The South African Guide To Overseas Study Brought to you by The Learner's Journey and The Village.
Business and Management / Engineering IIM Incorporated(InternationalMasters)
Business / Energy & Sustainability / Engineering / Health Education and Social Sciences / Design / Law / Nursing Available routes at DMUIC: IIB (International Year Zero) Art and Design / Business and Law / Life Sciences / Pharmacy / Engineering and Computing / Media IIB (International First Year) Business and Management / Engineering and Computing PTU (Pre-Top Up) Business IIM Incorporated(InternationalMasters) Art and Design / Business / Engineering
Business and Management / Engineering / Science / Computing / Social Sciences and Law IIB (International Year One)
Business and Management / Computing and Creative Industries / Law and Social Sciences / Science, Engineering and Health IIB (International Year Zero) Business and Management / Computing and Creative Industries / Law and Social Sciences / Science, Engineering and Health IIB (International Year One) Business / Computing / Engineering IIM Incorporated(InternationalMasters) Management, Law and Social Sciences / Science, Engineering and Health
International College Oxford International offers international students a pathway to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Following the successful completion of the first stage of our programmes, students continue their studies directly at the university.* University Pathways COLLEGEINTERNATIONALOFUNIVERSITYBRADFORD(UBIC) University of Bradford, Bradford DE COLLEGEINTERNATIONALUNIVERSITYMONTFORT(DMUIC) De Montfort University, Leicester (ICD)COLLEGEINTERNATIONALDUNDEE University of Dundee, Scotland UNIVERSITY COLLEGEINTERNATIONALGREENWICHOF(UGIC) University of Greenwich, London COLLEGEINTERNATIONALUNIVERSITYBANGOR(BUIC) Bangor University, Wales Top University601-800Worldwide (Student Crowd 2022) 1st in England for Impact on Social Mobility (Higher Social Mobility Index 2021) Top 200 Universitiesof in the World for EmploymentGraduateRate (QS World University Rankings 2022) Top 30 UniversityUK for Student Satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2022) 3rd in UK for OutcomesGraduateEnhanced (What Uni Student Choice Awards 2021) Discover a world of opportunity At oxfordinternational.com. Need help? Our team is always available, reach out at oxfordinternational.com/contact-us Available routes at BUIC: IIB (International Year Zero) Business, Management and Economics / Law, Media, Psychology and Social Sciences / Engineering and Computer Science IIB (International Year One) Business, Management and Finance / Psychology IIM Incorporated(InternationalMasters)
Business and Management / Investment and Banking / Accounting and Finance / Psychology
Available routes at UGIC: IIB (International Year Zero)
Available routes at UBIC: IIB Foundation(InternationalYear)
Business and Management / Engineering / Computing
Available routes at ICD: IIB (International Year Zero) Art and Design / Business / Computing / Engineering / Life and Biomedical Sciences / Law, Psychology and Social Studies / Nursing IIB (International Year One) Applied Finance / Business IIM Incorporated(InternationalMasters)
London, England No.1 Best City in the World for Students (QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2022) Available routes at our London DiplomaInternationalCentre:Foundation Business
Nafisa, Bangladesh, DMUIC Chat with our students chat-to-our-studentsoxfordinternational.com/
Syed Asim Hussain, Pakistan, IYZ Computing, DMUIC “I’ve enjoyed studying at DMUIC, the tutors are excellent and have helped me settle into life as a university student. They are also really supportive and have helped myself and other students with other issues outside of the classroom such as accommodation.”
OXFORDINTERNATIONALOXFORDCENTRE Oxford, England Top 10 StudentSafestCity (Complete University Guide 2020) Available routes at our Oxford YearInternationalCentre:Foundation Business Pre-Master’s Programme Business
SAN STATEFRANCISCOUNIVERSITY
“As DMUIC is situated in England’s most vibrant and multicultural city, I had the opportunity to make friends from different countries. The most amazing thing was that the DMUIC staff including all teachers and the office persons were very motivational and welcoming. They provide the best routes for study to every individual.”
* After successfully completing one of our pathway programmes at the Oxford Centre or the London Centre, students will have the option to progress to one of our university partners. For more information, please visit oxfordinternational.com “The thing I like most about Dundee is the people. They are loving, friendly and always willing to help. It’s also relatively quiet, and the cost of living is very affordable.”
LONDONINTERNATIONALOXFORDCENTRE
San Francisco, USA Top 5% Business Faculty Nationwide and Film School (U.S. News & World Report 2021) Available routes at SF InternationalState: Year One Programme Liberal / Creative Arts / Ethnic Studies / Science / Engineering / Health / Social Sciences / Business / Education
Belema, Nigeria, ICD
Heidi Sulcas The Learner’s Journey
Letter from the Editor Contents IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHICH COUNTRY IS RIGHT FOR MY KID WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN LET’S PLAY… CURRICULUM MYTHS & LEGENDS FAQS ABOUT STUDYING ABROAD MEDICINE IN AUSTRALIA THEY STUDIED… WHAT?! FUTURE PROOF DEGREES FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE THE DREAM & THE UNEXPECTED WHAT IS UCAS … AND WHAT IS “CLEARING”? ACE THAT PERSONAL STATEMENT THINKING ABOUT A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE OVERSEAS? MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? THE SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WHAT ARE WORK PLACEMENTS & SANDWICH YEARS? WORKING WHILE STUDYING & AFTERWARDSGLOSSARY THIS IS A LINK DENSE DIGIZINE SO PLEASE CLICK ON ALL OF THEM TO GET MAXIMUM BENEFIT!
Finding the place that fits YOUR CHILD is the goal. So start with the universities that “tick their boxes” and figure out which one makes the 18-inch journey to their heart (it’s not always the one that sits in your parent’s heart).Family decisions are quite personal and while you are in this process, try to block out the noise of what everyone else is doing. There are a lot of opinions out there and a lot of myths as well. This is your and your child’s journey.
On paper, another university may be higher ranked or have more research output (or, or, or…) but as a counsellor who guides kids in their overseas university choices, I’ve learnt that “a happy student is a successful student”.
I was reminded yesterday of the quote by British politician Andrew Bennett, “The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.”
University Speaking remains a free publication to schools, learners, students, and their families only because we are supported by our amazing university advertisers. Thank you for your willingness to participate and for providing invaluable information and content about your institutions.
And thank you to our readers. I hope that in these pages you’ll find pieces to the puzzle that will help you make your best decision.
While I wouldn’t expect that journey to be accomplished in the search for the perfect fit university, the importance of how your child feels when they walk on to a campus is paramount. It should feel like home, like a place that they can live for the next three or four years.
When someone asks about what their options are for international education, my initial response is “how long is a piece of string?” But like the beginning of any “expedition”, the starting point can seem hard to find. How do we narrow down the options, how do we make sure that our child has a job at the other end of this not insignificant investment… I hope this issue of University Speaking has some of the answers and helps you and your child on your journey to an international university education. As a team we remain student-focused in our quest to bring the needed information to parents to guide the process of this life changing decision. We draw our inspiration from parents’ questions, counselling sessions with learners and meetings with educators. We remain unbiased, impartial and always open to debate. I am forever humbled and grateful for my expert guides in the publishing world, Vanessa and Ann, and our immensely talented Dale in the design department.
STUDY A WIDE RANGE OF COURSES IN ONE OF THE UK’S MOST EXCITING AND AFFORDABLE STUDENT CITIES. I 95% of students in work or further study within 15 months of graduating (Graduate Outcome Survey 2020) 2nd LIVERPOOL WAS VOTED 2ND BEST UK STUDENT CITY 2021** fb.me/LJMUofficial @ljmu I £3,000+ scholarships available for international students I Guaranteed city centre accommodation starting from £80 a week I 9th best sports department in the world (Global QS Higher Education Ranking 2022) **As voted by students on studentcrowd.com
JESSICA KENDALL, IEB*
In Their Own Words
When you study in Canada, you should aim for excellent marks in all your assignments and tests/exams. In my first year I was content with my passes. However, if you have a low GPA, you are at a disadvantage in being accepted in your subject of choice, as well as with acceptance in certain internships. What I like about my studies here is that, for some degrees (including mine) you must take 3 compulsory work semesters. This is full-time, paid work to gain experience in the workplace related to your degree. This has helped me prepare for my future career.”
We asked 7 lucky students to share their highs and … well … highs!
Bachelor of Business at the University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
What’s it really like to study overseas?
“It had always been the plan for me to study in Canada, as my dad was born in Toronto.
I initially struggled to make friends, but eventually met some fantastic people. My friends and I now love our weekly summer softball tournaments, as well as many other socials related to school, sports and work!
“I looked at a number of universities in the UK and towards the end of my exploration, I called my parents from Manchester to tell them I couldn’t find a place that felt right for me. The next day I visited Edinburgh and fell in love with the university, the city and its people.
* WHAT SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMS DID THEY WRITE? IEB = IEB NSC DBE = Government / Department of Basic Education NSC
“The best part of UT is definitely the location and the size. We are situated in the heart of Tampa. The university has around 10 000 students which makes for slightly smaller, more interactive classes.
The proud history of the university combined with its cutting-edge infrastructure and technology was my favourite element. I was surprised by how independently we were expected to learn, even though you can get help through weekly drop-in sessions and regular tutorials.
What surprised me the most from the university was how beautiful the campus was! Personally, I did face troubles when it came to making friends as I couldn’t get accommodation on campus, because the university overbooked by a few thousand students and I accepted too late. I was forced to get an apartment off campus. My way of getting involved was by getting an on-campus job working for the gym. You will undoubtedly feel homesick at times but getting through those feelings is rewarding! In America, there are many opportunities to prepare you for your future career such as jobs, interactive classes, societies and a huge drive for internships.”
Making friends was very easy. There is a society and sports team for just about anything you can think of, and if there isn’t, you can start one.
LIAM HOFFMAN, DBE* BS Marketing at the University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA
REECE CORBETT, DBE* BA (Hons) Finance and Business at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Regardless of what university you attend, I don’t think a degree is enough. Make use of the long summers to get work experience and be sure to participate in extracurricular events.”
“Studying at Griffith has been absolutely incredible, the campus is huge and has so many amenities to suit anyone’s interest, whether it be grabbing drinks with friends at the uni-bar, hitting the gym or sitting down for a coffee in the huge food court.
Going over to Australia was not an easy transition, to start off, the visa application is very long and pricey with having to get medical tests done and paying the absurd visa fee. The actual move was also very stressful as you are leaving your friends and family behind. But it has been the best decision of my life. To my surprise everyone at the university has been so friendly and easy to get along with. The campus also throws lots of parties and mixers where you get to meet so many people.
The workload is a big jump up from high school and the external stressors from living out of home for the first time are challenges, but I feel like I am slowly starting to find my place in this world.
As Australia is an expensive country, finding a parttime job is crucial, but it’s easy for students to fill in. The minimum wage is also very high so covering extra costs can easily be done with just a couple hours of work.”
Bachelor of Medical Science at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
TRISTAN JONES, DBE* BSc in Physiotherapy at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
“Our classes are small and intimate, with only about 20 people per class. This is the best part of university life, because we get a more personal experience and a lot more practice in the practical classes. Our theoretical classes are a bit bigger but still personal, open and relaxed. My biggest surprise was firstly the country itself, as I had never been overseas before. I initially found it very difficult to find housing, so I suggest searching in advance and joining housing groups on Facebook.
It was difficult in the beginning to make friends, because when we started, most classes were still online and only the practical classes were in person. Saxion usually organises an introduction week to meet everyone in the beginning – so now that Covid is hopefully a thing of the past, that should help anyone starting at the university. Our course involves a lot of self-study and I had to learn to manage my time. That was the most important thing I’ve learned, I think, as well as internships which gives you an idea of the real workplace and is a great learning experience.”
LUKE BEACHY HEAD, DBE*
My biggest surprise was that there were so many international students just like myself. This creates an instant connection.
My advice to student athletes considering studying overseas is, in the words of Nike, “Just do it” - but know that what you get out of it is entirely up to you. It is ludicrous to think that a life-altering decision like this comes without its trials and tribulations. You will have some difficult times and difficult choices to make, and to be that far away from your friends and family is hard at times.
With my course being so specialised, the limited number of students meant everyone got to know each other very quickly. I’m also part of the student ambassadorship program and am working with other students from different courses, which gives me the ability to create friendships outside of my degree.
I was homesick at the start, and gained an appreciation for South Africa and how lucky I am to call myself South African. Being part of the student ambassadorship program has given me an insight into different elements to my university and exposed me to broader perspectives. As well as the vast amount of research constantly happening allowing one to partake and receive a firsthand experience of the field which I think will be helpful in understanding where my interests lie.”
