Courses in Canada. Studying English in Canada

In most of the instructions and articles distributed on the Internet on the topic of studying abroad, the issue is partially covered. Usually given information about the choice educational institution adult person. Questions about the possibility of studying abroad junior schoolchildren most often investigated in passing or missed altogether. At the same time, the procedure for registering children in general education schools abroad has a number of significant features that parents need to know about.

Study Abroad Opportunities for School Students

It is necessary to distinguish between short-term and long-term programs of education abroad for schoolchildren.

1. Short-term programs include, for example, programs designed for school holidays, when students are given the opportunity to learn a foreign language directly in the country of its speakers - English in the USA, French in France, etc. At the same time, schoolchildren live in boarding houses or families, attend lectures, get acquainted with the culture of the country. Most often, these programs are paid, but it is possible to find exchange programs or charitable ones. In these cases, students have the opportunity free education.

   

2. Long-term programs include the education of children and adolescents in general education schools Abroad. If there are no problems with the paid version, then the free one should be looked for. It must be remembered that in the West there is a system of educational institutions different from the Russian one. V primary school children from 6 to 12 years old are trained, in the middle from 8 to 12, and in the highest from 12 to 19. The choice depends on the wishes of the parents and the child. In addition, schools are divided into general, private, religiously oriented, gender-separated, day, boarding and half boarding schools.

   

If you decide to look for free education for your child, then be prepared for correspondence with a huge number of schools. This is the only way to find the one who agrees to take your child under her wing. This happens if the school participates in charitable activities and leaves several places for free education for foreign students.

It is unlikely that your child's education at school will be completely free. In any case, you will have to pay for his accommodation, meals, school supplies, etc. If you do not define a family as the place of residence of the child, then your student will be able to study only at a boarding school.

Check out our material about and prospects for students.

Video - 10 facts about school in the USA

Study Abroad Opportunities for Students

For young people, unlike schoolchildren, there are many more opportunities for free study abroad, although they need to be sought. Nothing happens for free. If you study for free, then someone else is paying for you. As in the case of schoolchildren, you need to find an educational institution that participates in charitable programs. So, grants for free education of foreign students can come from the funds of the school, the state, from businessmen, companies and public funds.

These funds are distributed in different ways:

1. Grants may partially or fully cover material costs. Grants are mostly one-time, although they can be re-granted.
2. Scholarship is regular. It is usually awarded for the student's merits - victories in sports competitions, successful projects, learning abilities, etc.

   

3. Research Fellowship – for people with already existing higher education who want to engage in research activities. Many educational centers around the world invite young scientists to competitions in which this scholarship becomes a prize.
4. Assistant Scholarship– again for people with higher education who want to do doctoral studies and at the same time express their consent to work as an assistant professor. Know that within the framework of this scholarship you will not only study, but also perform certain work - give lectures or participate in department programs.
5. « global education» – a Russian program in which education abroad is paid from the state budget of the Russian Federation so that a student who has studied abroad returns to his homeland and returns the funds spent on him by working in his specialty for 3 years.

   

   Global Education Program

6. Global Ugrad – american Government program, which gives full-time students from Europe and Central Asia the opportunity to study in the United States. In addition to this opportunity, the US government also assists students in obtaining a visa, pays a monthly stipend, compensates for the cost of accommodation and meals.
7. Au-pair- This program can hardly be called completely educational. Rather, it aims to create cultural and human bonds between citizens. different countries. This program operates in and in the United States and assumes that young people can enter the territories of the participating countries, live there for free with families and learn the language. In return, young people undertake to help the host family around the house and look after the children. In principle, this is a very good and cheap way to get to know the world. . The program is conditionally short-term, which sets the student's stay in the country from 4 months to one year.

   

8. work and Travel – the most famous of the free education programs, enjoying well-deserved popularity. As part of Work and Travel foreign students- full-time students under the age of 23, the right to work and study in the United States is granted. The program belongs to the category of short-term.

   

Choosing an educational institution

What to consider when choosing an educational institution

First of all, you should decide in which country you would like to study. There can be many criteria:

1. Proficiency in one or another foreign language. It is hardly worth choosing the USA if you want to get an education in Chinese.
2. High cost. It should be remembered that accommodation, food, clothing cost money. If you are not constrained by means, then you can safely choose Luxembourg or Switzerland. But if you need to save, then carefully study the prices of basic products, goods and housing in countries where you would like to get an education.

