Interested In Studying Abroad, But Tense About Funds? Essential Tips

The ritz and high-end standard of living in Western countries have always been the source of attraction since the time Western countries opened their doors to the East. With wonderful scientific discoveries and inventions, we have forever come closer to each other.

Earning a degree abroad is still considered a sort of wearing an Escutcheon Of excellence with pride. However, we are often perplexed with the plethora of formalities, paperwork, and the Biggest Factor is the MONEY.

In this article, we will try to explore the possible ways of choosing a course at an international university and also focus on the funding issue.

How to Apply for a Course in International Universities?

There are plenty of courses available in the sea of universities abroad. It is hence essential that you first conduct a thorough analysis of where, what, and when you want to study. Here are a few guidelines that can make things easier:

Step 1: Begin by asking yourself a few essential questions

• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• Which subject or discipline do I want to pursue?
  This can be a bit tricky for recent high-school graduates.
• Which country do I want to visit? Try to keep more than one option.

Step 2: Check the Eligibility Criteria & Financial Aid

• Make a list of universities and prioritize the names.
• Research all available scholarships for the respective universities, provided either by the institution itself or by external entities. Confused? Don't worry, we will talk more about this in the next section.
• Then list the universities in order of preference and lay out the application requirements. While some universities will accept your undergraduate scores and body of work for eligibility, others will require you to give specific exams. It is best to have this information before you start the process.

Step 3: Take the Essential Exams

• Take TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, all of which are exams to check and verify your proficiency in English. These scores are required in English-speaking countries and certain European countries and are valid for two years. Note that vocabulary plays a crucial role in scoring well for all these exams; you must, hence, focus on strengthening it. There is a wide range of resources available online that cater specifically to vocabulary for PTE, TOEFL, and IELTS.
• In countries like Germany and France, you are required to qualify at least at the A2 level in their native language.
• For students desiring entry to a B-school, GMAT is a must.
• There is also a scope to pursue Postgraduate courses even if you think your scores are not that pleasing, then one can go for the GRE Subject Test. The GRE Subjective allows you to take a test specifically for a single subject of your choice, and the scores received are valid for five years.

Step 4: The SOP & EOI

• After having completed all the preliminaries as discussed above, now you should focus on writing an attractive Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Expression of Interest(EOI).
• An SOP is an essay written to express why you want to pursue the course. How will it be beneficial to you? Do you have the requisite qualification or not?
• An SOP can vary between different courses. In the UK or US education system the courses are divided into two sections 1) Taught Module, 2) Research-Based.
• A taught module simply means the system we follow here in India. Lessons are prepared from the book and answers will also be limited to the lesson and there is not much scope for personal views.
• Whereas in Research-Based courses, there are no fixed materials to be studied, and the student is supposed to do research on the course and then produce their understanding and observation.

SOPs for Taught modules can be easier to write; however, for Research-based modules, it can be a bit lengthy.

• The essay written as an SOP should follow strict rules, and the Harvard Reference System is widely followed in this regard to avoid any plagiarism.
• After completion of your SOP, send it across to the different universities that you have chosen.

Step 5: Fill the Applications, Apply for Aid & Submit

• After you have all the ducks in a row, you must fill out the application form correctly.
• Click the boxes for aid and supply all the information needed.

The Big Question: How do I Sponsor My Own Education?

Studying abroad can be quite heavy on your pocket, owing to high tuition fees and other expenses. Even the currency value is a big factor; the larger the difference, the higher the cost of pursuing the courses.

The cost of pursuing courses might vary between countries, while certain countries, like Germany, offer free education, but the cost of food and lodging can be expensive. The state-run Universities in the US can have lower tuition fees than their private counterparts. Here is a list:

There are plenty of ways in which you can fund your studies, as well as living expenses. Let's take a look at them.

University Scholarships & Discount

• Based on your score supported by a strong SOP, sometimes the varsity may waive the tuition fees altogether, which is referred to as a Full Scholarship, or maybe by a certain percentage, which is commonly known as a Discounted Scholarship.
• Oftentimes, in order to get more foreign students on board, the university may pre-decide to waive off tuition fees; this trend is quite popular among Nordic Universities.
• Universities also offer various scholarships to women, sports personnel, research scholarships, scholarships based on your community service, etc. If you’re not eligible, try to find out from the respective universities if you can do anything to earn them.
  

Support from Home University

Your immaculate track record and high grades can help you win the heart of the home varsity, and they might be ready to sponsor your studies abroad. This can significantly reduce your cost burden.

Government Aids & Grants

Full-time students can also receive grants and aids from the government depending on their stupendous academic record and current financial condition, in such cases students are supposed to sign a bond of serving the mother country on return.

Student Loan

There are a variety of loans available for students offered by different financial institutions. The loans cover almost all of the expenses abroad, and one can repay them for 5 to 7 years after settling down post-studies, according to the rules of the bank or the financial institution.

Look for a Job

It is quite common among students abroad to work part-time or something casual, which can help them manage their monthly expenses. There are placement cells inside the university that help the newcomers to find such work.

“Experience Travel - these are Education in themselves.” - Euripides.

We are all learners in this world, and nothing can be better than visiting different places and knowing about a new culture, the lifestyle, intellectualism, etc., and studying abroad provides us with this opportunity. Now, let’s give wings to our Beautiful Dreams!