GERALD LOWE, DBE* BS in Finance and Personal Financial Planning at Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA “Towards the end of grade 10, I started looking at my South African university options, such as NWU, UP-Tuks, and UJ, and I couldn’t believe how expensive it was going to be. I wanted to play rugby at university and a friend told me about Aspire Atlantic, and I contacted them to get a better understanding of what becoming a studentathlete in the US would entail.
“The best part of uni is that it feels as though I’m part of a family. We are supported along the way yet still given freedom to be a learning individual.
The universities in the US are incredibly studentfocused, there are so many resources at your disposal, and they go out of their way to ensure that you have what you need to be successful. The universities realise the importance of your well-being as a student and your academics, and they do everything they can, to best prepare you for life after college.
I remember sitting in front of my computer, nervously sweating and meticulously going over my application, my photos, report cards, video, and essay outlining why I would like to study in the US. Little did I know that that would be one of the best decisions (if not the best I’ve made) in my entire life.
PLAYINGANDSTUDYINGSPORT
MORGAN ADSHADE, IEB* BSc (Hons) Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, England, UK
I have completed my first year, and I am taking three classes during the summer for an additional Associate Degree in Advanced GIS as this is a fundamental part of the industry and allows for me to be more qualified and skilled. In my off-time I like to hang-out with friends, surf, fish and eat good food. The best part of my university is that tasks and assignments given to students are directly related to real-world work. This practice of communicating and dealing with businesses on a professional level is a critical skill. The learning facilities and equipment, as well as the campus, at Palomar College are all professional and A-Grade. Every class I have been in has had less than 20Asstudents.Isithere, I can truthfully say I took the most out of the experience. I travelled to 39 states, visited over a dozen national parks, made lifelong friends, played at the highest level of USA college rugby, and graduated with a world-class degree and more professional experience than I could have ever dreamed of. All of these things are dwarfed by the most valuable lesson I learned: the only currency we should value in life is memories and relationships. These things withstand the test of time and are more valuable than any paycheck could ever be.”
After graduating in 2021, Gerald was drafted by the Giltinis, a major league rugby team based in Los Angeles, California. He also secured a job as a business analyst for a local logistics company. The biggest surprise regarding Palomar College, is the funding afforded to the college and therefore to the students. In my first semester I was able to obtain a total of $3 000 from the college for “COVID-19 Relief.” The process to get these funds was easy and painless. Furthermore, Palomar College is incredibly well connected to various companies and organisations. Professors identify those students who are eager and keen to learn and when able to, will pass on work/ internships opportunities.”
I was eager to study abroad as I have always been a big believer in networking and sought to expand my own network at an international level. I came across Drone Technologies and was hooked.
MICHAEL-JOHN SMUTS, DBE* Double AS Degree in Drone Technologies and Applications & Advanced Geographic Information Systems at Palomar College in San Marcos, California, USA “After matriculating, I was selected for a specialised gap-year programme for boys between the ages of 1821. After this, I returned to Cape Town where I waited tables while applying to various universities, colleges and technikons overseas. I focused on courses in line with sustainability, renewable energy as well as technology, which I believe will be sought-after skills in the future.
www.ucd.ie/global Study at UCD Ireland's Global University TOP 1% University College Dublin is Ireland’s most international university. * 2 year stay-back visa available for Graduate students 1 year stay-back available for Undergraduate students Top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide Scholarshipsavailable for international students Career opportunities and 2-year stay back visa for Ireland* sity Over 8,500 international students study at UCD. We offer Ireland’s widest range of qualifications, recognised and valued by academic institutions and employers throughout the world. Located in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, UCD has been a major contributor to Irish knowledge, culture and global impact for 160 years. Enquire today at www.ucd.ie/global/enquire Find out more about UCD! Enquire here
ACADEMIC1.
WHAT2. IS THE WEATHER LIKE... ... at the university your child wants to attend? While we know the Northern Hemisphere can be bitterly cold in winter, different university towns have different weather patterns - certain areas can be extremely hot in summer. Heidi Sulcas looks at issues that might help you narrow down your choices to the country that will be the right place for your child. Some of these might seem obvious but they can make a big difference.
YEAR Northern Hemisphere schools and universities have a school cycle beginning in Aug/Sept and ending in May/June with summers off. Some universities, especially in the USA, have options for summer classes. Southern Hemisphere universities have a similar school year to ours in South Africa. The academic year can be a significant consideration if you have other children in school in the Southern Hemisphere and you want to plan family holidays or travel.
Which Country Is Right For My Kid
Did You Know? Birmingham City University has a branch campus in the United Arab Emirates? A wide range of programmes are offered, ranging from a BA in Arab and Islamic Studies to an MSc in Extreme Medicine and their newest programme, a BSc Sustainable Energy Futures. The most popular degree amongst students is their BSc Business and Management.
Where will your child stay? Many US universities require on-campus living for the first year. Finding accommodation in the Netherlands is very difficult in some cities and, by and large, universities don’t own housing facilities. Research housing options as part of your university exploration.
How will your child get around? Do most students have cars, or is public transport sufficient? How close is your child’s campus to an airport that offers or connects to another that offers international flights?
...is being within one plane flight of your student important to you? There are few direct flights to the US and Australia, and getting to your student in an emergency or vice versa can take several days.
EXPENSE!6.
How many years of education are you in for? For instance, in the UK, undergraduate degrees in England are three years while in Scotland they take four years to complete. That makes a big difference to the bottom line.
CURRENCY7.
STUDENT3.
ACCESSIBILITY4.
Does your child need to be assured that you are awake when they need you? If you live in South Africa and your child goes to university in the USA or Canada, you’ll be six to ten hours ahead of them, depending on the time of year and where you live. Australia is about six to eight hours ahead of SA, and New Zealand is 12. Europe and the UK are in the same time zone or just a couple of hours different.
ACCOMMODATION
If you are saving in rands for your child’s education, how does that affect paying university fees in a foreign currency? Where do you have the most favourable exchange or value for money? (See “Overseas Study - Start Saving Now”.)
CAMPUS8. Look at the size of the campus, whether it’s an urban or suburban campus, or in a university town. By and large, you can find almost all of these in every country. The location of a university affects campus life, and different university settings suit different kids.
WHEN5. THINGS GO WRONG…
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL BECOME A DOCTOR IN THE US OR UK 19,000+ School of Medicine graduates APPLICATIONS OPEN SCAN HERE TO APPLY SGU is the LARGEST SOURCE of doctors for the entire US workforce* *According to FSMB physician licensure data, 2021 www.sgu.edu/md BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A DOCTOR TODAY
CONNECTIONS9. Do you have family in the country that you’re considering who will be able to help your student with a soft landing, or to just be that point of contact in an emergency?
IMMIGRATION12. Is a pathway to immigration part of your student’s consideration for international university? If it is, it might be wise to undertake university in the country that your student anticipates working or living in for the long term. What is the access to the world of employment from the different education systems, given your passport or visa?
ROOM13. FOR CHANGE Make sure that you work with someone who can help you to understand the differences in systems of higher education in countries around the world. The US system is forgiving if you want to change degrees or transfer universities; it’s a “done” thing in the US.
LIVING10. EXPENSES Ask the admissions office about these. Sweden’s public universities are on a lot of minds lately because EU citizens can study for free there. BUT… living expenses!!!! They are high in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.
ACCEPTANCE14. How accessible is the country’s higher education system with the high school or university qualification that your child has? What are the intricacies of the degree programmes in the various countries you are considering?
LANGUAGE11. Does the potential isolation while having to learn a new language, for socialising and life in general feel like a stress point for your student who is leaving home for the first time? Also consider the limitations of having to “settle for” the English-taught degrees rather than the exact degree your child wants to pursue.
Note: Read “Where to go” on page 12 of Issue 1 which discusses the timeframes of bachelor degrees in the countries that are most popular with South African learners.
Find out more about studying at the University of Exeter here n A large, open campus in the heart of the city centre with a huge range of on-campus accommodation n #1 Sports university in the South of England and Wales n Merit-based scholarships available n Download a prospectus here
There’s a LOT you should consider before sending in that first application.
Vanessa Raphaely looks back on what she’d have done differently.
I n the space of four chaotic months last year, my husband and I made the whirlwind decision to pull our son out of second year Mechatronics at a South African university and send him abroad, to study at Edinburgh University, in Scotland.
There were a flurry of reasons for the decision, not least the wholly unexpected arrival of an incredibly generous windfall, which helped us to even contemplate such a possibility.
When, as a parent, you first allow yourself to even dream of being in the position to allow a child such a privilege, it’s hard to think past the positives: The doors an international degree will open, the standard of teaching your child will be exposed to, the networks they will forge, the experiences, adventures and challenges they will face…
For us, the whole experience of planning, applying and choosing really was a case of *blink* and “WHOA, he’s gone!” No longer a family of five for dinner, his empty bedroom, the vast distance between us left at home and him, living his new uni life …the inevitable financial cost, (windfall or not!)… the whole process left my head spinning. But, almost at the end of his first year, he’s happy and flourishing. We (his parents and siblings) have mopped up our tears at his departure and adapted to our new reality. (HOW did parents survive before the advent of WhatsApp?) BUT - If we had it again, though, I think I’d do it differently. I’d educate myself first!
What I Wish I’d Known
#2 Get a thorough overview of everything it takes to make the right choice by devouring all issues of University Speaking. The first edition contains valuable information that complements the advice you’ll find in this one - find it at thevillagehq.com.
#1 Do your homework. Did I say educate YOURSELF first? Which country, which system, which university, which degree? Those are only the first questions to ask. You need help and information to make a choice which works, not just for your child, but for your family too.
Start off at an Expo, such as The Global Education Study Abroad Expo, which we are currently partnering with on The Village. Global Education represent over 400 first class universities and colleges. They run highly regarded events in the first half of the year in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Zimbabwe. Take this opportunity to engage with representatives of 40+ universities, in person.
If you are in the lucky situation of being able to offer this opportunity to your child here’s what to consider before taking this huge step.
“It’s so exciting for them,” says Heidi, “but feels like the end of so many things to us, parents.” “Be kind to yourself,” says Maxine. “It’s not easy to say goodbye either to one child or the phase of your life when you have a family, when all your children are together at home. You will need to mourn that loss.”
#5 Shore up your heart... Heidi Sulcas, Counsellor, editor of University Speaking and MD of The Learner’s Journey, makes the important point that everyone needs to do psychological prep. For a parent, a child leaving home is a minefield of empty-nest emotions … excitement for them, loss for us. Not only does your child need to be emotionally ready, to set off alone, to set up home in a strange new environment, but you will be left facing a strange phase of life too.
#3 Listen. Maxine Kruger, Counsellor and Admissions Officer at Global Education says it’s crucially important to listen to the student’s expectations and anxiety about studying abroad and leaving home. We often tell them, “When I was at university this is what I did.” Let them create their own idea of what they want. You can phrase it like this: “I am excited for you and I hope this is everything that you want”.
#4 Budget. Ensure that you have chosen the right option for your bank balance! There are, surprisingly, many terrific opportunities in many different countries to study, for similar tuition fees that you may end up paying in SA. Inform yourself, do the research. Not only did we discover that Edinburgh is an extremely expensive option, but we had not factored in the Scottish system of a four-year undergraduate degree! Ouch.
VANESSA’S TOP 10 TIPS
#10 Do the prep. Educate your child, far upfront, with regard to budgeting, housekeeping, cooking. Ensure they are robust, street smart, independent and tough enough to deal with the academic challenge as well as the social and mental challenges that will inevitably come their way. Make sure THEY want to go. Remember that South African universities are still highly regarded and that educated South Africans are highly successful wherever they find themselves internationally.
Sacrificing your family life to send a child abroad is a loss for parents. It is both wonderful and terrible. But if your child really wants to go? Get cracking on the research! Did You Know? The University of Exeter is home to the UK’s top five most influential climate scientists - the only UK climate scientists to secure places in the global top 21. Acclaimed musician and social justice campaigner Stormzy (Michael Owuo Jr) received an honorary degree from the university for his work to promote education and fight racial inequality.
#7 Compare. On WIWIKAU, Louise Fernet, a university advisor, suggested that parents “check too the international tuition fee level, as it can differ greatly between universities of the same reputation.” Equally, don’t be swayed by universities’ reputations and rankings. It is far more important, with regard to the status of universities or colleges, to find an option that you can afford, and which offers the course and experience which fits your child.
#8 Be alert to the challenges and opportunities
#6 Join a Facebook Group. The UK-based group, What I Wish I Knew About University (WIWIKAU), for example, is an invaluable resource for parents. It also has specific sub-groups for parents of universities you might be interested in exploring further. There are many similar groups for parents of many universities and colleges elsewhere too. Find them and join them!
