Study Abroad

Study abroad

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota <img alt="Mcgill University campus downtown Montreal" data-pin-description="Many UK students are choosing to study abroad in places such as McGill University in Montreal, Canada Photograph: Alamy" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="/Mcgill-University-campus--008.jpg" width="460"> Many UK students are choosing to study abroad in places such as McGill University in Montreal, Canada Photograph: AlamyElizabeth Fillmore is in her final year at school in England but, despite offers from top UK universities, she will not be staying in the country for her degree.Rather than take up a place at the London School of Economics or Bristol University, she has chosen to study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada."For the universities on the North American continent you can do a liberal arts degree; you don't have to specialise," she says. "I want to go into law and here you have to do a humanities degree and then a law conversion course, but I'm quite a mathematical person so I want to continue doing several different subjects. I was very attracted by that aspect of North American universities."She also likes the fact that Montreal is a bilingual city, so she will get to practise speaking a foreign language and find out about a new culture. And she is confident that in the competitive employment market for lawyers, studying abroad will help her stand out when she graduates.Then there are the fees. While her parents, worried about the cost of flights, needed some persuading about the idea of her studying so far away, the cost of tuition will be roughly the same whether she chooses Canada or England. "It has played to my advantage that fees here have gone up," she says.Fillmore joins a growing number of UK university applicants who are contemplating studying abroad, driven by a combination of higher UK fees and a more globalised graduate employment market.About 22,000 UK students – 1.7% of the student population – now study overseas, mainly in the US which hosts around 8,500. France, Germany, Denmark and Australia also take more than 1,000 every year, and these numbers are expected to grow."We have seen a trend where students are still applying to top universities in the UK, but are also looking farther afield," says Simon Dennis, principal of Hockerill Anglo-European College, a grant-maintained international boarding school that recently appointed a counsellor specifically to advise pupils on study options abroad."From our students' point of view it gives them the best of both worlds," he says. "They can apply to UK, European or American universities and have offers."While the new UK fee regime, which means many European universities are now cheaper, has had an impact, Dennis says students are also conscious of the value studying abroad adds to their CVs."After a three-year degree they could be competing with 50 or 60 graduates applying for the same job," he says. "But if they have got their degree in Italy or Australia or North America it gives the employer an interesting insight into the type of character that person is. Certainly our conversations with employers show that they think it makes applicants stand out."Meril Kilinc, 23, a first-year student in European law from north London, says this was an important reason why she chose to study in the Netherlands, at Maastricht University. The university has seen applications from UK students more than double in the past year."A lot of my family members and friends who studied in England had difficulty finding a job after they graduated," Kilinc says. "Coming from a background that isn't professionally academic, I was worried about that. I thought I would have a better opportunity if I came to Maastricht, not only to work in England but also to look at job options internationally. I will have that edge."Like an increasing number of courses in universities overseas, her degree is taught entirely in English. Now it is even possible to pick up a UK degree while studying overseas. About 100 UK students from the University of Nottingham are taking at least part of their degree at its overseas campuses in Malaysia and another 100 are doing the same in China. Around 10 UK students at each campus have opted to stay for the whole of their three-year course. Fees vary but are lower than the ?9,000 a year to be charged in the UK from September – and the cost of living is much lower. Students are not eligible for UK loans but the university does award a number of scholarships based on a combination of grades and need.By 2014 the university wants around a quarter of its students to have some overseas experience, which could be a short course or work experience abroad.For the past 25 years, the European Commission's Erasmus programme has been offering just such a taste of study overseas for European students wanting time in another EU country. Participation in the scheme counts towards their degree, can give them access to a wider range of subjects and may mean their tuition fees are waived for a year. Interest in the scheme is rising again after a period of decline in the numbers of UK students taking part. Last year saw the fifth successive annual increase in participation, with more than 12,800 UK students involved, beating the record set in 1994 when numbers peaked at 11,988. Dennis says a reluctance to study overseas is misguided: "We aren't saying UK universities are bad," he says. "We are saying there is a choice. Look beyond these shores and see what's out there." <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/may/01/study-abroad" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Study abroad

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Many UK students are choosing to study abroad in places such as McGill University in Montr...

