Study abroad: Opportunity and how to prepare for it

Study abroad | International student admission and scholarship

​How to start study in abroad?

It is a common query with students on how to go abroad to study and how to get a scholarship? How to receive offers of admission from international high-rank/good universities? What if I start my foreign study with self-finance, and then how can I get a waiver or funding opportunity from the university? How can I meet the English requirements of international university?  Many such questions arise in the mind of students around the world. Often students seek help from other students who are currently studying abroad, send them some messages, emails, and even calls them on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Skype and use many other Social Media. This can be a good starting point but many of the information available online with relevant international universities. However, part of them wants to know how to go abroad to study; and believe the processing can be done through an education consultancy firm only. How much do you need to pay for an education consultancy firm? How much will the total cost etc. eventually? The following article on how to go through study opportunities abroad can be useful for the student community who are seeking studies at international levels at different capacities.

​From where to start an international study?

First thing first, that is to say, if you intend to study abroad, it is just foolish to process or ask for information from an education consultancy firm or depends on others for information. This is because the questions you are asking can be answered on the internet in a proper way with certain relevancy. These days with the progress of online resources, every international university provides plenty of useful information through its website. Now the Internet is in the hands of every student. You have to spend some time everyday/weekly roaming around international university websites and browse relevant sections about admission, international students, study area, tuition fees, funding, and scholarships, etc.
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What information would you like to know on the Internet? Get started with a simple Google search query. Suppose you want to study in Australia or America or England or Sweden or Germany or Denmark or Belgium or Canada; whatever you choose your educational destination country. Find the relevant university through google search and then browse your intended university website for more information. To be more specific, it is your job is to search Google and collect information from the universities of these countries. All university websites worldwide have their admission information and, in most cases, can be applied online. Thereafter, the information you collect now is what qualifies you for admission to those universities or getting a scholarship. For most universities you will see separate sections, such as admission, international students, funding, etc. Where requested, English test score you may need such as IELTS, TOFEL or any other test that deemed suitable. That is, see carefully how much you need to score in the English Test to be eligible for study in your subject. English test requirements vary from science to business schools. Also, how much should you have the minimum CGPA and any particular subject requirements at a Bachelor's level such as Mathematics, Chemistry, etc? 

​In addition, for some universities, you may find that they are seeking a higher test score in English. In many places, your eligibility may be the same but can differ from university to university. Again, there may be universities where the test may not be required for you because your Bachelor study medium was in English or you may earn your first secondary degree from an English speaking country. All you must do to know this information specifically by visiting the university's website regularly. Try to seek and collect as much information possible for your admission as well as scholarships. This way you will get time to devote to the whole process, depending on your qualification, you can apply to some university eventually. And if you find it difficult to find out necessary information, you can seek the help of an education consultancy firm (for example British Council, IDP Education) as convenient for you and importantly relevant for your goals of study abroad.
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It's easy to study abroad if there is willpower, academic eligibility and you can manage your sources of necessary funding. If you intend to study abroad, those who need information about studying abroad can read or keep this article. Please also share this article with other students at your university.

