How to choose the right study abroad program

Quality education

There are so many institutions of higher education in Australia, and some of them are so large thatthe quality of education in each specific educational institution is difficult.The most expensive universities are not necessarily the best, and different programs at prestigious universities or colleges may differ in quality.

When it comes to postgraduate education, the best quality criteria may be the research conducted and the number of scientific publications of the chosen faculty, but even a good department may not have specialists in the topic you are studying.Ask your teachers for advice.As a rule, there is no better source of information on the quality of educational programs.

What can greatly affect the quality of education?

• Class size: see how the class is progressing - in lecture format for whole audiences or small group workshops, discussion sessions?

• Independent research and faculty participation: are there opportunities for internship and community service, research programs for students, advanced training courses?

• The level of preparation of students: is it necessary to pass entrance exams to enroll in a university, what is the selection system, if any, how high is the competition for a place?

Other factors

Those who want to receive postgraduate education should pay attention to the infrastructure of the university: for example, how muchhe has libraries, what is the volume of their funds, can students receive books from other institutes through the system of interlibrary exchange.Look for information about special scientific collections, laboratories - in a word, about what significantly affects the opportunity to receive a quality education.The more you learn about a university in advance, the easier it will be to decide if you want to study there.

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree and already know what discipline you want to study, look at the size of the faculty, the range of specializations thathe offers, and related units.For those who are not so sure about their choice, it may be better to consider a larger educational institution, where there will be more options.

Campus atmosphere may be important.Some universities emphasize her friendliness, welcome student participation in the local community, and promise attention to everyone.Others rely on individual student autonomy and less supervision by mentors.So it’s useful to read the university brochure at least in order to determine whether its campus is right for you or not.

Tuition fees

Institutions vary widely in terms of tuition fees - an academic year can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $ 8,000.Sometimes the universities themselves offer scholarships or other forms of financial aid to students.Support can come from a foundation, a private company, or your government.It can be provided in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, fellowships for teaching assistants, laboratory assistants, or reimbursement of part of the training costs.In the process of choosing a university, it is important to keep in mind the cost of education and the availability (or inaccessibility) of financial support.

You should also estimate how much it will cost you to live in the area where the university is located.Costs can vary significantly not only in different parts of the country, but also in different cities within the same state.

For US students in Australia there are special loans for study abroad, as well as loans for foreign students for degree programs in accredited Australian universities.

More information on education funding opportunities in Australia can be found at the StudyQA website .

English Proficiency Requirements

If your language proficiency is less than ideal, you may need to take an Intensive English course before starting the main program...Many universities have so-called English Institutes(English language institute) for students from abroad.You can choose a university that has an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) program prior to enrollment.

For those who have academic achievements or high professional qualifications, but the level of language proficiency is insufficient, the university may offer admission on certain conditions or temporary admission.This means that you will need to take a language course or re-take an English proficiency test in order to get permission to enroll in the chosen course.As a rule, this condition must be fulfilled during the first or second semester.

It is extremely important to find out what is the policy of the university regarding language tests and teaching English.When enrolling, carefully read all the documents to understand if you need to attend ESL courses.

If you are going to receive postgraduate education and would like to earn extra money as a teaching assistant or laboratory assistant, you need to pay special attention to special language courses and other additional training programs that may be required for thispass the.

Accessibility of medicine

Many universities have polyclinics where students can get basic health care for little or no cost.If you have a medical condition that requires constant medical supervision, it is worth finding a university that offers suitable medical services or is close to the appropriate medical center.Remember that treating serious illness or injury in the United States can be very expensive, so health insurance is essential.

Housing

Where to live is an important question, especially if you have a family that will also move to Australia during your studies.Some universities offer campus accommodation to family students.Near many universities, you can find an apartment or house for rent at a reasonable price.If you are not burdened with a life partner, you can live in a campus dorm.Havein view of the fact that some universities in cities have little or no housing for students.

Safety

Personal safety is important to everyone.Some universities will be able to provide crime statistics on their campuses.While the likelihood that you will become a victim of crime on campus is extremely small, it can still happen anywhere.It doesn't matter where you choose to study, learn how to behave to avoid trouble.

Leisure

Most universities offer a wide range of different student interest clubs.These are cultural and religious communities, sports teams, volunteer organizations, scientific societies, music and theater groups, foreign student organizations and many other types of social activities.Participation in any of them is a good opportunity to find new friends.However, in universities of a certain type, there will be fewer such groups.For example, city universities with campuses, where the majority of students visit only during their studies, and do not live all the time ("computer campuses"), focus primarily on local students and do not care too much about organizing the students' leisure time.

Location and Climate

In the United States, excellent colleges and universities can be found all over the country, in cities large and small, and beyond.Think about which is preferable - to live near the ocean, at the foot of the mountains or on the plain?

Climate can play an important role.For those accustomed to hot and dry air, it may be uncomfortable to study in humid climates or areas where all four seasons are pronounced, including cold winters.Detailed information on the weather and average temperatures can be found online or consult your education center.

Religious Attitudes

It may be important for you to remain part of the religious community while studying in Australia.For example, Muslim students will probably want to make surethat there is a mosque on campus.

Translated by Alena Makhneva