Rayat LC announces 2009 scholarship programme

Rayat London College, the West London-based business school has announced a programme of Scholarship awards for overseas students applying for this years MBA and BA (Hons) curriculums

Following on from the highly successful 2008 academic year, Rayat London College, the West London-based business school has announced a programme of Scholarship awards for overseas students applying for this years MBA and BA (Hons) curriculums.

Top 10 tips on getting that scholarship

Many of you will rely on some financial support to pay for your international education. For some, a scholarship could mean the difference between studying… and not studying. For others, it just helps with the cost of living, and also provides a bit extra to enjoy student life.

There are many scholarships available, and not all of them require you to prove you’re the most academically gifted person on earth. But they are incredibly competitive. So how do you make sure you get the scholarship or bursary you deserve?

Top tip #1: You usually can’t apply for a scholarship until you have been accepted into the course
This may seem like it’s the wrong way around, but you do need to know you can pay your tuition fees and travel expenses without a scholarship. That way, if you do win a grant, you can pay back your local bank loan or have a bit of extra spending money.

Japan: A global MBA advantage at IUJ

The International University of Japan’s Business School has ranked in the top 100 MBA programs for six years running, and is the only business school in Japan to feature in this prestigious list. This year the Economist Intelligence Unit placed in 82nd in the world, and 8th in the Asia-Pacific region.

The program’s strengths lie in the international mix of students, teachers and alumni, and in the support provided for career services. IUJ is a modern university based near Urasa, about 230 km (less than two hours by bullet train) northwest of Tokyo. Its Business School was opened in 1988, in collaboration with the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. It was the first US-style business school in Japan.

USA: The power of poly thinking

Here’s a quick quiz for you. Which university produced:

1. the person who invented Teflon, that miracle substance that stops eggs from sticking to the frying pan;
2. the person who developed the touch-screen ATM, and dreamt up a bank-from-home banking system;
3. the person who thought up fax machines, VCRs and camcorders;
4. the person who discovered a way to mass-produce penicillin, our first line of defence for over 100 diseases.

If you answered NYU Polytechnic to every one of these, you’d be right.

UK: New scholarships available in London

As part of the British Council’s 60th anniversary celebrations, Regent’s College is offering six new scholarships for students from Hong Kong.

Regent’s College is the largest private college of higher education in the UK, and has two specialist business schools: the European Business School London and Regent’s Business School London.

Both are located in Regent’s Park in central London, and offer small classes and a personal, hands on tutorial approach. Over 100 different nationalities make up the 2000 students on campus, and there is a strong focus on developing language skills.

All courses provide opportunities to develop networking and leadership skills, take on meaningful paid work experience, and even study abroad at other campuses.

Finance for Engineers?

The Macquarie University Master of Applied Finance program is suited for professionals who are keen to enhance their core and specialised skills in applied finance for their continued career progression. It is a good entry point for those wanting increased involvement in the financial services sector and especially useful for those considering a change of career from other industries such as Engineering.

Testimonial from graduate who had engineering background

Tomas Vasquez - Associate Analyst, Small/Mid Caps, ABN AMRO Australia

"Macquarie’s Master of Applied Finance Program has certainly helped my career progression. I decided to change my career from Engineer to Finance, and I was looking for a postgraduate qualification which could assist me to find a job in the finance sector. With lectures based on industry experience, the course materials were practical and directly relevant to the real market place. In addition, it was a great networking opportunity for me to meet Australian students who were already working in Australian finance sector."

Source: http://www.mafc.mq.edu.au/testimonials.htm

Unique Offshore Delivery Points

Students may take the program in any one of the 5 delivery points:

1. Beijing, China
   http://www.mafc.mq.edu.au/files/brochures/brochure_Beijing_2008.pdf
2. Tokyo, Japan
   http://www.mafc.mq.edu.au/files/brochures/brochure_Tokyo_2008.pdf
3. Also available in Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney.

