Choosing a place to study abroad could be a daunting task. The permutation between universities, courses, and countries make it look like an endless search. However, some factors can help you narrow down your search. Here, I will highlight four (4) factors to consider when choosing a school abroad.
1. Program: matching career goals
We have talked in length about choosing a program that aligns with your career goals. This is where university ranking, course modules, eligibility criteria, and length of the program would all need to be factored in.
When it came to choosing my masters, I considered a 1-year program because I saw it as a conduit towards getting a PhD.
2. Post-study opportunities
The post-study career opportunity is another important factor to consider. Would you be looking to return to your home country, or do you intend to stay back after your studies? If the latter, you need to look at the post-study work options you have in the country.
What are the skills in demand, job opportunities, and rate of employment in that country? It is one thing for a country to have a good job market, and it is another for it to have regulations that accommodate international students who wish to work there after they graduate.
For example, during my Masters in 2016, the UK operated a 4-month post-study visa which did not allow international students much time to find suitable jobs before their visas expired. Having this information prepares you ahead of time. If you want to seek opportunities in a country with lower immigrant job prospects, you would be ready to give it all you have got.
3. Location
One location factor is your network in that country: whether you have friends and family living there who can help you settle in faster or whether you prefer a place where you will be independent. The political and security climate in the city or country is another crucial factor.
Other location-based factors include the weather, the culture, and the most widely spoken language of the people. The prospect of learning a new language could be a plus for some, but a drawback for those who would not want to go through the stress. I once had to choose between a university in the UK and one in Taiwan for my Masters. Both ranked similarly. The major factors that drew me to the UK were the language and length of the program.
4. Finances
This is a huge factor, especially if you have a small budget for education. You might need to trade-off high ranking universities for schools with affordable fees – the fees tend to get more expensive as you go up the leagues’ table.
In addition to the tuition, you need to check the country’s estimated living expenses. You should look out for scholarship opportunities or discounts the university may offer. Funding may also come in the form of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship position. You may consider some universities in countries like Germany, Norway, Belgium, Finland etc. that offer affordable education with low or free tuition fees.
There you have it; the top 4 factors to consider in choosing a school abroad. These factors will help you narrow down your search and help land a good graduate programme abroad.
Which other factor do you think I should have included in this article? Kindly drop it as a comment in the comment box below.