University Speaking 1.0: The South African Guide To Overseas Study

The South African Guide To Overseas Study

Brought to you by The Learner's Journey and The Village.

International Medical School

Become a doctor in the US or UK

#1 provider

of doctors into first-year US residencies for the last 12 years combined*

www.sgu.edu/md

19,000+

School of Medicine graduates * Data as of July 2021

Request information

What Makes An International University, Truly International?

B Y

D R .

J A M E S

C O E Y

Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Anatomy, St. George’s University, Grenada.

A global perspective for medical education from St. George’s University

T

he past 19 months have been devastating for global health. The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the international nature of healthcare provision. Future generations of health care providers will need to be equipped to tackle further pandemics, in addition to the impact of climate change, conflict and outbreaks of infectious diseases, alongside projected increases in noncommunicable diseases.

The current pandemic has taught us a great deal about approaches to health care and reinforced the principle that a cooperative, international and multi-disciplinary approach is paramount in guiding future medical research, practice and education.

The crisis we found ourselves in brought together the world’s top scientific minds to develop vaccines at unprecedented speeds using techniques from multiple countries and research centres.

Coordinated research and innovation will make an enormous difference to the future health outcomes of the global population and this must start with the education of our future medical professionals.

International medical schools, such as St. George’s University (SGU) on the Caribbean island of Grenada, have fully embraced this global approach to health education and work hard to give their students the opportunity to gain an international perspective in global healthcare.

SGU has contributed over 18,000 physicians to the global physician workforce, with students, graduates, and faculty from over 150 countries. They have practiced in every state in the US, as well as in more than 50 countries. Students also have the opportunity to live and learn in four different countries (Grenada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India).

An MD programme at SGU provides ambitious students with the chance to study and work in multiple countries as part of their training in order to experience a multitude of healthcare systems and practice medicine across all specialties with a global perspective.

In addition to the University’s True Blue campus in Grenada, SGU’s students can complete up to 50% of their degree in the United Kingdom at Northumbria University in Newcastle. Similarly, in a partnership with Ramaiah Group of Institutions, students on a 5-year medical pathway can complete their first year of study in Bengaluru, India. The three paths feature the same curriculum and provide a strong foundation for SGU’s future physicians. For the last 2 years, SGU students take up core rotations and sub-internships in specialties such as surgery, pediatrics and psychiatry at one of over 70 affiliated hospitals and health systems in the US and UK. Covid-19 has shown us that health is a global issue and our health and education systems should reflect that.

As the world gets an increasing grip on the virus and borders open, a global outlook on education should be a priority for us all.

Letter from the Editor Our team at University Speaking is so excited to bring you this first Issue. University Speaking is a collaboration between The Learner’s Journey and The Village Facebook group.

After nearly four years as an agent to more than 250 international universities, I launched The Learner’s Journey in August of 2021, with the express purpose of providing help, support and guidance for learners wanting to pursue international education.

There are so many myths around South African students studying abroad. University Speaking was conceptualised as a go-to publication for unbiased, accurate information about international university education for South Africans. This first issue is just scratching the surface and future editions will expand on the advice you read here. So, tell us what you want to know, ask us questions. I’d love to hear from you.

The goal is to show you where others have gone before, to lend a helping hand to parents and, for learners and aspiring postgraduate students, to ignite your future. Your dream IS possible! We’ve also tried to introduce you to courses you hadn’t thought of, which might be just the answer to the question “what am I going to be/do when I grow up?”

The institutions that have taken advertisements in University Speaking are not simply marketing, they also want to help you on your journey and show you what they have that might be right for you. They want happy students who grab their opportunity with both hands, and add value to the student community, the institution and themselves. Our plan is to introduce you to more universities in the future, more possibilities and help you on your Learner’s Journey.

Thank you to the university representatives who have supported University Speaking and believed in something not yet seen. I am humbled that you took a chance on the idea and I hope that we have lived up to expectation.

My immense gratitude goes to Vanessa Raphaely for bringing University Speaking to life, and offering up her years of experience in the publishing world and assembling a dream team of Ann and Dale to make it all pretty and flow.

My message to prospective students is that this is YOUR journey to higher education. There may be forks in the road, you may reroute or even take a detour. But there are no mistakes. When you look back one day, you’ll see that you’re exactly where you need to be and that even the most winding road was worthwhile. But I understand the anxiety you’re feeling, and I’m here to help.

Heidi Sulcas

The Learner’s Journey

Contents In Their Own Words Where To Go? Out Of The Box Courses Medicine and Veterinary Science The Application Process: You Don’t Have To Go It Alone Is Your Child Ready To Fly Abroad?

Undergrad Here, Postgrad There Is A Scholarship An Option?

Is My Child’s Matric Accepted Overseas?

What If You Get Bs And Cs In Matric?

Should They Stay Or Should They Go? The Magnificent 7: Future-Proof Degrees To Consider Do University Rankings Matter? The Good News Understanding The Jargon

In Their Own Words We asked some South African students studying abroad about their experiences and advice for others contemplating going to university overseas.

Here are their answers USA TALI SULCAS, BA Global Health Policy, BS Communication Enquiry Science, Arizona State University

The best part of being at ASU was that although it was such a big school (50 000 on campus), everything felt like it’s own microcosm that made a little community. All my classes felt like communities within themselves; my job felt like a community; my dorm felt like a community. And I felt like the school itself attracted a demographic of people who were interested in expanding their world view.

The student body is incredibly diverse, and most of the students have made their way there because they are attempting to innovate in their own lives. I didn’t feel like I was ever without people to fall back on, and maybe that was perhaps because I’m naturally an outgoing person. But that’s also the nature of the school.

What was the biggest surprise?

The biggest surprise was the ease with which I found places to fit in.

A lot of college students feel lonely.

It’s a common epidemic in college.

You move out of your home, you’re left with the big wide world, and you realise that you need to start carving out a life for yourself. There were plenty of resources available to me at ASU to start doing those things.

I had no problem figuring out how to get an on-campus job, visit my advisor, pick classes, including ones that weren’t necessarily directly related to my major, and engage in activities that helped me to discover more about myself etc. It was incredibly beneficial to me, not just as a student, to have access to a diversified world view, both in an academic sense and in a community and social sense.

Were you homesick?

My mom moved me in, and even after she left, I was totally fine. I was excited to meet new people, and I was making new friends. It was all good. I was thriving until I went back to SA on my first break.

I was homesick when I returned for my second term. But I was lucky in that I was always convinced that I was meant to leave South Africa and study internationally. I do think that there is something to be said for making sure that you’re making the right decision in the first place to leave home. It’s important to consider very carefully what you’re

leaving behind and what you’ll have to rebuild and who you’ll have around you to help you because most of the time the answer to that question is “not very many people”, and that can be daunting.

What was the most important lesson you learnt outside of the lecture halls?

I feel like my time at ASU helped me to figure out who I am as a person and as a student. It helped me discover the nature of my learning style and what I’m interested in.

That was very beneficial because I don’t think anyone ever stops learning.

One of the most important lessons the great professors at ASU passed on was: “I can give you all the information, but if you don’t do it yourself, you’re not going to get anywhere”. That’s a theme that carries across many aspects of my life now.

Advice for students contemplating overseas study I don’t think there is such a thing as a universal college experience, and different things are right for different people. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and those who care about you as far as what decisions are best for you and especially for your physical, emotional and mental health.

SPAIN

Without a doubt, the best part has been making lifelong connections with other international students.

The common ground of coming from foreign lands bonds you together in a comforting way.

ASTIN BEACHY HEAD, BA (Hons) in Fashion Design and Manufacturing, Marbella Design Academy, Monda

Marbella Design Academy is a small private university. Its size allows you to create strong personal bonds and understandings with your teachers and fellow students. The teachers did an incredible job of allowing our creative sides to flourish while guiding us down the paths that allowed us to produce our best work (see two of Astin’s designs, below and top right). I was able to achieve things I had never dreamt of.

Luckily for me, my course was offered in English. I was told that learning Spanish wasn’t essential but after one day in the tiny goatpopulated village that is Monda, I realised it was a necessity! I picked up the basics through a combination of Google translate and working part-time in restaurants, but dealing with Spanish banks and phone services was still a nightmare.

My biggest surprise was how seriously the Spanish take siesta.

Between 2pm and 4pm absolutely everything but restaurants closes and some facilities, like banks, don’t reopen.

I would advise people thinking about studying abroad to do their research. And then throw it out the window. As cliché as it sounds, expect the unexpected. A lot will go wrong, but in the end things tend to work out. I wouldn’t trade my time in Spain, global pandemic and all, for anything. I look forward to the day I get to visit the Costa del Sol and all the people that I met there some time in the near future.

UK OLIVIA HOLTMAN, MSc in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, Sussex University

Overall the experience has been nothing short of spectacular. In the early days everything was so new and unfamiliar, I felt as though I’d been plucked out of my world and placed in some sort of radicalised Jane Austen novel. The university buildings were timeworn and quaint but the fresh ideas and liberal minds that burst through every lecture hall were totally intoxicating.

I also loved exploring and soaking up the vibrancy of the city that I was in (Brighton).

I did at times feel lucky to have been born an incurable extrovert.

Without this I may have felt lonely and a bit lost.

My advice for people wanting to follow this path? Close your eyes, take a deep breath and go for it! Join as many societies as you can, be bold and brave, involve yourself in the bizarre and unusual, lean into the debates, buy a bottle of wine and share it with new friends for they will become your new family.

Even though I was very homesick at times (especially when cut off

by Covid), I don’t regret a single moment; it enriched and filled me in ways I still struggle to put into words. You’ll just have to see for yourself.

UK EMMA PAGET, First Year LLB Law, Hockey Player, Durham University

Leaving South Africa and the people I love was the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. But the anxiety you first feel when you arrive at your overseas university is normal, and most other International students feel the exact same way.

The minute I arrived in Durham, I found an immediate support structure, helping and guiding me in the right direction to find my feet.

My biggest fear was that I was not going to make any friends but that panic was short lived, and I have made numerous friendships that I know will be for life.

who has the opportunity to study abroad to take it. I couldn’t be happier living and studying in London, and am thankful I got the opportunity to do this!

If you ever feel lonely or overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone. You will always have people around you, whether it’s friends or university staff who will help. Because I play hockey, I also have teammates who would be there in a heartbeat, and my coaches too.

They are always ready to share tips that helped them overcome similar troubles. And of course, your family is there to support, even from far away. For me that meant plenty of FaceTimes and phone calls.

AUSTRALIA TIM LANGERMAN, Bachelor of Business with a major in Sports Management, University of Canberra, Australia

I am very lucky to be at an elite university. My degree choice has introduced me to highly intellectual students who engage in challenging concepts that will build their character, broaden their critical thinking and provide them with the skills needed to become a decent lawyer.

My advice is take one day at a time.

Do not put too much pressure on yourself as you won’t get to enjoy the buzz of university life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Keep in regular contact with your family as they are your biggest supporters and will most definitely cheer you up when you are feeling down.

Love every moment and try to put yourself out there, as this is where you will find your people!

