The Answer is Online

Search, Apply, Study…

So you want to study overseas. But where? How? When? Finding the right course, at the right institution, and in the right country for you, may seem like a daunting task. Like most students, you will start your search online. But before you get caught in the web, make sure you have a method to your research.

The most important thing is to first work out why you want to study abroad. Perhaps you want to progress your career or specialise, change career direction, learn a foreign language, benefit from specialist research staff and facilities, or simply make yourself more attractive to future employers. Identify which goal is most important to you and keep it in mind when comparing your options online.

You may want to start by identifying which career or ultimate career positions interest you, especially if this is your first study experience. A careers counsellor at your school or university can discuss options with you or your can consult professionals and friends. It is worth filling in a career profiling questionnaire to identify which jobs make the most of your skills and interests.

Then, go online. Have a look at employment and recruitments agency websites to get more information on the duties, salaries and qualifications required for the job. Try industry bodies and professional associations for people to speak to who are working in the field. Use your personal networks, family and friends to contact someone in the field.

Now you can research the international courses of study for that career goal. You will need to apply for a student visa, so you should start planning 6-18 months before you intend to study abroad. If you are already studying at a tertiary institution, your study abroad advisors should be able to assist you in finding a program which meets your objectives and allows you to earn credit towards your qualification. Otherwise, you can start with your own research online.

There are two approaches to this: you can enter keywords into a search engine like Google or Yahoo!, or use an education portal. Enter keywords such as ‘study in Australia’ into your search engine and you will get approximately 73 million hits – and remember the most relevant or useful links may not be in the first few pages. You can reduce this number to around 7 million hits by entering ‘study accounting Australia’. By searching for locations where you may wish to study (‘study accounting Sydney’) or specific institutions and courses that may have been recommended to you, you will further refine the search.

Consider forming a research club with friends where you can share the information you all find. You could also find people interested in researching similar courses or locations by joining an online group through a networking site like MySpace, Facebook or Orkut.

Using an education portal (such as StudyLink) can save you time as they offer impartial educational information on over 80,000 courses worldwide and free counselling support. Good portals allow you to compare and apply for courses online, apply for visas, access free counselling, or link to student blogs or online discussion forums.

When deciding about the location of your study, you need to consider the fees, cost of living, language and course availability. Online research will help you find useful information about the country’s culture, history, government, safety and weather. You can look at local online shopping sites to work out the cost of living. Once you are accepted into your course, you can even research (and sometimes apply for) a bank account, insurance and mobile phone before you leave home. Check out the local newspaper websites to get a feel for your new home before you arrive.

It is important to speak with people who have studied or lived in your country of interest before you apply. Family and friends, or your school counsellor, should be able to put you in touch with someone who has studied in that country. Online, you can access blogs and discussion groups through the university website or education portals. It is a quick way to get questions answered, and you may even make new friends before you arrive!

Online counsellors can give you advice about student visas, or you can look up the immigration department websites of your chosen country. If you need advice on scholarships and financial aid, the international student section of your institution website should provide some starting points.

Now you are ready to set off on your overseas adventure. By doing the research yourself, you will be confident with your knowledge of your destination and know that you can rely on your own resources. Good luck with your studies!

Some useful websites:

Education Portals
StudyLink www.studylink.com
Student Groups
FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2643461277

Visa Information
Australia www.immi.gov,au/study/
USA www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/studying.html
UK www.ukvisas.gov.uk
English Language testing
International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org
Testing of Engish as  Foreign Language www.toefl.org

Destination information
Lonely Planet www.lonelyplanet.com

Comments

[umarbadshah]

ples ademmation

[MOHAMMAD GOLNARI]

Hi
thank you for your attenton, I want grduat in management phd in one of low charges university in australia or maliZiya.
please lead me.

thanks.

[T S Vasudevan]

sir, 'I Like to know the addmission procedure to austraila

[shah zaib]

sir,
Most respectfully I say I am is ready to study in AUSTRAILIA or NEWZEALAN for echelor degree.

[Hulkar]

Dear coucellors of studylink I want to continue my study abroad but I have no money in Austaralia, Canada or in the USA it has no difference I want to get Master's degree so what should I do Can study without payment? thanks for reply in advance

[waseem raza]

hi Sir,
i want to become graduate in mechanical technology in one of low charges college or university in uk. plz guide me the right way. Thanks.

[Asim Naseem]

I hace been living in Pakistan. I want to know how i can apply in U.K for my medical studys just like M.B.B.S or Dental study or pharmacy in U.K (scotland) accredited school,college or University.university. I haven't done IELTS. I have done F.S.C premedical (Intermediate)

[MudassarHussain]

Respected Sir,
i want to study in u.K.
Its my dream but i donot know when this is possible.
Any how very many thanks for reply me.
ok bye
Regards,
Mudassar

[CHITRA DURAISAMY]

Dear Sir/Madam

Currently i am working as a PODIATRY ASSISTANT in the hospital and would like to upgrade to study for Podiatry in overseas and would like your help to go through it.Please advise.Thank you

[Gana Surya Pradana]

Hi..
i hereby want to ask you, i want to study law and would you give me suggest... where the best country and how much da fee...
thanks...

[Pushpa]

I want my master degree in criminal law with full scholorship.

