Students have to take a series of factors into consideration before they can begin their study abroad journey. After all, the decision of choosing a career is one of the most crucial calls to make in life. Here’s a guide that will walk you through the important details of studying abroad.

Choosing a programme/course abroad

  • Area of interest: Before you choose a course to study abroad, you must have a vivid idea of where your interest lies. This will become the foundation of your study abroad endeavour. Once you know what course you want to pursue, it will be easier to research about the other factors.
  • College/University: Research about the colleges that offer courses in your area of interest. During your research, you must ensure that you shortlist the colleges/universities which have good quality of education, known accreditations and a good faculty team.
  • Curriculum: Before you apply for a course, it is very important that you are completely aware of the outcomes of pursuing a particular degree. Hence, the best way to go about it is to ask the college/university for an overview of the course. Either that or you can have a meeting/call with the admissions officer to understand what the course entails.
  •  Accessibility: Ensure that the college you are applying for is accessible – check whether it offers the course on-campus, whether there is accommodation available near the campus that is affordable and how much taking the public transport for commute cost. This will give you a heads-up about the expenditure you will have during the course of your study.
  • Financial Aid: More and more universities today are helping students fund their education by providing financial assistance. You can find out about the financial aid provided by the college you are applying for from their official website.
  • Career Options: The end goal of pursuing a course, in most cases, is to acquire a job in the desired field. Before sending in your application to a college, make sure that they have a placement cell in place and provide assistance when it comes to honing your resume, applying for internships and building a professional network.
  • Course Fee: The amount of money you will be spending on your study abroad is of utmost importance. You must have a clear idea of the expenses dedicated to your college fee and living costs before you apply for admission into a college.
 

Study Abroad Course Credits

Pursuing a study abroad course that doesn’t account for credits at your home college doesn’t seem like a great option. In fact, one of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on forums about study abroad is related to course credits. Let’s walk you through the concept:

  • Ensure that both your study abroad office and the officials at your home institution about whether the credits earned in your study abroad programme will account for credits at your home institution.
  • Once you are sure about the college you are going to pursue your study abroad programme, go through the course catalogue. Make a list of the courses you will be taking, the credits awarded for each of the courses, course description and the syllabus.
  • After you have done your research, get the study abroad course list approved by the head of your home college and admissions officer, to ensure that the courses account for credits.
 

Study Abroad Course Approval Process

  • The first box to check off your list would be to determine if the study abroad course is on the pre-approved list provided by your home university.
  • In case the course is not pre-approved, you will have to submit a study abroad course approval form. In the form, you will have to specify which course you want to take and why you want the course to be approved for your study abroad endeavour.
  • Once you have submitted the study abroad course approval request, religiously follow up to check on the status of the request.