UK CONNOR BRICE, BSc Economics, University of Greenwich, London This has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve made friends for life and experienced things I’ll remember forever. I would encourage anyone

the perks of being in a country with a very high minimum wage.

Australia’s uni culture is great and I couldn’t recommend it more - but the distance from one’s family can take a toll. It’s a big decision that you should definitely be certain you want to make!

If you are considering studying in Australia, be aware that there’s a much broader range of degree options than in South Africa. The first thing to do is to shop around for a degree you are interested in pursuing, look at the universities that offer it, then look at every possibility for a scholarship/bursary!

There are a couple to go around and after Covid-19, the country will need to focus on attracting international students again. Offering financial help is likely to come into play a bit more.

In terms of post-graduation work, each state has its own visa conditions, but most offer you the opportunity to stay and work for at least a year or two.

I studied at the University of Canberra in Australia’s capital city.

It’s a top 10 university, but certainly not one of the country’s biggest.

EUROPE DILLON MARTIN, 4 Cities Master’s in Urban Studies

Canberra has a big city attitude but with none of the setbacks.

Everywhere is quick and easy to get to, and you’ve got everything you need from entertainment to scenery.

I was very lucky to get a very decent scholarship. In Australia the cost of education for international students can range from roughly $25,000 to $50,000 a year (for up to five years, depending on degrees).

In addition to this, the cost of living in Australia is very high. But, one of the biggest surprises for me was that a casual job like waiting tables will give you the ability to cover your living expenses with enough left over to enjoy life and at times even save a bit. This is one of

In 2019 I received an acceptance letter for a 4Cities Master’s scholarship – a course that took me on a two-year adventure around Europe.

The programme allowed 38 students from all around the world to study at some of the most prestigious universities in Europe, spending six months at each university.

Now of course, each city has both good and bad aspects. For example, Brussels has good beer but it’s quite expensive. Vienna is simply beautiful but the people are not (I recall being shouted at in German several times for unknown reasons). In Copenhagen, more people cycle than ride cars but it’s absolutely freezing.

And Madrid has some of the best and cheapest food, but it’s incredibly hot and dense.

The thing that surprised me the most was that there were so many things that surprised me, and I don’t just mean the global health pandemic that sent the world into lockdown. I mean those things that surprise you about yourself. The first step out of your comfort zone is the first step to growth. This experience gives you the chance to explore yourself and get to know who you are – for better or for worse.

UK SHAYLE RAVERA, MSc in Psychology & Wellbeing, Wolverhampton University

After spending a few years contemplating whether to do a master’s degree, I finally decided to do my MSc with Wolverhampton.

It’s a fully virtual programme, which is accredited by the British Psychology council. This means I am able to complete a highly recognised master’s degree while still being able to work at the same time!

UK

PS From his mum As a family, it’s tough. Being so far apart is hard when things go wrong and they need help BUT self reliance is learnt in spades. Al was so keen to combine sport, videography and presenting; this degree was made for him. That’s the big difference - the HUGE selection of stuff for them to do. In SA, he would have done filmmaking or journalism which wouldn’t have been right for him.

UK TRAVIS NORRIS, BA Business and Management, Cricket Player, Durham University

ALEXANDER CRADDOCK, BSc Sport Media, Cyclist, Cardiff Metropolitan University

The best part of this experience was hands down the people I met.

When you’re surrounded by such an international community, every conversation is a kind of cultural exploration. If you love sleepovers at your best friend’s house, imagine doing that for two years across four different cities.

The worst part is saying goodbye to all the friends you make in the short six months you live in each city and, at the end of the two years, to the other students on the course.

Luckily for me I dragged one of those friends with me and now call her my girlfriend and we now live together in Bilbao, Spain (another couple actually got married).

I am loving the course so far! The best part of the whole experience here is that I’m surrounded by sport and facilities that motivate me to put in the work. The downside is that it’s cold all the time, and I am not too fond of the cold .

It’s tough being far away but I have learnt to look after myself. I am a pretty good cook now and I appreciate my home in SA so much more. I’m coming home for a month soon and I can’t wait. Being able to walk into a clean kitchen will be good too. Sharing with 9 other people is hard. But I’d say to anyone thinking about it - go for it!

The best part about being at Durham is the fact that you can see your friends all the time. It’s a lovely student town. There were no real surprises as I didn’t know what to expect. I have found it’s very easy to make friends at Durham as you see people all the time at meals and in lectures. I’m a cricket player - the level here is excellent and it’s a good set up. I haven’t been homesick but I miss the weather at home and obviously seeing my family.

Where To Go? The world is a big place and with 25 000 universities scattered all about, how do you even begin to choose?

A

South African passport is not a deterrent for student visas. Chat to a visa specialist to find out more; getting the student visas your child needs is usually straightforward. A better starting point is to compare the different systems of higher education and the average cost of degrees. Then see what jumps out as a good fit for your child and your budget

Duration of study •

UK, England – Bachelor’s (honours) degree: three years – with an option between second and third year to do a year’s internship/work placement or study abroad, which would make the duration of the degree four years. Students get paid for the work placement year and have to pay a nominal amount to your university to maintain your student number. For those looking to enrol in a master’s programme having studied in South Africa, an SA honours degree or pre-master’s will be required.

•

UK, Scotland – Bachelor’s degree (honours): four years – there is a bit more flexibility to take a larger range of subjects in the first year before specialising. (Be aware when looking at websites that some of the older universities in Scotland refer to the bachelor degree as an MA or MS.)

•

Ireland – Bachelor’s degree: three years and, with honours, four years – an honours year is needed to do a master’s.

•

USA – Bachelor’s degree: four years – they don’t have honours and students can progress to master’s level with a four-year bachelor’s degree.

•

The Netherlands, Research universities – Bachelor’s degree: three years.

Universities of Applied Science – Bachelor’s degree: four years. FYI, it is possible to enrol in a master’s programme in the UK with a bachelor’s from a Dutch uni.

•

Australia and New Zealand – Bachelor’s degree: three years – is considered equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree; honours degree is usually an additional year and is seen as a pathway to research. A master’s is generally two years without honours or one year with an honours degree.

•

Canada – Bachelor’s degree: four years – students can progress to master’s after completing a bachelor’s degree.

•

Hungary – Bachelor’s degree: three years.

*NOTE: Medicine, dentistry, law and veterinary science are exceptions to the rules for length of study.

These courses take longer and progression times vary depending on the country. See our article on medicine and veterinary sciences for further details on those degree paths.

Important note about timing of applications Application deadlines vary by country, university and sometimes by programme. Some countries have a centralised application platform, like the UK’s UCAS system, but even with that, there are exceptions.

What can you afford?

The good news? Sweden is rated one of the top five countries in the world in terms of its higher education offering – and tuition for international undergraduate and PhD degrees is free. Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway and Panama also have free tuition programmes. (Private institutions of higher learning may not be free.)

Tuition in France (select courses) and Slovenia is free for EU citizens. Countries including Brazil, Greece and the Czech Republic offer free tuition but in their local languages.

Some degree paths cost a lot less while others cost more, and certain universities are more expensive than others, for example private US universities average $35 830 per year for undergraduate tuition. (Source: topuniversities.com) Living expenses will also be higher in big cities, like London, and lower in smaller towns.

Use this bar chart as an initial guide. Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of institutions and your degree path, be sure to get a clear idea of costs directly from the university concerned. Most university websites include a page on estimated tuition and living costs, but don’t hesitate to ask if you’re unsure.

Most popular countries for South African students The bar chart below gives an average cost of tuition and living expenses across all subjects and faculties except medicine, veterinary science and dentistry. Please be aware that these are very loose averages and are offered simply to give an early indication.

COST PER YEAR IN ZAR 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0

USA

UK Canada

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

NZ Australia

POSTGRADUATE DEGREE

Ireland Hungary

The Netherlands

LIVING EXPENSES

Your Expert Guide to International University

Let me help your child find their best-fit international university program International University Guidance Counselling

Schedule an individual session for your learner or a group session for your school.

LEARN MORE

Out Of The Box Courses The path forward for an unconventional student might not lie in the conventional degrees …

A

quick search for unusual areas of study will reveal a diverse range of programmes from Puppet Arts at the University of Connecticut to a BSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. With more than 25 000 universities in the world, the opportunities are vast and varied. So think outside the proverbial box - the perfect degree for your child is out there. Have a look at these!

IF YOUR CHILD DREAMS ABOUT A FUTURE IN FILM...

“The New York Film Academy College of Visual and Performing Arts is a regionally accredited college that is considered the best hands-on Visual and Performing Arts school in the world with a talented and diverse student population. It was founded on the philosophy that “learning by doing”, combined with best industry practices, is more valuable than years of theoretical study for artists.

“This educational model allows students to achieve more in less time than at other visual and performing arts schools. Students gain unsurpassed real-world experience to prepare them for a career in the visual, design and performing arts.

“Your child can enroll in a short-term workshop, a oneor two-year conservatory programme or a full associate, bachelor or master’s degree.” - Lizzie Sack, NY Film Academy, director of agency relations

WHAT ABOUT A CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT? Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, has built a reputation as one of the premier art, music and film schools in the world. Offering both campus and online degrees, Full Sail University is dedicated to helping creative students follow their dreams in the entertainment, technology and media industry.

Degrees are offered at an accelerated pace, allowing students to qualify in half the time of a traditional degree. Undergraduate programmes are designed with a series of Project and Portfolio classes, which keeps students creating throughout their programme.

As they move through the curriculum, students build a professional portfolio that helps start their career. Graduate programmes are similarly designed around capstone, thesis or portfolio courses, which focus the work towards a final real-world result.

Check out Full Sails’s degree programmes here and hear from their graduates in this video.

BE A BLOCKCHAIN BOSS The world is at the beginning of a global wave of demand for blockchain academic and professional education and certification – what about doing a degree in it at University of Nicosia in Cyprus?

The MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency is designed to help business and financial-services professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials and public administrators better understand the technical underpinnings of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, how it will likely interact with existing monetary and financial systems, and what opportunities exist for innovation in digital currency systems.

SURF THE WAVE OF SURFING Does your child love the sea? Plymouth University in the UK offers a two-year foundation degree in Surf Science and Technology. Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors for the industry are covered as well as specific personal, professional and employability skills required for both academic study and the workplace.

A GREAT BA IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS! Imagine your child studying wilderness expeditions, ropes courses, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, and winter camping?

Sound too good to be true? Not with a degree in Adventure Education. It will teach your child how to use the great outdoors to expose children and adults to challenging adventures, personal growth and selfdiscovery.

These are two good options to investigate: BSc in Adventure Education, Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, USA and BA in Outdoor Education and Leisure, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Castlebar campus, Mayo, Ireland

STUDY SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION Learn how international food systems deliver the food products and services that people want, and how farmers and food manufacturers can produce profitably while also taking care of the natural environment in a four-year Food and Agribusiness Management degree at University College Dublin in Ireland.

Or consider the unique Ecogastronomy programme offered by the University of New Hampshire in the States.

“From growing and preparing food to getting first-hand experience in international food cultures and issues of food security, the programme integrates three broad fields of study and practice that are of growing interest and concern for public health, employers, and graduates.”