Preparation for study abroad: Things you need to consider

• Once again first this first, decide on yourself that you want to go to study abroad. You may also need to discuss your intention and situation with your peers or family so that you get adequate support from them on your aim of study abroad.
• Apply for your passport early in your country. It may take time to get your passport in your hand. Check all your information in the passport, especially your name according to your certificates and date of birth. You also need your passport information for IELTS test and university admission.
• All your educational qualification certificates must be done in English. In this case, it can be translated in two ways. Translating copies of certificates can be obtained from the Board of Education by filing a certain form of the bank and submitting a fixed fee through bank draft. However, if you believe it takes a little longer, you can also translate it from Notary Public. Translated copies from relevant educational board or university register or examination office are preferred and suggested.
• Photographs and all academic certificates must be verified by showing the original copy of all papers from a special branch of the Education and Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh. It does not cost money to verify the certificate in the Education and Foreign Ministry. In addition, your documents can also be verified by the Notary Public.
• Meanwhile, download/request international student admission guidelines or brochures and admission forms. Read and understand guidelines before you proceed with your application. Also take notes on the information and documents you need to apply for admission. You need to abide by the admission requirements strictly at all times. At the same time, also seek information how you can apply for scholarship. In this regard, you will see some universities seek admission and scholarship altogether or some suggest scholarship application separately.
• Your academic results, such as Grade Point Average (GPA) is important both for admission and scholarship. Additionally, you should also have a good IELTS or TOFEL score. For some countries like USA, you may also need GRE test for postgraduate studies (master and phd programs). Nonetheless, have a minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS but higher band score is suggested and can be required for high rand universities. If not, there is no profit by trying to study abroad. It is certain that the admission and scholarship will not match with your requirement in English. However, if you want to visit China, Japan, Germany, France, and Belgium, then it is better to learn the language of that country. Preparing and learning for certain English language may take longer time than you expected; therefore, start well in advance without any delay if you want to study abroad. Thus, prepare yourself for the IELTS or whichever suitable by an international university English requirement. In this case, you can watch the YouTube video or prepare yourself with the help of the British Council, IDP, Executive Care or any other coaching center. If you are well prepared, then pass the IELTS or TOFEL test. You will need a passport to take the IELTS exam. So, first of all, you need to have your passport ready.
• Special circumstances, if you have any study gap, then you need to explain the reasons for the study gap beforehand as and where asked. You may also need to explain and certify your service period if any. You also need to mention if you have any sort of disability conditions.
• International scholarships are highly competitive. Only apply for a scholarship which is matching with your academic background and qualifications. You may need to write a Motivation Letter for the scholarship. Why you are interested in going to a university to study a specified subject, your plans and why you can be given a scholarship, write them in beautiful and logical ways. If you cannot do it yourself, you can get help from someone who is experienced and knowledgeable about you and the scholarship you are seeking. However, it will not be ok to search the internet and copy sample motivation letter of others. Develop your Letter of Motivation in a unique way with your own background and qualifications, objectives and future aspirations.
• For some higher study courses, such as a master degree and Ph.D. degree you may need to submit or request Letter of Recommendation from your home university academics or job supervisor. You need to make sure that your letter of recommendation has been submitted properly and before any deadline. This letter can be crucial for your admission and scholarship as well depending on requirement of a university.
• For some degree such as Master by Research and or Ph.D., you may need to find a supervisor or promoter from your intended university to lodge a higher degree by research. For this, you can take the help of the university website to find suitable supervisors of your academic background and research interest. In the process, you may need to email university professors and develop a research proposal for your degree. When you email a professor requesting supervisory options, always include your academic CV and mention your research interest in the body of the email. The university professor may also ask for skype interview with you to discuss your candidature and research plan.
• You may need a Bank Solvency Certificate or Financial Strength Certificate or Financial guarantee. This is how a university or visa authority wants to make sure that you will be able to afford all the costs while studying abroad. For bank solvency certificate you will require a verified photocopy/scan of the Bank Guarantee Letter. Because the authorities will see if it is possible for you to pay for the university you are seeking admission to. If they think/assume it is not possible for the student to pay the expenses, then your visa will not be granted, or you will be suggested for additional documents or actions in this regard.
• You also need overseas travel and health insurance for you and your dependents (where applicable) for the period of stay overseas. Your visa application would be certainly incomplete without legitimate travel and health insurance. If you need more information on this, contact/email/phone university international student section and request specific information based on your admission file.   

The offer of admission and visa application: Looking forward to new life

​If you are ready/prepared/collected with all of the issues/necessities that have been discussed in this article, time to look forward to joining education at international level. Then start the online application and admission process based on information provided by your chosen university website. When you see on the University website that your qualifications match the qualifications required for admission to the university, you will apply for admission to that university. If you have any further questions, you can always contact/email university international office. There is a deadline to apply or when exactly to apply, keep this in mind, try to submit your application well ahead of deadline.