Rules and requirements of educational institutions for applicants:

The country	Image	Requirements
		1. The language of instruction is English. 2. Testing for knowledge of the language or the presence of a language certificate. 3. It is necessary to complete at least one university course in your home country. 4. When entering on the basis of secondary education, you must first pass preparatory Course, then - 3 years of bachelor's degree
		1. Teaching in German and English. 2. Upon admission, it is mandatory to test for knowledge of the language. 3. You must have a higher or incomplete higher education. 4. No entrance exams required
		1. Teaching languages ​​are German and English. 2. Testing for knowledge of the language. 3. Entrance exams are not required. 4. It is possible to enroll in a preparatory language course
		1. Teaching languages ​​- English and French 2. Entrance exams are not required. 3. Testing for knowledge of the language. 4. Accepted for study with secondary education
		1. Teaching languages ​​are Italian and English. 2. Higher or incomplete higher education is required. 3. No language testing required
		1. The languages ​​of instruction are French and English. 2. Accepted for training with secondary education if there are high grades in the certificate. 3. Language proficiency test or language certificate required
		1. Admission based on the results of the exam. Sample Exams Scholastic Aptitude Test is a scholastic aptitude test that assesses proficiency in mathematics and grammar. 2. Language proficiency testing is required. 3. On the basis of secondary education, they are admitted to the university at the undergraduate level
		1. Entrance exams are not required. 2. High marks in the certificate of secondary education are required. 3. Language proficiency testing or a language certificate is required. 4. Teaching languages ​​- English, French
		1. Admission based on secondary education and good grades. 2. Teaching languages ​​- English, Chinese. 3. Testing for knowledge of the Chinese language

The list is not exhaustive, but gives an idea of ​​the most attractive countries for Russian schoolchildren and students. .

The procedure for obtaining an invitation and the procedure for issuing a visa

Having decided on the country of study, you should proceed to the next step - obtaining the consent of the educational institution. It is advisable to send letters to several schools or universities to increase the chance of receiving an invitation. It is also necessary to clarify the requirements of each of the educational institutions for applicants, the list required documents etc. Thanks to the availability of the Internet, all these actions are very easy to perform.

A more difficult stage is obtaining a visa to enter the desired country. It includes a whole list of necessary actions.

Visa for a child

Attention! The cost of a visa to the EU countriesfluctuateswithin 30-70 dollars.ranges from 160 to 200 dollars.

US Embassy and Consulates in Russia on Google Maps

student visa

List of documents to receive student visa little different from obtaining a visa for a child. An adult student does not need to be accompanied by an adult, and also does not need a notarized consent of the parents for his departure abroad.

1. Be prepared for the fact that the process of obtaining a visa will take a long time.
2. Prepare well for your interview at the US Embassy. Find out more about the educational institution you are going to enroll in, about the chosen program of study. You must convince the embassy officer of the seriousness of your intentions to study.
3. Take care of collecting the necessary documents in advance, do not leave everything to the last moment.
4. When submitting documents, have money with you to pay consular and service fees.
5. Do not worry. Everything will work out for you.

Video - Free education abroad

Video - How to send a child to study in Europe for free?

Video - Where you can study for free in the USA

The quality of education received while still a student is, in fact, a marker of the quality of future life, and studying abroad adds to professional knowledge an impressive cultural background and excellent knowledge of several foreign languages. Studying abroad is not just a claim to a high status or a desire for a prestigious specialty - it is an investment in your own future, justified and competent.

Studying abroad for Russian students usually comes down to taking into account the following indicators:

• The quality of education and the status of the diploma;
• The need to speak a foreign language;
• Cost of education and living in the country;
• Distance from home.

For different parts of the world, these figures are different.

European countries have some of the highest indicators of the quality of education and standard of living. Studying abroad for Russian students who want to enter universities in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic involves bonuses - they do not need to know the language of the country in which they will have to study. Teaching in most cases is conducted in English, sometimes even in Russian, and for admission to many state universities a short 100-hour language course is required on the spot. Italy offers preferential programs, and France and Britain, although they require a language proficiency test and passing entrance exams, do not require a lot of bureaucratic procedures to go through on the spot. Most of Europe is connected by the Schengen Agreement, which means that by studying in Poland or Spain, for example, you will be able to travel all over Europe. There are no borders for visiting sights, traveling and making friends, and you do not need to obtain an additional visa. The flight from Munich to Moscow takes only a few hours - which means that the family will be within easy reach.