Another parent on WIWIKAU, Laura Moffatt, noted that many landlords abroad do not like taking overseas guarantors! Leaving over a summer and then having to come back to find somewhere to live can cause problems … Be prepared upfront to face this challenge. Equally, be aware of opportunities offered to foreign students, post-university. Some countries (Ireland is one such example) make it very easy to work during the degree, and remain and work thereafter. This can help offset a family’s financial burden.
#9 Research local issues affecting universities. Kate Parsons, a WIWIKAU parent with kids in both the UK and US, said that she had had no idea about the rolling industrial action affecting UK universities. Her daughter studying in the UK, through the pandemic, received no pastoral care at all and then had to cope with ongoing strike action. She is graduating, says Kate, being able to count the face to face weeks of tuition she has had over the three years pretty much on one hand. Her sister, in the States, was assisted by her university throughout the pandemic with food parcels, library books delivered to her door, a buddy system, assistance with finding accommodation in the community and counselling. “We only receive invoices, from the UK!” Kate added.
Heidi Sulcas busts some myths around the different school-leaving curricula.
Myths & Legends
MYTH 1 – YOU NEED A LEVELS TO GO TO THE UK No, you don’t. There are a handful of universities like Oxford and Cambridge that only accept A levels, but St Andrews, for instance, does accept an SA matric, as do Edinburgh, Glasgow, Exeter, Bath, Bristol and many others. This extends to universities in Ireland as well where A levels are not required.
MYTH 2 – FIVE A LEVELS IS BETTER THAN THREE
Let’s Curriculumplay…
Absolutely NOT. For an international student doing the Cambridge curriculum the admission criteria are evaluated alongside other Cambridge students, many of whom were educated in the UK and who went through the complete Cambridge curriculum. If the admission guidelines (not guaranteed acceptance) for a programme say AAA in the student’s three A level subjects, those are the criteria for anyone who has completed the Cambridge syllabus. Why is this important? Because A levels are DIFFICULT and a child who does five might get five mediocre scores where, if they’d done three, they might have hit that AAA target. Don’t complicate your child’s life. They will not be seen as a more “qualified candidate” if they do five A levels.
It’s our goal here at University Speaking: to make sure that you have all the facts you need to make the right decision with your learner as to what curriculum to pursue. Let’s bust some of the myths I hear most often.
O f late, many South African high schools are introducing an accelerated A level programme for Grades 11 and 12. The onslaught of questions that this has raised for learners wanting to apply internationally is dizzying.
• Write AS levels 1 year later, and
ABSOLUTELY NOT. Internationally, Cambridge students take eight to eleven GCSEs, four to six AS levels and three A levels.
• Study the GCSE subjects for two years, and then sit all GCSE exams in the same testing cycle,
Is this the rule everywhere? No. However, it does hold at many of the top ranking universities for which students have pursued the Cambridge curriculum in the first place.
Many international universities do not consider students ready for university if they do not sit the exams together. So a student might get three As on A levels, but if the exams aren’t taken in the same testing cycle, that student is not considered ready for university.
• Complete the A levels exams a year after that.
Cambridge exams happen in May/June and Oct/Nov. Students should schedule their exams as follows:
MYTH 6 – WHEN MY CHILD WRITES THEIR CAMBRIDGE EXAMS DOESN’T MATTER
MYTH 7 – AP SUBJECTS SHOULD BE TAKEN AT ALL COSTS
MYTH 3 – IF A COURSE REQUIRES A CAMBRIDGE AAA, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN TO GET IN Nope. Let’s look at undergraduate Law at Durham University for instance: the admission guidelines for Cambridge scholars is AA*A but converted to the South African NSC. It’s 77766 in your top 5 subjects. In other words three marks in the 80s and 2 in the 70s.
MYTH 4 – ALL A LEVELS ARE CREATED EQUAL Not necessarily. There are some subjects that international universities do not recognize. Be sure that you are taking the right A levels for your course. This in itself can be difficult if you don’t know exactly what you want to study after school. You might eliminate some degrees due to choosing the wrong A level subjects.
MYTH 5 – THE DBE NSC AND THE IEB NSC ARE WEIGHTED DIFFERENTLY Sorry, marketing departments: almost always not true. To the vast majority of international universities there is no difference between the two. The exception is a couple of universities in the Netherlands. The NSC is the government issued matriculation certificate. CAPS stands for the national Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement. It governs the educational policy implemented by the provincial education departments and the three independent examining boards, of which the IEB (Independent Examination Board) is the largest. What kids at IEB schools are taught has to align with CAPS. Students in state schools writing the Department of Basic Education (DBE) exams and those at schools writing IEB exams are taught similar content but do not write the same exams. BOTH receive a National Senior Certificate on passing. The exam and teaching method used to get to the NSC is not seen as materially different by overseas universities. If you look at the designated admissions criteria for South African students on most international university websites, it only refers to the “NSC” and does not designate the curriculum used to getOfit.course, the choice of a state school vs an IEB school is an important element to consider as it relates to your child and their journey. Each curriculum has its unique aspects. And each school suits different kids.
Um, no. If you review the history of AP testing, which originated in the USA, it was for the purpose of preparing students for university. Some USA universities consider APs when accepting students, but more often students are given credits toward their university course as a result of successful AP scores and testing.
Several UK and Irish universities are considering making AP maths a requirement for subjects like engineering and actuarial science. At least one Dutch university considers an additional AP in maths, physics or English part of the requirement for admission. So if you can handle the extra work, go for it, but if taking AP subjects causes marks in your regular NSC subjects to slide or drop, don’t. AP is optional and largely still seen that way. Your golden ticket is still a good result on your NSC. As always PLEASE consult a qualified international counsellor like Heidi at www.learnersjourney.co.za to make sure that your learner’s specific situation is reviewed.
DISCOVER YOUR STORY Your future awaits at Fraser International College in Vancouver, Canada BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY AT FICSFU HIGHLIGHTS Fraser International College will help you advance to your degree at Simon Fraser University, one of Canada’s top leading Fraseruniversities.International College and Simon Fraser University will help you explore your own path and build your own story. We offer innovative programs with a focus on academic excellence in addition to a vibrant campus community. It’s no wonder SFU is consistently ranked one of Canada’s top universities. You’ll be taught by worldrenowned educators and build connections with talented students who share your passion for learning. DOWNLOAD OUR DIGITAL BROCHURE FOR MORE INFORMATION! FRASERIC.CA Top 50 Among the world’s universities Times Higher Education University Impact Ratings, 2021 3rd In the world for entrepreneurial spirit World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI), 2021 24th Among the world’s innovative universities World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI), 2021 150 Distinct programs #1 Comprehensive university in Canada Maclean’s, 2020
Heidi Sulcas has participated in two very popular Q&As on The Village are some of the
highlights
WHICH COUNTRIES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE THE MOST POPULAR CHOICES FOR SA STUDENTS AND WHY?
WHICH WORLDWIDE UNIVERSITIES ACCEPT SOUTH AFRICAN KIDS, TEACH IN ENGLISH, AND ARE FREE? You can look at Germany (the German Academic Exchange Service is a great resource), Norway, Finland, Greece, Czech Republic, Sweden, Brazil … Not all subjects are available in English and remember, your child’s living experience will be in another language. Tuition might be free but living expenses are not and can be significant in the Scandinavian countries, especially.
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Comparatively, and generally, the USA is the most expensive and the UK is 2nd. There are ways to make studying overseas more affordable. It depends on where you want to study and which passport you have. In the USA, for example, the University of Arizona does online degrees for a fraction of the cost. Your child can also attend a cheaper community college for two years and then transfer to a university for their last two years. Generally the UK tuition ranges from around £12 000 up to £38 000 pounds a year. There are some good programmes to be had at the lower end: look at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Univeristy of Greenwich and Oxford Brookes University for quality programmes that fly under the radar. Smaller private universities in Ireland like Griffith College are quite affordable; also look at the smaller public universities like the National College of Ireland and the University of Limerick Norway is free (at public universities); German higher education is free (at public universities), except master’s degrees. The Netherlands’ universities of applied sciences are less expensive, and Dutch options (not including private institutions) are very affordable with an EU passport. Mauritius is a best kept secret – your child can get a UK or Australian degree for a third of the price with Middlesex or Curtin. However, degree choices are limited.
IS IT A HOPELESS DREAM TO CONSIDER STUDYING OVERSEAS? WITH THE RAND BEING SO WEAK, HOW CAN ANYONE AFFORD IT?
FAQs About Studying Abroad
There are also satellite campuses in Dubai for several UK and Australian unis that offer less expensive options. There are scholarships to apply for, like the 50 to 85% Global Excellence scholarship at University College Dublin Newcastle University in the UK has a 50% merit excellence scholarship for South Africans. University of Glasgow has a £7 000 merit scholarship, Loughborough University has a 25% academic excellence scholarship… to name a few.
The US colleges offer some scholarships and for sport they can be significant. Academic ones are fewer and farther between.
It is estimated that approximately 12 000 SA kids are studying overseas - about 1 500 of those in China and about 1 700 in the USA. Australia and the UK are also favourite countries. Why? Language is a big factor, along with cost. The UK is very familiar and there are a lot of South Africans with access to British passports and ancestral visas, which will allow them to work while studying or to stay on after finishing.
Start in Grade 10. Grade 11 is the fact-finding year. By midyear of Grade 12, learners should have a list of five to seven universities they want to apply to.
Did You Know? The University of Portsmouth is pioneering the use of enzymes to digest plastics used to make single-use drinks bottles, clothing and carpets. The globally-acclaimed plastics research is part of the university’s mission to address the global plastic crisis. Read more about Revolution Plastics at the University of Portsmouth.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR MY YOUNG PERSON TO ASSESS WHETHER STUDYING ABROAD IS RIGHT FOR THEM?
I take a group of learners through a series of questions and weave in stories about actual students and their experiences and by the end of the session - about an hour long, they have an idea. I do this in schools with groups of about 30 learners at a time. Parents can come as well and sit at the back, but I restrict the interaction to the learners for this session - I do a follow up Q&A for parents.
FOR A CHILD WHO’S DREAMT OF BECOMING A VET, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OVERSEAS?
There are different types of agents (See our article in Issue 1 on agents). Some are university specific and have low or no fees and some charge large upfront fees because they curate your child through the process (often over a number of years). Be aware that agents cannot guarantee entry to university. They might have great success rates, but if an agent offers a guarantee,
If you do well on your IB points, you are good to go almost anywhere. The only thing to check is that your child is taking the right higher level subjects if they’re interested in doing a degree like medicine, engineering or actuarial science. Some universities have specific subject requirements for these programmes. HOW IMPORTANT IS SPORT, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY WORK? It depends on the programme and university. If you are looking at a very competitive programme, you will need those extra murals on your application. WITH SO MANY UNIVERSITIES OUT THERE, HOW DO YOU DECIDE? You come and chat with me (www.learnersjourney. co.za) and I will guide you on your journey! It’s a big, expensive decision and not one to be taken lightly. There are a lot of life and lifestyle factors to consider. It’s important to block out the noise and focus on what’s right for your child. I run students through a whole list of questions to get an idea of what they are looking for and then show them how to create their criteria for a best-fit university. Then we do research and match their expectations with a programme of study. It’s a process. If your child’s school hasn’t contacted me to book a free group session, tell them to do so ASAP. It’s a great starting point: we talk about all kinds of things including options in different countries and what the entry criteria mean.
WHICH EDUCATION SYSTEM WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR SA KIDS? Not all education systems are created equal and that is a VERY IMPORTANT factor to consider. The US system is well rounded, the UK more specific, in the EU it differs from country to country. Hungary and Holland offer good programmes; Ireland has great variety for a small European country combined with very high quality universities, a high graduate employment rate, and it’s English speaking... For my own kids, I believe it’s worth it to spend a little more on education and know that my child will be independent and off my payroll after finishing!! IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO BE AWARE OF WITH REGARD TO UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS IF MY CHILD IS DOING AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE?
Places for veterinary science are limited everywhere. There are only about 50 AVMA accredited programmes in the world, and I would only recommend an accredited university. Some that come to mind are St George’s University in Grenada, Ross University in St Kitts, the University of Vet Medicine Budapest, and the University of the West Indies - St Augustines.
WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START INVESTIGATING OVERSEAS OPTIONS?
WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH UNIVERSITY AGENTS, HOW DO THEY OPERATE?
