How to Choose the Right University for Study Abroad Experience: A Complete Guide
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Studying abroad is a great opportunity for students to learn, explore, and enhance their career prospects. Every year, students worldwide are looking for a chance to enroll in the best universities in the world’s top study destinations.
According to statistics by Erudera:
– The UK receives a total number of more than 679,970 international students
– The US receives over 914,095 international students
-Australia welcomes over 100,000 international students
-Canada receives a total of 807,705 international student
-Europe receives approximately 1.46 million international students
If you are one of the students whose dream is to go and study abroad, then you’ve come to the right place we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to find the right university to get the best study experience. Choosing the right university is important as it will determine your future success.
Global University Ranking
Checking for the university’s ranking and reputation is one of the most important factors to consider while selecting a university.
You can check the accreditation, ranking, and recognition in your chosen field of study through the following:
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- QS World University Rankings
- U.S. News Global Universities Rankings
Compare universities
Consult and talk to experts to compare the universities based on their academic, and research excellence, student support, and job opportunities. Every university has pros and cons, so finding one that meets your educational goals is crucial.
Country-subject wise
Find a country that specializes in the course or program of your choice. According to QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2015:
Business Studies: The UK is a favorable country that offers business studies. London ranks 3rd compared to other cities in the world, and it is home to the best business schools in the world, including London Business School, London School of Economic and Political Science, Imperial College London, City University London, and King’s College London.
STEM: USA ranks 13th in Mathematics and 31st in science based on international test scores. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University are the world’s top universities to pursue STEM.
Medicine: The US is home to some of the top-ranked universities in the world. The two best medical universities in the U.S. and the world are Harvard University and Stanford University.
Consider budget and affordability
Studying abroad comes with many financial expenses, so it’s important to consider the budget.
- Cost of living
Look into the country’s cost of living, which entails tuition fees, food, transportation, and student accommodation. Find out if it’s affordable for you and if you can meet the budget. Check the exchange rate and inflation rate, too.
- Use the calculating online tool
For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired country’s average cost of living.
- Financial aid
Explore financial aid, such as grants, scholarships, etc., to support your studies.
Job Prospects
When choosing a program, you should consider post-graduation job prospects.
– Employment Opportunity
It’s important to look into the post-study job prospects of the program and county. Research the country’s job market and the job opportunities related to your program.
Check the country’s quality of life and safety index
The quality of life of a country is determined by its GDP, employment, education standard, quality housing, air pollution, healthcare, cultural diversity, and transportation access.
- Safety
According to the Economic Intelligence Unit, four factors define the country’s safety: health, personal, digital, and infrastructure security.
- Safest countries in the world
According to the Global Peace Index, these are the top 5 safest countries in the world: Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
International Support Services
As a new student, there will be a lot of culture shock and adjusting to a new country, so you need to check the support services provided by the university.
Universities usually have a team that assists international students in adapting to the new environment through support services like orientation programs, advice, counseling, language support, cultural integration programs, housing, and health and wellness support.
Last but not least, it would help if you also considered your personal preferences like climate, culture, food, leisure, and language.
Assessing all the points mentioned above will help you make informed choices that align with your personal, academic, and career goals.