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What you need to know to study your bachelor abroad: General aspects
Deadlines: Universities have organizational deadlines as to when everything must be handed in. They can make exceptions but being late with your application will make you seem less eager, prepared or eligible for the course. So, make sure that you have had ample time in preparing everything so that whenever the uni asks you to send some info through email or snail mail, you are ready.
Delivery: You can normally send all of your information through your computer, by email, but also through traditional mail (snail mail). Anyway, make sure you ask the university to confirm that everything has been well received by calling or emailing them again. You will also show your interest like that.
Official translations: Some universities might require you to provide official translations of some of the documents. Those are papers with a juridical value: elaborated by special translations. But mostly, universities will just require documents in English, or even in your native language.
How to apply:
The university will require you to hand in some papers so that they can get to know you. We are going to mention what papers are normally required, for it is part of what you need to know to study abroad:
Paperwork:
- Transcript: The university needs to acknowledge your previous studies and grades to be able to admit you. If you want to study a bachelor, a copy of your high school diploma might do, but other times you will need your full transcript. This is a document elaborated by your school that will cost you some money and time to get, so this should be your first step. You are going to need it anyway, so do not hesitate and head towards your school headquarters and ask for it.
- Recommendation letter: Admissions personnel will love to see that you have been recommended by a previous teacher, dean or student representative. Reference letters can be quickly written by your favorite teacher. Use your time in school to pay him or her a visit, make them happy telling them that you are going to continue studying and ask them for that favor.
- Motivation letter: here, the uni staff wants to get to know you. They will quickly know if you have spent time and effort writing your motivation letter or if you just did it without time and interest. Spend some time writing it, and make it thoughtful: explain who you are, what you like and why studying will make you a better professional. Mention your idea of the future, and how you have a sense of direction. Do not miss on this one.
Certificates:
- English certificate: many of the bachelors that you can study abroad are in English. That is why many institutions will ask for proof of English Level. You can find that they require anything from level B1 to C2 (advanced to proficiency). You will also find many certificates that can be required, and some will be valid for many universities (
cambridge /toefl /ielts /sat /gcsc ) but others might only accept one. The good newsis, if you don´t have one and you do not have the time to get the certificate. Many universities have their own English level tests, even online, so you will have a chance of proving your level. - Other higher institutions might require specific certifications, like the business-related GMAT or any research papers related to science bachelors and masters. So do inform yourself of what is expected from you. Sometimes, a copy of a final project is all you need.
Others:
- For most of your student stays (unless inside the E.U. and other exceptions), you will need to get a student VISA. This is also a tedious process that you can either fulfill online or in the country’s embassy that is closest to you. Both this and the application itself will require you to fill in some forms and give copies of your passport and ID pictures.
- Normally, you will not have to hand in your CV when applying to a bachelor, but it would be a great time to start writing, since you will have all of the required information together. Start with a simple compilation of what you have done through your early student years. You will be setting the ground for the future CV’s that you will surely be required (internships, courses, masters, etc.).
What else can you expect:
Personal or online interviews. One of the usual procedures to get to know students is to email them, call them or even have online video-calls with them. In this type of sessions, the recruiter just wants to get to know you. Not only will they ask you a couple of background-related questions, but they will also help you with any steps that you might not fully understand. Do not get nervous about these interviews. The recruiters are meeting many nervous students and will like you if your disposition is to work hard.
Tuition fees. There are several ways of funding your studies: if you choose a public university, the government is paying for the majority or all of its cost. Otherwise, you will have to fully pay for the program. Estimates show that in Europe, a year of superior education costs from 10.000 to 15.000 € per student. How can students overcome that expense? Some people have saved money, some people ask their parents for support, and others take a student loan.
Scholarship: there is another way to fund your studies: asking for a scholarship. Scholarships you can get are normally merit-based (if you have performed greatly in your previous studies) and come from universities themselves, the government, private institutions, etc. Remember that you will also need a lot of time and documents to ask for a scholarship. When it is time to pay for the university, you will have the option of dividing the payments. You will choose monthly payments or upfront payment (which might provide you with a discount).
Whatever the bachelor you want to study,
we can help you with the process. Check our recommended Online Open Days and find out the easiest way to contact universities about their admissions procedures: chatting with them through a webinar.