Schedule an individual session for your learner or a group session for your school. Your Expert Guide to International University Let me help your child find their best-fit international university program International University Guidance Counselling LEARN MORE
Nottingham Trent University is one of the UK’s most popular universities. We have a large Kenyan community and we have welcomed students from Brook House College over many years. Generous scholarships are available ranging from £2,000 to half-fee. Get in touch at africa@ntu.ac.uk to find out more about studying with us. Law Management Marketing Health Choose from the following subjects: Finance
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• Public
DO WORLD RANKINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
be wary. It’s not always necessary to go through an agent. But it’s a good idea if you require a visa to study, or if you aren’t confident around the application process. Errors can end up costing time and money - kids may end up sitting out a year or having to go to a university that wasn’t their choice.
• teachingPsychologyandwork experience opportunities.
www.ntu.ac.uk/africa
opportunities. Choose
subjects: • Journalism • Law • Management • Marketing • Public Health • Psychology • AccountingandFinance • Architecture • Biosciences • Business • Civil Engineering • InternationalRelations
• Architecture • Biosciences • Business • Civil Engineering • International Relations 5766/05/21
Study at the best UK university for international students
WHAT DOES YOUR KID HAVE TO HAVE ACHIEVED TO GET INTO HARVARD, MIT, CAMBRIDGE, OXFORD?
Congratulations ot the class of 2021
• Accounting and
Nottingham Trent University is one of the UK’s most popular universities and won the international award at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2022. We have a large African student community and have supported students and their families for many Generousyears. scholarships are available from £2,000 to NTU Excellence Scholarships worth 25% and 50%. Get in touch at africa@ntu.ac.uk to find out more about studying with us. offer a wide range of courses, gold standard experience from the following
teaching and work
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• Journalism •
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANY STUDY OPTIONS IN CANADA? Canada has a two-tiered system with colleges geared toward work study and research universities. Best kept secrets for research are the University of Guelph, University of Waterloo , Toronto Metropolitan University and Coop college - Georgian College
The ranking question is a pet peeve of mine. There are many different ranking systems based on varied aspects of universities and the same university can have vastly different rankings on different systems. In my opinion no – a student can get a good, effective education at a low ranked university and another student can come out of a highly ranked university unempowered to pursue their career. Their education is what they make of it. Forget about rankings. If you do want to chase rankings, look at how well the faculty your child hopes to study in is ranked.
www.ntu.ac.uk/africa
Chances are not zero. I personally know kids who have got in. That said, it is not easy to predict. US universities are looking for passionate, academically curious and successful well-rounded students; Cambridge and Oxford are a law unto themselves. To increase chances, look into Crimson Education. They will help but it will set you back around R150k before even stepping foot on campus.
We
A world top 100 University The University is rated 96th in the world, joint 16th in the UK and second in Yorkshire and the Humber in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. A top-rated student experience Our Students’ Union has been voted the best in the UK in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017). A truly international university We’re among the top 50 most international universities in the world, according to the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Join over 29,000 students from 150 countries and start your journey with us. Make your next move and join the University of Sheffield. Explore courses: www.sheffield.ac.uk/study View accepted South African qualifications: international/south-africawww.sheffield.ac.uk/ Get in touch: international@sheffield.ac.uk
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Did You Know? St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies, has contributed over 19,000 physicians to the global physician workforce, with students, graduates, and faculty from over 150 countries. SGU has a large network of 75+ affiliated hospitals and health centres in the US and UK, offering a unique opportunity for students to begin their medical career in Grenada, the US or the UK.
I n our last issue, we looked at international study possibilities for medicine (and veterinary science). The institutions we mentioned included St George’s University in the Caribbean (for more info, see the Q&A in this issue, and read the more extensive Q&A with SGU on The Village). In this issue, we’re focusing on Australian opportunities. As with any university course, there are entry criteria. Nothing is guaranteed until the acceptance letter or offer letter arrives. The requirements for entrance exams are also a constantly shifting landscape with some institutions moving from “test optional” during COVID to “test required” and others opting to retain the “optional” status.
Medicine In Australia
Applications for medicine in SA far exceed the available places.
Maybe your budding Dr House should consider going Down Under…
The University of Nicosia in Cyprus offers an EU-accredited, six-year medical programme for school leavers (and a five-year veterinary medicine programme, which follows the guidelines of the many international accreditation bodies including the AVMA, and is in the process of being accredited.)
In Australia, medical school entrance exams are the ISAT and UCAT ANZ. There are postgraduate medicine options but the BSc Medical Science with joint medical programmes deserve serious consideration.
TAKE NOTE When you are considering medicine (or any other professional qualification), before deciding where to study ask the question, “what comes next?” If you plan on practising in SA after studying internationally, be sure that your international degree is accredited here. Foreign-qualified medical graduates sometimes find access to clinical training in SA problematic. Likewise, if you’re hoping to do your residency in the country where you studied, check the feasibility of doing that on a foreign passport. Looking for a med school that’s closer to home?
University of Newcastle has a joint programme that results in a Bachelor of Medical Science (three years) and Doctor of Medicine (three years) with the ability to go right into internship programmes. The University of Sydney has a 7-year joint programme resulting in a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine. You can choose your BSc major from appropriate science majors and complete medical prerequisites during the BSc for the progression directly into the doctor of medicine programme.
At Griffith University there is a two-year accelerated Bachelor of Medical Science (normally three years) that leads into the four- year Doctor of Medicine. The admission criteria for South African learners is an average of 6.3 across their five best subjects in matric (Life Orientation and Maths Lit do not qualify as subjects).
The University of New South Wales, one of the world’s top 50 med schools, is another option for a six-year joint BSc and Doctor of Medicine programme. As an international student, an ISAT or UCAT ANZ is required for admission.
2. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN GRENADA?
5. WHAT IS ACCOMMODATION LIKE IN GRENADA? At SGU, the on-campus housing is clean and comfortable. Each suite has its own kitchen and bathroom. Each floor has laundry facilities, and regular cleaning service is included at no additional charge.
The island, home to SGU’s True Blue campus, lies in the southeastern Caribbean Sea about 100 miles (160 km) north of the shimmering north coast of South America. SGU Alumni Dr Roxanne Graham, originally from South Africa, says “I’m very adventurous and wanted to see another part of the world, plus I loved that it’s on an island and that I could meet new people.”
1. WHERE IS GRENADA?
START YOUR ISLAND ADVENTURE
If you’re envisioning a tropical paradise, you’re pretty much spot on. Expect year-round highs around 29°C. May through November is considered the rainy season, with precipitation ranging between 180 and 200mm per month.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING IN GRENADA
4. WHAT ARE SOME FUN THINGS TO DO IN GRENADA?
The list of things to do in Grenada is nearly endless. There are distillery and chocolate tours, hiking trails through the rainforests, and a slew of water Andactivities.remember that all students are surrounded by classmates who are all in the same boat. “I’m really glad that I took the opportunity to go to SGU,” Dr Graham said. “I met amazing people along the way… if I’d stayed at home, I would not have been able to do what I’ve done and to experience the world like I have. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.”
St. George’s University (SGU) is a Caribbean Medical School in Grenada, West Indies, which has contributed over 19 000 physicians to the global physician workforce. SGU is truly an international institution, with a uniquely global perspective, poised to help educate students in this rapidly changing world. SGU is the largest source of doctors for the entire US workforce*, but have you heard of Grenada?
SPONSORED
3. HOW BIG IS GRENADA? The island is small, both in terms of population and geographic size. It’s roughly 348 square kilometres, with about 104 000 residents.
As each new cohort of future doctors starts at SGU in Grenada, they are surrounded by like-minded individuals who have chosen to study at a student-centric campus. With purpose-built spaces making for an optimal learning environment, the academic opportunities available have allowed SGU to have a long history of educating medical students. To learn more about how you can pursue your dream of becoming a doctor, click here. * According to FSMB physician licensure data, 2021
C hoosing to study medicine is the first step towards an exciting and rewarding career, but carefully choosing where you study can also open up a world of opportunities. There are a host of considerations involved in choosing a medical degree programme: the facilities, the faculty, the support services and more. Your list is even more involved if you’re considering international locations for studying medicine.
Studying Medicine On The Caribbean Island Of Grenada
They Studied … WHAT?!
The world continues to be an insecure place and a career that equips a graduate to work in global security will offer a stimulating and significant future. Skills such as intelligence, communications, risk analysis, management, cyber security and technological skills can lead to a rewarding and influential career in government, the police and intelligence. Explore further in the US: check out the University of Albany’s BA/BS in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
POPULAR CULTURE Would your kid be a good fit for the fields of journalism, mass media, advertising, public relations, teaching, cultural events planning, market research? In the USA, Bowling Green State University offers a degree in Popular Culture If your kid is really funny, why not consider a degree in comedy writing and performance? Thanks to the insatiable appetites of Netflix, Disney + et al, a career in humour might be not at all as risky as you might imagine! The Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a public college of Applied Arts and Technology in Canada that offers Comedy: Writing and Performance, a highly regarded one year diploma. Your child might want to run away and join the circus … At the Swinburne University of Technology, in Australia, they can study a Bachelor in Circus Arts This programme aims to produce graduates with a broad body of knowledge and skills through immersive and experiential practice-based studies in contemporary circus arts. An intense student-centred approach to learning through the conservatoire model seeks to enable students to develop the knowledge and abilities necessary to become confident and autonomous circus arts practitioners. Did You Know? The University of Portsmouth offers a BSc (Hons) degree in Criminology with Environmental Justice. One of their most popular programmes is BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, and their newest offering is LLM Law and LegalTech. ESSENTIAL SERVICES With the world’s climate so unstable, fire engineers will have their hands full, as global warming increases. The University of Ulster, in Northern Ireland, offers a globally highly-regarded Fire Safety Engineering, PgDip, Msc The programme is offered by the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Centre (FireSERT), a centre which is internationally recognised for its leading edge research in the fields of fire dynamics, structural fire engineering, human behaviour in fire and fire modelling. Health and all related fields will continue to be a massive employer, as our world population ages and lives longer. This master’s programme in Patient Safety at the beautiful Chapman University in Irvine, California, offers a future making an important contribution to patients’ wellbeing in health systems around the world.
GLOBAL SECURITY
And at the University of Nottingham in the UK, the MA in International Security and Terrorism.
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Did You Know? The University of Sheffield is the heartland of the UK aerospace industry and offers a variety of Aerospace Engineering BEng and MEng options. Students may add Private Pilot Instruction to their BEng.
Did You Know? The range of programmes on offer at Toronto Metropolitan University International College includes Creative Industries and Professional Communication, which prepares students to become specialists in two of their chosen creative industries, and adds knowledge of business and communication. Their popular Business Management Undergraduate programmes allow students to take up to a year to decide on their major.
Computational Linguistics is the branch of linguistics in which the techniques of computer science are applied to the analysis and synthesis of language and speech. If your kid wants to study this rarified degree, why not do it at Stanford? Graduates work at behemoths such as Google, Facebook, Bosch, Samsung and Apple amongst others.
Drones are instruments of the present and the future and skilled pilots, engineers and entrepreneurs’ careers should fly! Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach Florida, offers a BSc in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science. It equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to seek employment in a wide variety of drone-related fields, including professional UAS pilots, sensor operators, project managers and field technicians.
OUT OF THE BOX OPTIONS
Watches have survived all predictions of redundancy by digital devices and continue to grow in terms of status and desirability. The honours degree in Horology (the science of measuring time) at Birmingham City University, offers graduates the opportunity to develop specialist skills on one of the only courses of its kind.
Students enhance their skills of servicing and restoration to industry standard, as well as using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and rapid prototyping to explore different methods and designs. A future at Tag Heuer, Rolex or Patek Philippe awaits?
