How To Shortlist Universities For Masters Abroad!

The decision to study abroad is a very important and defining step in your higher education journey. During this process, you might come across many admission myths, so beware! One of the most important steps is to select and shortlist universities. College applications take a lot of time and that’s why it is very important for students to carefully plan and choose the right university(s), course and even the country. The most common way of shortlisting universities is to look at rankings.

But it’s important to look beyond rankings. That’s why, in this blog, we tell you how to do exactly that so you make the right decision while you shortlist universities.

1. Location Of The University

The country you choose to study in is an important factor to consider and to be researched on thoroughly. Consider factors like safety, GDP growth, the overall environment of the country, etc.
Keep this in mind and take a serious note before selecting the location.

2. Course Of Your Choice & Interest

One of the most crucial decisions while shortlisting a university would be to select and research the course of your choice and interest.
You need to consider your own interests, your previous educational background and previous performance so that you can compare the ranking of your chosen universities with your chosen stream.

3. Tuition Fees & Living Expenses

When you shortlist universities, you need to consider the school’s tuition fees and living expenses.
Paying fees to your educational institution is the first expense you must plan ahead of time. If you plan and save for them, you’ll be able to save a lot of money.
Paying extra money for tuition and accommodation costs is very expensive. But it is one of the things you need to bear in mind when shortlisting universities for your studies abroad.
The tuition fees for most courses in Europe and America are affordable. This is because these places are competitive and you might have to pay extra for better amenities and facilities.

Apply Now

4. Return On Investment On The Course

Universities make money by producing graduates who can earn the highest incomes.
Hence, that’s why it’s crucial to understand the return on investment for the course you are looking at, and the country you are going to study in.
In our opinion, you have to pay more attention to the return on investment and not the name and reputation of the university.
Before you choose the universities, do ensure that the courses will help you with the objective of your higher studies.
The course you choose must offer your more than what you require.

5. Alumni Success

A big indicator of whether or not you should apply to a university is what their alumni have gone on to achieve.
A few good indicators to look out for:
High employment rate.
If the alumni have gone on to working for or starting a Fortune 500.
The alumni were accepted for graduate or doctoral study at a truly prestigious college or university.
They went on to do great work in their community or region
All these are great indicators that that college can help you achieve success well after your classroom days are over.

6. On-Campus Placements & Career Opportunities

The career opportunities in the universities chosen are also important to consider. If a student chooses the right course of study, a career is almost guaranteed.
Moreover, a student must not only pick the university where the relevant courses of study are offered, but also must look at the respective careers offered in that particular university.

7. Financial Aid & Scholarships For International Students

Several studies have shown that a student’s decision to study abroad is influenced greatly by financial aid and scholarships for students.
Students often have to think of financial aid while choosing a Masters degree outside the country. Your potential university might offer financial assistance to your tuition fees but most importantly, the amount is important.
A good research method will be to simply visit the university’s website and do your own research.

8. Weather Conditions & Campus Environment

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have when it comes to shortlisting the right university is that it has to be in a certain geographical region or it has to be near home. This is one of the reasons why students end up choosing the wrong universities.
A campus tour can be a game-changer The campus tour should not be taken lightly. It’s the only way to get a realistic idea of how it feels to be in that environment.

Shortlisting the right university(s), keeping all these factors in mind, might seem a bit daunting but it’s also the important step that has the potential to determine your future life. Thankfully, there are ways to make better and informed decisions especially while choosing and applying to universities that best suit your criteria.

To tackle this problem, GradRight has launched another platform called SelectRight, an AI-based data-driven platform that enables you to select, shortlist and apply to the right universities that are best suited for you.

Click on SelectRight below to get started!