Studying abroad is one of the ways for many people to continue their studies. More and more people are studying abroad, and many of them are studying abroad at their own expense. So what are the steps and procedures for studying abroad? This article will tell you about the process of studying abroad.
1.Find a school and ask for information
The study abroad goals you expect to achieve (what kind of diploma to take, what course to study) and which country to study in are the criteria for choosing. Combining your existing diploma level and learning ability, you can find a suitable school in the country you love. This part of the work is mainly to inquire about the information about studying abroad, that is, to collect and sort out the information about studying abroad according to the individual’s basic situation and assumptions. The content generally includes:
– Have a comprehensive understanding of the political, economic, cultural background, educational system, and academic level of the country where you intend to study abroad;
– Comprehensively understand and master the situation of foreign schools, including history, tuition, school system, majors, teaching staff, teaching facilities, academic status, number of students, etc. Pay special attention to the number of international students in the school. In addition, it is necessary to confirm whether the diplomas issued by the school are recognized by your home country;
– How about the school’s accommodation, transportation and medical insurance;
– Status of student visa;
– Whether the government of the country allows international students to work legally;
– The employment situation of this major in the country;
– Is it easy to immigrate to the study destination after graduation?
2.Studying abroad program design
The design of the study abroad program is the key of your entire study abroad plan. It is also the yardstick used by the visa officer to measure whether your study abroad is true and reasonable. If you feel inexperienced in the design of study abroad programs, you can ask the experienced people for advice, or you can go to a professional study abroad agency for advice. The specific operation is to design a scientific and reasonable study abroad program. After you have designed your study abroad plan, you should immediately start a comprehensive “warm-up and supplement” preparation according to the entry standards of the selected target, including: language study and examination, preparation of funds required for studying abroad, and preparation of personal qualification certificates, adjustment of physical and mental state, etc. Once the time is right, you can apply to the school.
3.Application for admission
After receiving the free registration form from a foreign school, you must fill it out carefully and completely, and send it to the school you applied for along with your personal academic certificate, recent academic transcripts, recommendation letters, personal resumes, language test transcripts and other materials. At this time, a certain amount of registration fee is generally required to be paid at the same time.
After the application form is sent out, it usually takes 1-2 months to get a reply when applying for a formal course. However, it is much faster to apply for a short-term course in English, which usually only takes 2-3 weeks. However, the mail exchange time must be added. Therefore, in order to leave enough time for visa processing, it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.
While applying for courses, you can apply to the school for accommodation arrangements such as student dormitories or host families. If you think you have excellent academic performance, especially for those students who are enrolled in postgraduate courses, you can also apply for foreign scholarships and other financial aid for international students. You may be surprised.
4. Apply for passport and prepare visa information
Once your admission application is approved by a foreign institution, an admission notice will be issued to you. After receiving it, you can apply for a private passport. After getting the passport, you should prepare the visa information and documents as required.
5. Apply for a visa
After obtaining the passport, you can immediately apply for an entry visa to the embassy (consulate) of the country you plan to study. When applying, you need to fill in the relevant forms, submit the necessary supporting materials, and pay the visa fee as required. Some countries (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc.) require the applicant to go to the embassy (consulate) for an interview when applying for a visa. The purpose of the interview is to allow the visa officer to observe and judge the true degree of the applicant for studying abroad at close range, that is, whether you are a real student, whether your purpose of studying abroad is pure, whether you have the ability to successfully complete the study abroad (mainly depending on the foreign language level), etc.
6. Physical examination, booking of air tickets, preparation for packing
Before studying abroad, physical examinations, immunization checks, and infectious disease vaccines are required in accordance with relevant national regulations to protect citizens’ personal health. In addition, some countries also require applicants to go to a designated hospital for physical examination.
When booking air tickets, be aware that some countries and cities may require transfers. Before booking tickets, you must make clear with the relevant airlines to determine the time, flight, and transfer location.
You don’t actually need to bring too many items or clothing when you go abroad. Before going abroad, leave a copy of the school, accommodation address and contact information to your family, so that your family can contact you.
7. Arrival
Most foreign colleges and universities will provide pick-up service and assist in arranging accommodation. You must make clear with the school or study abroad agency before leaving. After settled down, you can get a preliminary understanding of the campus and surrounding environment, and then you can devote yourself to the new study as soon as possible.
As you can see, it is not an easy task to study abroad. Before starting your study journey, you need to prepare a lot, which will cost you a lot of time and energy. However, it is worthwhile.
