Masters Abroad (Part-1)

Masters Abroad!!! sounds awesome, isn't it? Well, it is for some extent, but it takes huge man-hours and effort to actually get there. The process takes place in major three steps:
Phase–1: primary preparation starts with selecting the master's program and country, entrance exam/language test, application writing, funding (about 6 to 12 months).
Phase–2: it's the period where you actually go and get introduced to new country, people, culture, weather, language, food, and most importantly education system (about 2 years/depends on your study program).
Phase–3: lastly, the most important aspect of all, landing a job (about 6 to 12 months).

As I have personally gone through the above process by myself I feel very glad to share my personal experience and also include other information gathered through the years from my fellow mates.

To begin with, you should probably ask one of the toughest questions to yourself before beginning the preparation journey. i.e., why higher studies? It might sound very silly but if you don't have any motivation behind your study plan then I feel it is meaningless to continue further. Here are a few of key reasons you may choose to take up a higher studies:

1. Eagerness to know more.
2. Pursue doctorate, post-doctorate.
3. Specialization in a subject.

Next, comes the second toughest question you ask yourself, why a master's abroad? If you think you have an answer then it's really good. If you don't, then I will shed some light on:

1. Standard of education.
2. Research-oriented.
3. Exposure to global culture, tradition.
4. Network building.
5. Job prospect.

Once you are firm about your decision to take up a master's abroad, then selecting your MS (master of science, in my case; can be other degrees also) program should be your aim. This primarily depends on your passion, skillset, bachelor's background (in some cases), projects/internships, and most importantly global demand for that program. You may argue how to judge the global demand for a particular program before getting into it. Well, that's really tricky to answer! It requires a bit of research on the global trend about technology, vacancy for human resources, and the measures taken by the federal government in that particular country.

When you start researching on your MS program you will come across universities mostly located in continents such as North America (Canada, United States of America), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, and so on), Asia (Singapore, Japan, China, and so on), Oceania (New Zealand, Australia). The selection of the country and university should be based on the standard of education, global ranking, industrial exposure, research output, cost of living, and cost of education.

Master program structure comprised of:-

1. Two years/4 semesters (30 credit x 4 semesters = 120 credits).
2. Mandatory courses.
3. Elective courses.
4. Minimum classroom teaching: 2 semesters.
5. Lab sessions: computer simulations and experiments.
6. Master thesis: 1–2 semester.
7. Internship: course dependent (1–2 semester).
8. Course evaluation: written exam, oral exam, projects (individual/group).

The above structure may not be the same for all the master's programs. On some occasions, the universities may come up with their own structure where the program may be reduced to 1 or 1.5  years.

Entrance exams:-
GRE (Graduate Record Examination):

1. Analytical writing – two sections (0 – 6).
2. Verbal reasoning – two sections (130 – 170).
3. Quantitative reasoning – two sections (130 – 170).

It is mandatory to take the GRE exam for admissions in the universities of the United States of America and a few universities in Europe and Oceania. Hence, it is good practice to go through the university/master program consortium website to know more about it. You can refer McGraw Hill Education's GRE Prepration Combo as study material.

Language tests:-
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):

• 4 sections of 30 marks each – a total of 120.

                                    OR
IELTS (International English Language Testing System):

• 4 sections scaled out of a band score of 0 to 9 – the final band is based on the average.

Coming to a language test, taking TOEFL or IELTS depends on the university you choose. In some cases, universities accept both the test scores, whereas in other cases, they accept either of those. Again, it is good practice to go through the university/master program consortium website to know more about it. There are very rare occasions where universities are exempt from taking language tests. It is primarily because these universities are fine to accept a formal letter from your bachelor's degree university/college justifying that your medium of education was in English. You can refer The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test or Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS as study material.

General prerequisite:-

1. Entrance exam (if necessary).
2. Language proficiency certificate.
3. Good GPA (Grade Point Average).
4. Relevant work/research experience is an added on advantage.
5. Motivation/purpose.

I often get asked, what are the general prerequisite for applying to a master's program abroad? In short, my obvious answer is the above checklist.

Application procedure:-

1. Passport.
2. The entrance exam, language test.
3. CV (Curriculum Vitae).
4. SoP (Statement of Purpose).
5. LoR (Letter of Recommendation).
6. Bachelor transcripts.
7. Admission letter.
8. Tuition fee, accommodation, insurance.
9. Visa, book an air ticket.

To sum up, the application mainly consists of identity proof (passport), exam and or test scores, CV, SoP, LoR, and transcripts. Once you submit these documents on the online portal/email or through whichever means requested by the consortium, then the committee decides on the acceptance or rejection of your application. If the application is accepted, an admission letter will be sent through mail/email confirming your acceptance to the program. The acceptance letter will also explain the further steps for the admission process (paying tuition fees) to complete. Once the tuition fees are paid, the university will assist you in applying for the student visa and provides recommendations for housing and health insurance. Then, of course, book your flight and it's time to fly!!!

Application deadlines:-

1. Fall intake (September): ends in December – January, year before.
   
2. Spring intake (January): ends in June – July, year before.
   
3. Summer intake (April): very limited seats/rare occasions.

By now you will be thinking that there is a lot to do in preparation for masters abroad. I agree! But, it is of no use if you don't keep up with the deadline given by the university. The universities close acceptance of the application well before the classes actually commence. So, I strongly advise everyone that to check the application timeline well before your start the application process which would indeed help you to plan ahead accordingly and perhaps avoid any delay in the process.

Estimated cost and funding:-

• European Union: Rs. 20,00,000 – 40,00,000/-.
• North America, Oceania: Rs. 40,00,000/- plus.

In India, banks affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provide education loans for abroad education with an interest rate typically ranging between 9–14% per annum (may change time to time). This loan is provided against collateral agreements (moveable or immovable asset). Banks provide up to 3 years of the holiday period (2 years of education + 1 year to find a job) where students need not pay a single penny towards his/her loan. Ministry of Education, Government of India provides interest subsidies during the holiday period for certain students based on their family's annual income (find more details here). 

Apart from this, every university/master program consortium provide scholarships and or fee waiver for some applicants based on their application quality and motivation to pursue the master program. The criteria solely depend on the consortium/university and hence giving further details regarding it would be hard. Please check your consortium/university website or directly contact the concerned person in charge regarding it.

For further clarification and/or personal consultations: fill out this google form (click here).

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I hope this provides a complete overview of the process involved in the preparation for a master's abroad. Feel free to provide your comments and feedback and I am open to having any conversation regarding the same. Thank you for your time and support!