10:56 PM

Could you cope in Copenhagen? | Alex Aldridge

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota <img alt="The University of Copenhagen is 52nd in the world rankings and charges no fees to EU students" data-pin-description="The University of Copenhagen is 52nd in the world rankings. Photograph: F Vrouenraths /Alamy" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="/The-University-of-Copenha-007.jpg" width="460"> The University of Copenhagen is 52nd in the world rankings. Photograph: F Vrouenraths /AlamyThe lovely Cafe Paludan in equally lovely Copenhagen is about as far removed from recessionary Britain as it gets. Located in the city's medieval student district, it's full of youthful, well-groomed Scandinavians chatting away without a care in the world amid tasteful Bohemian decor."I've been out more during my time in Copenhagen than during the rest of my degree combined," says Kiera Taylor, a Kent University law student doing an Erasmus exchange year in the city, over a beer in the cafe. In common with all British Erasmus students, Taylor hasn't had to pay any university fees during her year abroad and has received a grant of around €4,000 (?3,200) towards her living expenses. It seems like a great deal. "It is," says Taylor, "although Copenhagen is very expensive. Plus I've spent a lot of the grant on flights back to the UK for training contract and vacation scheme interviews."The airfares have been worth it, though, with Taylor in receipt of vacation scheme offers from a pair of top City law firms. She reckons doing Erasmus has helped her stand out in a congested graduate recruitment market. "The partners who have interviewed me have all been very interested in what I have learned from spending time abroad," she says.For students who go to countries like Denmark where English is widely spoken, the Erasmus programme tends to be less about developing language skills and more about getting a taste of a different culture. One of the most useful experiences for Taylor and her course mate Cecilie Hansen Sorvig, a Queen Mary University London law student, has been the opportunity to sample the very different teaching style of Danish universities. At the University of Copenhagen's law school, many exams are conducted orally, while others are given to students on a 48-hour "take-home" basis. "I'll be better at studying as a result when I come back to the UK," says Sorvig. "The oral nature of the exams is fantastic interview practice," adds Taylor.Such a winner has the Erasmus scheme been since it was introduced 25 years ago that the European Union is planning to extend it for the benefit of the growing number of jobless graduates across the continent. Under the proposed Erasmus For All programme, which is set to more than double Erasmus funding to €19bn (?15.2bn) between 2014 and 2020, graduates who don't have jobs are to be offered European Union-backed loans of around €12,000 (?9,600) to do masters degrees in other European countries. A portion of funding will also be reserved to help students study farther afield in locations like China and Brazil. Meanwhile, more money will be allocated to the pan-European work placements that take place under the existing Leonardo da Vinci framework, which will be subsumed into Erasmus. The extended scheme is due to begin in 2014.British universities are welcoming the changes, which they believe will present a valuable additional set of options to jobless graduates. "At present there is so much competition facing law graduates, in particular," says Jill Marshall, senior lecturer in the law department at Queen Mary. "Students not getting training contracts or pupillages need something to do in the one or even two years they are increasingly having to wait to secure positions post-graduation." Tim Macklem, head of King's College law school, agrees: "A wider scheme could be an invaluable door opener," he says.A word of warning, though: there is concern that the new masters arrangement could increase students' already high debt levels without giving them much to show for their investment at the end of the course. "We'd be neutral about the masters, which we don't view as intrinsically better than a year spent working in industry," says Edward Walker, graduate recruitment manager at corporate law firm Pinsent Masons. "Chances are, if you haven't met minimum academic requirements by the end of the Legal Practice Course (LPC), you're not going to reach it with a masters. And if you have reached it, but not got a training contract, the gap you have is not academics but elsewhere."Still, with students able to minimise their spending on the new Erasmus For All scheme by choosing to study in countries like Norway (which is non-EU, but set to be included in the programme) where no tuition fees are charged for masters courses, many may find the lure of European cafes too tempting to resist.Alex Aldridge is the editor of Legal Cheek. His trip to Copenhagen to attend a seminar on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Erasmus programme was paid for by the European Commission. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/may/15/studying-law-erasmus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Could you cope in Copenhagen? | Alex Aldridge

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota The University of Copenhagen is 52nd in the world rankings. Photograph: F Vrouenraths /Ala...

