It has been decades since the concept of free trade was introduced. With technology progressing at an alarming rate, the world has indeed become a small place to live in. These days no place in the globe is unreachable and people living continents away can communicate with each other at the click of a button. All of this has cumulatively led to the increasing interest in students to obtain a bachelor's degree abroad.
Going for a bachelor's degree abroad not only opens up new opportunities on a professional front but it also makes one grow as a person. By coming in contact with students from different ethnic origins and backgrounds, you will end up learning way more about life than what any degree can teach you.
The challenges of fending for yourself in a new city will be tremendous. As you manage your way out of these, you will be trained to take up the trails and turbulences of life. Another point to be noted here is the fact that most people who go abroad for a bachelor's degree end up pursuing their masters or another higher studies program.
Thus, in all practicality, your foreign bachelor's degree may well be a stepping stone to a lot of other foreign degrees. Now, having established that, it is indeed a good idea to be going for a foreign degree, the next thing that we must do is to find out how we can get a bachelor's degree abroad and what are the steps that we must keep in mind before we move out.
1. Choose The Appropriate Exam
When the question of pursuing a degree abroad comes into the picture, the first and foremost thing that we must do is to choose the appropriate exam that we need to take and prepare for the same.
For admission to a bachelor's course in the United States one needs to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). In this there are three sections (writing, reading and mathematics) and since there is sectional cut off, a student needs to ace each of these sections to earn the seat of their choice.
For other countries there are similar entrance tests. Based on the country you are going for, prepare for your exam. If you are going to a country like Germany or Spain, it is advisable for you to learn the language before you actually go there.
2. Get Your Loan
It is understandable that getting a foreign bachelor's degree will burn a hole in your pocket. Very few people are able to afford the same without a bank loan. If you are planning to get a loan, make sure that you have your documents ready beforehand.
However, it is reassuring to know that while you are studying abroad there are a host of part-time, on-campus jobs that you can take up in order to support your living expenses. These range from working in the library to being an undergraduate assistant.
If you have had a good academic career and are really good at what you are doing, you may want to explore the various scholarship options that are available to you.
3. Choose Your Specialisation
One of the major differences between the education system of India and that of the West is the lack of specialisations in the Indian educational scene. If you compare a bachelor's course in India with its equivalent in the West, you will see that the one in India offers fewer electives.
Thus, if you are keen on pursuing a bachelor's course abroad, it is a good idea to go through the brochure beforehand and choose exactly which elective you need. Remember your choice of electives at an undergraduate level may well determine the track of your career path in the future.
Thus, considering that you are investing a lot of effort and money in getting that foreign bachelor's degree, it is a good idea to chalk out the finer details of your academic course before you leave the country.
4. Do Your Homework Well
It is good to know that you are finally moving out of the safety of your family and country and are looking to explore the world of your dreams. However, be very careful here. You do not want to find yourself stranded in a foreign land studying a course in a university that is not even good enough.
In order to avoid such a thing from happening, what you have to do is ensure that you have read up sufficiently on the college and that you are absolutely certain about the reputation of the institution. Try getting a hold of genuine testimonials of current students or alumni as those honest confessions will help you in deciding if the university is right for you.
Try to get in touch with alumnus of the institution who hails from the same place as you. That will give you first-hand perspective about all that you need to know about your future institution.
5. Identify The Nation Of Expertise
It is important for you to realise that "foreign" bachelor's degree is a term that is too wide in itself. It is always advisable that you choose your location based on your field of study. The Germans are known for their core engineering, while Japan is known for its technology; America is known for its literature while Russia is well-reputed for its foreign relations.
Thus, you should take into consideration the field of study of your choice and the area you want to master while deciding the place you want to settle in.