Going places: Browse the Net to figure out which institute and course suits you best (top). (Below) A frontal view of Harvard University, US, one of the most coveted centres of learning

Now that the Plus Two results are out, students are busy deciding on the colleges they will attend. And given the shortage of seats in good colleges in India, many would be contemplating completing their undergraduate studies abroad. Though the US and the UK have been the preferred destinations for students for a long time, there are other places like Canada, Australia and New Zealand which are also good. Another place that has recently become an important destination for Indian students is Singapore. This is owing to a number of scholarships being given by the ministry of education (MOE) in Singapore.

However, given the high cost of education and lack of scholarships at the undergraduate level (except in Singapore), students need to think hard whether they can finish their graduation in India and then go abroad for a masters, for which a number of scholarships are available.

But if you decide to head for foreign shores for your graduate degree, the first thing you need to choose is the course. That of course depends on your career plan. You should also decide whether you want to go in for higher studies or would like to work after you complete graduation because that will also influence your choice of subject.

Once you’ve decided on the course, work out the cost involved. You will sometimes find that completing your course abroad may be cheaper than doing it at a private university in India. Nowadays, many students choose to do their MBBS from an East European country or China because of this. And lots of aspiring commercial pilots get their licences from south-east Asian countries rather than India for the same reason.

You should also do a comparative study between the different institutes that offer the course to figure out which one is best. Find out about the faculty and the infrastructure. A reputed institute might be more expensive but the faculty is guaranteed to be good.

The other extremely important thing you should find out is the sort of recognition the degree has. If you plan to return to India, find out whether the course is recognised here. If not, check whether you can clear an exam to get accredition.

After you decide on the institute, find out its eligibility criteria and figure out what your chances of being accepted are.

It is not very easy to get accepted to a popular course at a reputed institute. So be smart and have a backup plan (apply in another university or two) in case you do not get entry to the university of your choice.

It is better to start applying at least a year before the programme commences. Ideally, one should start the process while one is still in Class XI. If it’s an off-beat institute, you can get away with starting the process later. In many cases, universities have counselling offices in India to help applicants. You can approach them for advice.

Now that you have chosen the course and institute, here is the application procedure for different countries.

The US

You can get the application forms by email, can download it from the university website or ask for it by airmail. You will need a letter of recommendation from at least two persons as well as a statement of purpose or a personal essay. It is important that you write it well because the faculty will assess you on this basis. You should write why you want to do that particular course and how it will help in your career. If it reads convincing, the seat will be yours.

Eligibility: Students must have passed the Indian School Certificate, Intermediate Certificate, Higher School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate, All India Senior School Certificate or equivalent exam.

Tests to take: Universities in the US require you to take some standardised tests like SAT I (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing). Others may also require SAT II subject tests. International students are also required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Requirements can, however, vary from one university to another.

Financial Aid: Financial aid at the undergraduate level for non-US citizens is very limited.

The UK

Applications are made through a computerised Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). This will enable you to apply simultaneously to six universities. UCAS forms are available at all British Council offices in India for self-funded students. Here, too, you will need to send a letter of recommendation from at least two people as well as a statement of purpose or a personal essay.

Eligibility: Outstanding marks in CBSE or ISC or equivalent, or in the first year of an Indian degree programme are required for entry.

Tests to take: Most universities require international students to clear the IELTS (International English Language Test). Many accept TOEFL scores as well.

Financial aid: You can approach British Council offices in India for details of scholarships available.

Canada

You can get the forms by email or download from the university website. If you are applying to colleges in the province of Ontario or in Quebec the process is slightly different and you need to apply through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) or the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS). You will need to submit a letter of recommendation from a person of repute and also a statement of purpose along with the form. Some courses may have a particular format for the personal essay which you have to follow.

Eligibility: Most universities in provinces other than Ontario and Quebec require a minimum of 12 years of formal education.

The universities of Ontario and Quebec require 13 years of secondary school education, that is, 12 years of schooling and one year of college in India, or 12 years of schooling in India and one year of high school in Canada.

For bachelor degree programmes, students should score in the range of 600 in TOEFL and must have around 70 per cent in Plus Two. For diploma courses, a TOEFL score of around 550 is required and there is no percentage barrier in Plus Two.

