How to apply to universities abroad | The ultimate guide

Choosing the perfect university program and applying for it is already a complicated process. But abiding by the timelines and deadlines is even more complex. You can use this helpful step-by-step guide that tells you all about how to apply to universities abroad.

Want to apply to schools for your higher education? Take a look at this video about how to apply to universities abroad!

Step 1- Plan well in advance 

At least 1 year before school starts

• Start planning your education at least one year in advance.
• Researching schools is not that easy.
• It is important to identify schools that have the field of study you are interested in, have the type of student organizations and extra-curricular groups that you want to involve yourself in, and most importantly, have a good job placement rate.
• Not to forget – countries like the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, etc., all have a variety of pros and cons, and you need to pay attention to the location of the school.
• We recommend that you apply to at least 6 schools to increase your chances of getting admitted.

Two ‘Dream schools’ – These should be schools with a rank higher than what you might expect to get into. You never know – if luck is on your side or if you underestimated your worth, you might actually get accepted!

Two ‘Within Reach’ schools – These are the schools where you might have a fair chance of getting in. Pay extra attention to detail in your applications to these schools. Thoroughly research and pick these ones.

One ‘Guaranteed Accept’ School – This can be a lower-tier school that you have almost a 90-95% chance of getting in. This option is for students who are desperate to start a school year when they apply. We recommend that if you don’t get through your dream school or ‘within reach’ school, you might actually benefit from waiting another year.

You could talk to an iSchoolConnect advisor and get some help when selecting your schools. The more schools you apply to, the better. However, you need to be mindful of the money you spend on your application fees.

Step 2- Complete admission tests

At least 11 months before school starts

• Test scores are an important aspect that schools consider when making an admission or scholarship decision.
• Once you have selected your programs, you must go through the admission requirements for each of the programs and find out what tests you need to take. You will find it on the school’s website itself
• Most Masters’s programs will require you to take the GRE, and business programs will specifically ask for the GMAT. The IELTS and TOEFL exams are a test of your proficiency in English and are required for most programs if you are applying as a student to a non-English-speaking nation.
• You need to attempt at least one of them, depending on your university requirements.
• Preparing for these tests typically takes 2-3 months.
• If you are aiming for top-tier schools that require a 700+ GMAT score, you might need to put in 5-6 months of rigorous training.
• Make sure you take a lot of practice tests because nothing else can prepare you for the test better than practice.
• Test scores need to be sent directly to the school.
• Knowing beforehand which schools you plan to attend will make it easy for you to send scores at the end of the test.

Step 3- Start applying to universities abroad

At least 9 months before school starts

• Go to the school’s website and start your application process.
• Fill in all your basic profile information, submit your admission test scores, etc.
• Look for any additional information requested by the school in your application.
• This would be a good time to reach out to the Admissions Department of the school and let them know you are interested in their program and have started your application.
• Admissions departments are always more than happy to assist students in the application filling process.
• They might inform you of a scholarship opportunity or even suggest any new programs that might be of interest.
• Not just that, but reaching out to the schools lets them know you are serious about your application. Who knows? You might actually talk to a person who eventually might help your application get through by recommending you.

Step 4- Don’t forget to apply for scholarships!

At least 8 months before school starts

• You should know that universities offer considerable scholarships for international students, especially to the ones who apply early.
• Scholarships can range anywhere from 5% to 70% (very rarely, schools can offer 100% if you have a stellar profile).
• You will be surprised at how much impact even a small scholarship can make on your finances.

There are many ways to get funding – Read this blog to know more.

Step 5- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

At least 7 months before school starts

• Schools will require you to get recommendation letters from either your seniors, managers or someone known in the field.
• This is an anonymous recommendation that the school will directly ask the recommender to send.
• Do not take your recommender by surprise.
• Identify the people you will ask for recommendations and let them know in advance before you ask the school to send them a link.
• Since each school will ask for recommendations, let the person know if you will send them more in the future.
• Find someone with a good title and also good writing skills so that it can add some bonus points to your application.

