Category Archives: Overseas admission and student visa

Your consultant in overseas education- why professional guidance is necessary…

If you have decided to study abroad, it is very important to be completely aware of the programs that you are pursuing. There are many factors to be looked upon as you try to get an admission. Yes, studying abroad involves a lot of steps and detailed procedures. It differs from country to country and college to college. This is where your overseas consultant can be of good help.

 

Nowadays many universities abroad have stopped taking direct student applications. A classical example is Canada, one of the most sought after destination for overseas studies. These days most of the universities and colleges in Canada are accepting applications only through their authorised consultants. The reasons are many.

 

Unfortunately, there are lots of cases of fraudulent documentation reported in the market and in order to prevent applications foolproof, colleges have appointed authorised consultants through which an aspirant can forward his / her application.  Overseas education just doesn’t mean getting an admission alone. Students are often not clear about the benefits and outcomes of international education. They have many questions and queries related to the factors involved- like, accommodation, lifestyle, finance, etc. Overseas consultants have the required know-how to help aspiring students in these situations.

 

Finding the best university that offers the preferred course/ program, preparing the documentation for Visa process as well as following up the Visa process with the embassy might sound simple but most of the students tend to fail in the process as they lack the proper guidance, preparation and experience.

 

Role of an education consultant is important as they guide the student in several aspects related with the admission process -right from understanding a student’s profile to guiding an aspirant with program possibilities and communicating the requirements and career prospects after completing the course.

 

A consultant also provides professional help in documentation.  It is important to know the right way to prepare the Letter of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, Resume, Essay, etc. Education consultancy agency has a team that tailors or edits context wherever needed. They interfere. They help you out when you are about to make a mistake.

 

Education loans – Consultants offers practical guidance & information regarding bank loans and financial planning.

Visa counselling is another area where a student needs proper guidance. The consultants will give detailed information about the visa process and help students prepare for the interview well. Even though a student can proceed with the applicants independently, it is only practical to take advice from a seasoned consultant. Moving or migrating to another country on the basis of student visa has many sets of regulations that have to be meticulously followed. Even a minor error will end up in Visa rejections and delays.

 

An experienced consultancy will brief & prepare a student well before he or she leaves his/her homeland. They even provide post landing support and helps in the official joining formalities. An experienced consultant will be able to find accommodation in advance or as soon as a student obtains visa. Which is very important as a wrong decision can be financially taxing otherwise.

 

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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad

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With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

 

What are the important things a parent or a student has to consider while pondering overseas education?

There is one major thing that both the parents and students should do while pondering overseas education- that is, they have to do a thorough search about the course the student wants to study, the college or university he wants to join and the job prospects of the course he wants to pursue.

It is true that it’s the duty of an overseas consultant to evaluate the student for his potential and suggest him a course and a college that will suit his taste and needs, but it is also very important for the student to research and find all the things that are important to him. Like the campus he is going to join, the city he is going to live in, part-time job prospects in that city, its climate or in other words everything that will affect the quality of his life in the new country.

Often it happens in such a way that a student wants to join a course that’s suggested to him by his friends or his family. While their suggestions have value, it should be noted that a student should follow his own ambitions and skills while deciding on a course. Normally the student can find all about the course and what all is expected from him as a student while studying for that course from the college/university website. Research the website thoroughly. Know everything that’s there to know.

It’s really necessary to have an understanding of these things beforehand

  1. Accreditations of the course

  2. Professional licensing that the course enables after completion

  3. Mandatory or optional internship

  4. Required grades to get into internship programs

  5. Learning outcomes

  6. Credits divided among semesters

  7. Courses covered in each semester

  8. Flexibility in selecting majors/minors

  9. Career outcome

He has to learn about the job market and the possibilities that are offered. He should develop an understanding of the political, social and economical scenarios so that it’s easier for him to blend in.

While asking for information from relatives and friends regarding the course and the college he is contemplating his admission is okay, never take their words as final. They may not be in a position to advise him as they are not career or education professionals. Practice caution.

Also, know that overseas education is not a vacation trip to a foreign land where you go to leisure. A decision to study abroad is a serious decision involving a large amount of money and personal time- so respect that. Do the necessary research regarding the course and the country so that one is prepared beforehand.

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About Ms. Nicy Binu, Director, Santamonica Study Abroad

——————————————————————————–

With over a decade’s experience in international education, Ms. Nicy Binu is the brain behind Santamonica’s overseas student program and has steered the organization to a position where it figures today among the prominent overseas education facilitators in India. You may contact her at +91 6282 903 703 for overseas education queries and doubts.

GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSIONS AND STUDENT VISA

 

admission image for blog

 The Admission and Visa procedures vary based on the entry criteria laid down by the Institution/country. Applications can be differentiated into 2 types – paper-based and online applications.  In general certified copies of following documents are called for.

 DOCUMENTS FOR ADMISSION

  • Academic records right from Class 10th to the last completed study including mark sheets and certificates
  • Transcripts
  • English language test scores (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL, etc.)
  • Registration Certificates (Nurses and other professionals)
  • Academic references
  • Employment references
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Statement of Explanation (SOE)
  • Updated CV along with the applications.
  • Passport

student visa

Once the student obtains the offer letter from the university /institution, they proceed to make the tuition fee payments directly to them via wire transfer/credit card, etc. as per the requirements of the institution.  Upon payment of fees, the students then proceed on to lodge their visa application. For certain countries like New Zealand and Singapore, the students can pay their tuition fees once their visa has been approved.  The visa applications are available in the immigration websites of each country along the checklist of documents that have to be submitted. The document requirements may vary case by case and hence it is imperative that students seek the assistance of an experienced consultant who can advise them accordingly.

Nonrefundable Visa fees are also applicable while submitting the visa application, which varies from country to country and the information is available on the respective immigration websites of each country.  If the student wishes to resubmit his/her visa application, appropriate nonrefundable visa fees are still applicable irrespective of the outcome of the application.

Immigration officials in some countries also conduct interviews to ensure that the student has genuine intention of studying.

It is imperative to lodge correct and complete documents along with the visa application along with proper guidance to face interviews.  It would always be desirable to seek the services of an expert consultant for guidance on lodging and obtaining visa correctly and timely as visa rejections may sometimes lead to adverse consequences and may bar the student from proceeding abroad.  It is always advisable to seek the expert guidance from education consultants like Santa Monica to be guided through the process properly for the applications to be processed timely and accurately to avoid visa rejections or missing out on relevant documentation.

  DOCUMENTS FOR VISA

 In addition to all documents submitted during offer mentioned herewith

 Visa application form/Questionnaire Form

  • Provider’s offer letter
  • Police clearance Certificates
  • Medical fitness certificates
  • Financial documents to prove availability of funds to support the study and living expenses such as bank statements, loan letters from the bank,
  • Proof of transfer of funds to the prescribed banks by the Immigration for countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Germany, etc.,
  • In case of sponsor, Affidavit of financial support,

Admission/ Visa tips and techniques:

Interviews have become an integral part of admission and visa procedures.  Various institutions and immigration authorities interview the candidates to gauge their intention, their motivation, their language proficiency, etc. for studying abroad.  It is always advisable to seek the guidance of experts in tackling the tight spots in your interview sessions which include mannerisms, tips and tricks in effectively facing your interviewer.  The team at Santa Monica is equipped to guide the students through this process smoothly and ensure the students are prepared to counter the interview sessions.

For more info on admissions to top universities/colleges of the world contact Santa Monica study abroad Pvt.  Ltd   at 0484-4140999