The trend of students flying abroad to various countries for higher education has seen a boost in the last couple of years. The main reason for this is the relaxation of regulations by foreign universities in an attempt to increase their membership and inflow of potential citizens who will help out with the economy of the nation. The education abroad entry requirements for students from India will often vary from one country to another. Learning and preparing for the study abroad requirements from reputed overseas education consultants in Cochin will help you to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.
You might have seen countless advertisements telling you how easy and quick it is for processing your overseas education. But there are many factors to consider before you invest such a huge amount of money for your or your children’s future.
Why is Planning for Abroad Education important?
As a parent, if you have plans of sending your children abroad for higher studies, then it’s always better to start preparing for it as early as possible. The reason being, there are many variables to factor in when moving overseas as shown below:
The planning to go overseas for studies should be made as early as class IX or X. Figuring out a course for the future and taking a suitable stream of science, arts or accounting will help with future studies abroad. This way, the students can focus on the requirements of the preferred universities and work towards overachieving them.
- Don’t know what to choose, try counselling
Parents along with the students can go for a counselling session and understand the important topics like the application processes, courses available, various colleges, visa formalities, pre-departure workshops and benefits of choosing the course. If possible, get a mentor- Someone who has studied abroad and can share their first-hand experience of learning about the pros and cons of studying abroad which you may not find anywhere else. But make sure to do your research beforehand to have a better understanding.
Every semester, new and advanced courses keep showing up and not every country/university may offer courses of your preference. Choose a course that your child has a passion for so that the syllabus and assignments would not feel like a burden. Besides, the mode of teaching is vastly different from our Indian schools.
Choosing the course is a herculean task by itself. The next step is to confirm which country offers the best facilities for the selected course. Each country may have different educational qualifications to score a seat at their universities. Also, know that certain countries have restrictions for part-time work for their students.
There are plenty of universities to choose from in the country you choose. Consider the university’s reputation, faculty and job placement record and create a list of 5-10 universities and select one after carefully evaluating the benefits and of course, your budget.
It is crucial to understand the costs involved and prepare a budget well in advance. Research the break-up of living costs and be realistic when preparing the budget according to your income. Just going by the trend may end up burning a hole in your pocket. For instance, it will cost between INR 25 lakh and 50 lakhs per year if you want to send your kid to study in the US.
Tuition fees are significantly reduced if your child gets approved for a scholarship. Some scholarships may even cover the entire tuition fees. The remaining cost for visa, travel and living expenses can be taken care of by an easily available education loan.
Education abroad entry requirements for students from India
Now that you have understood why planning is so important, let us check out what details are to be considered as entry requirements for students from India.
This is the first step and possibly the most important part of the process. It includes all your personal and professional details which are to be accurately filled in to avoid any hurdles during processing.
- 2. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
The SOP is the document that explains why you chose this particular university. It will mostly talk about your career goals, your background and also the reason to pursue the selected course in the stated university. Refer to previously written SOPs and invest adequate time in writing your essay as it defines who you are and why they should choose you.
This basically establishes your academic record to date and will include details of all courses you’ve taken with the corresponding grades, credits and degree received. It should also include your test scores for all relevant exams like SAT, IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
- 4. Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
A LOR can be obtained from any one of your full-time professors or current managers(if you are working). It enlists your skills, achievements, tenure and contribution to your institution or professional organisation. The LOR enables the admission council to get an insight into your life from the perspective of your superior and then accordingly decide whether to accept your admission.
A resume will detail out all information of your academic and professional timeline to date. Make sure it is updated and includes information about all your education, internships, and relevant work experience(if any). Running the draft by your IDP counsellor will help you to make it appear more professional.
In order to ensure you are serious about your study abroad plans, certain universities may request you to submit a study abroad essay. This helps them to weed out casual applicants who just want to go abroad for the sake of it.
The Visa formalities for each country are different. Most countries require the visas to be approved prior to travel. The process for student visa applications may take a couple of months and it is advisable to consult with a professional to submit your application.
Finally, keep a lookout for the Student Intakes and ensure that you apply to your chosen universities well before the deadline. The chances of getting a job right after studies will be different for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses along with the geopolitical developments. Consult with our top-class Overseas education consultants in Cochin to take the hassle out of the tedious application procedure and plan your child’s prosperous future with ease.