For admission to the selected educational institute of a particular country, first apply for admission information, prospectus and admission form. At the time of applying, an application fee has to be paid at certain countries and educational institutions, there are also universities where you do not need to pay the application fee. The application fee is generally low, varies from university to university, but typically between 100-200 USD but usually not refunded. Thereafter, apply online if you are asked to do so by the university system or you can fill-in application forms and submit accordingly; as well as scan and upload all your certificates, transcripts and other papers that are necessary to complete your application for admission and or scholarship. Many universities may ask you to send copies of papers in hardcopy. In that case, send it to by regular postal service; you can use service from DHL or FedEx to post your documents for faster and secure delivery.
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Once you have submitted your application online and make sure the posting of your hardcopy application (where necessary) before the deadline including if there are any recommendation letters asked for. The university will typically email you by several weeks or in a month (time may vary) after the application, asking if you have received the admission or if they have any questions regarding your application. For many universities, they allow student to see the progress of application online through a student account portal with the university. However, if you get the admission, they will send the Admission Letter or Offer of Admission. Read and understand your offer letter carefully, it can be a conditional offer of admission or unconditional offer of admission. If you receive a conditional offer of admission, then you need to meet the condition (s) before you start studying at a university. If you have any questions, contact the university with the contact details from your offer letter.  After receiving the admission permit or offer letter, the bank should draft the name of the educational institution, usually equal to the tuition fee mentioned in the offer letter or prospectus. At the same time, you will be asked to apply for a visa at your educational destination through the specified Embassy or Consulate. The university admission and international student section will help you and or guide you on how to pay the initial tuition fees, travel, and health insurance. For many countries, you also need to provide a medical certificate from specified doctors appointed by the Embassy.

​For example, for most universities like in Australia, the offer of admission includes all the necessary information related to how to accept an offer of admission and how to pay university tuition fees. You will need Confirmation of Enrollment for student visa application in Australia. However, try to seek as much information possible in connection with the university's relevant authority before applying for your student visa in a country with a university. Although there are some differences between countries in the world of granting visas, almost all the rules are the same. Applying for a visa is not a problem at all as long as you are following guidelines appropriately and meeting documents requirements. On the university website, where you got the admission, you may also see a separate link, the migration board of that country. From there you will know how to apply for a visa. To be brief on it, suppose you received admission from a university in Europe. Now you have to apply for a visa or residence permit. In some cases, the educational institution provides the visa application forms. For example, the Wageningen University of Netherlands helps students deliberately for applying visa in connection with student home country Embassy of Netherlands. However, you can also contact Embassy/Consulate Section of that country in Bangladesh. They are sitting there to give you information regarding your visa application.
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Some student thinks facing the Embassy can be scary experience. But this is a completely wrong idea, they are sitting there to give you information or give you a visa so that you can start your studies at their institute. You just have to follow their rules and obligations, which varies country-to-country and even between institutes of a country. The visa application form should be collected from the specified embassy with the correct information and submit to the embassy along with all the necessary documents and the visa should be collected through interview on the specified day. 

Overseas study: Concluding remarks

​International students are going abroad with dreams of a new future through university education at the international level. This journey is full of dreams but not the bed of roses. You need to have the mental strength of overseas quality study, you need to interact with the new social-life of a foreign country and bunch of international students from other countries' on-campus. You also need to adapt with temperate climate of some countries, if you are traveling from tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. For some countries like Australia, an international driving license can be helpful to make your life easier, if you can afford a car. Importantly, you need to manage adequate funding for your study and living expenses in a foreign country. Some students think they will earn lots of money in foreign country and maintain all study and living costs but it would not be possible in many cases. Student visas usually granted with limited work permits, you need to consider this carefully. Part-time works might be available but may not suit your position and qualification. Language is also a barrier in the workplace when you are from a different country and you are new to their society! You need to have sufficient back up of your source of funding except if you already awarded an international full-coverage scholarship from a university. What left?...........some students may become homesick during overseas stay or some students can get themselves into frustrating conditions for any reason. If this is the case, you need to consult your condition with university counseling center, and can easily overcome it. Good luck and best wishes in advance for those dreaming of studying abroad at international level.

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