Studying in America and Canada is a great chance not only to get a good specialty, but also to improve your English level. The main areas that Russian students prefer to choose in these countries are biophysics, cosmonautics, computer science, electronics, culture and law. Upon admission to an American or Canadian university, an applicant automatically receives the right to work in the country, which can help those who set themselves such goals to gain a foothold abroad. Yes, and extra income does not hurt anyone. Numerous programs (such as Work & Travel and others) allow you to live in the country for a relatively short time even before entering a university and decide whether the local environment is suitable for further professional development.

The Asian, eastern direction has always been not as popular as the western one, but in last years the resulting "skew" began to level off. Studying in China and Japan primarily attracts those who see their future in working with electronics, technology, and industry. This direction is also popular among all lovers of oriental culture. Often educational programs for Russians are aimed at deepening knowledge in the field of language, oriental culture, which is very popular in our country. We can safely say that such specialists will be the most in demand in the future - after all, the eastern vector of Russia's development involves an increase in cooperation with Asian countries. This means that specialists who can provide this communication will be needed.

Educational programs South America are not as rich as European ones: local universities are not yet quite up to the world level. But there are exceptions: the universities of the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais are considered among the most prestigious in the world. In the countries of South America, private education is well developed, a number of private Catholic universities stand out in particular. Foreign students who come to study at universities in South America, as a rule, choose directions related to technology. Life here is very peculiar, but undoubtedly interesting, and the warm climate, exotic nature and an abundance of attractions will provide interesting leisure.

How to choose?

In an effort to study abroad, an applicant, as a rule, begins to dream about a particular country - this is the main mistake. Still, we are talking about education, the choice of a specialty, that is, the foundation of life. So you need to choose a place where this education is of the highest quality, where there is (and is taught at a high level!) A dream specialty. If it's in Milan, then it's worth going to Milan; in Paris means Paris. Well, if all your life you have dreamed of moving to the UK, where this niche is not developed - well, maybe you will move sometime - when there is an opportunity.

Not everywhere there is a quota for foreign students, and not all universities have a liberal attitude towards knowledge of the language. Therefore, having problems in one of these areas, you should clarify whether you can study in the chosen direction, and what status your diploma will have.

Underwater rocks

Not all aspects of life while studying abroad are a kind of paradise on earth. Problems may arise in the following:

• Social adaptation - the formation of a new social circle.
• The need to change lifestyle, nutrition, behavior.
• bureaucratic complexities.
• Medical service.

What's a plus?

With all the shortcomings, education abroad can provide enormous benefits. The advantages of such studies include the following points:

• Prestigious specialty and international class diploma.
• Travel possibility.
• The possibility of internships and work abroad, to which, after graduation from the university, the right to work in the country will be added.
• Acquisition of extensive cultural baggage.
• Excellent knowledge of foreign languages.

Studying abroad is a great way to broaden your horizons, reach a new level, become a citizen of the world.

Recently I decided to get a second education, but not in Russia. Knowing about the quality education that my peers receive in Europe and America, I also wanted to follow their example. If you believe the statistics, then 10% of Russian students annually go to study and conquer the USA, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, China and other countries. The issue of free education abroad is still relevant today.

In which countries can a Russian student study for free?

First of all, I decided to decide in which country it would be easier for me to live, where education would be cheaper for me.

Note that you can study for free only in public universities. They provide free education foreigners.

In other organizations, training is paid.

Many refer to training as "free" in quotation marks. The reason is that you should provide for themselves , you will have to spend money not only on food, but also on the library, gym and other services of the educational institution. Everything is paid annual fee . In addition, if you yourself are entering a university not under a funding program, then you will need to transfer money to your bank account, which would be enough for accommodation and meals during the entire period of study .

Since I work and can provide for myself, I did not pay attention to "free" education. Studying in Russia, we also spend on accommodation and meals. Moreover, considerable sums are spent on rental housing, and if I live in a student hostel then my costs will be much lower.

So, I will list foreign countries where you can get a free education and with what entrance requirements:

Note that the educational institutions of the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, China and other countries provide free education for Russian students.

