Study Abroad Tips & Advice
It is difficult to compare the rewards one
can gain from studying abroad with anything else. The experience can change
your perspective from being local to global and your attitudes to
international. Not only that but you will likely gain memories and friendships
to last a lifetime.
Interestingly though, one of the biggest
barriers causing students to decide not to study abroad, is that they believe
it would be too expensive and or too difficult. The overseas students who do
decide to study abroad and utilize the services of an education agent are often
very surprised at how easy it was to organize, and also at how affordable it
can be.
The following information is a useful and
will likely provide some good tips and advice for prospective overseas students
looking to study abroad. Although the following information can be useful, it
is recommended that students see a qualified education agent to ensure they
receive up-to-date and current study abroad advice tailored to their specific
needs and circumstances.
Why study abroad?
There are many reasons people choose to
study abroad:
• Language
acquisition - The world market place is shrinking and many companies now look
for or require staff that can speak a second language. For students in Thailand
or Asia where English is a second language, being able to speak English can be
a significant advantage in the competitive labor market. Not only is being able
to speak a second language such as English important from a career perspective,
but it is also invaluable from a real world perspective.
• Practical
experience - Study coupled with work experience can be an ideal way to gain
some real world experience. Many students are surprised to find out that in
many countries such as Australia they are free to work and gain an income while
studying (currently at the time of this article being written it is 20 hours
per week with a student visa). When this is factored into the cost of studying
abroad it can significantly reduce the expense and studying and working
overseas can be very affordable.
• Career
Advancement - International experience is much sort after by many employers as
a critical asset for prospective employees. Study abroad shows that you are
resourceful, adventurous, internationally minded, and diverse. In addition, in
many countries such as Thailand it is extremely competitive and expensive to
gain selection to a highly respected university. By not gaining selection to a
top university you may be limiting your career potential unnecessarily. Study
abroad is another option however which will allow you to studying overseas in a
country such as Australia and gain English language skills and once completed
will see you just as attractive or more so to potential employers not only in
Thailand but around the world.
• Experience
of a lifetime - In a couple years you may forget a lot of what you have studied
in high school and university but if you study abroad you will never forget the
friends you made or the incredible experiences you shared.
How do I find the right Education Agent for
me?
Once you have made the decision to study
abroad you may then want to find an education agent to guide you through the
process. But what should you look for in finding the right education agent for
you? There are many education agents and this task is not as easy as it sounds,
but if you follow the tips below you will be on the right track to finding an
agent for you:
1) Look
for an education agent that are members of peak body organizations in not only
your home country but also the country you intend to study. By doing this you
can be more confident the agent you have selected is professional and
trustworthy. For example, students from Thailand wishing to study in Australia
should select an agent registered with the Thai International Education
Consultants Association (TIECA) in Thailand and the Qualified Education Agent
Counsellor Database (QEACP) in the destination country Australia.
2) Prospective
international students should also look for education agents which have
registered business' and offices in both their home country and the destination
country. In the example used above this would require the agent to have a fixed
business address and offices in both Thailand and Australia. By ensuring your
education agent has an office in your home country it will be far easier, and
probably quicker, to organise the necessary paperwork before you are able to
study, including visas and school enrolment. In addition, by checking your
education agent has an office in the country you intend to study, for example
Australia, you can be assured that when you require support or assistance, with
such things as visa renewal, you will be able to access this a lot more easily.
More education agents should provide such support services free of charge if
you have enrolled with them prior to coming to Australia. It is important to
check this however or you may be charged for basic support requirements, such
as writing to your school or government departments in relation to visa issues.
3) When
looking for a good education agent students should also ensure that the agent
they select provides accurate advice regarding educational institutions and
does not simply refer you to schools or universities which they receive the
largest commission from. For example, some agent have been known to push their
students to a small number of schools so as they can receive a larger
commission from the schools in question. The best way to ensure this does not
occur and that you go to the best school for you, rather than the agent, is to
follow Point 1 above and ensure the agent is registered with appropriate
authorities. The education agent you select should work with you to discuss
your own personal interests and circumstances and from this develop a tailored
and individualized study plan for you. For the majority of people this should
mean the agent is able to give you a number of alternative study options for
you to choose from, rather than just one or two.
By Nathan G Jones
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