Master of Applied Finance – specialisations in

- Funds Management
- Corporate Finance
- Instruments and Valuation
- Risk Management

• Portable between centres (Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne)
• Flexible program structure
• Practical and "Applied" Finance taught by industry Experts
• Educational Partner with the CFA and the PRMIA Institute
• Extensive range of topical elective units
• Graduate with a sound knowledge of financial instruments including derivatives, financial risk management techniques, capital market operations, corporate & project finance, portfolio analysis, investment management techniques, and legal issues in finance.
• Pre-requisites: 2 years work experience, bachelor’s degree, English proficiency.

Show me the money!

Working out where in the world you want to study is exciting. But working out how you can pay for it is often much harder work. In this article, we look at the different ways you can finance your international education – and top tips for working out your study budget.

First of all, be realistic. There is no such thing as free study abroad. Even if you are smart – and lucky – enough to win a university scholarship, it will probably only cover your tuition fees and (maybe) accommodation. Beyond that, you also have to allow for your return travel, food, books, health insurance, bills, phone calls, clothes, and entertainment.

Most international students use a combination of sources to pay for their education. These include:

A scholarship – this can come from your own country or the hosting country, it could be a private foundation scholarship or awarded by the university. You will need to prove your academic results, and also your motivation and commitment to study, to be eligible. There are no guaranteed scholarships, and they are very competitive.

A bursary or grant – these are like scholarships, but usually awarded to students who can also demonstrate financial need.

Family and friends – if your family can help you with the cost of your education, then this is one of the best ways to finance your dream.

A student loan – although they usually offer deferred repayment or better interest rates, this still leaves you with a debt at the end of your degree.

Your own savings – you may be able to work after school for a few years, and then apply for further study overseas.

Sponsorship – if you are already working, your employer may agree to help you with postgraduate study fees.

Step one: add it all up

To get started, use an online budgeting tool to help you work out exactly how much money you will need, and where you can get it from. This student calculator is very useful for working out how to fund your degree in the UK – but it may also work for other countries too. Remember to convert the currency, to get a realistic picture of how much you need!

Work this out before you make your application – there’s no point in wasting time and money on university application fees if you really can’t get there (yet).

Step two: Research your options

It’s easiest to start with your friends and family. Explain to them exactly what you hope to achieve with this degree, and how you can boost your career prospects when you graduate. Education is a very good investment – research shows that college graduates have nearly double the earning power of workers who don’t complete university.

But you can’t always expect them to fully fund your dreams. Check if the university you want to apply to offers any financial aid or scholarships. Every little bit helps – so even if they offer a small grant it’s worth applying for. Check with your local Ministry of Education as well. You can also look at a database of scholarships, to see which (if any) you might be eligible for.

Still need more money? The education department or consulate of your destination country, such as the British Council, can also advise you on the types of student loans available. It’s best to organise this in your home country. If you take out a loan in the US, for example, you will need to find a US resident willing to guarantee it on your behalf – and that’s not always easy.

Step three: avoid scholarship scams

While you’re looking into all these options, don’t be fooled by promises of ‘guaranteed’ scholarships from ‘official’ companies. There are some fraudulent organisations out there who will take your application fee and run. You should never have to pay in advance to apply for a scholarship.

Step four: allow enough time

Now that you know your study plans are affordable, you can finally apply for your course. This means you need to start thinking about finances at least 18 months before you hope to start studying.

You’ll need proof of funds to apply for your visa, so make sure you keep written sponsorship agreements, loan documents and bank account statements.

Step five: stretch your budget further

Find out ways to save money as a student, before you get to your new campus. There is so much to learn in a new country, and it will take you some time to work out exchange rates and bank accounts. So be prepared.