But education at universities is not conducted in English, but only in English. mother tongue this country, for example, Czech, Chinese, etc.

Despite this, they are admitted to universities without exams, after school and after finishing the 1st year of a Russian institute.

Basic requirements for incoming foreigners

Each university and country has its own requirements, however, they are almost the same.

Foreign applicants can enter universities, taking into account the following requirements:

Documents required for studying abroad

The standard package of documents includes:

Each document submitted to the commission plays a big role.

If you do not submit any document, you may be denied admission.

5 ways to study abroad for free

There are several ways to get free foreign education. All forms directly related to donations . It can be provided to students by an educational institution, the state, a private entrepreneur, a representative of a public fund.

Here are 5 ways to do this:

• Grants or the so-called social help students , which is intended for educational expenses, the implementation of a professional project, training in summer schools, taking courses, etc. The grant is issued as a lump sum in the form of an incentive. You can get it again.
• Scholarship . When receiving a scholarship that can cover the cost of all or part of the training, a motivation letter plays a huge role. The scholarship may be awarded for achievements in the volunteer, sports, creative, academic fields, or other talents. The scholarship can be issued by the university itself, or by the Russian state.
• Research Fellowship . This way of getting an education is intended for those who graduated from the "high school" and plan to enter the master's program for further research activities. The state, representatives of private or public funds can issue such a scholarship.
• Assistantship . Designed for those who wish to enroll in doctoral studies. In addition to teaching, you will work as an assistant professor. His duties include reading introductory courses in your specialty, participating in research projects that your department is implementing. Such financial support can be provided by both the state and the institution itself.
• Global Education Program . A program was developed so that a student studying abroad at the expense of the budget of the Russian Federation, after graduating from the university under a master's, postgraduate, doctoral program, would return to Russia and work at the enterprise for 3 years. This is a great opportunity to get a free education and have workplace at the end.

So, as you understand, get free education abroad is possible . The main thing is to have a desire. When choosing an educational institution, I rely on entrance exams and requirements.

If you are also going to study abroad, then my advice is: think through everything to the smallest detail, how you will finance your studies, how much money you will need for accommodation, meals and other expenses, what exact documents should be sent to the university upon admission.

How to enter one of the Ivy League universities, where it is better to prepare for the language exam, what to write in a motivation letter and not to say in an interview, how to choose the right MBA school. The editors of Theory and Practice have prepared several instructions on how to prepare for admission to a foreign university, receive a grant and go to study abroad.

Step 1: situation analysis

When it is already clear that there is a need for foreign education, but there is no money for it, then it is worth deciding on the known variables. Items that should be checked first of all: the presence of higher education, knowledge of foreign languages, achievements in the chosen field and work experience.

They are most willing to give grants for master's and postgraduate studies, less willingly - for undergraduate studies. In addition, grants can be obtained for short-term research programs, summer language classes, participation in visiting schools and seminars. Scholarships for studying in the magistracy for foreign students are offered by most foreign universities. It is also possible to find a grant for a bachelor's degree, but in 90% of cases such a grant will either cover half the cost of studying in the first year, or will give an annual discount throughout the entire period of study. The largest number of offers is available to those who have a master's degree, were engaged in research activities during their studies, achieved certain results and enlisted the support of a research supervisor at their home university and have connections with research groups abroad.

Knowledge of foreign languages ​​will allow you to participate in more programs. Fluency in English is a mandatory requirement for almost all programs, even those that offer scholarships to study at Russian universities. Proficiency in any other language will set the candidate apart from the competition and allow them to choose from a larger list of universities and countries. Usually, training in master's programs (and even more so in postgraduate programs) in Europe takes place in English, but knowledge of the language of the country to which the candidate is going to go, at least at the initial level, is additional points.

In the next round, it is worth checking the quality of the diploma received. For programs that target leaders like Chevening, Fulbright programs, Edmund Muskie - Special attention refers to the quality of the diploma and the experience of the candidate. Program organizers don’t care if candidates have a red diploma (especially since in other countries there is no such thing as a “red diploma”), but it is extremely important for them to know whether the candidate always received the highest score or agreed to any assessment. In internal university grants there is no strict requirement for having only the highest scores, however, when choosing between two applicants for a scholarship, preference is likely to be given to the one who has GPA diploma above.