[pawan]

pleas give me more details

[asif mirza]

hellow sir
i am fresh b.com passed now i want doing mba from uk
gave me information aboiut student visa and all expenditures
from pak to uk
ok
asif mirza

[EDMOND S. DEL PUERTO]

I was not able to finish college and i have lost my interest since i work.a community organizer for the indigenous people in bukidnon before and working now in cebu city government for the urban poor.i still need to graduate in any way that will not cost me a lot and without conflict of my work

[EDMOND S. DEL PUERTO]

I was not able to finish college and i have lost my interest since i work.a community organizer for the indigenous people in bukidnon before and working now in cebu city government for the urban poor.i still need to graduate in any way that will not cost me a lot and without conflict of my work

[sherin]

hi
sir

iam from kerala (india)
i want study in uk
plz help how to study in uk

[ladega adekunle]

i just need a university in dublin ireland

[HAMID REZA RAHMANI]

I graduated in MSc degree in soil science. I would like study phd degree in "soil, water and plant pollution" with full scholorship but i dont know when this is possible.

H.R.Rahmani

[peiman rahmati]

dear sir/madam
i'm a student in electronic ENG at iran university of science and technology in MSC degree .i want to pursue a phd program in the canadian university .my GPA is 17.41 in MSC and 16.14 in BSC please lead me which universities i can apply to get a full scholarship.(is it possible ,at all?)

[E.M.M.B.B.EKANAYAKE]

PLEASE SEND INFORMATION ABOUT THAT COURSES.PLEASE SEND ME A INFORMATION

MAHESH

[Annie]

I holds Bachelor of Business, majoring in Finance for more than 8 years, works as account executive. Guide me the quickest way to get my professional certificate with full scholarship.
Thanks.

[rishabh]

how can i study in malasiya while i am living in india tell me the procedure .

[Purkon]

Hi...

Thanks for your information, i hope, i have right choise...
please give me information abouth how to study n have a job for half time in Uk?

thanks

[jagannath sethi]

send me newsletter about computer application.

[darwish]

ALL OF FIRST I SAY HI FOR ALL OF STAFF MEMBERS OF YOU.I HOPE U WILL ACCEPT IT AFTER THAT IT WILL BE GOOD TO INTRODUCE MY SELF SHORT!MY NAME IS DARWISH AND 22 I AM FROM AFGHANISTAN BUT UNFORTUNATELY I TOOK ASYLUM IN PAKISTAN B-CAUSE THERE WAS FIGHTING IN AFGHANISATNA FOR 23YEARS AND NOW ALSO USES WEAPONS OF DESTRUCTION THERE.
THERE IS NO LIFE, NO PEACE, NOT THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. THEREFOR I AM GOING TO GET EDUCATION IN PEACEFUL COUNTRY LIKE CANADA;I WANT FROM YOU TO HELP ME IN THIS SECTION BECAUSE I AM AT SIXES AND SEVENS THESE DAYS I MEAN I HAVE FINANCIAL PROBLEM AND CAN'T GET EDUCATION MYSELF.
I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR RESPOND.
THANKS
DARWISH...ID> [email protected]

[Bao Chi]

Dear Mr/Mrs
Iam very glad to receive your messages about my attention. Now iam really want to study to improve my English for my job but may be i am working now for The England Assurance so it's very difficult to go oversea for the studying!

Please tell me what's the right courses for me to study.

Thanks for your helps

[NDOUBA Timothée]

I want to study in canada. But i need scholarship from the unersity that will welcome me. I'm in Bangui(CAR).

[samim rasooli]

My comments
My name is samim,my father name is M.Nasim and my family name is rasooli.I have been born in Kabul in 1991/10 November. I am school student in eleven class and I also learnt computer, Microsoft office program and English with A+ degree.
I believe that knowledge can make future better then other ways so I am trying to study more and more but here in Afghanistan for me it is impossible to study and then to study high because of some reasons like: my first problem is my weak economy it mean when I have finish the school I should work to make money and to support my family but the I don’t want to work now ,now I want to study and my family also want for me to study high however our economy is weak but they don’t want to weak their children knowledge and future. The next reason is the situation of Afghanistan ,the security is not good and studying is hard in this situation because the Taliban cut the teachers ,student ,doctor ,engineer and others head and they burn the schools and other places ,they are putting bomb in buses ,streets and places which take innocents life .who know who is round is yesterday he died today those died and tomorrow maybe me!!!
I am still young and I don’t want to die in this age so I want to study abroad because their I can study and work in save place away from danger there I can true my dreams .I am a intelligent student in school my father is also agree with me to study abroad .I want became a lawyer or politic man in future I have one brother and five sister and our mother and father are good parents they loves us but when I am seeing to my father ,when he is working hard for us to make us food and to make money for pay of the house rent it take me a strong feeling which I can explain.
So I require in your organization to help me I choose UK because there are many good universities for studying and I can work to make money and help my parents and to make my future.

[m. Nazir]

heloo dear sr/madam
I am from afghanistan working in MOI . I want to change my job therefore I want to study besnesmanagment, and aloso I want to study english hard , but if itis posible without fees it will be better coz you know the econamic situation of Afghanistan and monthly salary of each afghan , I am looking forward to your kind answer, thanks in advance

[RizWan]

hello i m rizwan i hav done bcom recently in 2006 nd want to addmission in MBA OR MCOM nd i dont hav IOLETS or TOUFEL So how can i Get Admision in University of southafrica or uk or AUstralia
Plz help me this is only the last way for me to get a gr8 advise from u thnx..!