All You Ought to Know About Studying Abroad

Our today’s world is increasingly becoming more and more competitive. To cope with the present dynamics of this competitive world, a quality education is much more necessary. For students in developing world, studying abroad is an opportunity, which allows them to gain quality education and to earn degree from prestigious universities. Furthermore, students also learn about different culture, language, history and adaptive skills. These hard earned skills and degrees enable them to compete in their own market and help their countries in upgrading their knowledge base. Also, these courses are an important tool to increase people-to-people exchange and develop diplomatic relations at macro-level.

Thus, it is important to understand every aspect of studying abroad. Typically, a student can go abroad for any level of education – primary, secondary and higher education. But as in the majority of cases students take decision to go for undergrad and postgrad courses, we will focus on information regarding these courses.

Requirements for studying abroad

Students who are planning to go abroad for studying should carefully check requirements. Note that there are two types of requirements: general requirements and then there are requirements which are related to the particular course a student is planning to pursue.

1.      Scores from Professional courses
Depending upon the education level being pursued, students will have to submit scores from professional courses. For undergraduate programs, students are normally asked to submit SAT score, while for post-graduate programs students are asked to submit GRE (for sciences and humanities) or GMAT (for management studies) score.

Along with the above general aptitude tests, language fluency tests are also required. There are mainly two tests in this category – IELTS (accepted widely in the UK and Europe) or TOEFL (accepted widely in the US). Note that language fluency tests are considered more important as a good score means easier adaptation for a student in a foreign environment.

Additionally, for certain higher courses (mainly in life sciences), universities ask for subject GRE scores as this helps panel members in benchmarking student’s knowledge level with American students.

2.      Scholarships and Funding
Studying abroad is most likely a costly affair. A typical student has to take care of tuition fees, accommodation cost, sustenance cost, and travel cost. Aspiring students can apply for scholarships sponsored by universities or private funders. These scholarships are very competitive. If you are planning to study in Europe, there’s a great opportunity to compete for a scholarship offered by the European Erasmus Programme in which more than 200.000 students are taking part annually. For more information we recommend to read this article elaborating on the Erasmus Programme. Remember that your performance in your school is not the only factor to determine for scholarship. Panel members look for students who have been performing well consistently, have good scores in above-mentioned tests and have a goal in life.

3.      Faculty
It is very important to gather as much information about faculties as possible. Go to online forums to find out whether the concerned faculty teaches well or not.

4.      Travel preparation
While preparing for your trip, make sure not to forget the following things:

• Passport
• Insurance documents
• Duly issued air tickets
• Invitation letter from the university
• Excess currency at least to the tune of two months sustenance bills
• Arrange accommodation beforehand

Author bio: Jeff is a motivated undergraduate student who works as a freelance writer at SolidEssay.com, which is a research paper writing service helping students structure and format their research work.

England for Students

Being an international student means something more than paying attention to a teacher or professor and passing the exams. It’s about embracing a new culture, a new mentality, a new lifestyle. Some love this, others find it more difficult to adapt. There’s no right or wrong here.

Those who prefer to experiment will find themselves with so many things to be learnt.

Take study in England for instance. There are quite many locations, all different, yet all equal, united by the same high quality level of teaching offered. Cambridge, Oxford, London and Brighton are just a few of the names that boast with irreproachable professors, abundant resources and a buzzing atmosphere that students will immediately be drawn to.

Let’s take Cambridge and Oxford.

To many, they are pretty much the same – some sort of Mecca of higher education. Well, not quite so – they are as reachable as any other university and the people here are as friendly as anywhere else. On top, there are special colleges that offer university preparation courses so as to make sure that if one truly wants to study here or anywhere else in the UK, one will succeed.

