Study Abroad: How to Apply and What to Expect After Graduation

Choosing a country to study in depends primarily on your academic goals. For example, engineering specialties are traditionally strong in Germany and the United States, humanities in France and the United Kingdom, and medical education in Canada and Australia.

It’s also important to consider the specifics of different countries’ educational systems. In the United States, the emphasis is on the practical application of knowledge, in the United Kingdom, on a thorough academic preparation, and in Germany, on scientific research and applied development.

However, it’s also important to consider a number of practical factors that directly influence the comfort and prospects of studying abroad:

• language of instruction and language requirements;
• cost of tuition and living expenses;
• student visa application and renewal procedures;
• part-time work opportunities and subsequent employment;
• recognition of diplomas in other countries.

The cultural environment, climate, level of support for international students, and access to healthcare all impact adaptation and overall quality of life abroad. The more factors you consider when choosing a country, the more likely it is that studying abroad will be not only high-quality but also comfortable for you.

One of the most common mistakes when starting out is choosing universities either blindly or with excessive caution. Some simply take a list of “top 10 universities in the world” and start applying without considering their chances. Others, on the contrary, are afraid to dream big and choose only “reliable” universities that are guaranteed to be accepted (but to which they don’t really dream of getting in).

In fact, the right approach is a balance between ambition and reality: when the chosen universities simultaneously match your goals, profile, and realistic chances of admission.

How to compile the right list of universities?

We recommend dividing universities into three categories:

• Dream universities are your dream universities. Getting into them can be difficult, but these are the places you really want to go.
• Target universities are universities where you have a good chance of getting in and also receiving a scholarship. This is your “sweet spot.”
• Safety universities are options where the probability of admission is close to 100%, and you feel confident about it.
• Optimal distribution:
  2-3 Dream, 5-6 Target, 2-3 Safety – a balanced list that offers both opportunity and confidence.

What else is important to consider?

To understand how well a university is right for you, analyze several key parameters:

• Admission requirements – evaluate how your GPA, language test scores (IELTS/TOEFL), SAT/ACT, and other indicators meet the university’s expectations.
• Extracurricular achievements – competitions, projects, volunteer work, athletic success – all strengthen your application.
• Scholarships and funding – check which institutions actually offer financial support to international students.
• Deadlines and application format – keep an eye on deadlines and conditions. These can vary not only by country but also by program.

It’s also important to research the program itself: its content, specialization, faculty reputation, as well as the campus atmosphere, student support, and career prospects after graduation.

Applying to a foreign university requires preparation in advance — usually 1–1.5 years before the start of studies. The deadlines and format of submission depend on the country, university, and type of program, but there is a general logic that is worth following.

Approximate deadlines for popular countries:

• USA: main admission — until January 1, early — from October to November of the previous year
• UK: until January 15 via the UCAS platform (and for Oxford/Cambridge and medicine — until October 15)
• Canada: most often — from December to March, but may differ by province
• Germany and France: admission in spring and summer, focus on April–July
• Australia: 2 waves of admission: for February and July, documents are submitted 6–8 months in advance
• Netherlands: usually until January 15 or March 1

Important: all deadlines apply to the submission of a full package of documents, and not to the start of preparation! It is worth starting in advance – at least a year in advance.

Our experts will help you collect a complete package of documents taking into account all the requirements of the chosen university.

To obtain a visa, it is important to properly prepare your documents, complete the application form, and, in some cases, attend an interview at the consulate or visa center.

The list of required documents may vary depending on the country, but most often includes:

• a completed visa application form (online or paper);
• a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date;
• an official acceptance letter from a university or college;
• proof of financial support (bank statements, sponsorship letter, scholarship documents, etc.);
• health insurance covering the entire stay;
• photographs that meet visa requirements;
• educational documents (certificates, diplomas, academic transcripts);
• language proficiency certificates (TOEFL, IELTS, and others, depending on the country and program).

We support students through every stage of the visa process: from the initial consultation and document collection to receiving an offer. You can choose the level of assistance you need: from a one-time consultation on visa strategy to full support, including document preparation and interview preparation.

Schedule a free consultation to learn how to simplify your student visa application and avoid common mistakes.

The cost of tuition, accommodation, food, transportation, and health insurance in Europe, the United States, and Asia can be very high. At SelfStartGlobal, we understand the importance of funding, so helping students obtain scholarships, grants, and other forms of support is one of our key priorities.

SelfStartGlobal is the only company on the market that specializes not only in admissions to international universities but also in scholarship search and processing. The total amount our students have saved through funding has exceeded $25 million.

Thanks to our unique admissions strategy, over 1,400 of our students are studying at top universities abroad for free or at minimal cost.