Studying abroad is always a personal experience, so you can’t really pinpoint how everything will be at your university or how it will all go. However, our partners from Study Portals have made an amazing job researching the most common mistakes people do while studying overseas. We have highlighted some of the most relevant for you so you can avoid them:
- Considering only the tuition fees when budgeting for your degree: When you’re considering how much money you would need for your international experience, it’s easy to go and search for the cheapest tuition fee, thinking this is the way to go and save money, but that’s not always the case. Scandinavian countries may even offer free tuition fees for EU students, but they also have some of the highest living costs in Europe, if not in the whole world. If you’re after an affordable destination, you must check our post on how much does it cost to study abroad or talk to an education expert that can help you find alternatives according to your very personal situation.
- Thinking your programme tuition is less than it actually is: Some countries may have two types of tuition fees, for local student and international students. It’s so easy to get confused and make a plan based on information that may not apply for you. Again, we recommend leaving this in the hand of education experts who can help you create a plan.
- Ignoring potential scholarships: A lot of students don’t even try to apply for a scholarship, thinking they won’t meet the requirements, but that’s not always the case. It can be based on the country you choose, your gender, the subject, the total income you have, even just an essay; you can get a scholarship if you prove you deserve one and if you’re a good future investment. Research all your options.
- Applying to a Master’s with the wrong Bachelor’s degree: When you apply to a Master’s degree, you can’t apply to a discipline completely unrelated to your Bachelor’s. Or, worse, you can apply, but nothing guarantees you will get accepted. Check your eligibility before losing some time in an application that will be rejected.
- Sending the wrong application documents: Countries and governments work differently, and this applies to education, as well. When your future university or college, or the visa office asks for documents, it won’t just be a problem of sending them via post. You will need to check EVERYTHING: Did you translate your documents in English? Was it notarized by someone your future university considers legal and legitimate? Did you convert the grades properly? These are a lot of things to consider and if you do the process by yourself the mistakes-margin is bigger.
Use an education expert or be prepared and contact the international affairs office in your institution, because they will help you with the most useful and accurate answers.
Yes! The answer to all of these potential problems is always the same: Speak with an expert. Seriously, we have been there, we have had some of these issues and we don’t want other people facing situations that can be avoided. We are qualified to make your experience better and easier and we are happy to talk to you at no cost.
