STUDYING A POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME ABROAD
Yoana Cristina Pinzón P.
ycpinzonp@unal.edu.co
Publicado en Capital Letter No. 6
Noviembre de 2004
Many people would say that studying abroad would be something perfect for you. Is it really so? Consider the following questions:
• What is a postgraduate degree?
It is a program of study taken following the successful completion of an undergraduate, or Bachelor's degree. It will usually lead to a Master's degree, although postgraduate certificates are also available. PhD degrees and MBAs are advanced postgraduate awards. A postgraduate program can allow you to specialize in your chosen field. It can allow you to enter your career at a higher level than a Bachelor's degree would. Or it can simply be a stepping-stone to further education.
• Why would you study abroad?
Are your reasons related to money, academic needs or cultural interests? If it is money, you should think of the value of the specific qualification in your own country. Will your qualification be recognized? It means, Will your salary pay back for your investment and effort? If it is because of your academic needs, you might think of the programme content. Will it meet your needs? What about the methods? How will your progress be measured? What about the training available in research? How much guidance will you be given? Is the programme a long established, well respected one? What about the quality of the teaching and the reputation of the Department? But, if your reasons are related to cultural interests, what you should think is about the country, the language, the location and facilities. Do I want to become more proficient in the language of the country? Do I want to travel and see the world? Would you prefer to study in the countryside or in a city? Would it be better to participate in a cultural exchange programme?
• What is the process you should follow?
Universities and Colleges offer a wide selection of postgraduate programmes and choosing the right department can be j ust as important as choosing the institution and programme. As you weigh up your options, consider the following steps:
The admission
ü Make a list of Universities and programmes of your interest
ü Find out if you meet all the requirements for entry
ü Get information about the educational system of the country
ü Think about the essays, exams, recommendation letters and translations.
ü Mail applications and other requested documents in order to get the admission (3 or 5 Universities)
ü Write a letter or e-mail with the following information: names, date of birth, mailing address, nationality, educational level and the available funds.
ü Wait for a positive answer (If your request is rejected, try again) Send thank you letters.
The Exams (Language Proficiency and Admission tests)
TOEFL: www.toefl.org
TESTDAF: www.testdaf.de
IELTS: www.ielts.org
GRE: www.gre.org
PELF o DALF: www.delfdalf.ch
GMAT: www.gmat.org
Costs and Financial Aids
The main costs when studying can be divided into tuition fees and general living expenses. Tuition fees vary from one institution to another and also from year to year. You could reduce your living expenses by sharing a private house or flat with other students, buying your food at local markets instead of at supermarkets and shops, choosing a bank that offers the best services to international students and by buying books or other materials at the second-hand shops. Remember that if you live in a city, you will generally spend more on living expenses than living in a rural location. You also have to think of the cost of documents, translations, exams, application, visa, plane tickets, and health insurance.
• What scholarships are available?
Scholarships are widely available for postgraduate studies. But finding them is not easy. It takes a good deal of research, patience and organization. Most Universities and Colleges offer postgraduate study scholarships and there are various other international organizations, governments and voluntary agencies that award scholarships.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization offer schemes for students from developing countries (see: www.programalban.org, www.eurodesk.org and www.europa.eu.int/)
Governments frequently have established schemes for postgraduate students:
Canada
France
United States
Germany
Mexico
Italy
Brazil
Great Britain
Colombia
See also Colfuturo, OEA ans BID
Holland
Spain
Japan
Australia
Israel
Charities and trust funds also offer small grants for students in special circumstances:
Group of Eight www.go8.edu.au
Asociación de Colegios Médicos Canadienses www.acmc.ca
Rotary Foundation www.rotary.org
Edupass www.edupass.org
Maison d’ Amérique www.mal217.org
Netherlans Organization for Scientific Research www.now.nl
Finalcial Aid www.financialaid.com
On the other hand, Universities usually offer scholarships for foreign students; you have to visit the web sites to find the information. It is always wise to have a project or an academic proposal in order to look for a tutor or someone who can provide you research guidance. In many cases, those tutors could be interested in helping you to find financial assistance to study at their universities.
General Advice
If you decide to study abroad, do not delay your application. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get your first choice, and the more time you will have to arrange funding and scholarships.
Another important point to take into account here is that in Colombia we also have good postgraduate programmes which would be cheaper and in many cases better than those abroad. In our country we have many things to do related to research and many problems to solve. You could also think of creating research groups and asking for financial assistance from foreign governments and organizations.
Whatever decision you make, think of your country and do not disregard your identity. Many Colombian students who studied abroad decided to stay far away from their families and are right now working for foreign institutions. Thus, if you decide to study abroad and see the world, think of your compromises, not only with those who can award you a scholarship, but also to your country.
References:
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