Medicine and Veterinary Science South African students who dream of being a doctor or a vet are concerned about the very few places available to study medicine and veterinary science locally. Many are looking to go overseas to study medicine.

What are the options?

I

t’s important to know that medical qualifications are offered in two ways – as an undergraduate course, where you enter Medicine from Day 1, or as a postgraduate course, where you first do an undergraduate degree (that includes the prerequisite subjects for medical school) and then apply for medicine.

There are advantages to both.

Veterinary science is similar. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is necessary to practice as a vet.

There are only around 2 600 accredited medical universities worldwide, and the number of accredited vet qualifications is a fraction of that, just around 50.

Anywhere you go, medicine and veterinary science is competitive. Buckle up and prepare yourself.

In some countries, there are required entrance exams, some externally administered and some administered by the university.

Let’s have a look at the paths offered in different countries: Canada and the USA •

•

Those doing their undergraduate degree in South Africa should take it through to honours level.

In the USA or Canada a bachelor’s degree is the equivalent. The next step would be the MCAT entrance exam and applying for medical school some schools have different testing requirements so be sure to check. Note that there are frightfully few spots for international students in the USA and Canada. You are in for on average US$55 000 per year for medicine for four years.

UK •

-

-

There is no undergraduate veterinary medicine in the USA or Canada. For postgrad vet school, the MCAT or GRE is often required. Annual tuition costs range between US$40 000 and US$65 000, and average around US$53 000 per year.

•

There are both undergraduate (six years) and postgraduate (four years) medicine programmes.

The admissions test required is the UCAT for undergraduate entry and the GAMSAT for graduate entry. Tuition could be as high as AU$100 000 per year for four to six years.

To become a vet, a bachelor’s in veterinary science, or a related field, including prerequisite courses, and then a doctorate in vet medicine. Tuition is around AU$60 000 per year on average.

Most medical schools require the BMAT or the UCAT entrance exam. Make sure that you have that done no later than August the year before your proposed September start.

The deadline for applications is earlier than regular UCAS applications, usually mid October of the year preceding entry.

Places in the UK are very limited and there tend to be fewer places for international students, mostly due to limitations on clinical rotations with the National Health Service. The graduate medicine route in the UK is available but even harder to get into. The price of tuition ranges from £27 000 to £40 000 pounds per year for four or five years.

Australia •

The medical school system in the UK is similar to South Africa. It’s largely an undergraduate entry course of five years. Two important things to note:

•

There are 10 accredited vet schools in the UK. It is a five-year course and it is important to note the admissions requirements for the course that you are interested in. Every programme has different requirements. Approximately £32 000 pounds per year.

Ireland •

•

Students entering undergraduate medicine from South Africa will study medicine for six years. They will need to have taken two of the three laboratory sciences in high school: chemistry, physics or biology. With A levels or APs, the programme will be five years, and with have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you’re looking at four years. For undergraduate medicine, sitting the HPAT entrance exam is required; for postgraduate medicine, the MCAT or GAMSAT is required. Studying medicine in Ireland will cost between €48 000 and €60 000 for tuition per year.

A doctorate in veterinary medicine takes six years from high school or four years if the student has a related degree, and will cost on average €37 000 per year for tuition. UC Dublin is the only university in Ireland to offer a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine €32 000 per year tuition, which is a five-year programme.

as being competitive. Medicine is taught in specialised universities in English and Russian. The undergraduate programme is a six-year course and postgraduate is four years with a BSc in a related field. No external entrance exams are required.

The draw card is the price – tuition is less than US$5 000 per year compared to upwards of US$50 000 per year in many other countries in the world.

•

Hungary •

Another best-kept secret... University of Pecs has a top shelf medical school. There are undergraduate and postgraduate entry options. The entrance exam is administered by the university once your child’s application has been submitted. The degree is recognised all over Europe, Canada, USA, Norway and other countries, and clinical rotations can be done in various countries in Europe. Cost-wise, you’re looking at around US$17 000 per year for tuition for six years.

•

The five-year veterinary programme (taught in English) in Hungary is not yet AVMA accredited, but this is in progress. An entry exam is required at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Budapest.

Tuition is around €13 000 per year.

Georgia •

Going to medical school in Georgia (former Soviet Union state, not the southern state in the USA) is becoming increasingly popular. It is possible to do an MBBS there, and it qualifies students to take the USMLE (in order to be placed for residency in the USA). The quality of education is recognised

Veterinary programmes offered in Georgia are not AVMA accredited.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER ...

Transferability of the medical degree. Students who attend medical school in a country and then move to another country to practise should be aware that there may be board exam requirements and additional clinical rotations in the country of study or in the country they are moving to. Do the research and plan appropriately.

Residency or internship placement. Some medical schools will not help at all with clinical rotations or residency placements. So, ask the right questions!

Heidi Sulcas reports that she recently counselled a student who attended a medical school in Mauritius. It is a very good university and he is top of his class with lots of publications to his name already. To qualify as a doctor, he needed to do an internship in Mauritius.

But as a South African citizen, he couldn’t be placed in Mauritius and the school would not assist.

A policy called the Pathway for Registration came into effect in South Africa in June 2020, requiring foreigntrained doctors to undertake a year of clinical training in South Africa before they were allowed to sit their pre-internship clinical examinations. However, no South African university could provide clinical exposure for these doctors. Until recently, a solution was to do another year or two of a master’s degree at St George’s University (SGU) in Grenada, and take the USMLE exam with a view to completing residency in the USA through SGU’s matching programme.

Fortunately, after a series of court decisions, the June 2020 policy has been set aside and South African doctors trained abroad will now be allowed to sit local theory and clinical exams without needing to complete a conversion year of clinical training. That said, if your child plans to practice in the USA, the SGU route is an excellent option.

Personality testing. In addition to an interview or in place of one, some US medical schools have introduced the Casper Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics). It’s a situationaljudgement admissions test developed by researchers at McMaster University in Canada and aims to measure traits like professionalism, ethics, communication, and empathy.

Fees. Weigh your budget against whether the medical school programme is four years or six years.

A med school you may not have thought of Did you know that according to the US Federation of State Medical Boards 2019 physician licensure data, more physicians licensed in the USA attended St George’s University (SGU) in Grenada than any other international university?

According to US News and World Report, 20212022, SGU graduates have practised at every one of the report’s top 20 US hospitals.

SGU’s unique medical pathways allow students to commence their studies in Grenada, the United Kingdom or India. And with more than 70 affiliated hospitals and health centres in the US and UK, students at SGU can complete their clinical rotations in some of the best-known hospitals in the world.

A medical degree at St George’s University takes four to seven years, depending on the student’s qualifications. Preclinical years cost approximately US$36 000 a year; the four year medical degree programme costs US$63 000 to US$79 000 per year, depending on scholarships granted.

The Application Process: You Don’t Have To Go It Alone If you’re tearing your hair out trying to decide which university is right for your child, a counsellor who has experience placing students at overseas universities can be a huge help.

I

n March 2020, the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) estimated that there were 12 000 South Africans studying abroad.

It is definitely possible with a South African passport and our school/university credentials to gain acceptance from, integrate into and be successful at an international university. The South African National Senior Certificate (be it IEB or DBE) or an honours degree from one of our universities does set up our students well for study abroad.

But trawling the internet to determine the best-fit university and the best-fit degree can be overwhelming.

It is difficult to find the information you need to compare programmes accurately. And most institutions of higher learning hire accomplished marketing companies to ‘sell’ their product. There’s a LOT to wade through and digest.

A university agent can guide you through the process of choosing and applying to a university, possibly even assisting with visas and accommodation.

How can an agent or university placement counsellor help?

“A professional guide can go a long way towards helping parents and learners demystify the myriad options at the outset of their journey,’ says Heidi Sulcas, university guidance counsellor at The Learner’s Journey.

Drawing on her experience as an agent to more than 250 international universities, Heidi now offers a holistic, tailor-made approach to guidance on international university related choices.

“There are important steps to honing in on the right place for a learner to pursue their studies,’ she says.

‘In addition to the right programme, a learner might

want to find a university that allows them to pursue their academics and their extracurricular interests simultaneously; they may be looking toward their talents in sports or the arts or their academic standing to help them to access funding. It’s important to find a reputable, trusted counsellor who has a good depth of knowledge about international universities. They will be able to lay out a pathway to find the right place as well as a plan for applications, admissions and visa processing.”

Choosing a partner There are many different agents and counselling organisations that specialise in helping students find a place at an international university. Some specialise in placements in one country, others represent universities in multiple countries, some only provide assistance with sports scholarships or others focus on curating your child’s CV. Independent counsellors will charge an upfront fee, while agents who earn commissions from their university partners have a lower cost, but limited university choices. All of these options have their place as well as their advantages and limitations.

Here are some tips on choosing an agent from Heidi and Joy Hunter, a writer for Times Higher Education: 1. Check who the agent is partnered with. “An agent partnered with a university is likely to receive a commission from the institution for every student they recruit, so could be biased towards that university,” writes Joy. On the other hand, they may know a lot more about that university than a nonaffiliated agent, and if your child has already decided they want to attend a specific university, an affiliated agent can be a great resource. “If a student is less sure about where they want to go, it might be better to opt for a counselling organisation without preexisting university affiliations,” advises Joy. 2. Check the agent’s accreditations. You might choose to go with a South African agent or counsellor recommended by successful past applicants. But if you’re thinking about using an overseas agent, make sure they’re accredited to an organisation that sets certain minimum standards and demands that they remain up to date with the latest requirements on all aspects of preparing students for international study.

3. Ask the right questions. Heidi also highlights the importance of checking partnerships and where they’ve placed students previously. In addition, she suggests asking the following: • • •

Is there a fee for an initial consultation?

What are the fees and what do they cover?

What services are offered or available?

4. Do your own research on the agents you’re considering, writes Joy. If your child has a university preference, see which agents the university recommends - lists of approved agents are available on most university websites. But bear in mind that a South African counsellor will be more aware of the unique circumstances our students may find themselves in, especially with regard to study visas etc.

5. As with any document you sign, read the contract carefully so that you know exactly what you’re signing up for. If there’s anything vague, ask for clarification.

“Most importantly, it is imperative that a learner bases their decision on criteria that are significant to them,” says Heidi. “Leaving home to study abroad and pursue their dreams is the beginning of THEIR journey to make their way in the world.”

WHICH AGENT DO YOU NEED? These are general descriptions of the types of agents (other than sports agents) who practise in South Africa.

COLLEGE READINESS AGENT These agents focus on maximising potential success of applications usually to UK and US universities. The cost is significant as they curate the child’s CV from as early as Grade 10, participate in subject selection, help with personal statements and applications, and preparation for SAT (US universities) and admission interviews. No assistance with visas is offered. Crimson Education offers this service. From approximately R60 000 UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT AGENTS – Student Representative The agent will walk you through the application process, help with timelines and the preparation of essays for applications. The student represents himself/herself to the university admissions. There is some college readiness assistance but no assistance for student visa processing. Varsity Abroad offers this kind of assistance.