2:11 PM

Buenos Dias, Costa Rica!

Hola, amigos! Unfortunately, I am writing this blog from the United States. I woke up wanting to rice, beans and fresh fruit for breakfast, but settled for a Nutrigrain bar. You see, I recently came back from a recess to the Costa Rica program and have not been able to leave the habits I picked up in Costa Rica behind.The time I spent studying abroad in Costa Rica is something I'll remember for a lifetime. I learned so much about people and their way of doing business. For example, Costa Ricans run punctually "tico"; This means that they are willing to back and are not always fast. This country has a job at mentality direct, very different from the work life of mentality which is held by many people in the States.<img alt="study abroad in costa rica" src="/7002Costa-Rica-2D00-Congress.jpg" title="study abroad in costa rica">Costa Rica is a beautiful place. I love that it is so diverse, due to its location. One side of the country has the Caribbean Sea, while the other borders the Pacific ocean. This allows you to experiment with different environments, without traveling outside the country. Our guides Fernando and Gabi were great. Fernando went further to ensure that we learned about the culture and pushed us to try the drinks and food of Costa Rica. Gabi we have in places that most people do you experience, as the Congress of Costa Rica. While there, we were able to meet with a member of Congress and travel of the building. The speakers were very interesting as well; I really enjoyed learning about the differences in business between the United States and the CR.<img alt="study abroad in costa rica" src="/6406Costa-Rica-2D00-hot-springs.jpg" title="study abroad in costa rica">My favorite part of the trip was all outdoor activities. Whitewater rafting/tubing, Tyrolean, horseback riding, visiting a hot spring and the deep sea fishing was all amazing experiences. I would definitely recommend a program intersessional to Costa Rica to anyone who sees it. Learn you a lot about the culture while having fun... oh and let's not forget the school credit! Dr. Lanier, alias 'Master P' is a great teacher to go with. She makes the journey interesting and very involved. I've fallen in love with the culture of Costa Rica and certainly will visit the country in the future. Until then, buenos noches, America.Elizabeth Domingue is an MBA student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She participated in a programme of intersessional in Costa Rica.You must be connected and logged with your accounts to share content with a quick action.Join or login with your favorite social networks. <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com/b/study_abroad_news/archive/2013/11/08/buenos-dias-costa-rica.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Buenos Dias, Costa Rica!

Hola, amigos! Unfortunately, I am writing this blog from the United States. I woke up wanting to rice, beans and fresh fruit for breakfast, ...

4:36 AM

Five scholarships abroad to explore the world

Scholarships abroad studies can allow qualified students travel the world, engage in studies and experiments which ideally make the world a better place. Here is information on five scholarships for study abroad that may be available to students qualified to be used alone or with other amounts for a program of study abroad.The American University of Cairo Simpson scholarship for study abroad This scholarship study abroad can help a qualified student finance a semester or two abroad in Egypt, a rich country with the political, social and cultural structures dynamics and identities.Amount: $2500 USD Deadline: 15 March (date annual limit - could change each year) Number of scholarships: 10 Host institution: American University of Cairo Includes: $2500 USD/semester with a maximum of two semesters Criteria: students must be interested to study Egyptology and studying anthropology, history, Ethnology, classics, political science, social science, art or performance. In addition, students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have the permission of their University of origin to study at AUC and comprehensive Introduction offers courses at home before traveling to the AUC.The stock exchange of LankaCorps This scholarship can allow eligible graduate students with a background of Sri Lanka to "engage professionally in the social, economic and cultural development" in Sri Lanka. It is intended for Sri Lankans living in the diaspora "who have limited experience with the country of their heritage." The program allows scholars living and working in Sri Lanka for six months.Quantity:Program expenses covered (round-trip plane ticket for expenditure in the country, a monthly stipend and health insurance) Deadline: 28 January Number of scholarships: 5-7 Criteria: students must be of Sri Lankan heritage and American or Canadian citizenship. They must be aged between 21 and 30, have at least a Bachelor's degree with excellence and demonstrate leadership skills and civic engagement. They must also be in excellent health and interested in using their education to contribute to the development of Sri Lanka.Price of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission subsidy The Friendship Commission Japanese-American "is an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1975 to strengthen the US-Japan relationship by educational, cultural and intellectual exchange. Its mission is to support mutual understanding from person to person and promote partnerships that advance the common interests between the Japan and the United States. "In short, this grant helps build friendship and goodwill in the world! Why not study abroad and contribute to the world at the same time?Quantity:Variable (including tuition, travel and subsistence expenses) Deadline: March 1st and August 1st Number of scholarships: 75 Criteria: need to go and study in the Japan or the United States.The travel my Bug Fellowship This award is for financially eligible poor Americans who wish to travel abroad. Candidates are judged based on the educational merit, originality and quality of writing.Amount: $1000-2000 USD Deadline: March Number of scholarships: Variable Criteria: applicants must be U.S. citizens who are in good health, in need, intellectually curious financially and more than 16 years. They must be willing to develop travel to countries outside the United States and share stories and photos of their travels. Their trips are from 1, 2 or 3 months.The monthly grant CollegeWeekLive This scholarship study abroad takes a fun departure from traditional stock exchanges that have eligibility criteria and the extensive application process. This award merely requires recipients to create an account, view and visit American colleges online and crossed our fingers.Amount: $1000 USD Deadline: once a month Number of scholarships: 12 Criteria: you must create an account and visit at least 3 American colleges online per monthYou must be connected and logged with your accounts to share content with a quick action.Join or login with your favorite social networks. <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com/b/study_abroad_news/archive/2014/03/11/five-study-abroad-scholarships-for-exploring-the-world.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Five scholarships abroad to explore the world

