Follow these steps and your ideal Masters will be waiting for you.
Although the needs of each student are very different, here you will find a guide with the most common questions that all applicants for a master’s degree face.
Read these tips and get ready to start your adventure.
1. Does the name of the master’s degree sound attractive?
This is intuitive and takes seconds.
Choosing between a Master of Science (Engineering) or a Master of Civil Engineering will be easy because you will know what each one entails.
If you like the name, because it suggests that your interests and the professional area in which you want to specialize are included in the program, then stop and review the program in depth.
The name of the master’s degree and how it makes us feel is important, it is the first step to finding the perfect master’s degree for you.
Something important is that you take the time to review the focus of each master’s degree because even though they have similar names, they may vary slightly in terms of content.
2. What subjects make up the master’s degree?
This is one of the most important aspects and one that students often overlook. Please don’t do it!
Not all master’s degrees, even if they have exactly the same name, will teach the same thing or have the same focus.
The least you can do is take a look at the list of subjects that you will see each semester,
- Which are mandatory and optional?
- How many will I be able to choose and in what areas?
- Do I like the names of the subjects?
If you have any difficulties finding Masters in your area and preferred subjects, just let us know and we will send you some options to your email, remember, at no cost!
3. Is the university trustworthy?
It will probably take you a few minutes of searching on the internet.
To help you with this selection you can take into account the following:
- Does it appear in world rankings? Check out the QS or THE rankings
- How old is the university?
- Are there reviews or testimonials from students on the web? An excellent option is to check the universities’ YouTube channels. You will not only see testimonials but videos of the campus and promotion of its programs.
- How big is it? Number of campuses, location of each of them.
4. Is there a particular destination I want to go to?
This could be the initial stride for certain individuals.
Ask yourself if you want to study in a particular language or city. Also, make a list of what you DON’T want, this will help filter your options much better.
Have you ever wanted to study in Australia? Maybe you like Spain better.
Or is it a country like Ukraine that catches your attention?
Even though your study program is paramount, you should not underestimate the experience of the destination, this is extremely important.
Be sure to research the different cultures in each country.
Imagine studying in a country where you don’t like the lifestyle or customs! Important, right?
Some universities teach in English and in some cases the local language is another. Ideally, you should speak both languages, both the language of your master’s degree and the language of the country in a social context.
Not knowing it can give you headaches during your daily life in your new country.
5. What other benefits are there to studying abroad?
- Is it possible for me to hold a job while I’m studying?
- Will I be able to extend my stay and work after I graduate?
These are typical questions for those who want to study a master’s degree.
Many countries allow you to work while you are a student, and some allow you to extend your stay for a longer period of time, thanks to their postgraduate work visas.
Gaining qualified work experience abroad will definitely add many points to your CV.
6. Will employers value my master’s degree? Will it help me find my dream job?
Employers will greatly appreciate that you have a background abroad, even if they don’t know the university you studied at very well.
Generally, those who have experience studying abroad do very well in the labor market in their countries of origin and in the rest of the world.
Studying a master’s degree at international universities is definitely a worthwhile investment.
7. Will they admit me?
There are two fundamental aspects that determine whether the university will admit you or not:
a) Do I meet the academic entry requirements?
- Academic average
- Required level of English
- Work or academic experience, as required by the master’s degree.
At LAE we help you discover if you meet the application profile
b) What is the university’s acceptance rate?
The largest universities in the United States reject 75% of their applicants.
Some other universities of equal ranking and prestige, in any other country in the world, accept 95% of their applicants, as long as you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Everything will depend on the type of institution to which you apply.
8. Is it within my budget?
This question is likely the most crucial one of them all, wouldn’t you agree?
- It is very expensive?
- Am I happy with the investment given the knowledge and experience I will gain?
Let’s be honest, 100% scholarships that cover absolutely the entire investment are rare, unless you have a scholarship from your country’s government, which is quite rare these days too.
We must be realistic and take into account the budget we have to filter the options we can access.
And to close…
Only you have the answers to all these questions, according to your priorities.
The best thing you can do is be open to the possibilities you can find. It may be best to limit yourself to an option from a top university, while there are very good universities that may not have the same track record or recognition, but that have equally qualified professors from whom you will learn the same or more.