Top tips to make your study abroad application easy

Whether you’ve narrowed down your shortlist of possible universities or you’re still considering which courses to study abroad, it’s likely you’ll end up submitting multiple study abroad applications. 

It can be a time-consuming process but it’s made much easier with a bit of efficient organisation and careful planning. Let’s look at some useful ways you can make your study abroad application process easier. 

If in doubt, speak to someone 

While there are steps you can follow to make your study abroad application as easy as possible, we appreciate that applying to university is a big decision and a hard one to make alone. 

If you’re not sure which of the many study abroad programmes are right for you or whether you meet an institution’s course requirements, the easiest way to proceed with your application is by talking to someone. 

An education counsellor, like a QS Counsellor, can provide help making the right decision for you, and guiding you through your application to over 500 of the world’s top universities and business schools.  

All you need to do is fill out one simple form and a QS Counsellor can help you find the right university, programme and will provide support along the way to ensure you have all the required paperwork in order and can easily compare the offers you receive.

Start your university application with QS today. 

Check requirements carefully 

If you’re ready to start your university application, bear in mind that the process will vary from one institution to another. If you intend to apply to multiple universities, you’ll need to ensure you dedicate enough time to each application individually.  

Details of how to submit each application can normally be found on the university’s official website. In some cases there will be a ‘two-step application process’ for international students. This means you must submit two applications: one for a place at the university and one for a place on the course itself. This should be clearly stated on the university’s website. If you still have questions about the process, contact your chosen university directly. 

When looking at the entry requirements for your chosen degree, one of the most important things to note is whether there are any additional exams you’ll need to take, such as an English-language exam. If there are, get these planned far enough in advance that you have sufficient time to revise but can also complete the exams before you need to submit your application.  

Prepare your paperwork 

For your application, you’ll normally have several pieces of paperwork to submit alongside an application essay. 

It’s important to be organised and handle your paperwork efficiently, so that you can provide each institution with everything they need promptly. Typically, this will mean having easily accessible electronic copies of all of the following documentation: 

• Passport photo 

• CV/résumé 

• Academic references/letters of recommendation 

• Certificate and transcripts of completed qualifications 

• Proof of language proficiency 

• Visa 

• Exam results from any admissions exams (e.g. GMAT) 

Having electronic copies stored in a well-organised folder on your computer will mean you can easily find them to send on to institutions when they are needed. If you choose to work with a QS Counsellor, they'll make sure you have all the documentation you need and will submit everything at the right time. 

Make your application essay memorable 

While having all your paperwork in order will demonstrate you have the right qualifications for your chosen degree, your study abroad application essay is the best opportunity to showcase your personality and make a convincing argument for why you’re the right student for that university. 

When asked for her tips on how to ace your study abroad application essay, Erasmus Mundus student Ayasha suggests following this basic structure: 

1. What has led me to pursue this degree?  

2. What is my goal for the future?  

3. Why am I choosing this programme at this university?  

4. How will this programme help me to reach my goals? 

Flesh out this template by interweaving several examples of your experience and tailoring your writing to the specifics of the programme you’re applying to. Don’t be tempted to re-use the same letter for multiple degrees as the lack of specific detail will stand out and ultimately harm your application. 

Monitor your application closely 

Once everything is submitted, all you have to do now is wait and get ready to respond to any further enquiries from the institutions you’ve applied to. Postgraduate study abroad applications are often assessed on a first come, first served basis so it’s important to reply to any phone calls or emails as quickly as possible. 

Universities don’t have limitless resources to chase applicants who are proving tricky to get hold of, so do everything you can to make your application easy to deal with.