AskJAM: When And How Should One Start Preparing For A Post Graduation Abroad?

Studying abroad definitely has its perks; high-quality education combined with living in a completely new environment and learning about the culture. Future employment prospects are also a plus with the kind of global education that one receives in the universities abroad. All these could benefit someone positively, only if they have narrowed down their choice of universities based on their preferences and compatibility.

Making the decision to go abroad as soon as possible is the first thing to be kept in mind. To do this, you need to be sure if you want to take the step till the end of your 2nd year of an undergraduate program. India has very few great post-graduate courses but sadly, even these aren’t very inclusive in terms of the variety of courses in up and coming disciplines. Another issue here; the seats available is less while the demand is off the roofs for conventional courses. Nowadays, people aspire to do something different than the regular MBA, MA, MSc, etc. and hence prefer to go abroad to witness the unique courses that they have to offer at a global level.

So, it all boils down to one question: Are you motivated enough to study abroad? The answer to this should be taken by doing your due research. This research could include talking to seniors who’ve done this before, doing a thorough hunt to see if Indian universities offer the same course, etc.

But the decision should ultimately be yours. The lure of a foreign degree shouldn’t be enough; you need to be willing to also face all the hardships that come along with this major step. It will be a stressful period, for you and your family both.

Seniors and family members who have done this can definitely guide you, but their struggles certainly would’ve been different from the kind you will be facing. What worked for one, may not work for the other. Changing trends lead to modified tactics that often steer one to make a decision about anything. You need to consider all possible factors and most importantly also believe that you want to get a particular degree from a university abroad.

So, applying abroad is a very complicated and lengthy process. But if you’ve finally made up your mind about it, then here are some things to take care of while starting off:

1. Decide which postgraduate course to do while you are doing your undergraduate course.

2. If you are confused, take the help of firms that specialize in giving advice to students in this matter.

3. Discovering new countries apart from the USA and UK as the other countries also have a lot of student-friendly policies and scholarships that might interest one.

4. Select the universities according to the programs they offer, their rankings, financial aid, extracurricular activities, etc.

5. Start studying for the required entry in the second year itself, so that you can give them as soon as possible. You can also take them again if you want to improve your scores because of better the marks, the better your chance of getting into your desired university.

6. There are two types of proficiency that the universities ask for: English proficiency that includes IELTS OR TOEFL and Graduate school proficiency that includes GRE OR GMAT.

7. Get your student visa approved.

8. Do detailed research before sending in your application essay. Being as real as possible could also ensure your seat at the university.

9. Consider post-studying work options too.

10. Figure out the funding you can afford to spend on accommodation, health, and other expenses.

11. If you can afford it, travel abroad and visit your target universities.

Things you shouldn't do:

1. Never blindly follow what your seniors or advisors say. Everyone has his/her own experience.

2. Consider several options but don't get confused.

3. US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia were earlier popular choices where most students went for masters in the past. But that's the past. These countries are finding it difficult to handle all the students and immigrants, and they do not offer visas to every post-grad to stay back after and work.

4. Look for options in Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland, the UK.

5. Keep in mind that every region changes its policies according to the change in trends. So what's true today may be different later.

Also read;

Are-overseas-studies-even-worth-it

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