How to Decide Where to Study Abroad

So, you are planning to study abroad, but not sure about how to decide where to study. Don’t worry; we are here to make things simpler for you.

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding where to study. You may have certain preferences – perhaps a long-held dream of studying in a particular country, city or university. Then you might also have to take into consideration your student budget and the employment opportunities you can expect once you finish your studies. And no one can ignore the reputation of universities around the world.

The latest QS World University Rankings are one tool you can use to help you decide where to study abroad. The rankings allow you to compare universities worldwide with each other on six key indicators, and make a decision on the basis of the extensive data used. Of course, you should also combine this with your own research, and your own particular ambitions and interests.

So, what exactly might you think about when deciding where to study abroad? To give you some ideas, I’m sharing a few conversations I had with different students who told me what mattered to them when choosing a study abroad destination.

Find a university that matches your research interests

Nauman, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, has recently moved to Australia from Germany. The university’s impressive ranking (currently 31st in the world) was not the only reason that prompted him to apply. He was also motivated by the university’s research focus, which matched his own research interests.

“The University of Melbourne was carrying out quite a lot of research in the field of carbon capture, which happens to be my field of interest,” Nauman told me. “What attracted me was the strength of research group I was supposed to join. It was big and very competent. Another reason was its extremely competent engineering discipline.”

While university rankings did not play such a major role in shaping Nauman’s decision, he admits that Melbourne’s high position “did increase the level of excitement”.

Follow your heart to your dream student city

Multimedia reporter Kelly is still unable to make a final decision about where to study as she’s torn between the UK and US – and more specifically between London and New York, two of the world’s most exciting cities for students.

Kelly says she “likes” New York, but is “in love” with London. However, while still unable to decide which is really her ideal student city, she has been reassured to know that both are home to some of the world’s top universities.

“Both places are awesome and the universities there are very competitive. I did check the ranking and was glad to know that a number of universities from both cities have a healthy position in the chart. In fact I think university rankings played a major role in shaping my opinion, because the better the ranking, the more competitive the university, and I would not want to compromise on the quality of education.”

Meanwhile Ramesh, who is preparing to study business, knows there is only one city for him. “I am crazy about the Eiffel Tower. So any university in Paris would do. Fortunately, INSEAD, a business school that has an outstanding position in the market, is not very far from there.”

Are you preparing to study abroad? How did you decide where to study? Share your experience in the comments below.