PHOTO: Destination NSW | CRICOS Provider 00002J | MI220783 Find out more mq.edu.au/study/admissions-and-entry/scholarships/international/macquarie-university-5-000-regional-scholarship Uniquely located in the heart of Sydney, Australia’s largest high-tech precinct, Macquarie brings together more than 45,000 students and 3000 staff in one thriving hub of discovery. Our campus spans 126 hectares, with open green space that gives our community the freedom to think and grow. We have recently invested more than one billion dollars in our facilities and infrastructure so our students and staff can thrive on a campus that is dynamic, sustainable and built for collaboration. Renowned for our expertise in arts, business, engineering, health, human sciences, medicine and science, we offer a wide range of exceptional undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree research degrees that are informed by our world leading research discoveries. Macquarie has one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia, providing many opportunities each year to international students to undertake studies here. RANKED TOP 100 in the world for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings, 2022) 11 RANKEDSUBJECTSTOP 100 (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022) RANKED TOP 200 (QS World University Rankings, 2022) $5000 SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE For commencing students for duration of coursework degree* Where collaboration meets innovation
WHY CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY Plus:24/7forSupportScholarshipsPORTSMOUTHOFupto£5,000fromCareersandEmployabilityuptofiveyearsaftergraduationcampussecurityteam • Dedicated support for international students • £57m sports centre new for 2022 • City campus located on the UK’s south coast • Guaranteed place in University halls of residence • September and January start dates Discover more about Portsmouth . Find out more about our subject areas and our entry requirements . www.port.ac.uk POPULAR SUBJECT AREAS INCLUDE: CONTACT Jenny Hyde, Senior Global Officer (Sub-Saharan Africa) E jenny.hyde@port.ac.uk M +44 (0)7939 275759 T +44 (0)2392 843537 • Accounting, economics and finance • Architecture and surveying • Business, management and marketing • Computer games, animation and digital technologies • Computer science and software engineering • Earth and environmental sciences • Engineering • Healthcare and social care • History, politics and international relations • Law • Psychology and sociology • Sport science GRADUATES IN WORK AND/OR FURTHER STUDY HESA GRADUATE OUTCOMES SURVEY 2019/20
Future Proof Degrees For An Uncertain Future With two thirds of 2030’s careers not even invented yet, would a multi-disciplinary path be a good plan for longevity, sustainability and success? Heidi Sulcas shares some ideas.
I t is a hubristic endeavour to try to guide our children towards our own ideas of career security and success. As parents, we know this for sure. But the graduates of some bachelor’s degrees remain and look to remain in great demand, into the next decades of great change. In our first issue we addressed many of those “hot” degrees, the ones with the 90+% employability rate. You can check them out here
STEM subjects always feature high on the list of employability. The highly regarded website Bachelors Degree Center lists 25 STEM subjects in their top 30 degrees for the future. (Nestled amongst the computer science, engineering, physics and maths options is nursing because “the role has the highest projected growth of any occupation in the US”, according to a business insider. Indeed, the site states that there will be an estimated 439 300 new posts for registered nurses from 2015 to 2024.)
According to Futureproof (Bush and Codrington) two-thirds of 2030’s careers haven’t been invented yet. With the accelerating diversity in careers and, thus, a market that is speculative at best, what about steering them in a direction to grow their transferable skills, (communication, networking, interviewing), which should be part of every undergraduate degree, as well as exposing them to a variety of areas of study?
In researching bullet-proof degrees for this issue, I took a sideways step and asked the question: “For our children, do we want the short-term promise of a job on graduation, or do we want the long-term assurance of a young adult who is prepared for the perpetual change we see in today’s workforce?”
If you study the university degrees of the world’s millionaires, you find that many of them studied philosophy and English literature. Being able to think, process information, apply theories and learn with perspective and confidence, are all hugely valuable skills for an uncertain future. I feel compelled to include in the “degrees of the future” those that have a multidisciplinary aspect as well as degrees that are producing graduates looking for the solutions to environmental and sustainability issues.
The demand for healthcare degrees, not only medicine and dentistry, will likely have sustained growth –what about industrial and organisational psychology, combining business with psychology? See Business Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan and Occupational Psychology at The University of Sheffield
Simon Fraser University has been ranked the top comprehensive university in Canada for 13 years. It offers a wide range of programmes from Mechatronic Systems Engineering to Sustainable Energy Engineering. Their most popular degree is computing science.
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Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence BSc, a multidisciplinary degree offered at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, bridges the gap between machines and humans. Did You Know?
“Delivering this investment will require professionals with a deep understanding of the mechanisms that will regulate new financial flows…”
Global Challenges BA/BSc offered at Leiden University College in the Netherlands, focuses on the four Global Challenges: Peace & Justice, Sustainability, Prosperity, and Diversity - “students will learn to apply the knowledge from these lectures to real world cases.”
In Global Studies at Maastricht, students are taught by a different faculty every term.
See also the University of Sussex’s Sustainable Development MSc - students “learn to translate socio-ecological theories and technological innovation into effective policies and practices for sustainable Thedevelopment.”
HEALTH
“The challenge of responding and adapting to climate change will drive trillions of dollars of new investment over the coming decades, with major changes required across the economy, in energy production and consumption, industry, buildings, transport, infrastructure, forests and agriculture.
GAMING The world’s obsession with gaming continues unabated and jobs in this industry are plentiful and well paid. If you have creative, smart kids they might like to consider Computer Arts at Abertay University
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO EXPLORE: SUSTAINABILITY Climate Change Finance and Investment MSc at The University of Edinburgh.
Wilfrid Laurier is the only Canadian University to offer an undergrad in User Experience Design, one of the top five fastest growing careers. They also offer a range of business and economics programmes, and have one of the highest graduate employment rates in Canada at 96%.
BIG DATA
The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers Online Health Informatics and Information Management , an online bachelor degree that “integrates business management, systems analysis, medical coding and more, offering a complete look at this growing field.
University College Dublin Liberal Arts And Sciences Program - As the University says: “If you are trying to decide between a degree in Science, Engineering, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Agricultural or Food Science, Human Nutrition, Architecture or City Planning and Environmental Policy – this course is for you!”
University Colleges in the Netherlands also offer multidisciplinary liberal arts undergraduate degrees. For example University College Roosevelt in Utrecht offers bachelor degrees in interdisciplinary studies for those with more than one interest or who are passionate about many different disciplines and topics. You can combine courses from the Arts and Humanities, the Sciences, Engineering and the Social Sciences while building a strong foundation in academic skills. UCR prepares students for a career in modern-day problem-solving.
PROGRAMMES
When asking international officers at several of the Ivy League business schools what they look for in an MBA candidate, they often mention “a strong liberal arts education”. US universities are steeped in the liberal arts and science system with the first two years always being a general education. Here are some multi-disciplinary options at European universities, which can lay a solid foundation for in-demand generalists.
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE
A powerful combination and timeless. All professions would benefit from being taught how to run a business!
The Business Intelligence and Data Analytics undergraduate bachelor’s degree at Clarkson University in the US, combines communication and problem solving skills with data analysis. BUSINESS AND LAW
The University of Portsmouth’s Law with Business LLB will “enrich your study of law with a strong foundation in key business areas such as managing people in organisations, business strategy for lawyers, leadership, ethics and governance”.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH
Did You Know?
1. Experience the bustle of Yonge-Dundas Square 2. See the city by streetcar 3. Explore one of the many trendy neighbourhoods like Kensington Market 1 32TMU’s campus is located in the heart of Canada’s most dynamic city — Toronto, Ontario. When you step out of the classroom, opportunity and excitement surround you. Study at the heart of it all torontomuic.ca @torontomuic@toronto_muictorontomuic Download our digital brochure for more information! YourselfImmerse#1 the DMZ is the top university-based incubator in the world 10 zones where you can get involved in real-world projects Top 10 Canadian comprehensive university for student satisfaction 125+ research centres, institutes and labs 93% of programs with formal experiential component in curriculum
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S o often when I sit down with students and their parents to research potential university programmes, the university names that emerge are Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cambridge, Oxford or the University of Sydney. My next question is why? This is not to challenge but to inspire thought.
The Dream & The Unexpected
Heidi Sulcas considers the dream of an elite university and lifts the lid on excellent options you probably haven’t heard of.
There are so many outstanding institutions beyond the household names, which may not actually be the best fit for your student. Do you want your child to attend an elite university so that they can say that they went to THAT university or is it the high earnings that you believe a degree from that institution will secure? Bear in mind that Jeff Levy, an educational consultant in California, says, “The best guarantee of future success is deeply engaging in what you love, not being in the bottom third of your accounting or engineering class because you think [the degree from the elite university] will make you more money down the road.”
Is the determiner of your child’s financial success whether they attended an elite university or not? Richard Adams wrote an article for the Guardian in April 2022 – “Degree grade matters more than university reputation” makes some interesting points. Investigate the “dreaming spires” and well-known centres of excellence but don’t lose sight of the need to still add value to your qualification in order to set yourself apart from the other graduates finishing with the same degree (see “What are work placements and sandwich years?” in this issue).
Don’t be discouraged if your student is not admitted on their first try. There is more than one path to get to your goal. In the US, transfers after two years, from another four-year university or a community college to some of the top universities mentioned above, are not uncommon. Have a look at this transfer list: What jumps out is that if you want to go to Cornell, you have an 18% chance of acceptance as a transfer! Look at UCLA, University of Michigan and UC Berkeley – some of the most difficult public universities to get into have double-digit transfer acceptance. Universities in other parts of the world can be a bit trickier to transfer to. Transfer students might be accepted but they may not get credited for all the courses they’ve completed to date. Often students have to start at year 1 again. This is university and course dependent and worth research if you are considering it.
Lancaster University Leipzig – This is a new venture in Germany, around two years old, by Lancaster University. It’s a small campus (around 200 students) in Leipzig, offering a limited number of courses, all English taught. A unique opportunity to get a degree from a top UK university while living in Leipzig.
Be realistic too. If you are applying to universities in the UK and have Oxford, Cambridge or St Andrews on your list, remember that they have low acceptance rates and round out your list with universities that have a higher admission rate and are “safety schools”. I believe that a student should pursue a well-rounded education at a solid university that doesn’t break the bank (and solid does not mean prestige, but one that offers robust employability and access to opportunities academically and professionally). If your kid plans to specialise in a postgraduate programme, that’s the time to spend money at an elite institution.
The Hotel School, The Hague – I recently had the opportunity to educate myself about this unique opportunity. It’s not just about hotels either. The Hotel School offers one of the most out of the box entrepreneurship training programmes that you will come across.
WHAT GETS YOU “IN” TO THE TOP UNIVERSITIES?
THINK ABOUT THESE…
Let me just throw out a few universities that you may not have considered or thought of. Unique and different institutions: The Claremont Colleges in California – a collection of liberal arts and sciences universities, five undergraduate and two postgraduate, housed on one campus. Some of the top liberal arts programmes in the country are among this group. (If you’re not sure what liberal arts and sciences means, have a look at “What a Liberal Arts College Is and What Students Should Know ”) New Zealand Universities – there are only eight and all are ranked in the top 3% in the world
SECRET WAYS “IN”
When I asked a group of Ivy League international officers what they are looking for in students, the response was along these lines: “Marks are a given; we have thousands of applicants every year who are academic achievers and we turn away many high achievers. We are looking for students who will be good ambassadors for the university, who will add a different perspective to discourse in class, those who are intellectually curious and bring a passion for education, learning and debate, not just high marks.”
The first step is to make sure that you meet or exceed the entry criteria for the high school curriculum that you are completing. Personal statements and essays are a key component of any application (see the article in this issue).
Quest University – what started out as an experiment in redesigning post secondary education, has turned into an incredibly important university in Canada. They use the Block Plan. Have a look.
Yukon University – the first university in the northern territories of Canada and the first North of 60 degrees latitude. Yukon is an incredibly unique and beautiful part of the world and the university has a variety of degrees, certificates, diplomas and continuing education options.
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WHAT IS NEEDED FOR A UCAS APPLICATION?• Your latest academic results • 1 personal statement • 1 academic reference • Your
WHAT IS CLEARING?
Maxine Kruger, of Global Education, explains
U CAS is an online application portal that is used to apply for UK-based universities - mostly for undergraduate applications but the odd postgraduate course is also available. UCAS is an easy way to apply to multiple universities. Students can apply for up to five courses - if they apply to two courses at one university, that takes up two UCAS slots. personal information (passport number, date of birth, cell phone number etc.)
Such concerns are why it’s important to have a counsellor or advisor in your corner. They will sit you down, look at your results and give you all the pros and cons as to when to apply.
Clearing happens after the regular university recruitment cycle ends, when all students have responded to university offers of places. The universities then advise how many places on which courses are still available. This is usually in the beginning of July and these clearing places can be applied for through UCAS. The universities often lower their entry requirements in and around clearing. But this is course and university dependent and certainly does not mean that every course at every single university will be available or have lowered entry criteria.
What Is UCAS
• The courses that you want to apply to The UCAS personal statement is a tricky one to navigate as there is a strict character limit. It is an integral part of your application (see the article about this in this issue). When it comes to writing personal statements and choosing courses, it is recommended you seek out a counsellor who is intimately familiar with the UK university system, like The Learner’s Journey or Global Education. They can assist prospective students with setting up their UCAS profile and making sure that all information is reported correctly and the overall application is consistent. The UCAS application (in most cases) may be completed up to a year and a half before the course start date. So it is possible, in theory, for your child to use their matric June exams to apply for the September intake of the following year. With that of course, comes the following risks: Those marks may not a true reflection of your child’s academic abilities. Something may have happened in the June exam and they scored lower than they normallyGettingwould.university applications submitted as early as possible is often the only thing on students/parents minds but sometimes, it’s worth waiting for another examination cycle to come up, and use those results to apply as they could be higher.