Also, when considering an application, they will pay attention to work experience and participation in volunteer programs. It is important that volunteering be in a field other than professional. Organizers usually give preference to versatile individuals with a wide range of interests and activities. Another of the main requirements of the Chevening program is at least two years of work experience in the chosen specialty. Participating in the British Council scholarship program, it is not necessary to confirm the presence of work experience. However, the jury at each of the presentations of its program does not get tired of noting that those who are cunning on one or another point are immediately visible. In addition to work, the experience of participating in volunteer programs is important.

Oksana Sytnik

PhD student at Universidad de Cádiz, Erasmus Mundus 2011–2014, Erasmus Mundus Master Grant 2009–2011:

“The idea of ​​studying abroad came to me quite spontaneously. One day I receive a letter from my teacher with a proposal: “There is such a program, Erasmus Mundus is called. Would you like to try?" I tried. And she completed the Erasmus Mundus Master in WCM Water and Coastal Management, the first semester in Plymouth (UK), the second and third - Cadiz (Spain) and the Algarve (Portugal).

My choice of this specialty is not accidental. I am from the coastal city of Novorossiysk, I graduated from the Oceanological Faculty of the Russian State Humanitarian University in St. Petersburg with a degree in Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Thus, as a postgraduate student of Erasmus Mundus, I continued my chosen direction related to marine sciences, environment and management of coastal areas.

During my studies on the master's program, I also had numerous field work with access to the open sea and trips to the mountains, laboratory research on biological diversity, computer modeling of coastal and channel processes, participation in thematic seminars and conferences. However, the most memorable was the scientific diving course organized during the second semester at the University of Cadiz. For those who had no experience of scuba diving, there was an extraordinary opportunity not only to open a license for subsequent diving, but also to see the universe of the sea with their own eyes, and much more: to understand how this universe functions, what wonders it hides in itself.

Step 2: Defining Claims

Having decided on the initial data, you can start searching for programs and try on a candidate for each of them, analyzing whether it fits the criteria that the organizers set for candidates and the level of claims and interests of the candidate himself. The first step is to decide at what level to continue education. It is logical to apply for a master's degree with a bachelor's or specialist's degree, choosing a program of a narrower specialization or choosing a related discipline: in this case, the candidate will benefit from work experience in this specialty and the ability to justify his decision to change the field of activity and certain achievements. Achievements should be rather formal - those that can be documented: victories in competitions, publications in scientific journals.

Masters can apply for further studies in graduate school (or PhD program) or in another master's program. To enroll in a PhD, you must have research experience and certain achievements that will speak for themselves, and for studying in a master's program - a serious reason for changing your specialty. Candidates of Science or PhD degree holders can afford to apply for participation in a research program - postgraduate.

Having decided on the level at which to continue studying, it is worth thinking about the country. It is necessary to build on the knowledge of foreign languages, on the experience of interaction with the country and on the programs that these countries offer to candidates who are not EU citizens. Russian citizens many grant programs are available in the USA, Germany, France, China, Japan.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that some programs organized by foundations have one of the requirements for the scholarship holder to return to their home country after graduation. When choosing a program, it is worth understanding that for some of them it will not be possible to immigrate to another country.

Natalia Ravdina

head of educational projects of the British Council:

“One of the important requirements of the Chevening scholarship program is the condition of returning to your native country after graduation. This condition is related to the interest of countries providing fellowships in developing cooperation with strong partners. Studying abroad opens up incredible opportunities for networking in the professional community, laying the foundation for joint business and cultural exchanges. The return of fellows to their home country certainly facilitates the development of these partnerships and contributes to their prosperity.

There are different grants that imply different obligations for the people who receive them. The Chevening Scholarship, which is administered by the British Council, assumes that a successful candidate, after completing a course of study in the UK, will return to Russia, where he will apply the acquired knowledge and skills. Therefore, for those wishing to emigrate, this is probably not the most suitable way.”

Step 3: search for programs

You need to look for programs in four places: on the websites of foundations or organizations that administer scholarship programs, on the websites of specific foreign universities, on the website of the Global Education Program . It is also worth keeping an eye on the information that passes through your native university.

