Every year thousands of students from Bangladesh migrate to different countries of the world of different educational institutions for higher education. Among the countries that most students from Bangladesh are interested in going to are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Most of the foreign students apply to the educational institutions of those countries usually from November to January.
Different countries of the world have different rules for studying as a foreign student. But with few exceptions some general rules are the same in almost all countries of the world.
In that case, first, you need to decide which country you want to visit. Then you have to collect information about the country’s education system, educational institutions, courses, scholarship opportunities, cost of living etc.
Starting from collecting these data, you need to keep some other general things in mind, otherwise it will be difficult to achieve your desired goal on time and properly.
You should research these topics at least one to one and a half years before the time you want to start your studies.
But why you must have a valid passport to study anywhere in the world?
Along with that, all the certificates of educational qualification acquired in Bangladesh, language proficiency, and proof of financial solvency should be there.
UK
According to the UK government website, you must be over 16 to study in the country as a student.
That means after HSC or equivalent pass you can go to the UK for graduation. Besides, you can also go for post-graduate, master’s, different types of certificate courses or diplomas.
To apply for a student visa you must have a course offer from a recognized institution.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS for short you must submit with your visa application. This letter will also contain a reference number which you will need to submit with the application.
An offer from an organization must be unconditional. If there are any conditions in the offer letter then you cannot apply for the visa.
You must have enough money to cover the cost of the course you are going to study and your living expenses in the UK. The amount depends on the subject you are going to study and the length of the course.
You must have funds to cover at least one academic year or nine months of study and living expenses in the UK. However, the cost will be mentioned in your offer letter or confirmation of acceptance.
You must have proof of English proficiency to study. Make sure you can read, write, speak, and understand English. There are certain tests prescribed for this.
Among these IELTS is notable. You can participate in these tests from authorized institutions.
Also, you must show some documents. These include a passport, CAS, or an offer letter from the educational institution, proof of funds required for study and living, a TB test certificate, financing your studies, etc.
The educational institution or visa issuing authority may also ask you for other documents depending on your situation.
Regardless of the subject you are going to study, you must apply for a visa at least six months before the start of the course. You will usually know a decision on your application within three weeks.
How long you can stay in the UK will depend on the type of course you have taken and its length.
If you are 18 years of age or over and your course is at the undergraduate level you will normally have a five-year stay. And if not, you will get a chance to stay for two years.
You can also apply to take your spouse and children with you.
But if your course starts after 1st January 2024 then you must be a PhD or higher degree student in a research discipline to take your partner.
United States
According to the US State Department, to study in the United States, you first need to find a college or university and the subject that suits you best.
There is no list of good educational institutions in the USA. Hence it is said that the best educational institution for you is the one that is most compatible with your educational, financial, and personal capabilities and needs.
You should start this task of finding good institutes and courses a year or 18 months before the start of the academic year.
In this case, you have to keep in mind which state (US) you want to live in, which college or university is most compatible with you, whether you need financial assistance or not, when is the last date for admission and scholarship applications, etc.
All educational qualification certificates will be required for admission application. If they are not in English, they must be translated into English and notarized.
Must have an English Language Proficiency Certificate. Academic and experience certificates and recommendation letters will be required.
Also write an essay or personal statement about your interests, goals, etc., and submit it with the visa application.
Costs vary by state and university in the US. Although the competition is high, there are opportunities to get scholarships here. So start your financial planning as soon as possible.
It should be remembered that university admission applications and scholarship applications start at the same time.
After admission and financial assurance, the next step is to apply for a visa. But to apply for a visa, you must have an offer letter from an educational institution.
For the US visa application, you need to submit various recommendation letters, essays, and various types of academic certificates. So it needs to be healed slowly over time.
Canada
The requirements to study in Canada vary by institution and course. However, some general rules apply to almost all educational institutions.
You can find educational institutions on the Canadian government website called Edu Canada the website of the Ministry of Education of the province in which you are interested in studying, and the website of the Canada Bureau for International Education.
There is a list and detailed information on educational institutions of various levels.
After finding the educational institution you need to apply for the choice. In that case, colleges and universities should start the application process at least one year before the course starts.
When you contact the institution you want to apply to, they will provide you with detailed information about the subject, application fees, tuition fees, health insurance, housing rent, and living costs in Canada.