… And What Is “Clearing”?
THINGS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION•
Global Education and The Learner’s Journey strongly recommend beginning your journey at the start of
• Once clearing opens up, the spaces can be filled in a matter of hours - it’s important to move quickly and do research BEFORE clearing opens! Chat to a student advisor about which universities have which courses available and get all your ducks in a row before clearing opens. As clearing is very late in the academic year,
POST PANDEMIC PILE-UP (PPP) As the world started to recover from the lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic, applications flooded into UK universities.Mostofthe 40 universities at Global Education’s annual university expo in May 2022 reported a 65% increase in applications for 2022. This meant that their spaces filled up faster than normal and admissions took longer to issue offers.
• It is not possible for learners to reapply for a course that they have already been rejected for in their initial UCAS application
Hopefully, now that we have had a year to recover, admissions for 2023 will return to normal and fast processing times!
Your child’s university of choice may not have clearing openings for their chosen course. It’s risky to wait for clearing to open before applying as there’s a real chance your child will miss out on doing the course they want to study.
PPP is something we will live with for a long time. You need to plan (as best as possible) an entire year in advance. We want to eliminate the stress and panic students/parents feel during their university application.
W riting an application essay can be intimidating, whether it’s for the Common Application in the USA, UCAS in the UK, SOP for Australia, or a letter of motivation for universities in The Netherlands. Encourage your child to remember that this is their opportunity to show a university that they are a good candidate for the programme they want to study. At the end of your essay the reader should be thinking, “I need to have a cup of coffee with this student – I want to hear more about their story.” As Dr Liada Mudashiru of Durham University says, “Be focused, enthusiastic and genuine. We want something that tells us all about you and the contribution you can make to our community.”
Ace That Statement
Personal
Heidi Sulcas shares the secrets that will help your child nail their application essay
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• What do they like the most about themselves? They can then look at everything they wrote down and try to find trends or patterns, circling or highlighting the most important things.
• How would their parents describe them?
• How would their friends describe them?
Tell your child to think about their story, then start a mind map, or create a new document on their computer.
1. GETTING STARTED
Finally, get them to think about words to describe describe themselves (it’s fine to brag):
• What are the traits that define them?
They should spend 10-15 minutes jotting down:
The purpose of the application essay is to give universities a better idea of WHO your child is, WHAT experiences have been important or significant in shaping them into the person they’ve become, and WHY these are relevant or important.
Now get them to write a description of their:
• happiest moment
2. CREATING A STORY, NOT A LIST
• favorite memory
• most challenging experience
The goal is 500 to 600 words maximum - your child can then refine this into the exact word or character count required. Your child should talk about the subject that they would like to study and why. Show curiosity for the programme and note what has led to the selection of this programme, including something that they discovered about themselves that has driven them in that direction. Bring in anything from the journey through school that affected this decision. It’s not necessary to be a superstar at everything; how challenges have been overcome is valuable.
• favorite activities • proudest accomplishments • hobbies, interests and passions
• Use clichés.
• Copy. UCAS has software that will detect if your personal statement has been copied from someone else, and they’ll let all the universities you’ve applied to know.
DO:• Stay focused and relevant.
• Waste characters! You only have 4 000 so don’t include things like lists of your qualifications – we can see those in the qualifications section of your application already.
• Expect to get it right first time. You’ll need several drafts before you’re happy with it.
• Try for a memorable, strong opening, an engaging middle, and tie up the key points you want to make at the end.
• Be specific; use examples and give evidence.
UCAS preparingtools:your personal statement personal statement worksheet
DON’T:•Repeat yourself, and avoid repeating words close together.
• Write a chronological history – instead think about the structure and what you want to feature at the start.
• Be authentic, enthusiastic and persuasive.
• Check your spelling and grammar and make sure you proofread.
• Think about what you’re saying and what it says about you. Sell yourself!
• Avoid generic and obvious statements.
• Ask someone you trust for ideas and feedback –they might think of something you don’t!
• Draft your personal statement separately. Once you are satisfied with it, copy and paste into the application.
• Use ‘I’ all the time.
• Read your personal statement out loud or ask friends and family to read it for you.
Growth & Inflation: In an inflationary environment, the cost of tertiary education will increase with time, reducing the purchasing power of any cash saved. It is therefore important, not only to save, but also to be cognisant of the impact of inflation on your savings and to invest in a saving solution that aims to grow your investment in excess of inflation every year. Holding cash is almost guaranteed to lose money in real terms.
Fees & costs: High investment-related costs erode investment returns over time; it is therefore important to be aware of all the layers of fees charged on investments and savings. Such costs include custody fees, investment management fees, execution fees and product costs. Many investment products may not limit costs or clearly disclose all layers of fees, resulting in hidden costs that erode returns over time. The graph on the right depicts the compounding effect of returns and fees over time, with an investment earning compound real growth of 3% p.a. and paying capped fees of 0.8% p.a. yielding a 24% higher real return than a cash only investment (where the cash deposit rate equals inflation, resulting in zero real return) over a 10 year period and a difference of 18% between investments (both with compound real growth of 3% p.a.) but fees of 0.8% vs fees of 2.5%, respectively.* While these calculations are based on assumptions that differ from what will occur in reality, they illustrate the principal that over the long term, fees and returns can make a huge difference to savings and return on investment.
OMBA Advisory & Investments & Global Education Collaboration: SAVING FOR YOUR CHILD’S OVERSEAS EDUCATION
Omba Advisory & Investments Ltd is Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Omba Advisory & Investments Ltd is an authorized financial services provider (FSP No.49101) in South Africa. This document is for information only and does not constitute advice or a solicitation, please consult with your financial advisor.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SAVING FOR AN OVERSEAS EDUCATION: Timing: It is best to start saving as early as possible. Saving sooner will reduce the amount that you need to save each period (reducing the future financial burden) and allowing for a longer period over which your savings (if invested appropriately) can grow.
Omba Advisory & Investments & Global Education Saving Solution: Global Education has partnered with Omba Advisory & Investments (Omba) to provide a unique solution for parents saving for an overseas education. Omba is a London based investment manager founded in 2017 with strong ties to South Africa (from where the founders hail). Omba operates primarily in the United Kingdom and South African market, managing global portfolios and funds for a range of investors from ultra-high net worth clients to independent financial advisors, and individuals looking for a global savings solution. What makes Omba unique is the use of exchange traded funds (ETFs) as an effective, well diversified, low-cost tool to build actively managed, globally diverse portfolios, while capping the total expense ratio in all Omba funds. This means that the maximum all-in fee on all Omba funds can never be more than the disclosed fee, making it transparent and easy to understand the cost of the investment. The overseas education solution offers easy access (follow 4 simple steps) to a truly offshore, globally diversified, low-cost savings solution – for more information go to www.ombainvestments.com/global-education/.
Currency considerations: When saving for a large future expense it is best to save in the currency in which you expect to incur the expense to avoid currency risk. This is particularly poignant for South African savers/investors as the ZAR is a relatively volatile currency which can be subject to large fluctuations and even devaluation over time. Saving over time in a ‘hard currency’ (such as USD), or where possible aligning the currency of savings with the currency of the future expense, will remove a substantial portion of the related exchange rate risk.
Assumptions: The graph assumes a cash deposit rate equal to inflation (i.e. zero real return on cash) and a real investment return of 3% p.a. (i.e. a return of 3% above inflation) over an investment horizon of 10 years. The calculations assume that the real value of the portfolio grows by 3% each year, in reality, the portfolio value and returns will fluctuate up and down over the life of the investment. Fees and returns have been compounded annually, in reality fees will generally be charged quarterly on the value of the investment at the end of the quarter.
NICO ELEFTHERIADES MANAGING DIRECTOR | GLOBAL EDUCATION Tel: +27 11 268 6545 | Mob: +27 83 200 4825 Email: nico@global-education.co.za www.globaleducation.co.za
KIRSTY WILSON OMBA ADVISORY & INVESTMENTS LTD Tel: +44 203 176 8400 | Mob: +27 82 886 6547 Email: kirsty.wilson@ombainvestments.com www.ombainvestments.com
Global investment exposure: Investment in a globally diversified portfolio reduces the idiosyncratic risk associated with investing in a single region or country and allows investors to access and participate in the growth of a wider range of opportunities across the globe.
T he cost of tertiary education is expensive especially if you have your sights set on providing your child with the opportunity to study abroad. For most parents, well-thought-out, forward planning and effective saving will be vital in ensuring that they are able to afford their child such an opportunity.
8. Master’s programmes are shorter and more intense; often there is less time to make friends other than with other students on your course.
Find your perfect university Your pathway to success A pathway course with Kaplan is your ideal route to a UK university. You can improve your grades to meet entry requirements for the degree you really want, while experiencing life in one of the world’s top study destinations. Why choose Kaplan?
• Benefit from an introduction to UK life and its education system, and meet other students from all over the world.
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6. Going abroad for a postgraduate degree can be a good way to get into the overseas job market. It’s easier to get a student visa than to find a sponsor for a work visa, unless you have a family or are a “mature” student. Be sure to consult a visa advisor to get advice on the countries that might be more welcoming.
• Prepare for a bachelor’s or master’s degree with expert tutors and experienced support staff who really care.
Study abroad in the UK
9. Master’s programmes are usually one or two years in length depending on country, university and course; PhDs may be up to six years in length.
• Choose from a broad range of universities, including historic Russell Group members and subject specialists.
• Enjoy guaranteed progression to your degree when you pass your pathway course at the required level with good attendance.
University partners in the UK: | University of Birmingham | Bournemouth University | University of Brighton | | University of Bristol | City, University of London | Cranfield University | | University of Essex | University of Glasgow | University of Liverpool | | University of Nottingham | Nottingham Trent University | | Queen Mary University of London | UWE Bristol | University of Westminster | | University of York |
7. If the intention is to return to SA after a postgraduate degree, check in advance that the qualification is recognised here.
10. For PhD programmes looking for the profession or principal on a subject of research is your first step before looking for the institution of choice.
Search ‘KaplanPathways’ on: 5. The competition at the postgraduate level is stiffer than for undergraduates – fewer spots available and therefore the admission requirements for consideration are more stringent. To ensure that you are competitive, you should aim for a 2:1 in your honours.
Top 10% for bachelor’s graduate salary potential in the USA College Salary Report, Payscale.com 2021-22 Find out more
Search ‘KaplanPathways’ on:
An amazing experience Studying abroad is the experience of a lifetime. By studying in the USA, you’ll be coming to live in a multicultural melting pot, brimming with opportunities and excitement. You’ll also be entering one of the world’s most impressive education systems, with universities that have excellent facilities and academics, and global reach. With a US university degree, you can go far. Apply with full support
Ranked #1 in the USA for innovation U.S. News & World Report, 2016–2022 Find out more
When you apply to a US university with Kaplan, you’ll benefit from comprehensive support from the very first step. You won’t have to pay any application fees, and will be able to rely on the help and advice of our education experts. You can choose from bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as degree preparation if needed. No English score? You can take a free test when you apply with us!
Study at a top university in the USA
Top 25 public university in the USA U.S. News & World Report 2022 Find out more
This historic institution in scenic New England is a Tier 1 research university, with high rankings and a prestigious reputation.
Top 40 in the USA for learning experience QS World University Rankings: USA 2021 Find out more
The world’s most popular destination for international students
International students choose to study at forward-thinking ASU more than any other public university in the USA.
Based in beautiful Boston, the top student city in the USA, Simmons can boast small class sizes and superb support.
With an incredible location in the heart of New York City, Pace offers dedicated career support for international students.
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It is normal, in the beginning, to feel anxiety as you embark on a major new journey to an unknown land.
You will discover that culture shock and homesickness are real things. Think positively, and remember that you can only grow from your Youexperience.willmeet students from all over the world, people with different backgrounds and experiences. Embrace the diversity and you will develop lasting friendships. It is exciting to explore new places, so grab hold of the opportunity, travel and ENJOY! Get a part-time job, you will be surprised at how much money you can earn. Use public transport, it is reliable and a great way to save money. You may not realise it at first, but you will grow for the better, mature and become more independent. You will learn to accept and appreciate people from different Itcultures.ishelpful to keep a journal of this new chapter in your life. There will be ups and downs, but in the end, it will be an experience you will never forget!