From approximately R750 per hour for a consultation or R15 000 for a package – University Representative Such agents represent 100 to 500 universities worldwide, and students are assisted with applications to these universities only. The student is assisted with university selection, course selection and applications, both to the university and for the student visa. This type of agent usually has a relationship with the admissions team at the universities and, while there are no guarantees, their acceptance rate for applicants tends to be very high.

IE Abroad (free service) and Global Education (R2 000 one-time fee) offer this service.

Open your future at the University of Edinburgh

Top 20

We’re consistently ranked one of the top Universities in the world. We’re 16th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.

Open your potential We’re among the world’s top 50 universities for graduate employability.

(QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022)

Join an international community Open your mind by joining over 18,000 international students from more than 160 countries.

Study at the University of Edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk/studying Get in touch futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Is Your Child Ready To Fly Abroad?

B Y

V A N E S S A

R A P H A E L Y

The reality of studying abroad requires a student to be robust … and ready.

Before you consider sending your child across oceans, ask yourself these important questions

B

efore I sent my child to Scotland and joined a plethora of social media groups for parents of children at overseas universities, I have to admit some prejudice: I assumed that South African students had a tougher time, with regard to mental health and physical safety, than their international peers.

And while our country’s statistics in both categories remain both shameful and world beating, I have to admit that I received a rude wake-up call when reading the many anxious posts from parents all over the world.

The issues confronting our kids here are confronting kids abroad: Depression, loneliness, anxiety, stress, panic under pressure, inability to connect, drink spiking, gender based violence … it’s tough out there. Added to all of these, of course, are the other stressors that will confront a foreign student specifically, including the challenges of negotiating distance, absence of family and “belonging”, different languages and cultures. These hurdles would be difficult for any undergraduate – for the class of 20/21, battered by Covid-19, lockdowns and isolation…? If the individual is not ready, it could be disastrous.

We send our students overseas, not only for an international education and the opportunities that privilege affords, but also to have fun and adventures.

However, it’s clear that for any future graduate of an international institution to flourish overseas they definitely need to be “match fit” and as ready to embrace the positive as they are to conquer the challenges of studying abroad.

How can you be sure your undergraduate, who in all likelihood, has never lived away from home, never mind in a new country, is ready, both emotionally and practically, to survive and thrive?

Does your student really want it?

As I so often do, I turned to parents’ groups, for advice.

Enthusiasm, realism, determination, drive, ambition and resilience, all came up as character traits that will help an 18 or 19 year-old push through the inevitable lonely or scary moments when they’re away from home. As Patricia Corrada, a member of The Village, wrote: “A good balance between a strong identity and the capacity for change and adaptation is important.”

Many of the parents I quizzed on the subject of uni readiness, made the point that the child’s desire to study abroad was the most important factor in evaluating their readiness to launch. Be honest about whose dream this is - does your child feel they are ready? Do they want to study abroad enough to withstand loneliness and the challenge of fitting into a new system.

USEFUL FACEBOOK GROUPS Join What I Wish I Knew About University to share experiences with other parents of students at uni in the United Kingdom Read advice and experiences of parents who have sent their children abroad to study on The Village

Is it the right course, country, college or uni?

Is your student mature enough?

Does the student understand the sacrifices (financial, most crucially) that their family will have to make to fund their studies? The financial consequences can be ruinous if a year (or years) abroad doesn’t work out.

The first year at many universities includes a lot of socialising aka drinking and partying. Will your child be able to self-motivate and discipline themselves to do the work necessary, to keep on track?

Is your child streetwise enough to keep their head when all around them their peers are off theirs? Issues arising around nights out can be more serious when parents are not around the corner to mop up tears or worse.

Can the student be relied upon to hold down the practical, administrative and logistical demands of being alone, many miles from home?

Christine Dennis, a parent on the Facebook group, “What I Wish I’d Known About University” noted: “My family and I moved to a non-English speaking country when my son had just started high school and the culture shock was immense. Although we loved it there, the language barrier was a major issue, as was the difference in expectations and how people behave.” Is the country “familiar” to your undergraduate? Will they have a support structure in place? Even if universities offer study in English, having to navigate daily life in a foreign language can add extra stress. Are they ready for that?

Katie Ann Craddock, a member of The Village, shared some wisdom about steps to take, before starting at uni: “I’m in Cape Town, my son is in Cardiff. I think the nine months our kids have from finishing matric to starting in September can be really helpful. My son lived in London, got a job, learned how to take care of himself and generally ‘grew up’. Covid meant Mom and Dad could not be over in 13 hours, if necessary. He had to figure stuff out.”

Make a start in Jan & Sept 2022,

for this route into one of Europe’s most prestigious universities.

Study Opportunities

in Business & Economics Ranked

55th

university in the world and one of two Dutch universities in the top 100

(QS World University Rankings 2022)

Learn more at oncampus.global and make a start in 2022.

Amsterdam Half Page Ad Request.indd 1

Another Villager Hester von Otterlo Vaughn, added this hugely useful advice: “Teach them some basic ‘adulting’ skills, like cooking, cleaning, washing underwear in the shower, budgeting and sticking to it. Prepare some ‘scaffolding’ around them for when they hit a wobble e.g. ensure they know to ask for help the minute they feel they are struggling in their studies. Don’t wait until weeks have gone by. Decide upfront who they can call for help if help is needed?. What systems can you put in place proactively? Eg friend study groups, online therapy with an SA therapist (so you pay in Rands and not Euros/ Pounds/Dollars - yikes!) Schedule family Zoom calls so they don’t become isolated.”

It is also important, to establish as much as possible, upfront, that the university or college AND the course is the right one for your student.

In the UK for example, you cannot swap universities or courses, easily, mid year. The costs of making mistakes in foreign currencies are obviously of major consequence. An International guide or counsellor may be your smart first port of call, in order to help you make the best possible choice.

10/11/2021 10:23:44

Have you considered a dry run?

Noah Evens, also on The Village, added this gem of a piece of advice: “My top tip would be to find a safeish way for your child to do a test trip alone (e.g. with emergency help on hand from friends or relatives) and see how they get on. If they phone you every day wanting advice or comfort, they probably aren’t ready.

If you have to send them messages saying ‘Are you still alive?’ then they’re probably good to go.”

Have you and your child asked yourselves the toughest questions?

In this decision, as in many, the most useful questions to ask are often the toughest. Does your child really want or need to go? Does SA offer them a viable alternative?

Would doing an undergraduate degree here and post grad overseas be a better option? Do you instinctively feel they are ready to go? Can you afford it? And are you ready to let them go? And then, of course, you have to answer them, brutally honestly, as well!

(Especially the last one!) Good luck!

BEGIN HERE, GO ANYWHERE! THE DIVERSITY AT HCC IS VERY PROMINENT AND ADDS TO THE WORLDLY EXPERIENCE THAT THE COLLEGE PROMISES. I REALLY LIKE THE INTIMATE CLASS POPULATIONS

Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is a great place to start for international students who dream of earning a four-year bachelor’s degree in the United States. We help you to explore all your university options while you complete your first two years of university study with us. If you want to attend a selective four-year college, a liberal arts institution, a nationally-ranked university or an Ivy League school, HCC helps you get there!

AND PROFESSOR-TO-STUDENT RATIO. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME, WHO APPRECIATES AND IS MOTIVATED BY MORE ATTENTIVE TEACHERS. AS A RESULT, I EXCELLED IN MY STUDIES.” - LUNGILE NTULI, SOUTH AFRICA

HCC CREATES COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED WITH COLLEGE LIFE THROUGH FUN ACTIVITIES, WHICH MAKES

WHY CHOOSE HCC? •

Seamless transfer to four-year universities across the nation.

•

Low tuition – HCC’s tuition is among the lowest in Florida.

•

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with year-round warm weather, world-class entertainment and beautiful beaches nearby.

•

Outstanding faculty and personalized, quality instruction with an average class size of 25.

•

Nationally-recognized Honors Program provides pathway for transfer to elite universities.

•

APPLY NOW! international.hccfl.edu

Culturally diverse community, including international students from over 80 nations.

•

Dedicated support services for international students.

international@hccfl.edu

•

Nationally-ranked athletic teams.

HCCFLInternational @hccfl_intl youtu.be/IcvJYvLtzZI

•

On-campus luxury student apartments at Hawks Landing offer fully furnished 1, 2 and 4-bedroom/bathroom units with excellent amenities, such as a resort-style swimming pool and beach volleyball court.

MY EXPERIENCE AS A FIRSTYEAR COLLEGE STUDENT REMARKABLE.” - LURIETH RIBEIRO, BORN IN ANGOLA AND COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sign up to receive more information on HCC.

Media Management at NHL Stenden and can honestly say that the programme has taught me a new way of thinking, learning and approaching problems.

At NHL Stenden, we not only learn to understand other people’s

NHL Stenden is based in the north

perspectives, we also learn more

of the Netherlands and is an inter-

about our own ideas and build on

nationally accredited university of

our personal and professional skills.

applied sciences. We pride ourselves

I’ve found that through the projects

on the way we guide our students,

we do, the information we gather

encouraging them to discover their

lasts longer in my head than if I’d

talents and helping them develop

studied it from a book. And it’s more

both their professional and personal

intriguing for me when I get given

skills. Our innovative educational

recommended literature and do

concept and dynamic global

further research on a topic myself.

network means students work on real-world issues, giving them a head start in their careers. You can read more at nhlstenden.com.

Programmes degree study

degree study

BSc

Business Administration

BA

Creative Business & Media Management

BSc

Information Technology (IT

BA

Hospitality Management

BSc

International Logistics Management

BA

Leisure & Events Management

BSc

Communication & Multimedia Design

BA

Tourism Management

BSc

Marketing Management

BEd

International Teacher Education for Primary Schools

BBA

International Business

BEd

International Teacher for Secondary Schools

Elizabeth Kirk, first-year student of Creative Business and Media Management

I’m studying Creative Business and

“I’M MEETING PHENOMENAL PEOPLE AND SHARING AMAZING MEMORIES”

Undergrad Here, Postgrad There B Y

H E I D I

S U L C A S

... or bite the bullet and do the lot overseas? The answer depends on your student, of course, but there are other important factors to consider.

W

hen considering postgraduate study abroad, it pays to start researching and

planning early, but not to imagine that jet propulsion abroad is the only option. Some learners are not ready to leave home immediately after high school.

And it’s not always necessary!

An undergraduate degree overseas is an expensive option for most families. And, in many instances, there are brilliant viable options at home or in a neighbouring province. South African qualifications are internationally recognised.

But our last two years of lockdown have battered many of our South African universities. Many of us dream of our children having more freedom, more opportunities, more stimulation, more travel … and perhaps a more global education than they would have over here.

So if your child wants to study abroad, when is the ideal time to go?

Competition for places on honours and master’s programmes in South Africa is fierce, so if your child is one of those planning to study further, after their first degree, the question becomes, “Can I do my postgrad overseas, if they do a bachelor’s degree in South Africa?”

The short answer is yes, but there are certain milestones that have to be achieved to transition to an overseas education. And which country your child wants to study in matters – a lot!

The good news is that South African universities and degrees are still recognised overseas. But each country throws up different challenges to students exploring postgraduate opportunities.