If an educational institution is interested in taking you, they will send a letter of acceptance. which you will need during your study permit application.
According to the information on the Canadian immigration official website, you must have all kinds of academic certificates or all kinds of certificates of your educational qualification to get admission to any educational institution.
Many institutions like the University of Sydney in Australia are on the students’ list of choice
If they are not in English, they must be translated and notarized. In Canada, it is possible to study in both languages – English and French. Must have an English Language Proficiency Certificate. In this case, IELTS and TOEFL are acceptable.
You will also need a statement of purpose, known as SOP for short, that is, why you want to study in Canada, why you want to study the subject you want to study, what are your future plans, etc.
Along with all these, you will need a letter of recommendation which is given by your direct teacher or coordinator.
Financially, studying for a bachelor’s or graduate degree in Canada can cost anywhere from approximately £15,000 to £50,000 per year. This cost is different for Masters and Ph.D.
Canada has some scholarship programs for foreign students. But they are very competitive. So you can apply in advance by finding out which scholarship is suitable for you.
A study permit is required to study in Canada. To apply for this, an offer letter or letter of acceptance from an educational institution is required. Must have a valid passport.
A letter of explanation or personal statement should be given along with these. In simple words, why you want to study in Canada, what you will do after your studies, etc., should be given in this letter.
And lastly, you have to submit proof that you have enough money to study and live in Canada with your study permit application.
At the same time, if your spouse and children want to go with you, proof of having enough money to cover their expenses will also be required.
Australia
As in other countries, you need to decide where you want to study in Australia, and which university will suit you. Different courses or subjects have different eligibility requirements.
However, an English Language Proficiency Certificate is a must. You must have a bachelor’s degree in higher education.
If you contact the educational institutions you want to study in, they will provide you with all the information related to admission and cost. If the application complies with all the rules, the decision is usually notified within a few weeks.
If you are considered eligible for admission, you will be given a letter of offer and an acceptance form from the educational institution.
The next step is to apply for a visa through the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
To apply for a student visa in Australia, you must have a valid Confirmation of Enrollment document.
The visa must be applied for at least eight weeks before the start of your course. Visa must be applied online.
All your educational qualification certificates will be required. If they are not in English, they must be translated and notarized. A copy of the original certificate along with a translated copy should be submitted along with the application form.
According to the Australian government announcement, from October 1, 2023, the amount of funds required to be shown during student visa applications will increase. From July 1, 2023, student visa holders will be able to work 48 hours in 15 days.
Germany
Learning German is not necessary to study in Germany. Many educational institutions in Germany offer English language courses.
According to government website estimates, there are at least 280 bachelor courses that are conducted in English only. And DAAD’s database has more than 1400 international master’s programs.
First, you need to decide what you really want to study. Once that is settled you need to contact the educational institution of your choice.
Make sure that the authority accepts your previous education certificate.
If your certificate is not accepted by that university then you have to do a one-year preparatory course.
But it will totally depend on your previous studies and the regulations of the university you want to join.
Although the admission rules of different universities are different, there are some general rules.
To apply for admission to an educational institution in Germany, all you need to have is – a duly filled application form, all kinds of educational qualification certificates, their translated copies, passport copy and passport size photograph, and proof of language proficiency.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the most important organizations that oversees the study of foreign students.
All scholarship-related information is available from the DAAD Scholarship Database.
Student accommodation in Germany is also relatively cheap.
Although there are no tuition fees for studying at universities in Germany and living is relatively cheap, the authorities want to see if you have enough money to cover the costs of your studies.
This requires showing some documents of financial solvency such as covering one year of study and living expenses.
According to the latest 2023 data, a foreign student must show proof of living expenses of more than 11,000 euros per year.
In this case, if you have received any scholarship, you have to show the documents, income statement, and assets of your parents, deposit money in a blocked account in a bank in Germany, bank guarantee.
In addition, someone living in Germany can guarantee the financing of your entire study costs if desired.
A blocked account is a special type of bank account for foreign students where students deposit their expenses in a bank.
They cannot use the money in that account until they reach Germany. Even after reaching Germany, he will not have full control over the account.
The blocked account provider will open you a regular bank account and send money to that bank every month.
With this account, the German authorities ensure that everything is under control. However, funding documents vary by student and country.
Source: BBC Bangla