Scholarships abroad studies can allow qualified students travel the world, engage in studies and experiments which ideally make the world a ...

6:52 PM

The best Attractions abroad 5 haunted study

Happy Halloween study abroad enthusiasts! Today we bring you a few trips abroad scary-good study, with a haunted twist - we countdown the best attractions haunted five to visit during his studies abroad.5 studies abroad in England - with more than 35 000 years of history, there are always a few buildings haunted! Don't forget to visit the attic at 50 Berkeley Square, which is supposed to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide by jumping from the window of the upper floor.4 study abroad in Ireland - castles abound in this lush landscape. Discover the Castle Leslie Monaghan of country which is supposed to be inhabited by Norman Leslie, who died abroad in 1914 and returned to the Castle as a ghost.3 studies in Germany - the Babenhausen Barracks, which is now a Museum, are supposed to be visited by the ghosts of the German soldiers in the second world war period uniforms.2. to study abroad in France - if you visit the famous Eiffel Tower during his studies abroad, take the time while you're up for listen you could just hear the screams of a girl who was pushed out of the tower by an angry lover whom she refused to marry.1. study abroad in Italy - recently popularized by the Group of the Bastille, Pompeii is a famous tourist attraction with a horrible past. More than 2,000 people died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 ad. To this day, visitors report heard shouting, see shadows and even smell of sulfur.You must be connected and logged with your accounts to share content with a quick action.Join or login with your favorite social networks. <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com/b/study_abroad_news/archive/2013/10/31/the-top-5-haunted-study-abroad-attractions.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

The best Attractions abroad 5 haunted study

Happy Halloween study abroad enthusiasts! Today we bring you a few trips abroad scary-good study, with a haunted twist - we countdown the be...