The length of an honours or master’s programme is dependent on many criteria, including previous qualification level (bachelor or honours), the level of qualification you want to apply for, type of postgraduate degree, and the university.

I’m often asked about options for SA students who couldn’t get admission into an honours programme in South Africa.

It’s not always easy to get into overseas postgraduate programmes either. There are fewer places for postgraduates than for undergraduates, and many courses have quotas for the number of places available.

Limits on intakes are often dictated by the availability of faculty and laboratories etc.

It’s easier to go overseas as a student than to try to go as a young professional after you have finished studying in SA. If you intend to go overseas to live, go as a student.

Here are some examples of broad requirements in different countries: •

USA: A student doesn’t always need honours to qualify for postgraduate programmes.

Expectations are university and programme specific. Sitting the GMAT or GRE may be a requirement for graduate programmes. In the case of law school, students need to take the LSAT, and for medical school the MCAT is required for admission.

•

Canada and Scotland: A four-year degree is required for admission into a graduate programme.

So how does a student make sure they qualify?

•

second-class honours degree is required to be considered into a master’s programme (50-60% or 2:2). However this doesn’t guarantee acceptance.

For competitive programmes, a minimum upper second-class (60-70% or 2:1) honours degree will be necessary for consideration. If your child doesn’t have honours or should they decide to change their area of study for a master’s degree, they will have to find a pre-master’s programme and do a foundation or conversion course. In the UK, Kaplan International Pathways offer a variety of premaster’s courses, and many universities also have pathways to qualify for a master’s programme.

Not every faculty will have a foundation course and your choices might be limited by not having an honours degree.

Yes, past degrees are important; however at the postgraduate level, universities tend to consider many factors when accepting grad students. If your child is planning on doing a postgraduate taught in English, their competency in English will be tested or qualifications provided. Relevant work experience that any prospective student has on their CV counts towards demonstrating that they are a fit for any programme, too. It really is never too early to start working on a CV. Most importantly an applicant’s letter of motivation or personal statement carries more weight at the postgraduate level than at the undergraduate level.

Finding someone qualified to help with preparation of a personal statement is a good idea.

Generally South African bachelor degrees are three years and with an added year for an honours. In other countries (e.g. the UK), bachelor degrees either incorporate an honours year while in others, like the USA, bachelor degrees are done over four years.

The UK and Ireland: The equivalent of a lower

•

Australia: Master’s programmes can last from one to three years depending on a student’s success at the undergraduate level. The class of the degree and whether the applicant has an honours or not are considered. Some programmes will accept students without honours, but then the master’s will take additional time, typically another year.

MAKING THE DECISION EASIER Determine how much you have available to spend on your child’s education. Evaluate the best allocation of those funds: three or four cheaper years here, then one or two more expensive years overseas? Or four years overseas?

Establish what your child wants to or needs to study to achieve their dreams.

Determine where your child wants to I would recommend anyone wanting to do their master’s abroad to get help determining the necessity of honours and guidance on where to look for programmes.

Psychology, especially clinical psychology, for postgraduate and doctoral work is tough to negotiate in some countries – and it is really best to get help from a university counsellor or guide.

study. Think ahead – what do opportunities really look like here and abroad, regarding postgraduate places?

Choose your ideal programmes and evaluate them.

Apply at multiple universities.

Financing your postgrad studies

Apply for scholarships.

Postgraduate programmes tend to be shorter than undergraduate degrees. So although the cost for your master’s might be higher, you only pay for one or two years in most cases.

Good luck!

In addition, funding and scholarship money is more available and accessible at postgraduate level. There’s a useful article answering common questions like “Can I get a scholarship for graduate study” on the Quacquarelli Symonds Top Universities website - look out for links to country-specific scholarships.

Many people in higher education suggest that you don’t break the bank on an undergraduate degree but rather spend on a top-shelf graduate programme. Your last degree is the one that is often the determining factor in opening doors – that is when a student will define their speciality and develop a network in their field of choice.

The international experience is different at the postgraduate level. Students are by definition a bit more mature, a bit more focused and know what they want and need to do. It can be harder to make friends as the degree is shorter and people tend to be more settled in relationships. However, there are many international students at the postgraduate level and also opportunities to stay on and work after studying.

How to get the education that sets your child up for a fulfilled and successful future is a careful and considered balancing act between what you can afford, what your child dreams of and what is possible and available. We hope University Speaking will help you and your future student figure it out!

Study at UCD Ireland's Global University

Top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide Scholarships available for international students Career opportunities and 2-year stay back visa for Ireland*

* 2 year stay-back visa available for Graduate students 1 year stay-back available for Undergraduate students

Find out more

www.ucd.ie/global about UCD!

University College Dublin is Ireland’s most international university.

Over 8,500 international students study at UCD. We offer Ireland’s widest range of qualifications, recognised and valued by academic institutions and employers throughout the world. Located in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, UCD has been a major contributor to Irish knowledge, culture and global impact for 160 years.

Enquire today at www.ucd.ie/global/enquire

Enquire here Ireland’s Global University

TOP

1%

Is A Scholarship An Option?

If your child is gifted, whether in academics, sport or the arts, a scholarship can take the sting out of the cost of studying abroad.

B

ut how does one find out what scholarships are available? The Department of Higher Education and Training has a website listing international scholarships that they administer for South African students. These require a commitment to return to South Africa upon completion of studies.

Other scholarships are managed by other international government agencies. You’ll need to make friends with Google here, but also have a look at the advice given on websites like Top Universities.

All universities list the scholarships they administer on their websites. Be aware that many institutions will only consider an applicant who has already been offered a place at the university.

•

Newcastle University has competitive merit scholarships as well as the recently launched the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship, which has two awards available to South African students, each worth a 50% tuition fee discount. “We are looking for students who are outstanding academically, but who will also be active in the student community and make the most of what the University and the city of Newcastle have to offer,” says David Lennon, International Recruitment Manager at the university.

•

When an international student applies to Loughborough University and exceeds the entry requirements into their programme, they are eligible for a 25% (of tuition) academic scholarship for the first year, which is nothing to sneeze at.

•

The University of Glasgow has increased its Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship Award to £7 000 per year for 2022. It also offers generous postgraduate awards.

Academic scholarships Academic scholarships are never guaranteed. They are based on academic excellence but many fold in leadership and community service involvement too.

These are rarely, if ever, a 100% scholarship and vary considerably, but any financial assistance is worth the effort of applying.

At most universities, international students are automatically considered for scholarships and international student discounts when they apply. Some universities have competitive merit scholarships that have a separate application process. For example: •

University College Dublin has a range of scholarships available for international students, including 50% and 100% Global Excellence Scholarships.

•

The University of Dundee offers automatic scholarships of £5 000 to £6 000, per year of

study, for students from Africa. Check out the Vice-Chancellor’s Africa Scholarship (for postgrad study) and Global Excellence Scholarship.

Do your own research but bear in mind the importance of getting the right information from a reputable source.

As with the application process, an agent or counsellor can help you find the right programme and university, and then assist you with tackling the application (and visa) process.

Over the years, Heidi Sulcas of The Learner’s Journey has helped many undergraduate students access academic scholarships (which they did not necessarily accept) from universities such as:

•

Arizona State University (three students, up to 50% of tuition),

• •

niversity of South Florida (40% of tuition), U Loughborough University (many students, 25% of

•

Newcastle University (one student, 50% of total

first year tuition), tuition),

•

University College Dublin (two students, Global Merit Scholarships),

•

Kaplan International Pathways (many students, various amounts),

•

University of Glasgow (several students, £5000 GBP for each year).

Heidi has also helped a postgraduate student access a 100% tuition scholarship from the University of Glasgow.

US Sports Scholarships College sport in the USA is a phenomenon that enables students to use their sports ability to earn worldclass degrees. But applying to study in the USA can be difficult, says Tamryn White, Operations Manager at Aspire Atlantic. “With over 4 500 institutions to choose from, it’s hard for parents and students to know where to start,” she acknowledges.

Aspire Atlantic is a USA-based university sports consultancy that helps athletes find university scholarships. “Working with us can make the process quick and easy. We know how daunting the USA university admissions process can be, and have made it our mission to simplify it. Since inception, we have helped more than 400 athletes study in the USA and have secured over $40-million in scholarship money for them,” says Tamryn.

“Of course you can do it yourself, but we can remove the anxiety and stress that goes into sending your child to study overseas. It can be easy to target the incorrect institutions and waste a year or more of your time.

Aspire Atlantic can guide you in the right direction, find the best fit for your child, and ensure that the right effort is being put into the correct areas throughout the process.”

For many talented school athletes, US college sport is the next step in taking their game to the next level and potentially going professional.

YOUR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

STUDY & PLAY SPORT IN THE USA We are a Global Sports Recruitment Consultancy for USA Universities

We asked Tamryn for answers to some frequently asked questions about accessing sports scholarships at universities in the USA.

What are the pitfalls?

You need to be careful who you trust in the scholarship agency environment, and one thing that no agency can do is guarantee your child a scholarship. Each university or college and each sporting department has its own financial budgets and requirements. If someone says to you that they can guarantee you a 100% scholarship, it’s time to look at working with another agency.

Transparency is very important and we encourage you to do your research. Most families will need to pay a portion of their child’s education and cost of living in the USA, as it is very rare for 100% scholarships to be awarded.

How easy is it to get a sports scholarship to a US university?

Being awarded a sports scholarship is not an easy task as there are thousands of talented student athletes. Your child is not only competing against athletes from their

We are Aspire Atlantic.

We do it all!

With individual packages to meet our student's needs, we make your university admissions process quick and easy.

aspireatlantic.com info@aspireatlantic.com 010 443 9720

school, province and country - they are also competing against athletes from across the world.

There are three main associations that administer college sports in the USA: the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. The NCAA and the NJCAA each have three divisions, the NAIA has a single division.

As you can see, there are plenty of options for your child to play their sport, but they are a student first and academics do play a very important role. Depending on which sport they play, their academic average, the degree they would like to study and the family budget will determine which association and division will be a good fit.

It’s possible to go straight into a four-year college/ university; alternatively your child may need to attend a junior college for two years and then transfer to a fouryear institute for the last two years of their degree.

Do Ivy League universities offer scholarships?

The Ivy League universities are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton,

University of Pennsylvania and Yale. These eight universities do not award sports scholarships to student athletes; however, they do award financial aid to them.

This is a financial award that does not need to be paid back to the university; it is based on the holistic view of a student, such as taking into account the family’s financial needs.

We assist students applying to these universities, and we currently have Guy Waterhouse attending Princeton and playing golf, and Costi Christodoulou attending Dartmouth and playing soccer.

What do SA families typically struggle with during the application process?

The applications almost always ask for essays to be written, and we suggest that students start their applications as soon as they can as these essays need to be thought out and written well.

USA university and college applications can be confusing for South African families due to the terminology that is used. Students are often asked to add their social security number to the application, but as an international student, you won’t have one. Another catch can be the term “transcript” - here in South Africa we refer to these documents as “reports”.

Any advice for SA students?

