How to Introduce Your Students to International University Destinations(in Three Easy Steps)

Studying at university overseas is becoming a more attractive and feasible option for many students. Schools all over the world are becoming increasingly global in their aspirations for their students.

But when students are first confronted with the possibility of studying abroad, it can feel like a daunting prospect. Not only are there are hundreds of countries to choose from, but every country has a slightly different university system, with its own entry requirements. So where do they begin their research? How can they know if a university on the other side of the world is really the right choice for them?

Encourage students to structure their thinking with a series of three leading questions that might help them to critically engage with their university choices.

• What’s it like to study in the country you’re thinking of applying to?

• What will university life be like?

• What can you expect from your university course?

Step 1: What’s it like to study in the country you’re thinking of applying to?

This is a crucial starting point. Students might be looking at universities in countries far from home, where they could end up spending some of the most formative years of their life. It will be vital that they think carefully about the culture and lifestyle of their chosen country. Some further questions to ask include:

What’s the climate like?

Hot? Cold? Humid? Temperate? It might seem like a small detail, but it will be a determining factor on where students want to spend their time. Are they happy with freezing winters? Do they want to be in a warm, sunny climate all year round?

What are the language and cultural considerations?

Studying abroad may require a working familiarity with another language. Some students may not even be taking a degree in their first language. They need to ask themselves if this is something they’re comfortable with.

Similarly, cultural considerations will have a bearing on whether students feel like they will fit in at a university. Can students see themselves easily integrating? What’s the political climate like? Will they fundamentally share common values with other students? 

Top tip: Some university systems will offer specific, professional degree courses at undergraduate level, e.g. studying towards a Medicine degree.

In other countries, a student won’t be expected to study towards their professional qualification until after university, e.g. students in the US attend medical school after completion of their first university degree. It’s worth students bearing this in mind as they consider international destinations.

What will the cost of living be like?

Setting a budget for university is essential (especially when you throw tuition fees into the mix). How much will things like accommodation, transport, insurance, a mobile phone cost?

How easy will it be to get a student visa?

Study visas are a vital consideration for your students looking to go abroad for university. Applying for a student visa can be a time-consuming and complex process. So make sure that your students know what’s involved.

Step 2: What will university life be like?

As students begin to look at specific destinations, it’s important to start thinking about the academic and cultural fit of each institution. Some useful questions when researching universities abroad include:

• What percentage of students are international?

• How welcoming is this university to international students?

• What kind of support and advice does it offer?

Some of your students applying abroad will be looking for universities where there are lots of other international undergraduates. For others, this might not be such an issue! 

Does this university offer the qualifications your student needs for their future?

University fit will depend on what students want from their future career. For example, some universities will be better suited to offering specialist professional subjects like Medicine, Law or Architecture.

Likewise, some universities may offer degrees with a work placement, or a year in industry (for example German Universities of Applied Science).

• Is this something that’s important to some of your students?

• Are they keen to study a degree that offers them direct work experience?

Some jobs in certain countries require specific accreditations. Make sure that students are taking this into account when looking at a university or a degree course.

What type of accommodation does the university offer?

Encourage students to research accommodation thoroughly. Does the university offer halls of residence/dorm accommodation for international students? How much will it cost? What’s the commute to campus like?

What’s the social life like?

Students should have a good grasp of the types of extracurricular activities on offer. After all, studying isn’t everything! Will your students have access to extracurricular activities that are suited to their interests and hobbies? It’s also worth students looking at factors like nearby towns and cities and what they have to offer in terms of culture and nightlife.

What do other students have to say about it?

Finding out what alumni of the university have to say about their experience of studying there is an important research tool. If your students are able to talk to any alumni of the university, they should try and do so. They can also talk to current students when they go and visit the university.

Step 3: What can you expect from the course/major?

Finally, encourage your students to drill down into the course itself. Some useful research questions in this final step include:

Does the course look interesting to you?

This might seem like an obvious question - but it’s an important one. Does your student really want to take this course for the next three/four years of their life? Do all the modules and electives look interesting? There’s no point embarking on a degree course they’re not passionate about.

What kind of flexibility is built into the course?

Would your student be studying a very specialize degree all the way through their course? Or can they study a wider range of subjects before specialized (or picking a major) later?

This may have a bearing on the country they apply to. For example, UK university degrees are usually more specialized , while US and Canadian universities encourage students to take a wider range of subjects before picking a major later on.

How are classes taught?

This is a question that can help students think about how they like to learn. Some degrees will offer larger, lecture-based classes, whilst others will consist of smaller seminars and tutorials, where students will have more contact with the teaching staff.

How is the course assessed?

Are your students more comfortable with a course where there are lots of essays and coursework? Or are they more happy being assessed in an exam setting? Will the course require a lot of group work and collaborative study?

How much will the degree cost?

This is another big question for students, especially in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where tuition fees are higher.

But don’t let your applicants be deterred by an intimidating price tag. Encouraging students to learn more about scholarships and financial support is another important step in the university research process. Countries like the US, which may seem expensive, offer their students generous financial aid, scholarships and bursaries.

From research to application

Using AKD’s University Counselling three-step process, your students should now have a working idea of what their preferred university destination looks like.

But this is only the beginning of the application process. As they shortlist their destinations, there are a whole host of other requirements and criteria that you and your students need to be aware of. We’ll explore these in subsequent chapters.