Here are some top student saver tips from current students:

• Pay your tuition fees upfront if they offer a discount
• Apply for a student discount card (such as the NUS card in the UK) so you can save money on travel, shopping and entertainment
• Take advantage of cheaper transport fares for students, or weekly tickets if you commute regularly to your campus
• Set up online banking so you can easily control your finances from your new country. Watch out for expensive money transfer fees
• Use international phone cards to call home – or get skype on your computer for free calls anywhere in the world

We're sure you can think of many more – please share your top saving tips in the comment box below.

StudyLink doesn't offer any scholarships to students. But we can advise you on how to work out your study plans. So for more information on study abroad, contact one of our student counsellors.

Australia: Scholarship opportunities in Australia’s education capital

The Australian National University (ANU) has been ranked as the number one university in the southern hemisphere for the past two years – so it is no surprise that Canberra, Australia’s capital city, is also known as its education capital.

With close links to business, government and research institutions around the world, it offers cutting-edge resources and world-class research in a small, friendly and culturally diverse city.

And studying in Canberra could be less expensive than you think. With more than 80 scholarships available for undergraduate students, including many specifically for international students, there is a good opportunity to reduce your international student fees by quite a lot.

Each year, the university awards several full tuition scholarships that also completely cover the Overseas Student Health Cover (health insurance) requirement. With annual tuition fees averaging more than A$20,000, this could be a major contribution to your international education.

There are also four Alumni Scholarships awarded each year to students from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as a PhD scholarship for a student from Japan.

But even if you don’t win a full scholarship, many partial scholarships are available from each faculty or college. You can apply for scholarships online, but you must have already applied for admission to the university to be eligible for any scholarship.

To find out more about all the scholarships at ANU, contact the International Education Office at ANU, or your local IDP Education Australia office.

Or, to find out more about the huge range of study options at ANU, talk with one of our StudyLink student counsellors.

ANU Cricos provider code: 00120C

Australia: Still time to apply for Deakin’s 2008 scholarships

Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, offers 32 scholarships every year to high achieving students through their International Scholarship Program (DUISP).

Worth $5,000 for each year of study, it is open to applicants on all courses and all campuses. Some 2008 DUISP scholarships are still available for students beginning their studies in the July semester this year. To apply, you must already be eligible to study on your course with Deakin University and have an Australian student visa.

The award is based purely on academic merit, to allow high-achieving students from around the world the chance to study at one of Australia’s leading universities.

Deakin University has four campus locations in Victoria – one in the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, and the others on the coast of Victoria in Geelong and Warrnambool. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, excellent research facilities and international student support.

To find out more about the scholarships available at Deakin, contact one of our student counsellors for an application form. 2009 applications close on September 20th, 2008 and successful applicants will be notified by October 31st 2008.

USA: International Scholarships at Darton College

Darton College offers fantastic scholarships for many international students. If you have an SAT score of 900 or above, you are eligible to receive the International Service Scholarship. This provides up to $9,000 for working 10 hours per week on campus, in areas relevant to your studies.

Most US student visas allow international students to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week, and this scholarship makes its very easy for you to top up your living allowance.

Darton College is located in a safe, friendly farming community of Albany in the south-west of Georgia. You can take one of their 79 transfer or career degrees over a two-year period or one of 37 one-year certificate programs. The college is popular with international students due to its affordable tuition fees and small, supportive class structure.

A recent Darton graduate from Japan says; “Darton has a very warm, home-like atmosphere that only a small school can offer. Above all, the very low tuition and living costs were very attractive reasons to attend Darton College.” Her experience at Darton gave her the confidence to transfer to a large university after graduation.

Courses are offered in business and social sciences, arts and communication (including English language), health care and nursing, science and mathematics, and physical education. Sixteen degrees are also offered online. After completing the two year program you can transfer to any other American university to finish the 3rd and 4th year of your full bachelor degree.

The American Association of Two-Year Colleges recently ranked Darton College 6th place among the Top Ten Digital Community College, reflecting its modern learning facilities. The college also offers an International Student Mentor Program.

To find out whether a course at Darton College would be right for you, contact one of our student counsellors.