Tests to take: TOEFL or IELTS. Some universities may also ask for your SAT I scores.

Financial aid: You can check the website of the particular university you are approaching to find out if any kind of financial help is available.

Australia

You can get the application by email, from the website or through local agents of Australian universities. You need to write a well-crafted statement of purpose to make a favourable impression.

Eligibility: Indian School Certificate, Intermediate Certificate, Higher School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate, All India Senior School Certificate or equivalent.

Tests to take: International students have to take the IELTS, which is conducted by the British Council. Sometimes a TOEFL score is also accepted as an alternative.

Financial aid: Check the website of the concerned university to know if you are eligible for any scholarships or grants.

New Zealand

The application form can be obtained by email, from local agents of universities or downloaded from the university website.

Eligibility: Plus Two or equivalent. Usually, universities ask for a minimum of 75 per cent in aggregate and a minimum of 60 per cent in English.

Tests to be taken: International students have to usually take the IELTS. A minimum score of 6.5 or above is usually required by most institutes. Different universities and colleges, however, have different criteria and even these requirements can be negotiated in some cases.

Financial aid: Check the website.

Singapore

Singapore has recently become an attractive destination as it is wooing international students by offering subsidised course fees and other benefits. To provide the necessary social and practical support for students, most educational institutions here offer an adequate range of services such as counselling, accommodation options, advice and orientation programmes. You will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and selection of supplementary facilities and activities available to complete your learning experience. Close to home, this island nation provides a well-rounded education at reasonable rates.

The National University of Singapore (NUS), set up in 1905, offers courses in major disciplines such as the sciences, engineering, technology, law, arts and social sciences and medicine. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was set up in 1981 to provide facilities for tertiary education and research in engineering and technology. It has since incorporated the National Institute of Education (NIE) — the teachers’ college — and expanded to include accountancy, business and communication studies. The first publicly-funded private university, Singapore Management University (SMU), was established in 2000 with a focus on business and management programmes.

There are also five polytechnics — Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic — which offer courses in engineering, business studies, mass communication, design and info-communications. Specialised courses in optometry, marine engineering, nautical studies, nursing, early childhood education and film are also available for those who know what they want to do in life.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is an alternative post-secondary institution for those opting to develop their technical skills and knowledge in various industry sectors. Besides providing full-time institutional training and traineeship programmes for secondary school leavers, ITE also provides continuing education programmes for working adults.

In addition, many of the leading universities of the world have also set up a physical campus (institutes of higher learning) or offer programmes in collaboration with local universities. Some of these institutes are INSEAD, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Duke University, SP Jain Centre of Management, ESSEC, Digipen Institute of Technology and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). There are also two private institutions in Singapore that provide post-secondary education in the arts, LASALLE–SIA College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

To find out if the institute of your choice in Singapore is good enough, check if it is CaseTrust for Education certified. CaseTrust for Education was launched by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), for private education organisations (PEOs). A certified PEO will have clear fee policies, well-defined student redress practice and systems, disclosure of the PEO’s commitment of quality, and well-trained personnel.

PEOs that have attained a commendable level of performance in their journey to business excellence get the SQC-PEO (Singapore quality class), which serves as the industry standard for organisation excellence in the private education sector.

Eligibility: Apart from the usual academic qualification, you need a good score in either IELTS or TOEFL. Eligibility differs from one academy to the other.

Financial assistance: The tuition fee grant, administered by the Singapore ministry of education (MOE) subsidises up to 80 per cent of fees and is available to all students. As an international student, you are eligible for the grant subject to the signing of a deed with the Singapore government undertaking to work in a Singapore-registered company for three years, upon completion of your programme. International students may apply for bursaries to pay for their tuition fees and other expenses. Bursaries are grants awarded purely on the basis of financial need and usually do not exceed S$1,500 (approx Rs 47,000) per academic year.

Those interested in studying in Singapore can get in touch with Sonal Jindal, Machino Media Pvt. Ltd, 21/1A/3 Darga Road, 2nd Floor, Block A, Calcutta-700017 (Ph: 22892891, email: sonal@iamreadytogo.com) for further information.

(Arjun Jindal is the CEO of Ready to Go? magazine)