It will sound like an extremely obvious thing to say but the world is truly a very large place! Nowhere is this more true than in the world of international graduate study choice. Reflecting on the 2007 edition of the QS Applicant Research, out this month, a staggering 45 different countries were named by prospective graduate students as potential destinations for their masters or research degrees.
Such an array of choice is surprising when so many students assume that only Australia, the UK and the USA are viable options for their further study. The 2006 edition of the UNESCO publication, Education at a Glance, raises the stakes even further. According to their data, more than 70 countries are listed with 1,000 or more international students at universities in their country!
What both these reports demonstrate quite clearly is that the breadth of viable choice for those potential graduate students willing and interested in studying internationally has reached almost epic proportions. But why do students select certain countries over others? The reasons for making a final decision on where to study are both complex and individual. However, the QS Applicant Research draws out some interesting patterns in the decision-making process.
The key defining reason for students to select one particular destination country over another is the recognition of a country’s graduate qualifications internationally. Of the 3,819 respondents to this question in the QS Applicant Research, an overwhelming 72.5% indicated that this was the primary reason for choosing a country in which to study. The second and third reasons in terms of importance were cultural interest and lifestyle (2,252 respondents, 59%) and the availability of scholarships and other forms of financial aid (2,165 respondents, 56.7%).
None of these three leading determining factors on prospective graduate student destination choice come as a surprise. The recognition of a qualification internationally lies behind many students choosing to apply for a graduate program in the first place - not only do they want to enhance their career prospects by taking an additional qualification, but they want their degree to be recognized wherever they finally decide to settle and enter the labour market. Additionally, choosing a country based on the availability of financial aid and an attractive lifestyle both make for sensible factors in the decision- making process – graduate students will live and experience the local life as well as study in a country and if some of the costs can be offset, then all the better!
Other factors that students take into account when choosing their destination country include the desire to improve language skills, create a personal network, the location of a specific university or program and the intention of working and settling in the country in question.
Whatever your reason for choosing one country over another, it is likely that it will not be the only factor that you take into account when you select a shortlist of prospective universities. To determine where you study is a lengthy and detailed process: knowing how a country as well as an individual university and a specific program can benefit you will ultimately ensure that the decision you come to is the right one for you as an individual.