Today we are starting a series of publications on graduate studies abroad . This topic has been very relevant lately, the number of students who go abroad every year is increasing. We will try to address the most important and interesting issues.

Increasingly, one can hear that young people choose to graduate from foreign educational institutions. There are many reasons for entering foreign universities.

Among the priority and most popular motives among students are:

• compulsory post-tertiary education, which is characteristic of some areas of activity (medicine, for example);
• increase in wages by increasing attractiveness as a labor resource;
• career advancement through the acquisition of top-level knowledge;
• the ability to access the latest technologies and processes in research activities (for example, for microbiologists).

Thus, the popularity of graduate studies abroad is unlikely to ever become less. Given the need for high-tech solutions in various areas of life, as well as the globalization of the global economic space, highly qualified specialists who have received a high-quality, effective education will be in greater demand on the labor market.

Steps to Education

Choosing a university for graduate studies In

order to navigate the options for educational institutions where you can apply for admission to graduate studies , it is worth looking at the ratings. The most influential of these are the widely recognized Financial Times , Shanghay Ranking , QS World University Rankings, and US News .

The most famous national ratings of higher education institutions abroad are:

• America's Best Colleges ;
• The Top American Research Universities ;
• Maclean's University Ranking ;
• SR Monthly Undergraduate College Rankings ;
• Top 50 Research Universities ;
• Princeton Review College Rankings .

Each listed rating has its own methodology for assessing educational institutions. The criteria for scoring are taken the most diverse: the level of teaching, the number of teachers, the quality of research, the percentage of students expelled and others.

It is worth remembering that the ratings are not calculated per foreign student. Therefore, it is extremely important to learn to “read” them with maximum benefit for yourself. The main rule - to navigate in the selection is necessary not by the total number of points scored for the criteria being evaluated, but by the specialties by which graduate students are trained. It is also worth noting that the ratings often do not include specialties that are extremely popular today, for example, “fashion design”, “interior design”. The choice of institute, in the master's program of which you would like to enter, according to these specialties will have to be carried out according to other criteria.

We recommend applying to at least 3 to 5 educational institutions, thanks to this, the probability of admission will increase, you should always have a backup option. Of course, this list will include the university you would like to enter the most, but you always need to have alternatives.

Entry Requirements

In order to study abroad, you must pass the tests: analytical or in the profile of the chosen specialty ( GRE or GMAT ), for knowledge of English ( TOEFL or IELTS ), and also, if necessary, to be interviewed at the chosen university.

GRE and GMAT are adaptive tests in English, which are designed to assess the analytical abilities of a future master's or graduate MBA program. Choosing GMAT or GRE, you should pay attention to the mathematical component of the exam. In the first test, this section is more complex and more strictly assessed; in the second case, the student will need a general level of knowledge in geometry and algebra, corresponding to the basic school curriculum.

A necessary condition for admission to a foreign master's program is a confirmed high level of knowledge of the English language. To do this, the TOEFL and IELTS tests are used - these are international exams that determine the degree of English language proficiency for candidates who are not native English speakers.

In addition to tests, in order to enter a magistracy abroad, you must provide a package of documents, which consists of:

• a resume;
• a motivation letter answering the questions “Why this particular university?”, “What is unique in my experience and education?”, “How will the chosen master's program affect the realization of my goals?”;
• 2 recommendations from teachers and employers, which reflect the personal qualities and abilities of those entering the magistracy;
• a transcript of a diploma of higher education with an appendix with grades (or an academic transcript if the diploma is not yet in hand);
• TOEFL / IELTS and GMAT / GRE certificates.

To send the entire package of documents, you must register on the site of the selected university, fill out the application form and attach all the documents.

Please note that test results are usually sent directly by the organization that conducted the exam in electronic format.

Scholarships

In order to reduce the cost of studying for a master's program abroad, you should try to get a scholarship. They vary by source of funding. So, allocate national, private, university scholarships. There are also international scholarships, as well as payments provided for certain social or national groups of students.
Scholarships are also distinguished by their volume. There are those that allow you to cover the entire cost of studying abroad, and there are those that allow you to pay only part of the course. Typically, scholarships covering the entire amount of a master's education include payments for accommodation, insurance and student meals, which is important for those who want to save on a master's degree abroad.

In terms of funding training, pay attention to the presidential program "Global education . "The program is gaining momentum, it is designed to pay for the training (and additional costs) of citizens of the Russian Federation who have entered leading foreign universities, provided that they return to Russia and work in their field within 3 years.

Internships

Another reason why Russian students choose to study in a master's program abroad is the opportunity to take an internship at a foreign company or at the university where the training takes place. Such an experience is invaluable and opens up new wide opportunities in terms of career start and growth.

Thus, master's programs abroad are new horizons in science, work, business, which you can discover for yourself, making every effort to pass exams and choose a university for a master's degree.

There is another article in our blog that will be useful to all those who enter the magistracy abroad - "7 things that I would like to know about before entering the magistracy / graduate school abroad . "

The author of the article is Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult