Applying to Foreign Universities
Applying to Foreign Universities
Applying to Foreign Universities Why might you consider studying abroad? • Broaden the mind – a different experience • Employability – proof of your independence and motivation • Courses or course style offered
• Facilities • Lower entry requirements • Finance – possible, but unlikely to be cheaper, and you can’t get a student loan
Applying to Foreign Universities Why might you NOT consider studying abroad? • There is no UCAS • There is no student loan • There may be language issues • You will have to invest time and money in applying • Costs are subject to currency risk • There is less expertise to help you in school
Applying to Foreign Universities Country
Tuition Fees
Living Costs
Total
UK
£8k - £9k
£7k - £11k
£15k - £20k
US
$20k - $40k
$10k - $14k
$30k - $54k
Australia
$18k - $35k
$18k - $28k
$36k - $63k
Holland
Eu 1.5k – 3k
Eu 8k – 12k
Eu 9k- 15k
France
Eu 0 - 250
Eu 8k – 12k
Eu 13k -15k
Germany
Eu 0 – 1.7k
Eu 8k – 12k
Eu 8k – 14k
Scandinavia
Eu 0
Eu 10k – 15k
Eu 10k – 15k
Ireland
Eu 2,000
Eu 8k – 12k
Eu 10k – 14k
Notes Subtract accommodation costs (£2k - £5k) if living at home Undergraduate programmes are 4 years. Huge variability in costs. Scholarships widely available, but NOT to Ivy League (although these offer bursaries.) Scholarships are VERY rare.
Applying to Scandinavian universities is not straightforward. Also living costs are high. You need to be studying 4 A2 subjects to stand a realistic chance of entry to a top Irish university
Applying to Foreign Universities Europe • Proximity • 400 courses taught in English • Possibly cheaper • Easier entry requirements • More flexible entry process • Universities like Maastricht are recruiting heavily and will ease the process for you – look carefully through
Applying to Foreign Universities USA
• Global leader in higher education • Fantastic facilities • Ivy League very expensive except for the truly exceptional, and very hard to get into • Mid-tier universities do offer many scholarships and student support which would bring the cost down comparable to UK (no student loan though) • Complicated, non-centralised admissions usually including SATs • www.fulbright.co.uk/.
Applying to Foreign Universities USA – possible timetable for admission • Lower Sixth – research institutions and funding, aim to apply to 4 -6 institutions • Oct – sit ACT / SATs**
• Nov – submit applications • Nov/Dec – interviews (in London) • March / April - decision **Scholastic Assessment tests in critical reading, maths and writing. Set date in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan (you can re-sit). Some universities allow 2-3 subject based SATs in sciences, literature, modern languages or history, instead of the writing SAT. SATs are supposed to be ‘un-coachable’ but many people recommend help from a specialist training company – e.g. Kaplan offer an online course or classroom based in London.
Applying to Foreign Universities Oz / NZ • Expensive • Process reasonably straightforward and flexible • ‘Feel’ of courses and unis similar to UK • World leaders in many subjects • Lower entry requirements • Academic year start in Feb – mini gap year before starting • Can apply at any time
Applying to Foreign Universities To successfully apply to a foreign uni, you will need: • To think hard about why you wish to do so • To do a lot of your own research • To put in the time and effort
• To think about it early • ..and almost certainly apply through UCAS to UK unis too
Consider the many UK based degrees that give you a year abroad
Applying to Foreign Universities
Questions?