Questions to ask your Study Abroad Consultant

If you are on the look out for questions to ask your study abroad consultant, you are at the right place. In this article, we've listed some of the most important questions and reasons behind why you should be asking them.

Study abroad market trends show that most of the prospective applicants prefer applying through a study abroad consultant and only a few students apply abroad completely on their own. Since the demand for the consultants is so high, the competition among consultants is also tight. They try their best to lure students into taking admission to universities which makes more profit for them rather than providing good education to the student. It becomes essential on the part of the student to make sure the consultant is not taking them for a ride and fooling them into making a stupid decision.

Also, you need to extract all information from consultant about the course, university, visa, application process, fees etc. Here are a few questions to ask your Study Abroad Consultants.

Q - How much will the course cost?

The overall cost will ultimately depend on a variety of factors including your destination city, cost of living, personal expenses, the fees charged by your university, additional costs like insurance etc. There are many state universities which offer quality education at marginal costs compared to private universities. Many of these courses may be within your budget; make sure to ask the consultant about price comparison between various universities.

Q - Am I eligible to apply for the course of my choice?

Many universities don’t recognize degrees conferred by Indian institutes. One should always make sure that the college accepts your educational degrees and you are not required to take any bridge course to be able to eligible for the course. Also the universities abroad change marks to GPA. The minimum GPA usually varies between 2.50 to 3.0, while more competitive programs and premier colleges require GPA between 3.0 to 4.0. Make sure you are aware how is this conversion being done.

Q - Is the university accredited?

Many consultants refer students to universities which aren’t accredited or are considered ‘Bogus’ by the visa authorities because they offer the consultants a hefty commission amount for referring students. You need to research a bit on your own and look for reviews of universities and colleges by current students to understand how the college ranks. A few honest reviews will help you get an independent opinion of the college instead of the biased picture the consultant is offering.

Also Read 

• Beware of Fraud Study Abroad Counselling Agents
• Reasons to get Counsellor to Study Abroad

Q - What requirements do I need to fulfill?

The colleges abroad have different requirements that prospective students need to fulfil. You will have to submit letters of recommendation, statement of purpose or some on-job work experience might also be required. Since the requirement of all the courses are different, you will have to customize your application accordingly. Be clear from the beginning about what documents need to be submitted.

Q - Are there any scholarships available?

There are many scholarships funded by the college and independent corporates for international students to enable them to study without worrying about the costs incurred. If you are eligible for such scholarships you should ask the consultant beforehand. Many scholarships require you to sit for an entrance test and for some scholarships your application is automatically considered. So in case any additional preparation is required, you should know the details and complete information.

Q - How long can I stay abroad?

Many times the students are not clear about what their student visa will permit them to do once the course is over; can they stay back for a few more months or do they need to take flight back home immediately. At the research stage, your consultant should give you a clear idea about your student visa and its regulations. If you are allowed to work for a particular hours then the consultant should mention it to you and tell you about the legal consequences if you don’t follow those. The idea is to have clear expectations about job opportunities before starting the course.

Q – How much planning is required before applying for a study abroad course?

This is one of the most important questions to ask study abroad advisor. This is because being prepared is always required before applying for a study course abroad. This gives a person more time to do the groundwork and research about the timeline in which the universities accept applications. Asking this question from a study abroad consultant will help in getting a person through the required preliminary application process.

Q – Which countries are suitable for Indian students?

One of the questions to ask your study abroad consultants is the list of countries that offer benefits to foreign students. Canada, Australia, the US, the UK are some of the countries that have many Indian students. Nowadays, Germany, France, and Singapore are also chosen by foreign students for higher studies. Note that the decision to choose the country in which a student wants to follow their academic pursuits will depend on the availability of courses and other factors like the cost of studying, living expenses, and university rules and regulations.

Q – When should I start applying for a course that has to be studied abroad?

This is one of the important questions for which you should have clarity. Many students wait for the completion of their degrees or the end of the academic year before applying to a university abroad, thereby losing a whole intake of the university. Universities abroad follow winter-fall-spring intake usually.

Q – How long does the application process for studying abroad take?

Before starting to ask any other study abroad questions from your consultants, it is advised to ask first about the academic year of the university. The universities have varied academic years. So, confirm this before filling out the application form to study abroad.

Q – What are the factors to consider before planning to study abroad?

There are some points to consider before planning to study abroad. Some of the questions to ask a study abroad advisor are the availability of course, total fees and expenditures, scholarships, visa rules, placement and job opportunities.

Q - Will the course I decide to pursue be accepted in India or other countries?

Many times courses may need additional validation to be accepted in any country. The terms and conditions for courses vary from country to country. One of the questions to ask your study abroad consultants is what are the rules pertaining to your particular course.

Q - Does studying abroad guarantee a great career?

This is one of the common study abroad frequently asked questions. However, the answer to this question solely depends on academic performance. However, a CV with an abroad education might impress an employer. An employer knows that if you have studied abroad, you must have additional skills and exposure.

Q – Can I work while studying?

Another common question about studying abroad is whether a student can work while studying or not. Many countries allow students to do part-time work while studying. Many foreign students opt for part-time jobs in order to take care of living expenses in a foreign country.

Q – List the documents required to study abroad. 

You can ask your study abroad advisor about the documents required to apply to the universities abroad. Some of the basic documents that are needed are: birth certificate, academic transcripts, student visa, passport, proof of funds, letter of recommendation, resume, etc.

Q – How are the living and accommodation conditions there?

Every university and country has different conditions when it comes to student accommodations. Some universities offer mandatory student living, while others may allow students to live off-campus. Study abroad consultants also help students to know the available options to live. Therefore, this should be one of the most important questions to ask your study abroad consultants. 

For those of you looking for study abroad consultants in your location, read on:

• Overseas Education Consultants in India
• Top Study Abroad Consultants in Delhi
• Top Overseas Education Consultants in Punjab
• Top Study Abroad Consultants in Mumbai
• Top Overseas Education Consultants in Hyderabad
• Top Study Abroad Consultants in Gujarat