Moving to another country is never easy, and it takes a strong and determined student to start their education overseas. Being homesick is normal and it takes time to adapt - you just need to give yourself that time and make sure to get involved in as many campus activities as possible! Being a part of a sports team does help significantly as you are training every day with teammates and often eating and boarding in the same dormitories together.

The winter weather can be an adjustment too, as it can get very cold in the northern regions of the USA.

Make sure you budget to buy the correct clothing when you get to the States – the clothing we have in South Africa is not made for the cold winter days in Michigan or Upstate New York!

Under what circumstances could an SA student lose their scholarship?

It is very rare for a student to lose their scholarship; however, it has been known to happen if a student breaks rules and regulations. These can include USA laws, team restrictions or league rules. Not turning up for classes and training can also lead to scholarships being taken away. Any of these offences or illegal acts could lead to the student having their scholarship removed and being sent back to their home country.

How should SA learners prepare for the college admission tests?

Admissions tests are a critical part of the USA university application process. The SAT or the ACT allows you to compare your academics against those of other students from all around the world.

It is important to find the correct assistance in South Africa when studying for these tests to ensure you do as well as possible to boost your chances of getting a scholarship. The content of the tests is very similar to what is taught in South African high schools but it can be asked in a way that makes it difficult to understand.

Finding good ways to practise is also really important!

You can find many practise tests online, or use a free resource like Khan Academy. You can also turn to a tutoring service, like our partners Genius Premium Tuition, who can provide expert help on doing your best in the test.

If your child is keen to take their sport to the next level and get a great university education in the USA, speak to us and we’ll give you advice you can trust.

• A global top 150 university (QS Rankings 2022) • Affordable, friendly city location • A founding member of the Russell Group • Awarded 5 QS Stars for student employability (QS 2021) Subject areas include: • Engineering • Medical Sciences Top 10 fo • Business r sport in • Accounting and Finance the UK (BUCS Ra • Agriculture nking) • Law • Computer Science • Psychology • Politics and International Relations

From Newcastle. For the World.

Chiara – Biomedical Sciences After I left school, I went to Wits University to study Medicine. I became interested in Neurology and Neuroscience, particularly in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s after I shadowed a Neurologist during my training. I decided that I wanted to contribute to research in that area so I chose to transfer out of Medical School and onto a specialist Biosciences degree instead, and the UK offered a better range of research-focussed Bachelor’s degrees.

I visited campuses in London and in Edinburgh, but when I visited Newcastle it seemed like somewhere I’d feel more at home. I like the variety it offers, there are parks, beaches and countryside very close to the city so you’re not stuck in one environment. I like that the city is quite compact too, so you can walk everywhere.

For anyone thinking of coming to the UK to study, I’d advise you to try to speak to someone who goes to the university you’re thinking of. There are so many universities to choose from in the UK and they all have different types of culture and community. Talk to people and watch videos of the campus and try to imagine where you could see yourself.

ncl.ac.uk

The University of Limerick is ranked 35th globally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings.

This reflects the University’s commitment to graduate employability, dedication to the student experience and industry-relevant programmes. Study at the University of Limerick in a welcoming, safe & affordable English speaking environment.

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of Education & Health Sciences Kemmy Business School Faculty of Science & Engineering • Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD Degree Programmes • QS World Ranking Top 3% of Universities in the World • QS World Graduate Employability Rankings 201-250 • 35th Globally for University Impact in the Times Higher Education Ranking

Dublin

• 97% of UL Graduates are in Employment or Conducting Further Study • Graduate working visa - 1 Year for Undergraduate and 2 Years for Postgraduate Students

Shannon airport

• 80+ Clubs and Societies • No. 1 in Ireland for Sporting Facilities

ul.ie/international

• Affordable On-Campus Accommodation

I nternational Student Barometer Survey 2019 * UL Graduate Destination Survey 2018

UL_Africa-advert-204x254mm-AW.indd 1

02/06/2020 14:53

Is My Child’s Matric Accepted Overseas?

B Y

H E I D I

S U L C A S

How the different curricula impact your choices.

A

fter 12 years of schooling, most South African learners will write final examinations set by the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the

Independent Examination Board (IEB), the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge Assessment International Education (AS and A levels).

CAPS stands for the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement, “a single, comprehensive, and concise policy document introduced by the Department of Basic Education” which governs the educational policy implemented by provincial education departments and three independent boards, of which the IEB is the largest.

The curriculum at IEB schools uses CAPS as a guide but IEB Grade 12s write a different matric examination that has been assessed by the IEB and accredited by Umalusi, the council that sets and monitors standards for general and further education. In other words, students in state and IEB schools are taught similar content, but do not write the same exam. Both groups receive a National Senior Certificate (NSC) on passing, whether the learner has attended a state or private IEB school.

As a result, both NSCs are considered to be more or less the same by overseas universities, despite what you might have been told by marketing departments.

The IB and Cambridge curricula have separate criteria to the South African national curriculum and are independently accredited. They are universally accepted by universities.

If you have an NSC...

Whether you wrote DBE or IEB exams, your NSC is internationally recognised and in most places will allow for direct entry into international universities if admission criteria are met.

The programme choices open to you can be affected by your marks and by the fact that South African basic education is a 12-year system while in other countries, like the UK for example, it is a 13-year system.

So what countries will accept the SA curricula for direct admission if you meet the entry criteria? Going through all 200+ countries in the world will take some time. But let’s look at the most popular ones for South African students. If you meet admissions criteria and write a good motivational statement, your chances of gaining direct entry with a South African NSC are good when applying to universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Holland and Ireland.

UK: 85% of unis in the UK accept our NSC, whether IEB or CAPS, for direct entry if you meet admissions criteria on grades.

Only 60% of Russell Group Universities do.

USA and Canada: the NSC is recognised and our SA students do well, whether they were taught and examined at a state or independent school. Maths and English are needed for admissions; Maths Literacy can cause a hiccup as it’s not always recognised.

Specific programmes may have additional subject requirements or tests, like the SAT or ACT. The Netherlands: There are three different kinds of universities: University Colleges, Research Universities and Universities of Applied Science.

(See the glossary for explanations.) There are general admission requirements established by the Dutch government, but each university is autonomous.

Faculties within universities can also establish “additional criteria”.

There are three options if your child doesn’t meet the admissions criteria to a Dutch university college or research university:

Generally, University Colleges require a total of seven specific matric subjects, excluding Life Orientation.

Many require a year’s study at a University of Applied Science or local university.

•

Do a year at a local university

•

Do a year in a related subject at a University of Applied Science that will give you direct entry with your NSC

Research Universities have a similar entry criteria but a few faculties accept Life Orientation if you’ve achieved an aggregate sufficient for direct entry. For example, Maastricht and Utrecht will accept students with an NSC directly into some programmes but for others a foundation or bridging course is required.

•

Do a foundation programme at one of the accredited private providers (this tends to be 30% to 50% more expensive than international tuition at universities)

Ireland, Hungary, New Zealand and Australia: Our matric is recognised. If your child meets the admissions requirements, they can be accepted directly into year 1.

Universities of Applied Sciences accept our NSC for direct entry into most programmes.

Again, there are minimum admission criteria and Maths Literacy might not always be accepted.

If you did the IB or Cambridge exams ...

Consideration is sometimes given for advanced programme (AP) subjects and A level subjects.

IB and Cambridge are both internationally recognised for direct entry pretty much everywhere. They are more rigorous than the state or IEB systems. The biggest issue is that the proper level of testing, subjects and the timing of those exams are in line with what is required by admissions.

Bottom line: there is no generalising when it comes to the Netherlands. “All applications are considered on their individual merits” is often stated at the bottom of the page on admissions criteria.

The person assisting you in choosing your subjects for your final IB diploma or Cambridge A levels should have some knowledge of what you want to study in your higher education and where. That may affect your subject choice.

TAKE NOTE Promises or guarantees of admission should be

Without going into too much detail, there are several levels of Cambridge exams, IGCSE (or GCSE in the UK), AS level and A level. AS level is half of an A level, but necessary for completing the subject to the A level.

Some universities require two A level subjects, with a minimum of four other subjects to the IGCSE level.

Others require three A levels or two A levels and one or two AS levels.

In the USA, many universities only require five IGCSEs, including Maths, English and a laboratory science. There is a similar breakdown with IB’s SL and HL subjects.

All said, how well you do in matric or on your final IB or Cambridge exams, the subjects and the number of subjects you chose have a greater impact on your choices than the board that examined you.

If you had a bad day in your finals for a particular subject, does that mean that the door is closed for you?

No! Organisations like Kaplan International Pathways (UK and USA), On Campus (Holland, UK), Navitas (Europe, Canada, UK) and community colleges (in the US) provide a pathway for learners who might have fallen short of admissions requirements or need to add an additional subject.

treated with some suspicion until “the letter” arrives. Just because you meet the admission criteria does not guarantee admission into a programme. Every university is different and faculties within a university also evaluate applications differently.

Immerse Yourself Study at the heart of it all

1

2

Ryerson’s campus is located in the heart of Canada’s most dynamic city — Toronto, Ontario.

When you step out of the classroom, opportunity and excitement surround you.

3

#1

the DMZ is the top university-based incubator in the world

10

1. Experience the bustle of Yonge-Dundas Square 2. See the city by streetcar

zones where you can get involved in real-world projects

3. Explore one of the many trendy neighbourhoods like Kensington Market

Top 10

Canadian comprehensive university for student satisfaction

125+

research centres, institutes and labs

93%

Download our digital brochure for more information!

of programs with formal experiential component in curriculum

ryersonuic @ryersonuic

ryersonuic.ca

@ryersonuic

What If You Get Bs And Cs In Matric?

One of the most prevalent misconceptions regarding study abroad is that SA students can only get into overseas universities if they achieve top marks in matric. This is not true.

Y

our child may have to compromise on where they study initially for the sake of their longterm plan but if a B/C student wants to study internationally, there are a number of ways to get there.

UK: Some universities in the UK offer an International Year 0 (IY0); this is a foundation year, where students progress into year one of their chosen degree upon successful completion. Other universities offer direct entry into first year via an International Year 1 (IY1) for students who are borderline - IY1 is more intensive with smaller class sizes but upon successful completion students progress to the second year of your degree.

You may have heard the term “university pathway”, “foundation course” or “bridging course”. All of these refer to a preparatory year to prepare a student for university. While administered by private companies, many of these foundation courses are provided in study centres on the university campuses. So the student is still on campus and experiencing the university vibe, while completing one of these courses.

“University pathways are the optimal solution for international students who want to study a degree in the UK but do not have the academic qualifications for direct entry. Pathways bridge the gap,” says Wasim Alfaisal, Regional Manager at Kaplan International Pathways, which guarantees progression to a degree upon successful completion of one of their pathway courses.

“If you have a bachelor degree without an honours, you can do your master’s at a top ranked university in the UK by doing a pre-master’s pathway course.”

The Netherlands: If applying to a research university, many NSC matriculants (IEB or DBE) are required to complete a foundation year or a year at a university of applied sciences first. Universities of applied sciences have lower entry criteria and it is possible for a student with a B or C aggregate to attend these institutions.

There are pathway providers in Holland, like On Campus who offer private foundation courses specifically to prepare students for admission to research universities.