Although placed in the same “pot”, there are still some misconceptions that are worth mentioning. For instance, there is the impression that Oxford is stronger in politics and the humanities, while Cambridge is stronger in the sciences and engineering. Despite both universities stressing the idea that there is no major difference in either the sciences or humanities, this belief seems to stem back from as early as 1820s. It is true that significant changes have been made in the recent years, like Cambridge’s diversification away from intense mathematical study and Oxford’s focus on scientific research, yet, Oxford offers the course of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, which Cambridge does not. Bill Gates gives scholarships to Cambridge, while Oxford is home to the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most prestigious awards for graduates. It seems that there is some truth in the popular belief after all…

While there’s a certain rivalry between the two, there’s also cooperation, best exemplified by the so-called ‘Oxbridge’. Most Oxford colleges have a sister college in Cambridge and both universities have promoted themselves to potential applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Some writers associated with Oxford include John Fowles, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde, Graham Greene, while Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, David Attenborough, Stephen Hawking are associated with Cambridge.

Might want to try Brighton

A cosmopolitan city with two universities; also England’s favourite seaside resort. Famous in the past for its “bathing machines” that the aristocracy would use to take “health baths”, famous now for the vibrant atmosphere that students simply love. Rightly nicknamed London by the sea, it has great, varied architecture and that peculiar “air” that only seaside locations have.

London – well, it’s London

That’s it. Famous and prestigious universities and colleges, people from all over the world, interesting cultures, interesting food and so many things to do and see. And it’s not just about the British Museum or Madame Tussauds, preferred by older generation tourists, it’s about discovering places like Greenwich, Camden Market, Spitalfields, Portobello Market and Angel. Vintage clothing, amazing bric-a-brac, old photos, museum replicas, delicious affordable food and so many interesting people.

Being a student is an adventure, and all the more if you happen to be an international student. There are things to be learnt from books and teachers, and things to be learnt from a city, its food, its buildings and its people. Enjoy!

This is a guest post written on behalf of Bellerbys College – helping international students achieve their ambitions. Feel free to visit them and see if they can help you.

What do London’s Markets have to offer?

Guest Post by Morgan Souihed.

Wherever in the world you are, high street shops and chain supermarkets can get pretty tiresome, can’t they? People shuffle along with their trolleys oblivious to one another as they shovel tasteless, cellophane-wrapped foodstuffs into their baskets: the same bland products every week. With Britain’s high-streets becoming more and more homogenised, people need to look elsewhere for a shopping experience that’s a little more fulfilling. Fortunately for all of us who’ll be studying in the UK, London has a rich history of independent markets that provide high-quality products and foodstuffs that aren’t simply churned out by a soulless corporation, often at competitive prices. Many of these still operate today, and if you’re staying anywhere near Mile End road, you’ll find several of them right on your doorstep…

Farmer’s market, Mile End Queen Mary Campus
We’re sure your parents will have been incessantly telling you to buy fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish instead of subsisting on the more common takeaway-based student diet. Fortunately for them, and for you at the University of London’s Queen Mary Campus a local farmer’s market is hosted every Thursday from 9am until 2pm. Here you can buy fresh local produce including sausages, fruit and vegetables, freshly caught fish and artisan breads to ensure that your diet can range from the simply healthy to the practically opulent. Take advantage of this local treasure and the parents will have nothing to worry about!

Roman Road market
Markets can provide you with more than just food, however. At craft markets like the excellent Roman Road market, you can pick up some great bargains to do just that. You can source yourself some budget antiques, pick up a few books for study or pleasure, take in some spectacular street performers and even grab a bite to eat. The Roman Road is the oldest known trade route in Britain, so the market is steeped in history.

Brick Lane market
If you’re feeling adventurous and up for venturing a little further afield, Brick Lane Market is a sprawling, traditional flea market where you can buy yourself just about anything you could possibly want. It’s well worth the effort to go and take in the sights, smells and bargains aplenty that the market has to offer. Brick Lane is famed for being an area rich in Asian culture, so you can grab some fantastically authentic food while you’re there, and the market itself will provide you with vintage clothing, electrical goods and bric-a-brac aplenty. Why not check it out and see what hidden gems you could unearth?

