By the Correspondent
Choosing Where to Study
Making the right choices about where and what to study is vital. Your decision will affect the amount of money you will need to invest in your education in the short run and how successful you will be in your career in the long run
PICKING A COUNTRY
Probably the first decision, and one of the most important ones, you will make with regard to studying aboard is picking which country to pursue your education. There are many factors to consider when making this decision but considering the drop in the Indian economy, it would be advisable to balance between a good quality of life and a better exchange rate for the rupee. Also remember to factor in what course you will be attending and the quality of education provided in that industry. For example, students interested in pursuing a career in medicine should consider attending a course in Russia which is reputed for its medical programmes and has a lower cost of living as compared to Australia, the USA and the UK.
PICKING A UNIVERSITY
When you are making a decision about which university you would like to attend, make sure you find out the tuition fees for the respective course you wish to attend in the university. In general, universities can be broadly divided into private and public institutes; the public universities will be funded by a federal or state government and will have lower tuition fees as compared to the privately funded universities. There are many advantages to attending a private university including flexibility, more extracurricular activities, a large number of on-campus organizations to be a part of and occasionally a better quality of education (although that may not always be true). Lodging is also an important factor that should come into account when picking a university; it is best to secure on-campus lodging for overall convenience but if that isn’t possible always pick a university where you can get lodging with minimal travel costs to and fro.
PICKING A COURSE
Another factor to consider in picking where to study is to consider the amount of time you will spend in the foreign country. It is obvious that the more time spent on attaining your degree, the more money you are likely to spend on course fees and living expenses. For example, the course duration for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programme in the United Kingdom is three years whereas the same programme would take four years to complete in the United States of America. However, since the American system of credits allows for flexibility, it is possible to complete the course quicker by taking up summer school programmes or attending extra classes during the semesters. Similarly, a master’s programme in the UK is a 12month programme as compared to the regular 24-momth programme in the US.
ENVIRONMENT OF YOUR STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
ossibly one of the most overlooked factors is the actual environment in which you want to study. Remember that you’ll be living in the country for a year in most cases. If the languages aren’t a barrier or consideration, consider what different countries can offer you regarding your goals and needs for studying aboard. Some aspects to consider are geological and geographical locations. This includes whether the university is in a major urban center, suburb or rural area; what the local weather conditions will be like year-round; if the country will benefit you in your course of studies; and if you are even permitted to travel there!
When you’ve decided on a country you should definitely talk to students who lived in that country preferably students who studied through the same study aboard program. Their insight and experience will indicate what you can expect. Whatever country you choose, when you study aboard you are guaranteed an exciting learning opportunity.