Study Abroad Counselling
Taking your studies abroad will open you up to a whole range of new experiences, allowing you to see the world while furthering your career prospects. Find out everything you’ll need to know about student visas, course fees, study exchanges and more.
Decide where to study
When picking a destination to study abroad the world really is your oyster. A plethora of countries boast world-renowned education systems and globally-recognised institutions, so the first step is to narrow down your options.
Ask yourself if you’d like to stay closer to home by studying in Europe or whether you’d like to spread your wings and go further afield. Are certain countries well respected or recognised as being a hub for your area of interest? If you’re planning to work abroad upon graduation you might want to base your choice on where you could easily find employment.
Choose your course
More often than not you’ll find that the majority of foreign universities provide qualifications comparable to those offered in the UK, for example, Bachelors, Master and PhDs. Look into how long they take to complete as this can vary depending on where you study.
Research all of your shortlisted programmes to discover which one’s right for you. You could begin by discovering how your potential institutions rank globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, before visiting university websites and talking to lecturers, tutors and careers advisers.
Apply for your programme
As with courses in the UK, the earlier you apply the better. This can be even more important when studying abroad, as you’ll have more time to prepare.
The best way to ensure that you get onto a course is to speak directly to the department you’re interested in, as many universities will help you through the application procedure. A 2:1 or 2:2 are usually adequate entry qualifications. However, some countries require students to pass entrance exams before they’re accepted.
Obtain your visa
If you want to study abroad you must get the appropriate visa to allow you to do so. As the UK is no longer a part of the European Union (EU), students will now need a visa to study in EU countries as well as the rest of the world.
Give yourself plenty of time to sort this, and also consider whether you’ll have to renew it at any point during your stay.
Immigration legislation changes frequently, so refer to the relevant national websites for the most current information.