One key way to experience these attractions is to live near them. There are luxurious student accommodations nearby, such as Scape Living’s Hoxton location, or student housing possibilities via Erasmate’s website , which means that some of London’s best sights and experiences are just minutes away. So don’t miss out on what could be some of the best times of your life!

A Successful Return after International Studies

When studying internationally, you certainly get a flavor for the culture you’re being exposed to. Certainly, that’s the chief reason why people want to study abroad; they want to gain a greater understanding of the world in which they live and perhaps learn some new skills along the way. However, how do you successfully return home and get back to the life you’d temporarily left behind? How do you get your life back?

1. Getting ready to go home:
This is probably one of the hardest parts of ending your overseas studies. You’ve worked through all your papers, seen the sights, likely enjoyed the local food and drink, and taken more pictures than you’d ever thought possible. How do you get ready? Hopefully you’ve been keeping a journal about your experiences. The remaining time you spend in the country you’ve unofficially adopted is a perfect time to reflect on what you got out of your experience. Ask yourself questions like:

• What did I learn about my country?
• What did I learn about myself?
• Did I accomplish everything I set out to?
• What will I miss the most?

These and other like-minded questions will go a long way in helping you reflect on your experiences and discovering what you’ve learned overall. Asking yourself questions such as these may also help you solidify what you most look forward to about returning home. In addition to the memorabilia you’ve collected over your time abroad, you may also want to pack up your memories, as they will likely have been your richest learning experience.

2. Realizing it’s not all rosy:
Home ain’t always where the heart is. In fact, after participating in international studies, it’s quite likely that home is the last place you’re thinking about after you’ve been back a while. You may find that you miss the country you’d been studying in. You may also find that hearing English spoken everywhere is a bit of a surprise. People may misunderstand that some of the new behaviors you’ve adopted are not affectations, but ways you learned how to behave while abroad. Some of your relationships, in fact, may have changed altogether, as the significant people in your life may see growth and change in you where they didn’t before and now feel somewhat threatened. Be brief in your explanations, try not to engage in behavior that seems like you’re putting on airs and hopefully those who matter most to you will be able to look and realize that you’ve grown and changed as a result of your overseas time.

3. Exercise:
Because returning to your country of origin is almost always tinged with a mixed bag of emotions, it’s important to maintain a steady exercise routine. It’s been proven that exercise helps with the sadness that is associated with a return from overseas travel, so why not try to exercise regularly when you return to your country of origin? That can help you also gain some clarity of thought in those first few days back in your own home, and you’ll be a bit able to understand what exactly you learned during your time away.

4. Make a Friend (or Several):
It’s all too easy when you return from an exciting international study adventure to suddenly isolate yourself and withdraw. Other people just won’t get where you’re coming from. However, you know that you can’t just hide away; go out, make a few new friends.

These are but a few of the things you can do to make your return from overseas studies that much easier. While we predominantly fool ourselves into believing our return home from international studies will be no problem, in reality, it is.

Christina St-Jean is an English teacher based in Ontario, Canada and contributor to Degree Jungle. When she’s not teaching or writing – or teaching about writing – she’s spending time with her two young daughters, likely doing karate.

An Erasmus student’s guide to Learning English!

Again, we’ve received an interesting post of one of our users. We’re happy to share tips and tricks by Olan Ahern on how to improve your English speaking and writing skills during an Erasmus exchange.

As a former student studying abroad – an Irishman studying in England – I like to think I’m an honorary Erasmus student! While I was unlucky not to have the opportunity to learn a foreign language, I did get the opportunity to meet a lot of students from a wide range of countries. The experience sparked my enthusiasm for new subjects and trying new things; from eating Paella with Spanish students to going out on the town with Russian students and learning to truly appreciate vodka, these experiences changed my life forever!

After spending several months  with my new found friends, something occurred to me (besides the fact these people were great fun to be around); some people were getting a lot better at English while some people were only improving  slightly and others weren’t improving at all.

I asked those who were making great progress what their secret was, how come it was so easy for them to pick up the English language?

