Guide to studying abroad : Finding courses abroad

What are my options?

As with any decision to undertake postgraduate study, it is important to think carefully about what your options are, where you would like to study and how you are going to fund it. The most popular countries for postgraduate study are in Europe and other English speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand or the US. The European Union and English-speaking countries have qualifications that are broadly similar to the UK.

Management or business-related courses in Europe and the US (for example, MBAs) are particularly popular, often as a springboard into management roles in internationally focused organisations.

Most postgraduate study and research opportunities abroad occur in higher education institutions, but it is possible, in some countries, to carry out research in government departments.  If you don’t want to commit yourself to a long period abroad it might be possible to spend part of a PhD in another institution outside of the UK, as a short term collaboration.

Identifying courses and institutions abroad

You may have a particular country that you wish to study in or perhaps a particular subject in mind. Identify institutions that specialise in your field of study by:

• searching databases of postgraduate courses, such as search courses and research;
• visiting your careers service - check if your university is offering any postgraduate fairs, which may include representatives from organisations that deal with postgraduate study abroad;
• having a look at country profiles;
• talking to lecturers, tutors and other researchers in your department;
• reading research journals and other specialist publications.

The following are useful sources of course information:

• Find a Masters , Find a PhD , Find a Professional Doctorate and MastersPortal.eu  include opportunities outside the UK;
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has a course finder;
• Fulbright Commission can be used to search for institutions/courses in the US;
• You can search for courses in Australia and New Zealand at Study Options; 
• You can register to receive information from graduate schools worldwide and advice on colleges/courses at International Graduate;
• Study Overseas and The International Education Site also have useful course search databases.

Most institutions now have information online. You can research the application process of each university by looking at their web pages for international students.

In addition, embassies are a useful source of information. Project Visa has a searchable directory of contact details for many of the embassies around the world.

Other issues to consider

• Remember that the range and quality of study available from country to country varies enormously. Institutions within countries may also have widely differing reputations and academic standards. Check that your chosen institution is accredited. Consider whether you want a brand name university with a worldwide reputation or one where it is cheaper for you because of availability of funding. Use Top Universities  or Times Higher Education to see rankings of universities worldwide.
• Assess the facilities and support for postgraduate study/research. Remember, that you will be an international student. Look at relevant pages for international students on websites; you may be able to find contact details of current students to ask any questions you might have.
• Check the acceptability of your existing academic qualifications. A first, upper second or Masters degree will meet most eligibility requirements for both further study and awards competitions, but British first-degree programmes can be shorter than elsewhere so views on academic standing can vary.
• Many overseas institutions require you to have an acceptable mark in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). You will need to submit this with your application. You can find sample questions on the relevant websites and purchase test preparation booklets.
• You may also need to consider your ability to cope with the language in which the course is taught, and perhaps even schedule time to update your language skills.