the15-year-old Mathieu’s parents have a life plan, because when their son finishes high school (he is in the 10th grade), he can study in Canada. “We saw scholarships for that country, he also started to enhance his knowledge of English and French and we were saving up. We won’t wait for him to graduate to think about it,” says Karina, his mother.
According to information from the Eduexpo fair, which was held in Colombia in 2019, while in 2012 there were about 67,000 Colombian students in other countries, the number before the pandemic could rise to nearly 600,000.
The countries with the largest number of national students are the United States, Spain, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico, among others.
But what should be considered when preparing to take this step? GDS Education ensures that studying abroad is an exciting challenge that often leads to better career opportunities and a better understanding of how the world works, however, the way must be paved.
Experts from the institution suggest that the first step is to find a study destination based on your interests and the country’s academic reputation, in order to maintain a healthy balance between study and pleasure.
where? This question is basic and the selection is not an easy task, not to mention that the studies will take place somewhere other than the country of origin. For this reason, in order to avoid further difficulties, as you consider personal interests, you should also analyze the practical aspects. These may be based on the costs of studying in that country, career prospects, security, and academic well-being. You should also take into account what kind of lifestyle you want while studying.
Requirements: Once you have made a firm decision about the study program and the institution, you need to consider the applications. The admission process depends on both the university and the country, with each institution providing full details on their official web pages.
In most cases, you will need to submit a completed form with background information, application-specific essays describing your personality and qualifications, and finally letters of recommendation. Some colleges require an additional interview or portfolio, especially for arts-related majors.
Also, many foreign universities require mastery of another language entirely. Therefore, it is essential that you take tests that measure your level of English, such as TOEFL or IELTS.
till when? This will depend on the programme, country and degree level you are taking. Basically, a bachelor’s degree will take three to four years if studied full time. For example, if you want to study in the UK, the typical duration of most subjects is three years, while it takes four years to earn an undergraduate degree in the US. The same applies if you want to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Canada or Australia.
In contrast, in New Zealand it depends a lot on the subject you plan to study. In the case of business or art, a bachelor’s degree lasts an average of three years. Meanwhile, education or another university career takes four to six years.
Catalina Vilandia, a consultant for studies abroad, stresses that the main advice is to plan. “You have to know everything, make the calculations, answer all the questions, ask about visas, housing conditions, etc. I recommend preparing in advance and, if possible, hiring the services of experts.”