The following is a summary of the responses I got:

Speak Regularly
A lot of my friends said they were surrounded by English speakers for the majority of the day, and one of the most important aspects of gaining proficiency in any language is speaking it regularly!

Here is a list of ways to do so:

• Pick subjects that are highly populated with English speaking students, this will encourage you to interact and learn from them.
• Interact with other English speakers as much as possible. This will help you get a proper grasp of the language. This is known as real-world comprehension and practical use of the English language.
• If you live in a bilingual household or dorm, try to make an effort each day to speak English.
• Arrange a day every week for a number of international and English students to meet up in a relaxed environment and learn from one another.
• Go to the local pub! It’s an easy and relaxing way to get a grasp of local slang and different sayings in the area. This is often the most confusing thing for many international students. For example, the saying “it’s raining cats and dogs” doesn’t mean it’s literally raining animals.

Watch T.V.
Watching TV is an excellent way to learn English and relax at the same time. Different programmes offer different opportunities to improve your level of English.

The 3 S’s:

• Soaps: Help you understand different accents. For example, watching Coronation Street will expose you to the Manchurian accent, while watching Eastenders gets you used to a Cockney accent.
• Sitcoms: Improve your cultural awareness and help you to understand different tones and expressions. Also a great introduction to English humour and sarcasm.
• Sport: Improve numerical understanding, possibly for those who have a lower level of English.

Watching programmes is an easy way to improve one’s English comprehension without feeling like you are studying. A helpful tip, as your level increases after a couple of months watch dubbed or subtitled films in favour of those with English voice and subtitles.

The Internet
The Internet is full of resources that can help you improve your English proficiency. Students spend a lot of their time online. Here a list of ways to improve your English whilst online:

• Read news articles on English news websites is a way to work on reading comprehension. The Internet is one of the best places to go to improve vocabulary since definitions can be looked up easily with a simple web search.
• Bookmark an English dictionary website. Some dictionary sites, such as The Free Online Dictionary, have vocabulary games and other learning tools available right on the front page.
• Freerice.com is another vocabulary-building website that allows users to answer multiple-choice vocabulary questions. The site will donate 10 grains of rice to fight world hunger for each correct answer.
• Participating in an English-speaking message board or forum community is a good way to work on your writing ability while discussing topics of interest.
• You can judge your level of English by using sites such as Pearson PTE specialists in English language tests. This is a good method to check where you need to improve.

While a lot of people find it effective to increase proficiency in English through the methods I described above, taking formal classes or joining a club dedicated to learning English can accelerate your progress. Classes can help increase motivation and keep you on a normal schedule of study, many people find this important for learning!

This is a guide I’ve devised from my friends experiences of how they learned English. I hope people who read this post find it useful and hopefully find helpful tips especially if you’re an Erasmus student studying in England.

Olan is a former Erasmus student who works on behalf of Pearson PTE specialists in English Language Learning

Improving Your Employability By Volunteering Whilst Abroad

Employers are throwing the term ‘employability’ around a lot, which basically means that a candidate is suitable for work in their sector and has valuable soft skills for work. Employability is harder to obtain than employers think, as you often need to get employed to earn it.

Outstanding grades, industry relevant internships and a combination of the two don’t seem to be enough to give that edge when approaching a potential employer anymore.

Why Volunteer?
Being part of the Erasmus exchange and gaining experience abroad is a very good way to gain employer’s attention, but there’s still more you can do whilst abroad to help you stand out from the crowd. Volunteering is becoming ever more popular and important within sectors, and there’s a big industry of it in many European countries, including the UK. Furthermore, volunteer work also gives you a great chance to prolong your stay abroad after an Erasmus exchange. In case you’re looking for housing options during a volunteer program, take a look at Erasmate’s browse housing list for current housing offers.

There are many preconceptions about volunteering. Some of them being that a volunteer would be bored or that there won’t a connection to your chosen industry. Having industry specific experience is good, but employers also want to see examples of dedication and passion.

