Choosing a Country for Higher Studies

Candidates who choose to study abroad will be facing the question of which country they should go to depending upon different factors like their course of study, cost of attendance, university ranking, etc. But at the same time, candidates will also have to choose a country based on the living expenses in the country, the lifestyle prevalent, the attitude of the locals to international students, and even international student safety in the said country.


At such junctures of decision-making, it is essential that candidates look at all possibilities while moving to a different country because when the university and the education they provide is important, the safety and security in the country along with the country’s policies for international students must also play an equally, if not higher, role.

Factors to Consider While Choosing a Country

The general factors to consider while moving to another country includes university credentials, job employment opportunities for students studying in the country along with the maximum number of working hours and wages they can possibly receive. The other factors are-

• Culture and Lifestyle of the Country
• Visa Requirements and Policies for Students
• Employment Opportunities during and after education
• Value of the Degree back in their country
• Cost of Living
• Language spoken and language requirements
• Climate of the Destination Country

Studying in Canada

Canadians lay stress on quality education and learning and thus have managed to create one of the finest systems of education in the world today with really high standards. As of now, they have the highest acceptance rate of student visas and have a comparatively low rate for living expenses and cost of attendance making it one of the most coveted places for admission by students.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility

To get admission for undergraduate studies in Canada, the candidate ought to have completed 12 years of schooling or academic education, and for admission into the postgraduate level, the number of years of study required is 16. Talking about management students, students might require a work experience of 2 years before getting admission into a business college/university.

The GMAT test is compulsory in most cases, for MBA aspirants especially. Although Canadian education isn't free when compared to other nations like Australia, the USA, the UK, etc., the tuition fee in Canada is much cheaper overall.

Visa/Study Permit

The visa that is to be taken by students moving to study in Canada is called a study permit. It is important to find out what kind of visa would be required and to complete the application for the visa before the deadline of joining the campus. Candidates must also make sure that they get the study permit approval before arriving in Canada. Immigration processes become easier if the candidate gets a degree from Canada since it provides them with credit.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of education for undergraduate degrees starts from $6,500 per year for domestic students and $21,000 for international students. The cost for a postgraduate degree ranges from $7,000 for domestic students and $11,000 for international students per year. These costs are generally way higher for business and medical schools.

Duration

The duration of programs ranges between 3 and 4 years for undergraduate courses and between 1 and 2 years for graduate courses.

Job Opportunities

Petroleum Engineer, Transport Manager, Lawyer, Construction Manager, Health Policy Consultant, etc. are some of the top jobs in Canada.

Studying in UK

Studying in the UK offers a top-quality course curriculum, research opportunities, and internationally recognized degrees that can benefit students in different walks of their life. More than 450,000 students from across the planet come to pursue various courses and degrees in the UK. Top jobs in the UK are corporate managers, directors, flight engineers, aircraft pilots, medical practitioners, etc.

Admission Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements, like most other countries, include transcripts, letters of recommendation, internship experience, statement of purpose, etc. along with scores in language proficiency tests. Having a decent proficiency in the English language is very crucial for studying in the U.K. The tests that candidates can take in order to prove their level of language proficiency are-

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• English preparatory program
• GCSE in English (C grade or above)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

Visa/Study Permit

A student would need a Student Visa which was called the Tier 4 visa in order to enter the UK for higher studies. The visa is generally valid for the entire duration of the course the candidate has applied for and an extra one month. Candidates who have traveled on a student visa will not be able to claim public funds of any kind nor will they be able to pursue careers like being an entrepreneur, sports coach, etc. They will have a fixed number of work hours which is dependent on the kind, of course, they are doing. The visa is provided upon the following conditions-

• For a full-time study program
• If the course duration is lesser than that of a degree of a university, the length of the visa at the maximum would be 3 years
• If the candidate is applying for a degree from a university or a higher degree then the length of the visa at the maximum would be 4 years
• Candidates can switch to Tier 1 or Tier 2 visa (Tier 1/2 is not available anymore) towards the end of their studies

Cost of Education

Tuition fee remains the highest for international students in the UK when compared to other parts of the world. For domestic students, the cost of education for undergraduate degrees starts at £9,000. For international students, the same courses will start at a fee of £10,000. For postgraduate courses, the starting fee for domestic students is £8,000 whereas for international students it is £9,000. The fee will be significantly higher for business schools and medical schools.

Duration of Study

Most of the undergraduate degrees in the U.K. are three years long, except in Scotland where it is 4 years long. The master's degree in the U.K. is normally a one-year program.

Studying in Australia

Studying in Australia provides candidates with the scope of working there due to the country's policies regarding part-time works for students. They rank high in terms of student satisfaction, employability, etc. making it a hub for international students. At a given time around 545,000 international students are enrolled in various programs in Australia. The education system is very diverse and the quality of education is top-notch. The majority of the international students are from China, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand.

Admission Eligibility Requirements

The student ought to have completed their 12 years of schooling or academic education. One can pursue either a 2-year associate degree program or a 4-year degree program. For fulfilling the requirements for proficiency in English, candidates will have to take the IELTS or the TOEFL. Institutions also accept test scores from CAE and OET. Other requirements include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and general academic qualifications specific to the course the candidate is applying to.