On Campus is part of the Cambridge Education Group whose business it is to provide pathways to higher education in many countries including the UK, USA, Sweden and The Netherlands.

Ireland: If a student doesn’t meet the criteria for admission to a faculty at UC Dublin, for example, they can do a privately administered foundation programme on campus to prepare themselves for entry into the first year of studies.

USA: There are open enrollment community colleges in the US that do not have minimum admission requirements and some, like Green River College in Auburn, Washington, will accept learners without a high school diploma. Students can start college and finish high school at the same time. It is possible to do two years of a degree at a community college and then transfer to finish the last two years at a top university.

Canada: Many universities offer foundation courses through pathway providers like Navitas who have offerings at the University of Manitoba, Simon Fraser University, Ryerson University and Wilfred Laurier to name a few. The same organisation has arrangements with universities in Europe and Australia as well.

NOTE: Foundation programmes are usually privately provided and for this reason the costs might be slightly to significantly higher than the first year of university.

This is country and university dependent.

DID YOU KNOW...

Through Hillsborough Community College’s 2+2 programme, students have access to several of the top 100 universities in the country?

“Community Colleges offer so many advantages to international students seeking undergraduate degrees – lower tuition than most universities in the U.S. or Canada, smaller class sizes, easier admission requirements, partnerships with great universities offering guaranteed conditional admission upon transfer, and strong support services to help students adjust to living in a new country and studying in a different system.”

- Marc Milsten, International Marketing Regional Director, Green River College

HCC has the resources and support that international students need to ensure entrance to a top national public university, Ivy League schools, leading liberal arts institutions and topranked research universities located throughout the USA.

dundee.ac.uk #DiscoverDundee

Discover the University of Dundee → Located on the east coast of Scotland, the University of Dundee offers a vibrant city centre campus and multicultural life to 17,000 students from over 140 different countries → Top 200 universities in the world for graduate employment rate (QS World University Rankings 2022)

Discover more

“I consider Dundee my home away from home. The people are truly amazing, they are nice and super friendly.

I couldn’t have asked for a better university experience.”

Aisha Yusuf Anas LLB (Hons) Law Graduate Nigeria 23288

with challenge, skills and connections.

Life-changing undergraduate degrees. Outstanding teaching. New skills for a great career.

Your best begins on the UK’s south coast.

port.ac.uk

Should They Stay Or Should They Go? B Y

V A N E S S A

R A P H A E L Y

The answer to the question “Should we send our child abroad for their undergraduate degree?” could be the shortest article ever written: If your family can afford it, just do it. But in the real world, there is much to consider. Here are the pros and cons.

The case for: •

In many cases, overseas institutions offer a superior education than our local universities are able to.

•

Your child will have a wider choice with regard to the courses and institutions on offer.

•

International institutions offer the possibility of gaining acceptance abroad into courses that are near impossible to get into at home. (For example, SA students who received B symbols in their matric finals will be considered for medicine and veterinary sciences at St George’s University in Grenada, in the Caribbean.)

•

A student will have more opportunities to enrich their studies, offered by projects run in conjunction with universities abroad. For example, engineering students at The University of Edinburgh, Georgia Institute of Technology, The University of Stuttgart, Cardiff University and other international universities get to build and race a racing car through the Formula Student programme. Sponsored by giants in the industry, this opportunity and many others like it, offer invaluable experience and exposure to a network

of peers, future employers and cutting-edge innovation.

•

Studying abroad offers international opportunities, contacts and networks, which assist a youngster in taking the first steps of an international career.

•

International students enjoy enviable exposure to foreign cultures, countries, languages.

•

They have opportunities to travel widely (and relatively cheaply) while at university.

•

There may be opportunities for graduates to stay on after study and find employment. (In Ireland, for example, you can work there on a South African passport for up to two years after graduating.)

•

Living alone abroad is a crash course in independence and self-reliance.

DID YOU KNOW...

The Amsterdam Business School at the University of Amsterdam has the triple crown status? That means that it belongs to the top 1% of business schools worldwide.

The case against: •

Graduates of South African Universities are still highly regarded worldwide.

•

It is a sacrifice for a family to send a child away. The university years can be precious ones if the family stays in the same town.

•

Leaving home but moving into digs nearby, or in a different province, is a less drastic, easier, first step into independence and adulthood.

•

Loneliness and homesickness can be a huge challenge to our young adults, many of whom battle mental health issues.

•

The expense.

•

The expense.

•

Did I mention, the expense?

•

Undergraduate tuition in the UK, for example, is extremely expensive, as are living expenses.

Often, there isn’t even an option to do a basic undergraduate degree - like in Scotland where honours is included in a four-year bachelor’s degree - making it more expensive still. In South Africa, the vast majority of bachelor degrees are three years and honours is an optional (and if-you-getin) fourth year. (Business Science at UCT, medicine etc being the exceptions.) Postgraduate tuition abroad is even more expensive, but the duration of a master’s or PhD may be shorter.

•

In the USA fees can range from US$7 000 a year for community college up to US$75 000 a year for private universities. On average, public universities, for out of state (which includes international) students’ tuition, range from US$20 000 to US$37 000 per year. You can expect to add at least around US$15 000 a year for living expenses, excluding flights.

•

UK tuition can range from £12 000 a year up to £38 000 a year, excluding medicine, veterinary sciences and dental, which can set you back up to £40 000 a year. Living expenses can add at least another £10 000 a year, excluding flights.

•

In Australia and New Zealand tuition can set you back up to AU$15 000. And living expenses will be in the ballpark of AU$37 000.

•

In Canada average tuition fees for international students are CA$30 000 but can be as low as CA$18 000 or as high as CA$45 000. Expect to add at least CA$15 000 for living expenses.

•

In the Netherlands, international student tuition is between €6000 and €15 000 per year and living expenses can be expected to add a further €12 000.

•

In Hungary international tuition costs on average between US$9 000 and US$17 000 and the living expenses add another €12 000 per year.

DISCOVER YOUR STORY Your future awaits at Fraser International College in Vancouver, Canada

SFU HIGHLIGHTS

#1 Comprehensive university in Canada Maclean’s, 2020

Top 50 Among the world’s universities Times Higher Education University Impact Ratings, 2021

3rd In the world for entrepreneurial spirit World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI), 2021

24th

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY AT FIC Fraser International College will help you advance to your degree at Simon Fraser University, one of Canada’s top leading universities.

Fraser International College and Simon Fraser University will help you explore your own path and build your own story.

We offer innovative programs with a focus on academic excellence in addition to a vibrant campus community. It’s no wonder SFU is consistently ranked one of Canada’s top universities. You’ll be taught by worldrenowned educators and build connections with talented students who share your passion for learning.

Among the world’s innovative universities World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI), 2021

150

DOWNLOAD OUR DIGITAL BROCHURE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Distinct programs

FRASERIC.CA

The Magnificent 7: Future-Proof Degrees To Consider Help your undergrad choose a degree to ensure that their skills are always in demand!

T

he years of “any degree so long as it’s medicine, dentistry or law” are long gone. The future requires a wide range of new skills … here are some for you and your child to consider.

THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS Some degrees have always been in demand and will continue to be: the health professions, for example. The human body and mind require constant panel beating and maintenance, and as we live longer, health issues become more prevalent and the need for experts will remain and grow. With the planet’s current pandemic of mental health challenges not showing any signs of abating, demand for social work, mental health and nursing professionals will remain strong. Look at this option at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, and this at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Students qualified in pharmacology will also continue to be much needed. As viruses innovate and multiply, so must the development of new drugs to treat them.

SUSTAINABILITY Any degree in sustainability, renewable energy or atmospheric sciences will offer skills that are almost guaranteed to remain in demand for the foreseeable future. A degree such as the BSc in Global Sustainability Science, offered by Utrecht in the Netherlands, ensures students learn to develop solutions to sustainability issues by studying the interaction between humans and nature at the local, regional and global level. At Illinois State University, in the USA, students can major in Renewable Energy, which prepares them for careers in energy sustainability and efficiency (wind, solar, biofuels, and biomass energy development as well as regulatory and government policy analysis).

With forecasters warning that global pandemics are here to stay, students with an interest in studying health should also consider studying public health and epidemiology. Read more about the MSc in Epidemiology offered at the University of Edinburgh.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things at atomic and molecular level. Advances can be used across all of the other science fields, including chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.

Nanoscientists are and will continue to be much in demand in the pharmaceutical, health, agriculture, environmental, food and beverage industries, as well in government and private research institutes. A nanotech professional will easily find lucrative jobs. Find out about the BSc Nanobiology programme offered at the Delft University of Technology.

DID YOU KNOW...

Ryerson University has the #1 university-based business incubator in the world? 83% of the programmes at Ryerson University have a work component in the form of co-ops, internships, and work practicums.

Computing Science at Simon Fraser University offers one of the top 50 computing programmes in the world, providing work-study opportunities to earn money and gain experience while a student?

Loughborough University offers Bio Engineering? When we find solutions to the fuel crisis, global warming, lower-cost pharmaceuticals or cleaning up oil spills, bioengineers will be involved somehow!

Green River College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Aeronautical Science prepares students for entry into careers like Commercial Airline Pilot, Air Traffic Controller and in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAV/UAS or Drone)? They even have flight simulators and air traffic control scenario simulations.

BIG DATA

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Allied to the projected demand for health professionals, is the need for professionals with skills associated with how we understand and manage all of the information collected to treat the human body. Bioinformatics, biostatistics and health information technology all are essential for managing records.

The field of Bioinformatics (the science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes) is growing because of development of new drugs and general innovations in the health field (the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says demand for these skills will grow 15% by 2029). A master’s in Bioformatics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, is highly regarded as is the Biostatistics programme at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

THE INTERNET OF THINGS Professionals equipped to work in The Internet of Things, or IoT (the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet, all collecting and sharing data) will continue to grow in importance and relevance. Data analysts, experts in networks and the networking structure, security, hardware and devices, user interface, embedded programs and in artificial intelligence are and will remain in great demand. Look into the BSc in Internet of Things from Florida International University.

Managing our volumes of data, organising it and learning how to understand it, has become a degree path leading to much-in-demand careers. If mastery of Big Data, data analytics or business intelligence appeals to your bright child, have a look at the opportunities in Data Science at the University of California Berkeley or the Econometrics and Data Science programme from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

CAREERS FOR YOUR CLEVER GAMER Gaming is here to stay! Gaming development and design, sound engineering, integration of smart devices and production are all exciting and dynamic fields with huge opportunities … There is a place for artists of all types in our world of technology. Explore the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology offered by the University of Portsmouth.

THE NEW “MEDICINE” IS …

ENGINEERING ALL the engineerings, TBH. If your child can grind through the demands of what are universally considered amongst the most demanding of degrees, their skills will always be in demand. Mechatronics engineers, for example, are reputed to be the most highly prized recruits for start-ups worldwide. Expect your justgraduated engineer to be feted even more if their degree relates to the petroleum industry (including “beyond oil and gas”), computers, biotech, sustainability, AI or alternative fuels for the future. We’re not wild about rankings, but this list of the “The Best Engineering Technology Programs in the World Today” will give you a good starting point.