If you can’t find industry related volunteer work, then look out for opportunities with causes that you are passionate about. If you wish to raise money for a cause funding research for a disease a family member has, then this not only shows dedication to your family, but also involves organization, budgeting and planning skills. Remember not to volunteer because you’ve heard it’s a good idea to do it, but because you want to, as employers will see right through you if you’re not passionate about the cause.

Regarding the first point of volunteering being boring, this won’t be the case if you volunteer for a cause that’s important to you, and there’s a growing trend of volunteering at summer and adventure camps in the UK.

Stand Out
Summer camps are a common sector in America, but are still growing within the UK meaning that volunteer work in such a different sector will help you stand out when looking for work in the UK or back home.

Volunteer work at a children’s camp is especially useful for those studying to become teachers, as you can gain valuable experience of interacting with the children in a very different environment compared to the classroom while still having to distribute the same authority and discipline. The challenge is creating the right balance between comradery and discipline. Conquering this challenge will impress potential employers, as many experienced teachers still struggle with this balance.

Similarly, if you’re planning to become a trainer or instructor within the sports or activities offered at summer camps, then you can gain valuable experience by volunteering as well as stand out with knowledge of more unusual sports such as weaselling (which is climbing, sliding and squeezing through tunnels and rocky obstacles to reach the top of a hillside).

Just like having hobbies is a credit to your versatility, so too is volunteer work in a different environment than what is expected. If you can show volunteering experience in a sector or industry which can stop the employer to take a closer look at your CV, then you have better chances of being noticed at the early stages of recruitment.

Find out more about UK summer camps. This article was written by Sarah Oxley on behalf of Doit4real, a charitable organization who provide adventure and summer camps for children aged 10-16.

Going to study in the UK? Here are some essential tips regarding your accommodation..

Dear readers,

One of our users approach us to write a guest post with tips regarding accommodation search in the UK.

Finding a property to live in
If you are unsure of where to look then you may want to consider asking your university. Most universities in the UK have an office for international students where you can go to for advice about anything. When you ask for student accommodation, also ask which letting agencies to avoid because the international student office will know which agencies have got a well established reputation and which agencies do not. In addition to this, they can also advise you on the area where you’d like to live in. Some areas are safer than others so it’s worth checking this out.

Another way of finding the right property to live in is by simply scanning the internet. You can make use of a search engine like Google by typing in relevant keywords such as “Flats in London” or “Student Accommodation in London”. These websites often allow you click on the type of property and neighbourhood you’d like to live in, the price and whether you require the property to be furnished or not.

Erasmate student-to-student housing also offers profiles of students that are looking for a room and students that are offering a room. The drop down menu allows you to narrow down your search by clicking on the type of country, city, the rent you can afford to pay and the length of your stay. If you are an exchange student and you are looking for short term stays, it is worth considering the Erasmate student to student housing as most letting agencies in the UK require you to sign a 12 month contract.

 

Arranging viewings
It is important that you organise and plan your viewings carefully. Most likely, you will still be in your own country when making these appointments, so when you come to the UK, you might have many viewings to attend. In order to not get confused, make sure to write everything down, i.e. the letting agency, the person who is responsible for the viewing, the type of property, address, phone number and rent to be paid. By doing so, you will find it less stressful and easier to manage.

Viewing properties
It is very important that you take note of everything when you view a furnished property and to watch out for any damaged furniture or poorly installed showers and/or boilers. The UK has many old houses and unless the letting agency you arranged a viewing with is maintaining its properties, you might find yourself looking at properties that are in poor conditions.  If this is the case then don’t be afraid of asking the letting agency what they can do to fix it.

Signing the contract
If you think you have found the right accommodation then it is time to negotiate on the rent. In most cases, letting agencies increase the price slightly to see if they can get away with it, so always ask. When you do sign the contract then you will have to pay a deposit. The deposit, by law, should be kept by a third party such as “my deposits”. If this is not the case, then ask your letting agency where they will hold the deposit. Also ensure that this is stated in the contract.