10:02 AM

Affordable Study Abroad Destinations: Australia

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Is it a submarine? Is it a lead balloon? No, it’s the Australian dollar at a cheaper exchange rate than it's been since 2010!Right now you can get a better Australian dollar exchange rate than at any time in the last three years, making Australia a far cheaper place to study abroad.The US dollar is at 1.11 against the Aussie, a record high exchange rate not available since October 2010. Meanwhile, the euro to Australian dollar exchange rate is at just under 1.45, the best exchange rate since September 2010. The Australian dollar looks set to keep falling for the foreseeable future, making this a long-term opportunity.Why is the Aussie so cheap? Well, first, because Australia's economy is on the rocks. Australia has shed about 11,000 full-time jobs in the last two months, with little hope of an upturn. At the same time, the economic outlook for the rest of the world is brightening. American shoppers are at their most confident since 2007, and the Eurozone could soon exit recession. So, what we've got is the perfect recipe for most currencies to gain against the Australian dollar!Given this, what can you do to make the most of the exchange rate if you decide to study abroad in Australia?1. Don't assume the exchange rate will always get better. Just because you can get more Australian dollars at the moment, doesn't mean the Australian dollar will always be cheaper. Instead, if you like the exchange rate, it's better to exchange currencies sooner rather than later. The foreign exchange market is volatile, meaning a good exchange rate can very quickly disappear.2. Talk to a currency dealer about what might happen next. Right now, it looks as though the Australian dollar will continue to become cheaper. However, a month from now, this might not be the case. This is because the foreign exchange market is volatile, meaning it's hard to tell what'll happen down the line. For more up-to-date advice before you exchange currencies, talk to a currency dealer.3. Talk to more than one company before you exchange currencies. The exchange rate you're offered can change dramatically depending on who you talk to. In fact, your bank may offer you an exchange up to 4% worse than that you'll receive from a foreign exchange broker. Before you buy your Australian dollars it pays to make sure you're being offered the best exchange rate possible.Peter Lavelle is a currency dealer at Pure FX, a foreign exchange broker. If you have any questions about getting the best exchange rate when you study abroad in Australia, feel free to email him at peter.lavelle@purefx.co.uk.You must be logged in and connected with your social accounts to share content with Quick Share. Join or Sign in with your favorite social networking sites. <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com/b/study_abroad_news/archive/2013/07/19/affordable-study-abroad-destinations-australia.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Affordable Study Abroad Destinations: Australia

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Is it a submarine? Is it a lead balloon? No, it’s the Australian dollar at a cheaper exchan...

1:57 AM

Student stories: studying abroad in Rome

<img alt="study abroad in rome" src="/6082John-Cabot-2D00-Lynette-Quezada-2.jpg" title="study abroad in rome">My name is Lynette Quezada, and I am a major International Affairs at John Cabot University. I'm from Miami, Florida and the daughter of a Mexican father and a Cuban mother. As long as I can remember I have been fascinated by cultures and policies between the nations.I came to John Cabot University in the fall of 2012 with an expectation of diversity and opportunity, and so far John Cabot has exceeded all my expectations. It was a bit harsh in my first semester of setting that I was on my own for the first time, and I was also transition of American culture in an American University in the middle of Italian culture.Many students who come to John Cabot initially underestimated the challenge of living in a completely new environment. The first two months were not the easiest and I always missed my family, but finally the community John Cabot helped me to overcome this period of transition. On the first day, orientation leaders were extremely welcoming and advised me to join student clubs and become active in student activities, and therefore, I joined the drama club, where I performed in "The Wiz" and "Grease" and pleaded for the recognition of women with the Ipazia Club. I am currently Secretary of the Student Government, and I'm enjoying every second.  I found that John Cabot community is full of students who have lived the same experience I did and were more than willing to sit on a cappuccino and listen to my problems and worries.<img alt="study abroad in rome" src="/3326John-Cabot-2D00-Lynette-Quezada-1.jpg" title="study abroad in rome">Small John Cabot University classes allow students to learn to know their professors, who has a huge impact on my academic experience.  I am interested in working with international development, human rights and the relationship between religion and politics.  Classroom discussions certainly contributed to open my state of mind and focus on my future in allowing me to learn international perspectives of my classmates and learn with teachers who have professional experience in the field.  John Cabot offers internships and direct exchange programmes which allow students to have real work experience and study abroad. I currently intend to study abroad this semester of spring in Seoul, South Korea, and I intend to implement by the Office of Career Services of Cabot for an internship in China during the following summer.John Cabot has opened many opportunities in my life that once seemed impossible.  For training in International Affairs, I certainly couldn't have chosen better!This is a guest blog from Lynette Quezada who studied at the John Cabot University in Rome.You must be connected and logged with your accounts to share content with a quick action.Join or login with your favorite social networks. <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com/b/study_abroad_news/archive/2013/11/18/student-stories-studying-abroad-in-rome.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a>

Student stories: studying abroad in Rome

My name is Lynette Quezada, and I am a major International Affairs at John Cabot University. I'm from Miami, Florida and the daughter of...

4:32 PM