Share this article on...
Contact Us
- Report errors or inaccuracies topmba@qsnetwork.com
- Contribute articles contribute@qsnetwork.com
- Advertise advertise@qsnetwork.com
Meet universities face-to-face – the essential guide to education fairs
Van Vugt sees thousands of students at education fairs every year and can quickly tell the difference between a likely candidate and one that is simply making generic enquiries, “above all, I want to see a student make a beeline for my stand and introduce themselves as someone who has already been in touch with us, either by telephone or email, and now interested in finding out more in person – face to face.”
Which institution?
Make sure the institution you’re interested in is well known and, in both a national and international context, recognised and accredited.
Broader issues around choosing the right institution for your graduate degree also have to be taken into account. Though experience of international education is in itself a good thing to have on your resume, prospective employers tend to have a more sophisticated approach and look for qualifications from recognised and academically respectable institutions. Make sure the institution you’re interested in is well known and, in both a national and international context, recognised and accredited. Your qualification will need to be transportable and valid wherever you decide on settling. One of the more recent phenomena in this respect is the rise of global league tables, rating universities in many different countries according to various factors such as the quality of their research, how international their staff and students are, the amount they spend on their library and how “employable” their graduates are.
Student finance
Above all else, do your homework on costs. If financial aid is your primary concern, ensure that your background research has established which institutions offer financial aid and which do not. Fees for masters and PhD programmes vary enormously from subject to subject, institution to institution and country to country. Additionally, consider the cost of living related to the institution you are interested in. Are there opportunities to take loans or offset some of the costs by working and studying at the same time? Each country has very specific rules and regulations concerning the ability of students to work and so you will need to establish whether the programme you are interested in is located in a country that will allow you to raise some of the costs for your period of study through part-time employment.
Above all else, do your homework on costs. If financial aid is your primary concern, ensure that your background research has established which institutions offer financial aid and which do not.
When you’re at the fair, locate the institutions you are particularly interested in on the floor plan (always provided) and make your way to see them. Be patient, as some fairs can be particularly busy, and wait your turn to talk to one of the representatives. Present your questions clearly and concisely – offer information on your background only when asked and if you have certificates with you, keep them in your bag until they’re needed – and take notes if you think this will help you. Don’t forget to take the opportunity to assess the people you are talking to – are they interested in you and your questions? Do they seem professional? Meeting people face-to-face like this is as much about you making a judgement as it is about them providing you with relevant and comprehensive information.
Though more of our day-to-day activities are moving online, the interest in education fairs continues to grow. Last year over 9,000 individual events were held in more than 70 countries attracting hundreds of thousands of students all with the same idea – finding out about study opportunities overseas face to face. If there is an education fair near you, don’t miss it – it might change your life.
