How to Choose the Best Universities to Study Master's Degree Abroad

Studying a Master's degree abroad has several benefits and it can be the most exciting phase in a student's life. Therefore, lakhs of students from different parts of the world choose to apply for graduate admissions at various universities in countries like theUS, UK, Germany, Singapore, Canada, New ZealandandAustralia. Pursuing higher educationoverseas can bea rewarding experience but students often get confused while choosing the right course or university, given the flexibility of study options abroad.

While you do need to spend some time on your research, we are here to make your life simpler by offering few tips that will help you bring you a lot close to your goal.

Why Studying Masters Degree Abroad is the Right Choice

• Broader Vision:Studying at a forerign university helps you broaden your perspective towards life. As you meet students, professors and people from different parts of the world, you get a chance to exchange ideas, knowledge and culture. You gain inspiration from people around you. Eventually, your thinking process changes and you tend to set up higher goals in your life.

• International Exposure: Studying abroad is a great way to enhance your CV. You can demonstrate your invaluable experiences and personal development while studying at a university abroad. Many employers prefer candidates who have international exposure and perspective for a specific job role. You can often talk about your foreign degree and how studying at a foreign university helped you grow at an intellectual and personal level.

• Opportunity to Work Abroad: After acquiring a university degree abroad you can apply for jobs at your study abroad destination. While pursuing a Masters course abroad you can alternatively look for jobs. Once you get an offer letter from your employer you can apply for a work visa and choose to stay in the same country.

• Opportunity to study at a Top University Abroad: If you have a strong academic background then why not apply to top universities abroad. Studying at the best universities in the world is a rare opportunity and you must not miss it out. Based on your academic scores and achievements you not only can apply to the best universities in the world but also apply for merit-based scholarships.

• Helps build StrongNetwork: While studying abroad you meet people from different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. Networking helps you develop interpersonal skills and communication skills. Seminars, meetings and social events hosted at the universities help you connect with people in your field and areas of interest. Later, it can also help you with your career as you get to know about job openings and opportunities that can be suitable for you.

Also Read:Which Country Has the Best Higher Education System?

How to Choose the Best Universities to Study Master's Degree Abroad

With hundreds of universities to choose from, it is important to think carefully about choosing the best university to pursue a Master's degree.Consider these 7 important tips to make a decision.

Decide the Course You Want to Study

Universities abroad offer a wide range of courses to international students at a Masters level in various fields like engineering, management, liberal arts, applied science, medical science, arts, etc. Among various areas of studies, MS and MBA are the top-ranked graduate-level degree programs opted by international students, according to the university subject ranking by top publishers. Both MS and MBA degree programs are offered under various specialisations - MS in Computer Science, MS in Data Science, MS in Information Technology, MS in Business Analytics, MBA Supply Chain Management, MBA in Finance, to name a few.

Anyway, it is not mandatory to choose the most popular degree programto study abroad. The ideal thing to do is to make a choice based on your area of interest and the scope of the study. Say, you can also opt for other Master's degree programs like Masters in Economics, Masters in International Relations, Masters in Psychology or Masters in Nursing.

You cannot think of choosing the best university to study abroad unless you are sure about the course you wish to study. Spend some time to explore your interest in subjects, the scope of studying a Master's course abroad, and the advantages of studying the desired course abroad before moving on to the next step.

Choose the Right Study Abroad Destination

Lately, various countries from different parts of the world like America, Europe and Asia have emerged as popular destinations to study abroad. While the historical trend shows the USA and UK as the best countries to pursue a Master's course, this is not the actual case today. Several other countries like Singapore, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands have some of the best universities in the world offering a Master's course. Every year, these countries attract several international students to pursue graduate studies.

Once you have decided on the course to study at a Masters level, start doing a bit of research on countries that offer the desired course. You can consider various factors while choosing the study abroad destination like location wise preferences, cost of study, quality of education, the scope of study and job opportunities in the country. Select some countries before you begin shortlisting the universities and colleges.

Determine Why You Want to Pursue MastersAbroad

If you are thinking of pursuing a Master's course, it may be mainly because of two major reasons i.e either you want to get a job or you wish to go for research. Usually, students do a random selection of universities to pursue Master's courses without considering the reason to study the Masters course.

Whether you want to take a job or go for research will help you shortlist universities in a better way. Know-how in the section that follows.

Also Read:5 Best Countries for Indian Students to Study MBA Abroad

Search Best University- (Subject Wise Ranking)

Universities are ranked by publishers based on academics and other factors like infrastructure, students satisfaction level, employability rate, international reputation etc. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranks universities based on academics in its annual publication- QS World University Rankings annually. Some of the other popular university ranking publishers are THE World University Ranking, US News Ranking, and Round University Ranking (RUR).

If you are sure about the subject you wish to study at a Master's Level, then you must look for the subject wise ranking of the college. You can filter country-wise universities and colleges to look for the best universities that offer the course.

As mentioned earlier, you must also consider the reason to study a Master's course to shortlist universities. If you wish to go for research after a Master's then look for universities based on academic programmes, infrastructure, lab works, equipment and facilities used to deliver courses. On the other hand, if you wish to get a job after graduation, you must emphasize the employability rate and industrial collaborations of the university.

Shortlist some universities before checking the admission requirements for the course like GRE, GMAT, English Language Test requirements like IELTS, TOEFL, PTEetc. and academic qualifications requirements like GPA.

No doubt, you must be thinking of studying at a top-ranked university. However, you must know that the top-ranked universities have a higher score requirement than other popular universities abroad. While you must apply at universities that are ranked in the top list it is equally important for you to apply at some other popular universities. This will increase your chances of getting admission to one of the best universities abroad, if not top-ranked.

Do Research About the Universities

Once you shortlist universities, refer to genuine sources for reviews and collective information. You can connect with current students, alumni and even professors at the university through social media platforms. You can ask for genuine feedback and questions that you may have about the university and the course.

Along with the academics, there are several other factors that you must consider like whether the college provides accommodation facilities or not, the infrastructure of the university, employment rate, students satisfaction level, environment and culture of the university etc. Considering these factors will help you choose the most suitable university for yourself.

Look for Projects Undertaken by the University

If you are serious about the Masters course and the motive is not just to get a degree but to grow intellectually and enhance your career then you must look for projects undertaken by universities in the field of your interest.

You can check the graduates schools or department pages of the university for the list of projects. Graduate schools usually look for candidates who have a similar area of interest and are willing to contribute in the field during their studies or even after graduation. Search universities that suit you the best for taking up a course. You can also try to get in touch with the professors of a university before taking admission.

Take Help From a Study Abroad Expert

While you can find enough stuff online about the Masters course to study abroad, nobody but a study abroad expert can help you know the exact scenario of the universities, budget, quality of education and minute details that you may want to know.

Make sure you approach the right person who has relevant experience in the field to help you choose the most suitable university based on your interest and requirements. When you meet the study abroad counsellor or expert make sure you ask all questions. You can expect him/ her to give you the right information and fully assist you in any way that you need.

Popular Universities to Pursue Masters Abroad

Here is the list of some popular universities abroad to pursue a Masters course:

Also Read:Study MS or MBA Abroad - Which is a Better Option after B.E/B.Tech?

In case you have any doubts about choosing the best universities to study Masters degree abroad, you can write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.