with studying at a particular institution.
5. Academic Process
Number of instructors and students.
The content of the program.
Perspectives on studies.
Online resources.
International connections.
6. Student life.
The university is not only about lectures, seminars and research. It is also a huge opportunity for social, cultural and sports life. Bright student life is a guarantee of wide outlook and soft skills.
Student government. How well-developed are the student councils/unions at the university? Can they provide worthy support for students? If the university has strong self-governance bodies, you can not only hope to protect your interests as a student, in this time do my essay will complete all your tasks, but also, if you wish, get managerial experience, showing yourself as an activist and becoming a leader of an association.
Recreation. Are there many student communities of interest (sports, volunteer, creative) at your university? Are there any that you would like to join? What big events, festivals, fairs does the university organize for its students?
7. Visa and part-time work opportunities
How difficult is it to get a student visa to a particular country? There are many nuances to this question that have to do with your visa history, having a certain amount of money in your account, with the help of free essay writer having a compelling reason to return home after graduation, etc. But there is another requirement that applies directly to the university: often the university must be one of the accredited/certified educational institutions. Otherwise it is not possible to obtain a student visa (or study permit). Canada, the United States, South Korea, and many other countries have such a requirement.
8. Employment and Immigration Opportunities
Your future depends on the employment opportunities you have at college. That's why it is so important to think about them before you apply.
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