Tips to choosing the right course for you
#1: Why?
The most important consideration when choosing your
course is asking yourself why you are looking to study.
Do you want to further your career by extending your
skill set? If this is the case you should choose a course in a subject that is
a natural progression of your existing skills and qualifications. If the aim is
to progress further with your current employer selecting a course that is
relevant to your work is recommended. Discussing study options with your peers,
colleagues or employer can help to determine what qualification will help with
your career.
Are you looking to diversify your knowledge or change
career path completely? Studying may be necessary if you are looking to
change career. If this is your motivation for studying it is important
that you consider what career you wish to pursue. Studying can be
expensive, so be sure to fully research any prospective career.
In summary:
- Think about your existing experience and skill set.
- Consider prospective careers and employment opportunities.
- Think about what subjects interest you.
- Talk to your employer, colleagues or peers about which courses are
relevant and may improve your career.
#2:What are you really interested in?
It’s really important to think about what you are
interested in, and what course you want to study. Is it because you can see
your exciting, glittering career ahead? Or is it because it’s what your parents
want? By questioning yourself now, you can work out the exact path you want
your course to take you on.
#3: Where would you like to study?
There are really two parts to this. Where is the best
country to specialise in this subject area? Maybe it’s a country with plenty of
internship and graduate work opportunities in that industry. Or a city that has
access to specific resources. If you’re interested in marine biology, why not
head straight to the world’s largest coral reef in Australia and learn right at
the source?
It’s also a good idea to ask yourself: where in the world would you love to live for a few years? This is an opportunity to learn a new language and a new culture, make new friends, and experience a different way of life. And if you’re happy in your life, you’ll be happy in your study.
It’s also a good idea to ask yourself: where in the world would you love to live for a few years? This is an opportunity to learn a new language and a new culture, make new friends, and experience a different way of life. And if you’re happy in your life, you’ll be happy in your study.
#4: Take a reality check
Now that you have found your dream, let’s just stop a
minute and make sure it’s realistic. Can you afford the flights, tuition and
cost of living? Do you need to have certain qualifications first – English
language proficiency, GMAT scores? Don’t get discouraged – a pathway program
may be all you need to cross those hurdles. If this really is your passion,
prove it in your scholarship application and you may get some financial help.
This is also the point where you need to realistically
think about long you want to study for. To help you decide here are some
example study duration for full-time study:
- Postgraduate Certificate – 6 months
- Undergraduate Degree – 3 years
- MA – 1 year
- PhD – 4 years
#5: Do your homework
You need to narrow down all your
options to about five real, practical choices. That takes a lot of research.
A StudyLink course search is a good place to start! Read student
blogs to see what it’s really like. Glossy prospectuses don’t always tell you
the full story, so talk to people you know who have studied in that country or
city about what it’s really like.
#6: What’s important to you?
While you are researching,
you’ll come up with all kinds of different criteria to judge a university or
course by. So make a shortlist of the top three features you’re looking for.
These could be school ranking or prestige, research facilities, practical
experience and internships, cost of tuition, student support services, safety,
social life, chance to travel… there are so many variables, and what’s right
for you may be completely wrong for someone else.
#7: How do you like to study?
Hopefully you have some idea by
now of how you prefer to study. And hopefully the answer is not ‘by sleeping’
or ‘by crossing my fingers as I walk into the exam hall.’ Some people prefer
final exams, others like regular assignments to keep them busy throughout the
year. Some like theory, others like practical hands-on application, some
like to work in groups, others like to work individually. Some like to present
their assignment verbally, others prefer to create written reports. Choose a
course that suits your study style, and you will be more confident in your
success. Or, if you want to challenge yourself, choose a course that will take
you out of your comfort zone!
#8: Look at your career
prospects
Studying overseas can be
expensive, so think of it as an investment in your future. And that means your career and your salary. Find out where other international students at that
university have worked after graduation, and if there’s an active alumni
network, or the opportunity to meet industry leaders during your course.
#9: Focus on the detail
Every subject has so many
different options, so it’s good to know the most specific interest you have.
Engineering students could study anything from bio-medical engineering to civil
engineering. So if you’d rather build bridges than human body parts, understand
that before you sign up.
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