Step 6- Create a rockstar resume and essay for your application

At least 7 months before school starts

• You should remember that you are in a faraway location, and the admissions office is trying to evaluate you using your application form as your representative.
• This is your first and only chance to get a foot in the door.
• The resume is most likely the first document that the Admission Officer will look at.
• Even if you do not have many achievements that stand out, just the way you organize your information and highlight your best achievements tells a lot about you.
• Talk to seniors or people in the field and get their help to word it right.

Step 7- Nail your statement of purpose

At least 7 months before school starts

• Once you fill out the university application, navigate to the essay section and pick a topic you want to write on.
• Most schools ask for 1 or 2 essays to be submitted.
• These are usually generic questions like “What’s the most difficult problem you faced, and how did you react to it?” or “What is the achievement you are most proud of, and why?”.
• Essay questions are there to check not just your writing skills but also to evaluate your thought process and to see how much you can involve the reader.
• Take this very seriously and prepare an essay that conveys clear and articulated thoughts within the prescribed word limit.

Step 8- Pay the application fee and submit

At least 6 months before school starts

• Your application will not be touched by the school admissions office until you pay the application fee and hit the ‘Submit’ button.
• Before you submit, go through the entire application form once again.
• Make sure all the essential items are filled in.
• Your ID proof (passport preferred), essays, resume, cover letter, and application fee should be properly filled in.
• Now take a deep breath, feel good about the hard work you put into the application, and submit it to the school.
• Check for a confirmation email from the school stating they received your application.

Step 9- Monitor your applications

At least 5 months before school starts

• This can get tedious at times.
• Schools do not follow standard practice in responding to your applications.
• Sometimes they might respond within a week, and sometimes it could take up to 2 months.
• You need to be patient and check the status of your application regularly.
• Schools close admission decisions in waves.
• It might help to know which wave of admissions you fall in.

Step 10- Apply for a student loan if you need one

At least 4 months before school starts (Upon receiving admit confirmation)

Banks typically look for 2 things when approving an applicant’s loan request-

1) Proof of admission – Once you have a confirmation from the school on your admit, you will receive your documents for proof of admission. This document will later be required for your visa and student loan applications.

2) Collateral against your loan – Most banks will ask for collateral against your loan. This could be in the form of property, gold, some documents, vehicles, etc. Talk to your bank first. You should also know that the bank might not give you 100% of the money. You might have to pitch in about 10-15% of your own money. Talk to your family in advance and get their consent if you need their support financially. You do not want to get an admission and then realize you cannot afford it.

Step 11- Apply for a student visa

At least 3 months before school starts

• You will need a visa to migrate and live abroad during the course of your study.
• Students usually acquire a visa which typically remains valid till the end of their school term.
• Carefully go through the visa checklist for your country and make sure you have all the papers ready.
• You will need to book an appointment with the visa office or consulate closest to you in order to get the visa stamped on your passport.
• Spots are limited so do not delay this procedure.

Step 12- Book your flight and get ready for your life-changing experience

At least 1 month before school starts

• Airlines offer a lot of discounts on carry-on luggage and travel fares.
• Make sure to do your research before you book your flight.
• Pack carefully; almost all countries have strict laws on carrying items such as food grains, batteries, and even computers.
• Don’t let your Day 1 experience turn out to be a bad one. Once you have your tickets and your visa, just relax, go for a short vacation, feel happy about the hard work you put in, and prepare for lift-off.

 

Key takeaways 

• Make sure your documents are in place and you have taken the mandatory vaccinations. 
• Start your journey early by understanding what course you want to pursue and research which are the best universities for it. 
• Think about your finances and start saving!
• Learn about the different job opportunities available in the country.
• Look for the best accommodations near the campus to save on travel.  

Get ready for an awesome experience that will change you for the better! Good luck with your applications.

And in case you have any doubts, ‌reach out or drop a comment below! We would be thrilled to help.

FAQs

1. Which country gives an easy student visa?

Answer- A few countries that give visa to study easily are Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. 

2. Which country visa is hardest to get?

Answer- One of the hardest countries to get a visa.

3. What is the cheapest country to live in?

Answer- Some of the cheapest countries to study abroad and live in are Norway, Taiwan, Germany, and France.