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So you want to study abroad and you’ve done all your research, have decided which country you want to live, and which institution (school/college/university) you’re going to go, the only thing left is to prepare all necessary documents and to finally apply! Here I’m giving you the right step by step on how to prepare all necessary documents to study abroad. Honestly, it’s not as complicated as it seems, you’ve just got to do this the right way!
#1 Entry Requirements
First of all, you need to know the entry requirements of the institution you are applying to. For international students, often there are different entry requirements as most countries have a different education system. For instance, the education system in the US is different with France, therefore, when you’re applying to study abroad in France, you’ll need to find the conversion of the French entry requirements to the US one.
If you want to study in a country that has higher education system than your home country, you have to pay attention here because often, they will expect you to have the same qualification with the locals (the country you’re applying to). This is quite complicated sometimes but don’t worry, this does not happen very often (especially for US citizens). But just to be prepared, even if you can’t pass the entry requirements, most of the times they will give you other paths (such as studying for an extra couple of months or one year).
#2 Language Certificates
Many countries often expect you to have rather IELTS or TOEFL as evidence that you can speak English, especially if you want to study in a country where English is the first language. There is an official institution in almost every country for taking IELTS and TOEFL, make sure you take the exam on the official institution so you will get the right certificate. Don’t forget to check with the university you’re applying to, whether they prefer IELTS or TOEFL. Some countries or universities accept both, but some countries only accept either one of those.
You don’t have to worry about IELTS/TOEFL if English is your first language. BUT you might have to worry about other language certificates you need to obtain. Depends on which country you’re applying you might not need to worry about language certificates at all. For instance, if you’re applying to study in Australia or Canada or the UK, then you don’t need to worry about this. But if you’re planning to move to France, or Germany, or Italy, then you’ll have to check whether you need to obtain language certificate. Each country has its own certification titles and rules. Often, they expect you to have at least B1, so you need to obtain A1, A2, and B1. But again, it depends on the length of time you will spend there, for example, whether you’re only moving for 6 months or 3 years. It also depends on the education level, for instance, if it’s for university-level they might require B2, but if you’re moving to the country to study in the language school, then you might only need A1.
#3 Acceptance Letter from the Institution (School/College/University)
Once you meet the entry requirements and have passed the language certificates (if needed), then now it’s time for the exciting part, which is to apply to the institution! After you applied, you will have to wait for the university to send you the acceptance letter. Don’t worry if you have not met the whole entry requirements, often you can still send the application. But with this, you will not receive the acceptance letter straight away. Instead, you will receive the conditional offer letter. When you get this, you have to fulfill the entry requirements you have not yet fulfilled. After you have submitted it then you will get the unconditional offer letter (acceptance letter).
Again, every country has different rules, just like every institution does. This also heavily depends on which level you are applying to. But overall, in general, the process should be similar!
#4 Bank Statement
The other things you might want to pay attention to is a bank statement. You need to have a certain amount of money that cover some of the tuition fees or even the whole tuition fees + living cost in a country where you’re about to study for a year. This is necessary for visa application. Some countries might not require this, it depends on your citizenship status and which country you’re applying to. But just to be prepared, most countries will ask you to provide this statement. If you’re going to study abroad on a scholarship or sponsorship, then you just need to provide the official letter from the sponsors. Make sure you check the immigration system in the country you’re applying to just to be certain.
#5 Visa Application
If you have prepared all the documents above, the last thing you have to do is to apply for the VISA! Again, different countries have different requirements. That’s why you have to be careful and check for the right requirements. This information often available online, and most countries now allow you to apply for the visa online. So the only thing you need to do is to check the immigration website of the country you’re applying to. Often they’ll have the list of documents you need to prepare. If you study abroad, then you’ll be granted a student visa. Once you have received your visa, then you can start your adventures!
Remember that your visa has an expired date, so make sure you check the date because you will need to leave the country after the expired date. But don’t worry the visa won’t normally expire until you finish your study. GOOD LUCK!
If you haven’t decided which institution or which country you’d like to study, click on Beginners Guide on How to Study Abroad to get more information!