Inspiring Lives: Believe. Belong. Become.

Join WLIC START YOUR PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS WITH WLIC

Your pathway to Wilfrid Laurier University.

TORONTO

97% graduate employment rate!

KITCHENER WATERLOO HAMILTON NIAGARA FALLS

WILFRID LAURIER INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE (BRANTFORD)

WLIC provides a pathway for international students into 60 different programs at Laurier.

High demand, career-focused programs include:

• • • • • •

UXD Data Science Computer Science Economics and Accounting Economics and Financial Math Communications

January, September and May intakes!

START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY

laurieric.ca

EMPLOYMENT With one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ontario, Brantford is a great place to find a part-time job and is ideally located for Co-op placements.

HOUSING Choose to live in university residence or find an affordable shared house/apartment close to campus. Rent is 40% less expensive in Brantford than Toronto.

Wilfrid Laurier International College

website Scan to visit our

more information!

for

@wlaurieric

Do University Rankings Matter?

The Good News B Y

V A N E S S A

When searching for a great fit for your undergraduate degree, it’s easy to be swayed by the prestige of a high-ranking university.

Heidi Sulcas believes you shouldn’t be.

I

f you take them at face value, university rankings are comparisons of institutions of higher education based on various measures. These include funding and endowment, research excellence and/or influence, specialisation expertise, admissions, student options, award numbers, graduate employment, historical and other criteria. While they might be all those things, they are also a very powerful marketing tool. But do they really matter that much?

There are more than 20 different ranking systems worldwide, including THE (Times Higher Education World University Rankings), QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities, or the “Shanghai ranking”), US News & World Report, the Princeton Review, and the Complete University Guide amongst others. Some, like the Guardian University Guide, focus on one country’s universities only.

But none of the rankings gives a comprehensive overview of the strengths of the institutions they evaluate. Because all select a range of quantifiable characteristics to base their results on, fair comparisons are impossible to make.

R A P H A E L Y

THE

ARWU

QS

London School of Economics and Political Science

27th

151st

49th

Peking University

23rd

49th

23rd

The University of Edinburgh

30th

42nd

20th

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

38th

101st

80th

Do your own ranking

Other questions to ask

If you are like me and want your children off the parental payroll at the end of their university career, look at universities that focus on graduate employability, availability of undergraduate research, innovation among faculty, and work placements or internships. You can find that information on most university websites.

It’s important to evaluate other more personal extraneous factors regarding the fit of any choice as well: Where is the university located, what kind of placements are available after graduation?

If you have a child with a passion, look at the ranking of the particular degree programme that they want to pursue. For instance, if your child wants to go to the States and study drama, don’t focus on universities like Harvard even though their overall rankings are high and come with prestige and show-off value. The best choice would be to apply to the top drama programmes: Juilliard or NYU or UCLA. The best programmes in specific disciplines are seldom represented in the overall rankings.

University ranking has less to do with a student’s future success, than their determination to get a good education. While the advantage of networks, old boy clubs and snob value has undeniable appeal in our unfair world of privilege and its attendant opportunities, nothing beats passion, application and hustle in the long run. A fancy school will certainly help a graduate get noticed but a hard-working student, who has their eyes open to opportunity, who isn’t scared to participate in research, who gets to know their professors, who networks at job fairs and career days, who is determined to find a work placement programme or internship, will most likely do better in the long run than someone who merely attended an Ivy League university.

“Judging a university by its ranking is a lot like judging students purely by their grades,” says Alicia Butterfield, Regional Manager at Loughborough University, “Grades are a good indicator of the kind of student you are and your capabilities academically but they are not the whole picture. So we advise students who are looking at universities to consider rankings but to know that they are not the only indicator of quality. “

In Ireland, for example, not only are students with South African passports welcome (no visa required), but special visas are available that allow postgrads to work for up to two years after completion of their studies. Ireland is home to the European headquarters of Facebook, AirBnB and Google, so graduates from good Irish universities are well placed for future careers.

Then, is the university situated on a city campus or in a more isolated location - and what would suit your child best? Does it offer opportunities for international exchange? Does it excel in your child’s chosen field specifically? Is the degree recognised internationally where will graduates be able to practice; will they need a conversion course to move between countries?

If your child is going into a niched field and is aiming for employment at a specific firm, say one of the “Big Four” accounting practices, it’s not a bad idea to get input from the person running that business’s graduate programme or learner/student recruitment department.

At the end of the day, what’s crucial is the big picture.

Draw up a checklist of what you and your child are looking for, find the universities that match those must-haves, and then by all means check their rankings.

However, rankings should not be your only criteria.

DID YOU KNOW...

Loughborough has the oldest Civil Engineering Department in the UK? They’ve had time to hone their facilities and develop a working concrete testing lab on site!

Understanding The Jargon This list should help with some of the unfamiliar terms you’ll come across on your journey.

ACT (American College Test): American College/University

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): Graduate

entry exam and can usually be substituted for the SAT. Includes

Management Admission Test. Examination often taken to meet

a science section.

entrance requirements for MBA programmes.

ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE (USA): an academic degree that takes

IELTS: The International English Language Testing System is an

two years and is earned whilst attending community college

international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers

BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test): an aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for Medicine, Biomedical

IVY LEAGUE (USA): An American collegiate athletic

Sciences and Dentistry in some universities in the United

conference comprising eight private research universities

Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Thailand, Hungary,

in the northeast of the USA. Ivy league is used beyond the

Croatia and the Netherlands

sports context to refer to the group of elite universities with connotations of academic excellence and selective admissions.

CLEARING (UK): Process allowing applicants with no offers of

•

Harvard University (Massachusetts)

places on degree programmes to secure places at institutions,

•

Yale University (Connecticut)

which have vacancies, shortly before the start of the academic

•

Princeton University (New Jersey)

year. Begins mid-August each year.

•

Columbia University (New York)

•

Brown University (Rhode Island)

COMMON APP: The Common Application is an undergraduate

•

Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)

college admission application that applicants may use to apply

•

University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)

to universities within America.

•

Cornell University (New York)

COMMUNITY COLLEGE (USA): a more affordable alternative

JOINT HONOURS: A joint honours degree is where you study

to university education, community colleges (also known as

two subjects which are combined together to make one degree.

junior colleges) offer two year courses at the end of which students receive a diploma, certificate or associate’s degree.

LNAT (The Law National Aptitude Test): LNAT universities

Graduates may pursue university afterwards to complete their

(UK) require their applicants to take the LNAT because it helps

bachelor’s qualification.

admissions tutors differentiate between applicants who have similar grades. It is also helpful when applicants have different

CONDITIONAL OFFER: This is an offer made by the

qualifications. (Not all universities will require a LNAT).

admissions team which is dependent on students reaching certain grades in their exams (this will often be issued when a

MAJOR: Your primary area of study.

matric student applies with their mock exams).

MBBS (UK and Europe): Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of DEFERRAL: simply means delaying; a deferred entry means

Surgery; an international medical degree equivalent to an MD in

applying for a course and then taking a year out before

the US system.

starting it.

MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): The Medical F-1 (USA): Academic Student visa for students who are

College Admission Test is a computer-based standardised

permitted to enter the US to pursue a full course of study.

examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Caribbean Islands. It is designed

FOUNDATION YEAR: One- or two-year full- or part-time

to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and

course to prepare a student for entry to a degree programme

knowledge of scientific concepts and principles.

in a particular subject if the student doesn’t meet the entry requirements or needs a top up in English language.

MD (USA): Doctor of Medicine degree.

MINOR: Your secondary area of study, often optional.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test): The SAT is a college entrance exam that many colleges and universities in the United States

NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): The

(and in select other universities around the world) use as part of

National Collegiate Athletic Association is a nonprofit

the college admissions process.

organisation that regulates student athletes in the USA.

STEM: STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and PRIVATE UNIVERSITY: A university that is privately funded.

mathematics and refers to any subjects that fall under these

Tuition for a private college or university (before scholarships

four disciplines.

and grants) is the same for all students.

STUDIELINK (NL): Studielink is an online application portal POLYTECHNIC: Former type of degree-awarding higher

that most Dutch universities use for students to submit their

education institution in the UK. All polytechnics were elevated

applications. One can usually apply to four universities at once

to university status in 1992.

on Studielink.

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY: A university that is funded by the

STUDYLINK (AUS/NZ): Application portal used to apply to

government. In the USA, public colleges and universities are less

Australian and New Zealand universities.

expensive for residents of the state where they are located.

TIER 4 VISA (UK): A visa that allows students from outside RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES (NL): Research universities in the

the UK or Ireland to enter the UK as a full time student.

Netherlands offer more academically rigorous education that focuses on specific subjects.

UCAS (UK): The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

UK national organisation that administers applications for

RUSSELL GROUP (UK):

entry onto full-time UK higher-education programmes. This

The Russell Group is a catch-all term for a group of universities

allows you to apply to five university courses for around £26.50.

with a shared focus on research and a reputation for academic achievement. The group includes the original six red brick

UKVI: UK Visas and Immigration is a division of the Home

universities. There are currently 24 universities within the

Office responsible for the UK’s visa system.

Russell Group: •

University of Birmingham

UNCONDITIONAL OFFER: This is an offer made by the

•

University of Bristol

admissions team which is not dependent on students reaching

•

University of Cambridge

certain grades in their exams, or where they already have their

•

Cardiff University

exam results and satisfy all admission requirements.

•

Durham University

•

University of Edinburgh

UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES (NL): Universities of

•

University of Exeter

Applied Sciences in the Netherlands offer profession-oriented

•

University of Glasgow

programmes that are designed for students who are looking to

•

Imperial College London

enter a particular career upon graduation.

•

King’s College London

•

University of Leeds

USMLE (USA): The United States Medical Licensing

•

University of Liverpool

Examination® (USMLE®) is a three-step examination for

•

London School of Economics & Political Science

medical licensure.

•

University of Manchester

•

Newcastle University

•

University of Nottingham

•

University of Oxford

•

Queen Mary, University of London

Facebook group “What I Wish I Knew About University”

•

Queen’s University Belfast

https://web.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

•

University of Sheffield

•

University of Southampton

Facebook group “The Village”

•

University College London

https://web.facebook.com/groups/1718861155110611

•

University of Warwick

•

University of York

RESOURCES

International University Guidance and Advising: “The Learner’s Journey”

SANDWICH COURSE: Course that includes a long period of work experience. Degree sandwich courses usually last four years, with one whole year spent on a work placement.

www.learnersjourney.co.za

www.lboro.ac.uk E: international-office@lboro.ac.uk

Study at one of the UK’s top universities With an outstanding reputation for Sport, Engineering, and Business. Our 440 acre campus is just 77 minutes on a train from London, with guaranteed accommodation in our student village and professional, year long placements available across all undergraduate programmes. An award winning student experience, visit one of our our virtual open days to find about why Loughborough University was named University of the Year 2020 and University of the Year for Sport 2022.’

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION ‘TABLE OF TABLES’ 2020 RANKED 5TH

COMPLETE UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2022 RANKED 7TH OUT OF 130 UK UNIVERSITIES