The first stage in the goal of studying abroad usually starts with identifying the perfect course and the university that the student wishes to apply to. Once the course and college are finalized then comes the next and equally important face of applying for admission. Your application to study abroad will start and progress with the supervision of the dedicated counsellor in charge. Each country and each university will have a unique set of criteria and documentation that they require the candidate to submit as part of their application.
As part of almost all applications to study abroad consist of a statement of purpose (SOP). The statement of purpose will answer questions regarding your reason to select this particular course, why this university and most importantly what is the outcome you are looking to achieve after completing the course.
We will provide all the necessary inputs for you on how the answer should look like but ultimately it is you who needs to write the statement of purpose. When an applicant applies to study abroad, make sure you do ample research to write a convincing SOP. SOP is a very important factor used by the university to decide if a candidate is fit to study in the course or not. An SOP can make or break a student’s dream of studying abroad.
Most institutions abroad charge an application fee for every student. To apply for study abroad programs in multiple universities is a time consuming as well as a costly affair. Hence, it is important for students looking to apply for study abroad programs to come with a combination of courses and universities that have the best chance of offering you admission. The dedicated student advisor would help students to finalize your options before a candidate starts to apply for a student abroad program. The professional help from the counselor minimizes the cost of admission fees saving both time and money.
What Documents Do I Need to Submit When I Apply?
The documents required as part of the application submission process varies from country to country. There have been instances when the university has asked for additional documents after the submission of the study abroad application. A consensus on the documents that need to be submitted as part of study abroad application include the following:
Academic Transcripts
Academic transcripts include all the educational qualification certificates. The following certificates are usually sent as part of the study abroad application.
SSLC / 10th / Secondary School Certificate
12th / Higher Secondary School Certificate
Degree Certificates that includes semester mark list copies
Master Degree Certificates if any along with semester mark list copies
All these certificates are notarized before sending it to the university for their consideration. The authenticity of education certificates is something that western universities take very seriously. If they find discrepancies in the mark lists and degree certificates that alone could lead to the denial of the admission.
Work Experience Certificate
If the candidate possesses work experience it is always good to keep the work experience letter along with the application. Having work experience along with the application will give students an added benefit especially in Masters and Ph.D. programs. The work experience certificates are usually issued by the HR department of the organization. The certificate will have the duration of your stay in the organization and the functions performed by you on a day to day basis. This certificate will help the assessment team in the university to understand the skills and abilities you possess. The work experience certificate will certainly give the application for study abroad better visibility.
Passport Copy
A copy of the first page and the last page of the passport is a must for applicants who are looking to study abroad. If the applicant does not have one, he/she is required to apply the same in the nearest Passport Seva Kendra. A tatkal option is also available, even though it is a bit pricey, tatkal ensures speedy delivery of the passport.
IELTS
IELTS scores are usually paramount for students looking to get admission in some of the best universities in the world. Of course, there are exceptions in which some great universities might not necessarily need the candidates to write IELTS to get admission for their course.
What is IELTS?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an internationally recognized test to understand the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. British Council and IDP Australia are the two internationally recognized organizations that are qualified to take the IELTS test for international students. IELTS scores give your profile an extra boost while competing with other similarly talented potential candidates. Minimum cut-off scores vary from university to university. The most prestigious colleges in the world require high cut-off IELTS scores to be considered for their admission process.
In light of the recent COVID-19 events majority of the universities and colleges across the globe have approved Duolingo English Test (DET) as a temporary replacement for IELTS. But Duolingo test scores can only be used for admission purposes and securing your spot in the institution. By the time you apply for your study permit, you will have to clear your IELTS test. Duolingo test is much easier to clear when compared to IELTS.