Points to remember when studying abroad written by: Fernanda Cancela Senior Education Counsellor fernanda@global-education.co.za
Global Education empowers prospective students with all the knowledge required of them to begin their studies in a new country. Our services are professional and personal, including counselling, student advice, university/college applications, visa and accommodation assistance. Our offices are IELTS booking centres, and we are also a registered UCAS centre for all UK university applications. Why Choose Global? Visitwww.globaleducation.co.zaourwebsiteformoreinformation CAPE TOWN OFFICE +27ashleigh@global-education.co.za211401530 Cube Workspace, Office 117, 183 Albion Springs, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa DURBAN OFFICE miguel@global-education.co.za +27 31 830 5556 Spaces Umhlanga, 2 Ncondo Place, Ridgeside, Umhlanga, South Africa ZIMBABWE OFFICE nzwanai@globaleducation.co.zw +263 24 288 4128/9 Suite ZA, Sam Levy’s Village, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe HEAD OFFICE infoglobal@global-education.co.za +27 (0)11 268 6545 | +27 (0)83 200 4825 11A 7th Ave, Parktown North, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Are you interested in learning more about the IELTS exam? Click ‘I’m interested’ if you’d like to join one of our upcoming webinars. I’M INTERESTED inofThinkingstudyingtheUK? You may need to take the IELTS test to prove your English proficiency. The British Council is recognised by over 11,000 organisations worldwide. We have the credentials and experience to help students realise their dreams of studying abroad. Let us help you bring your tomorrow closer. Find out more at •••Withwww.britishcouncil.org.za/exam/ieltsus,youwillget:ExpertguidanceTheadviceandsupportyouneedPracticetests•Preparation materials • Access to our self-study resources • Access to the IELTS Prep App
BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR A FULLBRIGHT?
While the realistic rule of thumb is to research universities’ websites to explore what they offer, there are some general scholarships which, for a very talented student, may offer the opportunity of a lifetime. Here’s a selection.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is open to South African university graduates, to pursue postgraduate studies at a university in the USA, in any subject (excluding MBA and studies that require contact with patients).
THE ROAD TO THE RHODES
This is the oldest international scholarship programme, allowing candidates from around the world to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. The first Rhodes Scholarship was awarded in 1902. The fullyfunded scholarship is administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, and awarded to more than 100 candidates every year, for full-time postgraduate studies.
The Cecil Renaud Scholarship is granted to one or two students annually. These scholarships are awarded for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom for a maximum of two years, whereby students can obtain their master’s (or equivalent) or a PhD at their university of choice (including Cambridge and Oxford). Specifically for people who have completed the majority of their secondary schooling in KZN.
THE RENAUD FOR SCHOLARS FROM KZN
Is there support for a student dreaming of years studying abroad?
www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/applications/https:// southern-africa/eligibilitycriteria/
The good news? There are a few! Heidi Sulcas has some suggestions.
I t’s very expensive indeed for a South African family to send a child overseas to study. The UK and the US, for example, are punishing on those paying with SA rands. So whether their smart or sporty student is eligible for any bursary or support, is often the first question many parents ask themselves.
The Embassy of France is inviting students from South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi to apply for the France South Africa Scholarship, for the 2023 academic year. The scholarship will cover studies in France, towards a master’s degree or PhD qualification, in ANY field of study, starting in September 2023.
FANCY A POST GRAD IN FRANCE?
Mission Impossible? The Search For Scholarships
JOIN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE NETHERLANDS!
• Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, they are looking, they say, “for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.”
• GREAT scholarships are scholarships to study at UK universities across a variety of subjects, for students from 18 countries. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course.
• Commonwealth Scholarships are given to talented individuals with the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage. As part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth, each year around 800 students are given the chance to undertake postgraduate degrees with UK universities. “If you believe you could make a difference to the world but you can’t afford to fund your UK studies on your own, then you could be the ideal candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.”
100 scholarships are awarded to South Africans by the Hungarian government in the ratio of 30 Bachelor, 60 master and 10 PhDs. Check the website for the areas of study for scholarship awards.
The Orange Tulip Scholarship offers scholarships for master’s programs at a variety of institutions in The Netherlands for specific programmes.
If your kid excelled at sport, Aspire Atlantic is a sports agency that helps get scholarships in The States. Since 2015, they have placed 400 athletes in US universities and secured over $40 million for them. They’ve worked with universities including Dartmouth, Columbia, Ohio State and others.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) website coordinates several such scholarships, while others are managed by other international, national and provincial departments or government agencies. Scholarships are for South African citizens and require a commitment to return to South African upon completion of studies.
SA Bursaries, a comprehensive list of bursaries (in South Africa and overseas), is updated regularly.
CHECK OUT
HUNGRY FOR A HUNGARIAN UNDEROR POST-GRAD EDUCATION?
ASPIRE TO A SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP!
GET ADVICE Village partners, Global Education and Education Ireland South Africa, both run brilliant expos during the year in South Africa, where representatives of many top international universities can share what scholarships and bursaries they have available. Contact The Learner’s Journey to come to your school for a group counselling session on how to get started with the search for an international university.
DIPPING INTO STUDY ABROAD, BUT RETURNING HOME THEREAFTER?
The Laurie Dippenaar scholarship supports postgraduate study anywhere but the student awarded it must return to SA after completion.
IRELAND LOVES SOUTH AFRICANS!
GREAT OPTIONS IN THE UK
And the Kader Asmal Fellows who win this Fellowship for Post Graduate study in Ireland love it back!
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Overseas Study – Start Saving Now
F or most families the biggest impediment to studying abroad is cost. Tuition at public universities remains relatively affordable in South Africa when compared to other countries, partly because the Government still subsidises every local student at a public university here.
Chad Noble of Insight Wealth makes the case for investing abroad
Studying abroad introduces additional costs like visa applications and renewals, airfare to and from home (at least once a year), medical aid and/or international insurance etc. These along with the cost of tuition, living expenses, transport, textbooks and study material are charged in a foreign currency. And the Rand remains volatile and is likely, over time, to continue to depreciate against its developed market peers.
To make matters worse, inflation in markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom is rising to levels not seen in 40 years. This will no doubt impact the price of university tuition in these countries and, perhaps more worryingly, the general cost of living too. The decade of little to no price increases is over unfortunately.
MITIGATING THE FINANCIAL RISKS
You need to save in pounds or dollars if you want to cover the cost of a university in the United Kingdom or United States, and you need to start now.
* This is a shortened version of a more in-depth article. Click here to read the full text.
One of the ways to mitigate the financial risks –exchange rate and inflation – is to make provision for the cost of studying abroad in the base currency as applicable. The risk of not matching your assets to a potential liability like this is just too great.
• Option 1 - Every individual can take up to R1m per calendar year out of the country without having to apply for foreign exchange clearance through SARS. This is known as a discretionary allowance.
The contents of this article are provided for information purposes only and should not be seen as advice.
• Option 2 - In addition to the above, every individual can apply for further foreign exchange clearance through SARS of up to R10m per calendar year. This clearance is typically granted provided you can prove availability of capital and your tax affairs are in order and up to date. You then have up to 12 months to physically clear the capital. Clearing capital in regular tranches reduces the risk that you get your timing wrong but what do you do with it once it’s there? This then becomes an investment decision where quality advice from a qualified and experienced wealth manager is imperative.
Currently there are two options available to individuals to clear capital out of South Africa.
LONG STORY SHORT
Insight Wealth is an authorised Financial Services Provider with license numbers 43031 | 43298 | 43564.
Investing has always been about the balance between risk and return. The more risk you are willing to take, the more return you could potentially earn. This is obvious. But what is less obvious is that time is the single biggest mitigator of risk. Riskier investments require a longer investment time frame to deliver the expected returns. When volatility is high, short term losses can and will occur. There is significant reward for a patient investor who is willing to give the investment the required time. It is for this reason that it is important to start saving in the relevant foreign currency as soon as possible to give the investment time to deliver the required return.
7. Get to know Portsmouth with our City Guide Portsmouth is a fairly affluent city; the seaside location, history and proximity to London mean that there are lots of part-time employment and internship opportunities without the higher cost of living. Students will not find this in more rural areas of the UK.
Further information for students from South Africa can be found on our Country Page or contact Senior Global Officer, Jenny Hyde for details: jenny.hyde@port. ac.uk +44 (0)7939 275759
Adding Value To Your Degree SPONSORED
4. Find part-time work while studying. Not only does this put a little change in your pocket, it can also build your CV. On a UK Study Visa, a student can work for 20 hours per week during term time and unlimited hours during vacations. N owadays employers look at your interests and experience as well as your qualifications, so you’ll need more than a top degree to get a job when you graduate. At the University of Portsmouth, our graduate employment rates are among the UK’s best, with 9 out of 10 of our students in work and/ or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2018/19). We’re also a top 20 uni for careers service (Student Crowd, 2021) and Portsmouth is the UK’s most entrepreneurial city (Instant Offices, 2020). That’s thanks to our focus on work-related learning; our outstanding links with employers and professional bodies; the importance we place on getting our graduates relevant workplace experience while they’re studying with us; and the ongoing support we give our graduates once their course is over.
3. Networking skills - developing a network of contacts can help with career planning and job searching
6. Work-based learning - Opportunities to practice your planned profession through taking work-based learning modules are a unique experience such as the Legal Advice Clinic which is a credit bearing module (unpaid) when you study one of our Law courses Other areas of work-based learning (adding value to your degree while building skills) are available in the Accounting Clinic, Dental Academy Patient Services, and Business Consultancy Project.
FIND OUT HOW STUDENTS CAN MAXIMISE THEIR TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH:
2. Volunteering – develop transferable skills like communication and networking through volunteering opportunities. Portsmouth is a Civic University aiming to provide benefits to the local community by collaborating with local businesses, organisations and the public sector, and by offering free support, advice, and services. Our students volunteer for more than 60,000 hours at over 200 local organisations
5. Get involved and develop transferable skills –consider joining a Student Union club or group for something you enjoy to expand your social circle and develop your skills. Take part in our sporting activities.
The University of Portsmouth has a wealth of support to help students set themselves apart from the thousands of other graduates who have studied the same degree.
1. Work placement – sandwich year – have something to put on your CV before you finish university Case study – Ollie Marsh - Find out how studying at the University of Portsmouth led Ollie Marsh into his dream career with Portsmouth Football Club Find suggestions for work experience opportunities.
The work placement/experience might also help a student realise what they don’t want to do, allowing them to pivot to a different focus or make plans for a postgraduate specialisation that is more in alignment with their interests.
For northern hemisphere universities, the summer months are usually when university students spend some time working to bring the purpose and direction of their studies into sharper focus.
What Are Work Placements & Sandwich Years?
Perhaps one of the biggest uncertainties for students is whether they will find a job when they have finished studying. The best way to prepare for that is to dip a toe into the world of work with summer jobs, part-time jobs and work placements or sandwich years.
any universities in the UK offer an optional work placement or sandwich year (taken normally between Years 2 and 3) in undergraduate and some postgraduate degrees. If your child’s international university does not incorporate a full-year work placement, it’s worth considering some form of work experience, as it’s one of the best ways to set yourself up for life after university.
Campus placement offices at many international universities exist to help students identify jobs that are suitable for their chosen career path, prepare their CV, cover letters, applications and interview skills, and with finding potential employers. International students might need to ask their university’s international office for assistance with local requirements surrounding visas, insurance or business protocols that are particular to the country. Did You Know?
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL Jenny Hyde of University of Portsmouth, notes that there are other reasons to do a work placement.
The university has been voted 1st in the UK for employer-student connections and 6th in the UK for graduate prospects.
• Developing your transferable skills like networking, team work, communication, and problem-solving, which all build confidence
“Ultimately, I decided to complete a placement in a field that was unrelated to my degree and accepted a role within the University’s Widening Participation department. I come from a low-income background and I am the first in my family to attend university, so working to support and address obstacles that make it harder for some students to progress to Higher Education is of great personal importance to me.
• The opportunity for international students to see a different aspect to living overseas and perhaps even in a new city or country
• The ability to more fully answer future job interview questions based on previous work FlorenceexperienceMutero of Loughborough University adds, “Doing a placement offers you the opportunity to put theory into practice, experience workplace culture, build a professional network and develop your employability skills.” Loughborough offers a placement year on all undergraduate courses, holds one of the UK’s largest annual Careers Fairs, and supplies advice, opportunities and workshops for students on their Careers Network
• Discovering that experience is as important as academic knowledge
“I received lots of support from the Placements team within my department, ranging from CV drafting, to mock interviews and access to resources, such as practice psychometric assessments. It’s great that there are multiple, dedicated teams across the different Faculties, Schools, and Departments at Bath – you really feel that the staff member working to support you is completely focused on you.
