Making Right Decision with Study Abroad

Here are the 10 best universties in the world:

1. Harvard University, United States

2. Stanford University, United States















3. University of California, Berkeley United States














4. University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

















5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
















6. California Institute of Technology, United States



















7. Columbia University, United States

















8. Princeton University, United States















9. University of Chicago, United States














10. Oxford University, United Kingdom

There are a multitude of scholarships for study abroad. In addition for study of various languages abroad or for study of a particular language or in a particular country, there are also many more scholarships attached to particular abroad programs or are awarded to students enrolled at particular universities. Make sure you explore financial aid options specific to whatever study abroad program you choose.

Apart from these opportunities, you should check with the government of the country where you intend to study -- Contact either an embassy or consular office or the country's department of education. Many countries offer financial support to international students to make study in their country a more attractive and feasible option.


Let's take a look at this website http://www.vistawide.com/grants/study_abroad_scholarships.htm for study abroad scholarships information. 

• The program is at least a semester in length.
• There is a well-developed pre-departure orientation and in-country support to help you adjust to living and studying abroad.
• The program gives you the opportunity to interact extensively with natives both in and outside of school. Housing with a host family can be ideal.
• There is ample support for language development. If you are in a non-English- speaking country, a good program will provide you with intensive corollary language instruction before and during your stay.
• Instruction in other courses is in the native language, and not in English.
• There is ample opportunity to participate in field trips and other cultural activities outside the classroom.
• Good programs allow you know without a doubt before you leave whether and for which courses you will be able to transfer academic credits to your home instution.
• Good programs provide opportunites to contact former and current participants to allow you to ask questions and get first-hand answers.

Visit your campus study abroad office and ask if you can talk to some students who have recently returned from stays abroad. These students have a wealth of information, informed opinions, and experience-based advice. Take advantage!

Find out which programs your school offers and what requirements and prerequisites are in place is essential. Choosing a program either run by or formally recognized by your institution is the best guarantee for receiving academic credit for your experience abroad.

In order to choose a program that ideally suits you, you will first need to define the goals you would like to achieve through the experience. For example, would you like to learn a language? If so, then you should not choose a program in which the courses are taught in your native language or in which you spend most of your time with people from your own country. Are you looking for an opportunity to travel? Then finding a program in a fairly central location with good public transportation and ample time off to travel is an important feature for you.

You should also explore how program offerings apply toward your degree or to your education as a whole. Does the program relate to your major (if you already have one). Can you take courses that will apply toward major or general education requirements? Does the program give you the opportunity to take courses you might not otherwise have the opportunity to take at home? Are there extracurricular offerings -- organized field trips or pre-program intensive language immersion courses, for example-- that can enhance the experience?

Finally, depending on your degree of personal independence and comfort with the idea of going abroad, you may prefer a program that has a strong orientation component and an on-site support network for international students, if not just for students from your particular school.

For your reference to search a databases of study abroad programs and related books and articles, you can view here

Deciding where to study is just as important as choosing a study abroad program, and it depends on very personal factors. Different factors are important to different people. If closely integrating the experience with your degree is important to you, then you should consider a location that offers courses in your major and has natural affinities to your major that will afford you experiences in your field of interest outside the classrrom, too. If there is a language that especially interests you for either personal or professional reasons, that can help narrow down the choice of countries. Or perhaps you just want to get to know your cultural heritage. 



Also remember that while large cities offer numerous social and intellectual opportunities, they are also more cosmopolitan. Your extracurricular options may seem more limited in a smaller town, but it's there that you will gain more of an appreciation of traditional ways of life and make connections with the natives. Some of the top destinations for study abroad are USA, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, China, and Australia.

Many people who want to study abroad sometimes don’t realize what they’re facing. At the beginning, I didn’t expect that studying abroad is not as easy as I think. Of course sacrifice is needed in order to pursue your dream, and here are some disadvantages of studying abroad: