IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO STUDY ABROAD?

IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO STUDY ABROAD?

According to data released by the Ministry of External Affairs, India, in the year 2019, more than 8 lakh Indian students had enrolled in universities across the world. The most popular study destinations were the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the UAE.

In 2020, COVID-19 interrupted academic sessions across the world so badly that students were forced to vacate college campuses and take classes online. On an average, the pandemic impacted more than 50% of study-abroad aspirants. Simultaneously, the global higher education faced unprecedented challenges which forced students to change their study plans, be it at under-graduate, post-graduate, or research level.

Despite the risks involved, Indian students remain highly optimistic. Over 91% of Indian students have expressed a strong interest in studying abroad as soon as they are allowed to do so. Their only questions are – when will the travel ban be lifted or eased to a great extent AND which study destination should they consider factoring in the current economic / political impact?

When COVID-19 struck the world, universities worldwide had switched over rapidly to virtual education to ensure student and personnel safety. Most universities made a successful transition to virtual education while also working closely with their governments to put in place a safe and assured study environment with study options for current and prospective international students as well.

Likewise, in countries with strict border closures, universities as well as training providers were and are still offering prospective international students the option of doing their degrees online, with the added lure of transition to on-campus options as soon as borders are open or sanctioned travel arrangements are well in place for international student intake. For instance, the UK has committed to supporting international students and declared their intention to open for a late-2020 and 2021 intake.

WHY THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO STUDY ABROAD?

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, only the medium of education has changed, from offline to online. Else everything from the quality of education to content, interaction, and faculty remains the same.

LOWER STUDY COSTS

For universities, international students remain a major source of income. Keeping in mind the prevalent COVID-19 situation, universities will look to attract more international students with discounts on course and tuition fees.

Further, with one or two semesters expected to be held online, the cost of the overall study and tuition fees will be far less compared to the past.

QUALITY INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE

Generally, learning abroad generates two major benefits, one is knowledge and the other is engagement.

In the current scenario, the benefit of knowledge remains intact. The only aspect is that it has switched online but the quality remains the same as that offered offline with excellent content and training faculty to deliver online. Apart from classes conducted online, study materials and audio files are being shared with the students over the internet. In addition, the faculty members are available online during interactive sessions for students to clear their doubts. Depending on the nature of the course and students internet access, teachers are also interacting with the students through assorted social media and online platforms.

Coming to the engagement aspect, engagement delivery has been challenging and not as effective, especially with laboratory work. However, universities abroad have already incorporated various interactive sessions in their study programs to ensure that the students do not get to miss the close experiences that they enjoy in classes in-person. Mention must also be made that even before the pandemic struck, most universities abroad were conducting a sizeable proportion of classes online; with pandemic the only component that has changed is the size of the classes.

The universities are also offering the option of seamless transition to on-campus as soon as the borders open or sanctioned travel arrangements have been eased for international student’s intake. This way, the students can still look forward to experience in-person engagement with fellow students and faculty staff members, later.

VALUED JOB / INTERNSHIP PERK

Despite the ongoing pandemic abroad, students can still look forward to get relevant internships which will help them understand and learn about the course well while enabling them to acquire quality employability skills and exposing them to the ways of industry working.

Likewise, students can still supplement their income with part-time jobs which will not be too difficult to get since employers will be more particular about the students skills rather than the nature of education, online or offline, of the student. With additional income, students can cater to their living and studying costs as well.

VISA ASSISTANCE

While the situation is rapidly evolving and a strict travel ban continues to be in place, students can still apply to study. Depending on the latest COVID-19 developments, there may be deferred start-dates or students may be required to start their studies through online learning until it’s declared safe to proceed with on-campus learning.

\However, getting a student visa will still be an issue in the current situation though doing the course online should make a good case for F1 visa.

Many overseas Governments have swiftly moved to minimize disruption and welcome new students for the 2020/21 academic year. For instance, despite the restrictions, universities in Ireland are working with government authorities to facilitate the entry of new international students and reassure them about their post-study work rights. Likewise, universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc, are doing the same.

STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE PROPER USE OF THEIR TIME

Those students, who are looking to study abroad for the year ahead, could do well to utilize the ample time available usefully in the following ways.

STAY PREPARED

To study abroad, students need to pass a few eligibility tests. Aspiring students could do well to learn all about the syllabus and curriculum of the study courses they are planning to do. This will enhance their skills essential for clearing these tests, like critical thinking, verbal and written communication, and such likes.

FAMILIARITY WITH QUESTIONS DURING TESTS

Students will be bombarded with various questions during an eligibility test. To stay well-prepared and ready, they should stay familiar with all of the insights before going in for the test. For instance, students can familiarize themselves with the attributes of mock-tests and such likes which are easily accessible online. This will make them confident enough when the time comes to undergo the tests.

FAMILIARITY WITH APPLICATION / STUDY OPTIONS

Students should explore ways to continue with the application process while staying familiar and updated with the same. They should also study the intersection between their fields of interest and global market demands to find the right courses to study. Those post-graduate students looking to transition their careers from one study field to another should use the time to research and review what study fields would be most appropriate for them in 2021 and beyond.

FAMILIARITY WITH THE NEW NORMAL PROCESSES

COVID-19 has altered the way international travel and study will be in the future. To stay familiar with the new normal that will be the norm post COVID-19 era, students should study all about how on-arrival screenings and random surveillance testing will be done abroad; and how campuses will ensure their safety by putting several checks in place including daily temperature screening, mandatory wearing of masks, and the use of sanitizers.

UNDERSTAND DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORMS

This is the best time for the students to learn all about the various digital learning platforms, understand their suites, and get familiar with how they work and what needs to be done to handle them better. Herein, undergoing some specialized online courses about these platforms will help students hone their skills like quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, verbal and written communication.

This will be a great way forward as some universities abroad have already commenced enrolment for online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Likewise, other universities have commenced online classes to bridge the current education level gap. These classes allow students to attend virtual lectures, videos, and in some cases, even sit for examinations from home. There is also a quiz section that assesses a student’s understanding of the subject.

ASSESSING PREPARATION

Self-assessment of one’s abilities and capabilities at the end of it all, will give an insight into how the student has shaped up and whether he/she has the requisite skills to face and handle the new normal. For instance, mock tests are marked by AI which will give a solid objective assessment about the student’s skills. With multiple sections, self-assessment after a mock test will enable the students to understand where they stand and what they need to do to address their weak areas.

Students who have taken a gap from studies can use the time to gain quality work experience or enroll in online classes or engage in research studies. This will not only allow them to hone their skills and make money as well in certain cases, but will also give them the time to introspect and understand their true capabilities. This will come in handy when the time comes to purse studies abroad, with better understanding and clarity of their goals.

The economic downturn is the best time to study abroad. By the time the students graduate the situation would turn for the better and they would be well-prepared and equipped with the right skills.

LOOKING AHEAD TO STUDY ABROAD

As and when the world begins to adjust to the new normal and carry on normal life, students will also need to get ready and proactive to put their overseas study goals on the right track. This is where they can count on leading future generation Centre of Excellence, SANZ INTERNATIONAL Academy.

Established in the year 2012, SANZ INTERNATIONAL Academy is a top future generation Centre of Excellence that understands the needs of the integrated global economy and accordingly offers a broad confluence of top-quality advice and support for student aspirants and learners who look to seek access to the world’s leading educational institutions.

As a pioneer in a unique service called ‘Guardianship’ and provider of world-class skill teaching programs, Sanz has made a strategic commitment to the highest quality of service for students and help them get the best possible educational, cultural and social experiences. Further, Sanz also has sustained an outstanding and impeccable track-record in consulting domain and looks to further consolidate it through an expert Student Support Team to help study-aspirant students with any issues that they may face during their studies.

Dedicating themselves to help find the best educational institute for student’s future academics, Sanz looks ahead with renewed optimism to guide students on the right track and gain access to the world’s leading experts in their chosen subjects.