Apply in time, research thoroughly

Natasha Chopra

Choosing which country to study and which course to enroll in is not always an easy task. Students always consider future prospects, accessibility, affordability and safety while short listing the options. But, is that enough? Most of the time, in a haste to decide, students overlook the basic requirements and end up wasting their time and effort.

Keeping in mind the growing numbers of Indian students opting for a postgraduate engineering degree abroad, here is a list of some do’s and don’ts to help students in their planning for MTech abroad”

DO’S:

Confirm course specialisation

First and foremost, you must decide the engineering specialisation that you would want to pursue. Check the course content and research on the opportunities it will provide.    

Shortlist country and university

Based on the chosen course specialisation, start checking out different countries keeping in mind the value of the particular course in the country(countries) you are shortlisting. While looking for universities, ensure that you check the course content or curriculum like the core or elective modules, the facilities and location of the universities.

Budget, lifestyle, demography and post-study work opportunities are also some of the important elements to consider. For students  looking for a stay back option, it is important to choose the country with a lenient post-study-work permit and a possibility for a Permanent Residency. 

Maintain a checklist 

Find out the intake for the course you are interested in for each of the shortlisted universities. Check the application deadline and entry requirements of these universities. Do not forget to check the academic score requirements and the duration of the course before short listing since it differs with each country as well as university. 

Top tier universities do not accept applications with less than 80 per cent academic score. The duration of a postgraduate engineering degree ranges from 1 to 2 years. 

However, this doesn’t mean that students with 50 to 60 per cent academic scores are not eligible. These scores are only indicative of the average academic score needed in case you are looking for moderately ranked university. 

Standard admission and language tests

Around six to nine months prior to the application deadline, start preparing for standard admission tests as per the university requirements such as GRE, GMAT; and for standard language tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE. You must book test dates in advance, at least two months prior. 

That said, you should always get specific information as each country or university has a different requirement, for instance, GRE is compulsory in the US and the GRE/GMAT is recommended in Germany and/ or Singapore. The IELTS English language test is accepted in a majority of countries. 

Proper documentation

Collect your academic documents from the university/college that are to be submitted in the application. Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Letters of Recommendation (LOR) should be written two to three months prior to the deadline.

Application forms and visa application

University application forms should be filled much before the application deadline. If you are applying for scholarships, then you should fill the application form 6 to 8 months before application deadline since most are on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, your financial statement should be arranged prior to the visa application. 

DON’TS

Shortlist country/university without research

Do not be in a haste to decide the country/university without weighing the important factors like the course content, value of the course, availability of facilities, cost of living, cost of the study, safety, standard of living, part-time job opportunities, post-study work permit etc. This is to prevent last minute cancellation in some cases where your profile turns out not matching the requirement or vice versa.

Choose any specialisation

Do not choose your engineering programme by just the name of the course or on recommendation from friends and family. Refer to the core or elective modules as sometimes the field that you want to specialise in may not seem to reflect on the course name but may be included in the curriculum. Always give priority to your area of interest.

Wait for last-minute application

Do not wait for the application deadline to apply for a university, whether it is for convenience or other reasons. This is so because there are times when your Visa approval can get late and your application gets deferred. 

Book test-dates at the eleventh hour

Do not wait till the last minute to book your test dates for both admission as well as language tests. Book the test dates in advance and take the test two to three months prior to the application deadline so that in case of repetition, you  have ample time to re-take the test.

Take tests without preparation

Irrespective of how much you know or how much you think you know, never take admission/language tests without preparation. Look up online for mock test and practice until you are well acquainted with the test format. 

Conclusion

The best and foremost step towards planning for a postgraduate degree abroad is to ceaselessly research until you are convinced of the choice you are making; and start the application process almost one year prior to the intake. 

— The writer is MD and Co-founder, The Chopras