Almost all universities have a Scholarships section, which presents opportunities for covering tuition-related expenses. For example, the Student financial services section is at Harvard Law School, the Scholarships page on the website of the University of Melbourne, limited quantity scholarships are provided by the Danish technical university. Usually, all universities have different requirements: some cover tuition costs only partially, some completely, and some even include a small monthly stipend for personal expenses. It is on the websites of universities that you are more likely to find scholarships for studying at the undergraduate level. It is also usually on the websites of educational institutions that positions for training in PhD programs or the recruitment of a research group for work on a specific, most often very highly specialized, problem are presented.

In addition to foreign universities, Russian universities also provide scholarships. Every year, the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences holds a competition, together with the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, for training in cultural management under a double degree program: a Russian diploma in advanced training and a British master's degree in University of Manchester. Many Russian universities are partners of foreign universities and organize joint programs for their students. The Higher School of Economics cooperates with several foreign universities, and MGIMO partners with Technological University Monterrey, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University, Potsdam University and others.

Natalia Garanina

student of Tomsk polytechnic university, Erasmus Mundus scholarship holder:

“It all started with work on the diploma. The fact is that I received three educations at the same time: the main day one - in the specialty "Applied Mathematics and Informatics", the evening one - "International Management" and on the basis of the evening one more additional - "Translator in the field of professional communications". When choosing the topic of the diploma, I did not experience any particular problems, because I wanted to write something that combines mathematics and marketing. As a result, she took up the topic Mathematical Methods to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising.

However, there was either no literature on this topic at all, or it was in English (thank God, this did not cause me any special problems). And it was then that I realized that this topic is more relevant abroad. I decided that I should write my master's thesis outside my homeland. Then I found a very interesting specialty at the university in Paris - Quantiave Methods in Economics. I was looking for ways to get there. I found out that the specialty is supported by Erasmus Mundus, as well as by a consortium. The consortium has offered a limited number of scholarships to be distributed to each of the universities. They are available to all students (from EU and non-EU countries). The size of each scholarship is half the cost of education. I decided to enlist support (mainly financial) from both sides and began to prepare a package of documents.

The main attention had to be paid to writing a motivation letter: why do you need a scholarship, program, specialty? I wrote everything as it is. The commission rated my application as type A, which means accepted with a scholarship. However, it turned out later that QEM is not funded by Erasmus in this particular year. And training, even despite the tough competition, costs 4,000 euros. And that's not counting housing and travel expenses. In the end, the commission wrote to me that it gives 2000 from the consortium, that is, it pays only half the cost of training. I didn’t want to take money from my parents, and I myself didn’t work at that time, I barely had enough time for education. For a long time, until the start of classes, the staff of the foundation wrote me letters with links to other scholarships that I could try my luck to win.”

Step 4: collection and preparation of documents

Submission of documents is the most important step in the entire procedure for obtaining a grant. Experts get acquainted with the candidates, having only a standard package of documents in their hands, to which, in rare cases, you can attach a photo. Before you start collecting documents, it is worth studying the list of what is required for each specific program. Usually these are copies of documents on higher education and their certified translation, certificates confirming knowledge of foreign languages, CV and a motivation letter. Sometimes the organizers ask you to attach documents on general secondary education, a translation of a dissertation, a list of publications in scientific journals, a GMAT certificate, and possibly something else.

Fellows, that for fellowships such as DAAD, it is not only important to meet all the requirements for paperwork, but also to lay out the documents in the exact order in which they are listed on the program website. Sometimes an interview for a scholarship is simply not provided, and the organizers select fellows based only on the documents submitted by the candidates.

Irina Dobrynina

Fellow of the research internship program for young scientists of the German Academic Exchange Service:

“I received a scholarship from DAAD under the program “Research Scholarships for Young Scientists of the German Academic Exchange Service”. Choose a program according to your language skills: I only know German and my English is at a conversational level. The area of ​​my scientific interests: ecology, climate, climate change, urban climate, urban ecology. In Germany, I worked on assessing the microclimatic conditions of Kassel and Voronezh. Scholarships were enough for everything and even more - after all, it is 1000 euros per month.

I didn't have an interview. I sent all the documents in paper form to the Moscow representative office, where the experts make a decision. The competition is held in two stages: first in Moscow, and then in Bonn. I have documents - this is the only and important stage. You just need to comply with all the requirements stated on the site. If they ask you to put your CV first, and then a copy of the certificate, then this is how it should be done. Applications that do not comply with the requirements are simply discarded.