Visa/Study Permit

Visa procedures for candidates aspiring to study in Australia are easier in comparison to other countries. Foreign students will require an Australian student visa for a course extending 3 months. To get a student visa candidates will have to pursue a full-time program in Australia and submit the evidence for enrollment confirmation.

Cost of Studying

The tuition fee and the living expenses here are comparatively lower than in the U.S and UK. An undergraduate degree course will have a cost of attendance starting from $15,000 and a master’s degree from $14,000.

Duration of Study

The course duration in Australia ranges between three and four years for an undergraduate program and 1+ years for a postgraduate program.

Jobs

The most sought-out professions in Australia are that of skilled trades-people, engineers, sales representatives, Management/Executives, financing and accounting staff, technicians, IT staff, etc.

Studying in the US

About 30% of all international students today currently, across the globe are pursuing studies in the US. America has one of the most flexible and versatile education systems in the whole world. Candidates choosing to go to the US will have over 4,000 universities to choose from and it is estimated that over 800,000 international students come to the US every year.

Admission Eligibility Requirements

For the graduate and the postgraduate courses, the eligibility and requirement are the same as Canada's. The candidate should have completed 12 years of schooling for pursuing graduation and 16 years of studies for pursuing a post-grad degree. Some institutes also accept 15 years of studies for courses like an MBA. Candidates need to have great scores in exams like GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc. as well as a minimum score requirement in TOEFL and IELTS.

Visa/Study Permit

One needs to apply to a college/university, basically an education institution that has been approved by the popular US Citizenship & Immigration Service.

Costs

The tuition fee in the US can range anywhere between USD $10,000 and USD $55,000 for 1 year of an undergraduate program approximately, and this excludes the other expenses like accommodation, food, books, groceries, medical insurance, etc.

Duration

The undergraduate courses are 4 years long while the graduate courses are 1+ years.

Jobs

Jobs in fields like management, advertising, finance, dentistry, software engineer, etc. are some of the high-paying career options in the country.

Studying in Europe

With more than 4,000 colleges and universities to take a pick from, spread across more than 30 countries, candidates will always be able to find a course of their choice for pursuing a degree in Europe. The different countries offer education at different price ranges making it even possible for candidates to receive free education despite being international candidates. UK, Germany, and France are the most popular destinations for international students.

Admission Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for studying in Europe depend on the country and the university the candidate is applying to. But general requirements include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, academic qualifications, English proficiency tests, and some countries even require candidates to know their official language in order to receive admission.

Visa/Study Permit

Some documents which are necessary for getting a temporary permit of residence in Europe are:

• University letter which requests residence permit
• Duly filled application for Visa
• A letter that confirms the students has been accepted
• Three passport size photos
• A passport plus its copy
• Proofs of adequate means of supporting oneself

Cost of Studying

Studying in Europe is cheaper for the residents of the EU than the non-EU pupils. For example, the cost of the tuition fee in Germany is around 500 EUR for each semester; in Greece, it is nearly 1,000 EUR for a year for non-EU pupils; in Denmark, it is 10,000 EUR for a year for non-residents; and in Spain, the fee starts at nearly 950 EUR for each credit. Thus, the fee depends on one college/university and country to another.

Duration

The duration of the course ranges between three and four years for an undergraduate course and above one year for a postgraduate program.

Jobs

Financial managers, doctors, airline pilots, bank analysts, etc. are some of the top-paying jobs in Europe.

Conclusion

Comparing between the different countries in the world for opting for a place to pursue higher studies is often not the right way to go about it. Candidates can begin by shortlisting the countries they want to visit and travel in along with the universities they wish to study in or which has the course and field of study they are looking for. It is always best to play to one’s strengths and opt for countries that can financially and academically make them thrive.

Countries like UK, Australia, and the US emphasize the scores on English proficiency tests more than others. While it is always better to have a high score in English proficiency tests, it is not possible for all candidates to excel in speaking another language. Almost all the countries require candidates to have 12 years of school education for undergraduate programs and 16 years for postgraduate programs. In Canada, candidates will need a visa for studies that go beyond 6 months while for Australia it is 3 months and more. For a visa permit for studying in the EU, candidates will have to submit various documents while applying to the UK it depends upon the kind of degree you're pursuing. The US, on the other hand, it's different from the rest.

Cost-wise, Canada is the cheapest while Australia, U.S, Europe, and even the U.K are on the expensive side. A master's degree in the U.K. is normally a one-year program, while generally across the world getting a master's degree is a 2-year program. Undergraduate courses are 4 years long in the U.S, while in other countries they're mostly between 3-4 years.

After considering the above factors, candidates can compare the maximum average salary drawn per year in each country. A maximum average salary is drawn by the Australians, followed by Europeans, and the least average in the group is received by people in Canada. Management jobs are the ones that are the most in-demand in these highly developed nations, and so are jobs in the software engineering field as well doctors/dentists tend to make a lot of money in these countries. The quality of education in all the countries is excellent but is still ultimately dependent on the kind of college or institution the candidate has applied to.