Also, prior to your departure for the UK, make sure that you have got a guarantor. A guarantor is someone who agrees to be held responsible for any damage a tenant might cause and bills, when the tenant cannot or refuses to pay. They usually require the guarantor to live in the UK. If you don’t know anyone in the UK who would take up this responsibility, then you can ask the letting agency if someone from your country is ok. Bring relevant documents as well, such as a payslip, copy of passport and a utility bill. In most cases, letting agencies will allow you to have a foreign guarantor.

If you are participating in student-to-student housing then it is essential to have a contract that includes all necessary information such as whether a deposit is required and the details about your guarantor. You can view a preview of the rental contract and purchase your rental contract here.

This post was written by Susanna Cha on behalf of Pearson PTE English Exam, approved for a tier 4 student visa.

Susanna, thank you for sharing your insides! Are YOU interested in sharing your knowledge on an Erasmus exchange program and/or tips regarding housing in Europe? Contact us here!

For all Interns and Erasmus students in Madrid

Erasmates, readers, friends!

One of our readers and users of Erasmate.com, Britt, was so kind to share the following information on Madrid with us:

As you know, Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3,3 million; the entire population of the metropolitan area is calculated to be nearly 6 million. Madrid is located on the river Manzanares in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid.  As the capital of Spain, Madrid is also the political centre of the country.

According to the Monocle magazine Madrid is the 10th most liveable city in the world. While the city has a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets.

The best known landmarks of the city:            

• The Royal Palace
• The Royal Theatre
• The Retiro Park
• The National Library
• The Prado Museum
• The Museum of National Arts, Reina Sofia
• The Thyssen Museum

Maybe you think that the city is very old-fashioned, but the culture aspects described before are very interesting. In one or two days you can visit many museums, most of them for free, where you can see various kinds of art. Madrid is also known by the highly developed architecture, with many different styles.

If you have finished your cultural trips in Madrid, you can start shopping. The city has several districts with their own shopping character. The most expensive one is the district of Salamanca, a luxurious area with exclusive boutiques. There you can find Gucci, Prada, Dior, Armani and so on. Also some small real Spanish boutiques are to be found in this area.

Another well-known area is Chueca, the gay-neighbourhood. Here you can find all types of shops, for him and her. This district is leaded by gays, but also for hetero people a cool area. The prices vary from very low to very high and especially shoes are easy to be found.

Gran Via may be the most famous street of Madrid. Here you can find many shops as well. It is an extremely busy area, with many cars and busses, but here you can find the most accessible shops like H&M, Mango and Zara. From this street you can walk down to Puerta del Sol, a famous square of Madrid with always lots of tourists. On the way to Puerta del Sol you can find many shops as well, which will take a lot of time to visit them all.

Madrid is notable for its nightlife and night clubs. The biggest one, el Kapital, has seven floors and every floor has its own music style. This one is very huge and always crowded. It is located in the city centre. Another big one is Pacha, a Spanish club for people who look for luxury. The entrance fee is high and you need to follow the dress code. If not, you cannot enter. Tourist chose very easily for el Kapital or Pacha. Another popular club is Joy Eslava, which is actually a theatre.

A lot of clubs are to be found in Madrid, but generally people prefer to go to bars. The district of Chueca, the gay neighbourhood, is also a popular place to have drinks for hetero people as well as gay people.

Having dinner in Madrid is affordable, compared to many other countries. For €25,- you can easily eat and drink a lot. Of course tapas are very Spanish, but most of the restaurants only offer them during the day. During the evening you can always order for example paella, meet and fish. Here some popular student restaurants:

• Wagaboo (6 restaurants, tasting menu for €23,90)
• Lateral (5 restaurants, 1 at e.g. Santa Ana Square)
• Bazaar (located in the district of Chueca, opens at 20h30)
• 100 Montaditos (>10 restaurants, Wednesday €-night)

We hope this information is helpful for all students going on Erasmus in Madrid.

If you feel like sharing information with other students on different Erasmus cities, feel free to contact us and send us your text!

Britt, thank you for this!