FINDING WORK PLACEMENTS
“When I reflect on my placement, I am really proud of the personal and professional development I made over the course of 11 months. Being able to develop, design, and deliver Target Bath through different creative and logistical avenues allowed me to refine my existing skills and strengths whilst discovering new ones.”
These include:
• Learning about business practice and developing an understanding of national and international business environments
• A jump start on building a professional network
Most courses at the University of Sheffield offer a year in industry to students who choose to do a 12 month placement year. And all students have access to ongoing University careers support for as long as needed. This might be why it is one of only 20 universities in the UK targeted by the UK’s leading 100 graduate employers.
“Placements are a really big thing at the University of Bath, the majority of students complete a placement as part of their degree,” says John Ogunyemi, a student there. “As a Natural Sciences student, I had a lot of options when it came to finding the right placement for me. My main subject focus is Chemistry and Pharmacology, so I looked at different lab-based placements as well as some office – based roles in the pharmaceutical field amongst others.
A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
• Learning to develop and appreciate relationships in the workplace and how they affect the activities of a business
• Public sector: European Parliament, The United Nations, House of Commons, Metropolitan Police, NHS
“Going on a placement helps students to improve their understanding of an employer and industry before they commit to a future career,” says Jess. “Students get the opportunity to work in a business or organisation, apply their academic knowledge, gain practical work experience and meet colleagues and experts in their chosen field. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn how to solve problems in a work environment, manage their time and work to deadlines. Employers value these transferable skills highly.”
Bath’s placement team works alongside students to identify their personal objectives, develop their CV, and help them to find a placement that’s right for them. They will also organise practice interviews to help students get the placement they want. If you’re disabled, the placements team will work with your employer to understand any adjustments that need to be made and help you to apply for any grants you’re eligible for. “We work with a range of organisations and have developed lasting relationships with the companies and charities where our students have completed placements in the past,” says Jess.
Watch students talking about placements Read the overview Our expectations for placement employers Case Study: The University of Bath SPONSORED Jess Bower, Undergraduate International Student Recruitment Manager, tells us how professional placements work at The University of Bath.
The enterprises where Bath students complete work placements include: • Banking and consultancy: Deloitte, JP Morgan, HSBC, PWC • Charity and non-governmental organisations: Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital, International Citizen Service (ICS), Unicef UK
• Pharmaceutical and Science: African Lion and Environmental Trust (ALERT), ASL laboratories, Cern, GlaxoSmithKline
HOW ARE STUDENTS PLACED?
Bath students have previously completed placements at organisations including multinational corporations overseas, small to medium-size businesses in the UK, and start-ups in the local area. Depending on the course, students may do a research-focused placement, or work for a non-governmental organisation or charity.
HOW DO PLACEMENTS WORK AT BATH? Placements can last between six and twelve months depending on the course and employer. Some students even take their placements in different parts of the world. In 2020/21, 70% of undergraduate students graduated from a course with a placement element.
Placement activities begin in Year One for the majority of students. First-year students will typically have one-to-one with a member of the placements team to discuss their options. They will also have the opportunity to prepare by attending placement lectures and seminars, and taking part in skills sessions and mock interviews with real-life recruiters. During placement, students pay a reduced tuition fee to the University instead of the full year’s fee. Some placements are paid, meaning that some students earn a salary while they work.
• Fast-moving consumer goods and retail: L’Oreal, Disney, Hello Fresh, Innocent Drinks, Superdrug, Unilever
• Technology and Design: Microsoft, Arup, Apple, Dyson, Monodraught “The University of Bath was established to fuse academic thinking with practical experience. Our work placements help students take their ideas and passion for their subject to the next level,” says Jess.
No doubt the placement programme at the university is one of the reasons the university scores so well in UK and global employment prospects rankings.
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There’s good news for those who wish to gain international working experience once they’ve completed their degrees:
• Canada - If your child’s study permit includes a condition that says they can work on or off campus, they will be eligible to work in Canada while they are a full-time student. They can only start working once they’ve started their study programme; they’re free to work overtime or work two part-time jobs that add up to a higher than usual number of hours; they can work full-time if they’re on a scheduled break, such as winter and summer holidays, or a fall or spring reading week but they must be a full-time student both before and after the break.
• Ireland - Students are allowed to take up casual, part-time employment for up to 20 hours in term time, and for up to 40 hours per week during holidays from June to September inclusive and from 15 December to 15 January.
• The Netherlands - The Orientation Year for Graduates Seeking Employment allows students who have qualified in that country to spend up to one year looking for work. Once they secure a position, they can stay for as long as they have that job.
• Australia - There are different pathways to remain in Australia but visa requirements are very prescriptive, and it is important to work with someone who knows the process of obtaining them.
• The Netherlands – Working 16 hours a week during term and full time in June through August is permitted.
• US – With an F1 visa, students may work on campus for 20 hours a week during term and for 40 hours a week during the holidays.
• Canada - Students who have completed a degree of at least two years’ duration are eligible for a threeyear post graduation work permit.
STAY BACK VISAS
• USA – Optional Professional Training or OPT allows international students to stay in the USA after completing their studies. There is a process of getting authorization through the international student office of your university. A student is allowed to work for 12 months once they’ve completed their course in the USA.
• Ireland - International students studying a degreelevel qualification at an Irish University are eligible to stay in the country after completing their course for one year after an undergraduate degree and up to two years after a postgraduate degree.
There is a Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa for students who have attained a degree in engineering from any specified institution in Australia. This visa allows them to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 18 months. There are specific requirements to fulfil in applying for this visa. The Temporary Graduate Visa is divided into two categories: the Graduate Work stream allows recent graduates with specific skills and qualifications to stay and work for 18 months after graduation; the Post Graduate Work Stream allows international graduates of any Australian institution to live, work and study in Australia temporarily for two to four years, depending on their qualifications.
• UK – With a study visa, students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week; during holidays they can work for 40 hours. There are restrictions around the type of work that you can do. For example, you cannot be a professional sportsman or coach on a study visa, nor can you be selfemployed.
• UK - The UK’s Graduate Route allows international graduates with an undergrad or master’s degree to apply to stay in the UK to look for a job and work for up to two years after their studies.
This is the current situation for kids with a student visa (subject to regulation changes):
• Australia - International students on a valid student visa can work for up to 20 hours per week while university is in session; there is no limit on the number of hours that an international student can work during the holidays.
MINOR: Your secondary area of study, often optional.
COMMON APP: The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to around 800 universities within America and abroad.
POLYTECHNIC: Former type of degree-awarding higher education institution in the UK. All polytechnics were elevated to university status in 1992.
LNAT (The Law National Aptitude Test): LNAT universities (UK) require their applicants to take the LNAT because it helps the admissions tutors differentiate between applicants who have similar grades. It is also helpful when applicants have different qualifications. (not all universities will require a LNAT)
IVY LEAGUE (USA): An American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the northeast of the USA. Ivy League is used beyond the sports context to refer to the group of elite universities with connotations of academic excellence and selective admissions.
ACT (American College Test): American College/University entry exam and can usually be substituted for the SAT. Includes a science section.
IELTS: The International English Language Testing System is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE (USA): An academic degree that takes two years and is earned whilst attending community college or the first 2 years at a 4-year university.
• Harvard University (Massachusetts)
BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test): An aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Dentistry in some universities in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Thailand, Hungary, Croatia and the Netherlands.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test): The LSAT is required by most universities in the USA for admission to law school after completion of a Bachelor degree.
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletes in the USA.
AVMA (USA): American Veterinary Medical Association is the leading representative of the veterinary profession in the USA and also accredits veterinary programs in other countries. The AVMA advocates for public policy that supports veterinarians and protects animal health, animal welfare, and public health.
PRIVATE UNIVERSITY: A university that is privately funded. Tuition for a private college or university (before scholarships and grants) is the same for all students.
JOINT HONOURS: A joint honours degree is where you study two subjects which are combined together to make one degree.
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): The Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles.
• Brown University (Rhode Island)
• Yale University (Connecticut)
• Columbia University (New York)
• University of Pennsylvania(Pennsylvania)
FOUNDATION YEAR: One- or two-year full- or part-time course to prepare a student for entry to a degree programme in a particular subject if the student doesn’t meet the entry requirements or needs to top up in English language.
This list should help with some of the unfamiliar terms you’ll come across on your journey.
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): Graduate Management Admission Test. Examination often taken to meet entrance requirements for MBA programmes.
CLEARING (UK): Process allowing applicants with no offers of places on degree programmes to secure places at institutions, which have vacancies, shortly before the start of the academic year. Begins mid-August each year.
• Princeton University (New Jersey)
DEFERRAL: Simply means delaying; a deferred entry means applying for a course and then taking a year out before starting it.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE (USA): A more affordable alternative to university education; community colleges (also known as junior colleges) offer two year courses at the end of which students receive a diploma, certificate or associate’s degree. Graduates may pursue university afterwards to complete the final 2 years of their Bachelor’s qualification.
Understanding The Jargon
CONDITIONAL OFFER: This is an offer made by the admissions team which is dependent on students reaching certain grades in their exams (this will often be issued when a matric student applies with their mock exams) or fulfilling other requirements like proof of English proficiency..
F-1 (USA): Academic Student visa for students who are permitted to enter the U.S. to pursue a full course of study.
• Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
MAJOR: Your primary area of study.
• Cornell University (New York)
• University of Edinburgh University of Exeter
• University of Sheffield
• University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary, University of London
•
STEM: STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and refers to any subjects that fall under these four disciplines.
RESOURCES
University Guidance and Advising “The Learner’s Journey”
•
• London School of Economics & Political Science
• Durham University
UNCONDITIONAL OFFER: This is an offer made by the admissions team which is not dependent on students reaching certain grades in their exams, or where they already have their exam results and satisfy all admission requirements.
• Queen’s University Belfast
USMLE (USA): The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) is a three-step examination for medical licensure. This test is done following medical school before being matched for a residency program.
•
UCAS (UK): The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UK national organisation that administers applications for entry onto full-time UK higher-education programmes. This allows you to apply to 5 university courses for around £26.50.
UKVI: UK Visas and Immigration is a division of the Home Office responsible for the UK’s visa system.
STUDYLINK (AUS/NZ): Application portal used to apply to Australian and New Zealand universities.
Facebook group “What I Wish I Knew About University”
RUSSELL GROUP (UK): The Russell Group is a catch-all term for a group of universities with a shared focus on research and a reputation for academic achievement. The group includes the original six red brick universities. There are currently 24 universities within the Russell Group:
RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES (NL): Research universities offer more academically rigorous education that focuses on specific subjects.
• University of Birmingham • University of Bristol
•
SANDWICH COURSE: Course that includes a long period of work experience. Degree sandwich courses usually last four years, with one whole year spent on a work placement.
10 Tuition Free Universities in Germany for International Students
• University of Glasgow • Imperial College London • King’s College London
University of Melbourne Scholarships for International Students
TIER 4 visa (UK): A visa that allows students from outside the UK or Ireland to enter the UK as a full time student.
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test): The SAT is a college entrance exam that many colleges and universities in the United States (and in select other universities around the world) use as part of the college admissions process.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY: A university that is funded by the government. In the USA, public colleges and universities are less expensive for residents of the state where they are located.
• University of Southampton • University College London
Facebook group “The Village”
• University of Warwick University of York
•
10 Tuition Free Universities in Europe for International Students
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STUDIELINK (NL): Studielink is an online application portal that most Dutch universities use for students to submit their applications. One can usually apply to 4 universities at once on Studielink.
UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES (NL): Universities of Applied Sciences offer profession-oriented programmes that are designed for students who are looking to enter a particular career upon graduation.
• University of Leeds University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester Newcastle University
• University of Cambridge • Cardiff University
A s we come to the end of Issue 2, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you to refer back to some of our incredible articles (if we do say so ourselves) in the last edition of University Speaking. There are salient articles in that edition which cover ground not explored in this one, for example: Do university rankings matter? This is such an interesting conversation. I have a definite opinion on this one. In short, they matter less than how a student adds value to their degree in the process of their university studies. What if you get Bs and Cs in matric? If your child has few - or zero - distinctions, can they still study overseas? Absolutely! There is ALWAYS a way. Medicine and Veterinary Science. These are probably the degrees I receive the most queries about after business! We’ve touched on these in this edition but Issue 1 has loads of advice - and more med/vet school options to consider. Out of the Box Courses. We strive in every issue to uncover degrees that you and your child may not have considered . Please go and see what we uncovered in Issue 1 “Out of the Box Courses.”
If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate sent them to Vanessa on The Village or to Heidi at heidi@learnersjourney.co.za. We’d love to hear from you and help your child on this exciting journey.
But wait! There’s more…