Most scholarship applicants have the most big question- how to find a professor in a foreign country who will make an invitation to work together. I had a professor from the very beginning - I met him through participation in international seminars. He came to our university, and that's how we got to know each other. He started working with my scientific instructor, I connected. But as I am told, it is not difficult to find a professor. You just need to think about it in advance - four months in advance.

The DAAD website has a special search system, which works well. You can also view the circulars of various international conferences. Just by reading a book, for example, you can find out that such and such a professor works in such and such a direction and write to him.

Many professors are happy to work with talented young people from third world countries and Russia. As a result of such cooperation, consortiums can be born, and consortiums receive funding. A European scientist lives on grants, and most of the grants are geared towards the international cooperation. After the internship, I, my leader in Russia, my leader in Germany, and several colleagues from Holland planned to create a scientific network.”

Step 5: Interview

The final stage in the pursuit of a scholarship is an interview. Interviews or interviews are most often conducted by large foundations involved in the distribution of grants. At the interview, it is important to demonstrate an interest in studying in general and in scholarships in particular, as well as convincingly talk about your previous experience, without contradicting your own application. The selection committee devotes the lion's share of its attention to how candidates can present themselves and how they talk about themselves. The veracity of what is written in the documents and the general adequacy of the applicant are also checked.

5% of candidates are usually invited for an interview if we are talking about large grant programs. The British Council typically receives around 600-800 applications for a Chevening Scholarship. The number of candidates invited for interviews depends on the number of fellowships.

Alexander Parolov

Cass Business School student, British Chevening Award 2011/12 scholarship holder:

“First I entered a British university, and then I learned about Chevening Scholarships and submitted documents. My parents were ready to give me the opportunity to study further because they believed it would change my life. However, the general meaning of this does not change, because agreements with the university can be reached without paying any fees - this will mean a conditional invitation.

The vast majority, if not all, of the 2011 Chevening Fellows had not yet entered universities at the time of the scholarship award. An agreement already reached with the university is not a requirement, it can only serve as a small advantage and proof of activity, but nothing more. Therefore, as general recommendation I can say that it is better to start correspondence with universities in advance, so that by the time you apply for the selected scholarship, you already have some history of correspondence with the university (perhaps even an invitation), which does not require tuition fees and at the same time will definitely distinguish you from the crowd. Fellow status can speed up and simplify the process of obtaining final approval from universities - this scholarship is highly respected in the UK.

The Chevening Scholarship attracted me because, in fact, it remained the only option for a Russian student who wanted to study for a master's degree in the UK - by that time I had already determined my preferred university and received a conditional invitation. I learned about the scholarship from a friend, and then I saw the information on the website of this business school. Following the website of the British Council, I learned that the scholarship not only covers a very large part of the cost of studying and living in the UK for young and ambitious leaders of their countries, but also makes serious demands on academic success, motivation and professional experience. Also, the scholarship holder must return to their home country after graduation in order to put the acquired knowledge into practice and change any aspect of life for the better. The results of the research were unequivocal: this scholarship is one of the most prestigious and difficult to obtain. I saw that I passed the main criteria and, despite my doubts, I applied. Two months later, I was already interviewed at the British Consulate in St. Petersburg, and three months later I was on a train paid for me to Moscow to sign a scholarship agreement.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the preparation of documents is the most important stage in the entire process of obtaining a grant or scholarship. The fact is that personal charm, competent and rich speech, intelligent behavior and neat appearance the jury will be able to see only if you pass the first stage of selection - the competition of documents. And here, as in any paper work (although now everything, as a rule, is in electronic form), the most important thing is accuracy, literacy, brevity and clarity of thought. Regardless of the scholarship you have chosen, and whether you complete the documents in paper form or electronically, there should be no contradictions in the application form and / or motivation letter (for example: full-time full-time study and full-time work in the same year) and grammatical errors, but there must be your achievements in all their glory, logical personal development with the correct chronology, a strong desire to receive a scholarship and an understanding of why you need it and why those who award this scholarship need it.

The latter is especially important for a motivation letter, the importance of which in the overall package of documents can hardly be overestimated. Its writing should be approached as the most important stage of the entire selection, because it is it that can become a ticket to the ship if the other parameters fall short a bit. Motivation letter should be clear, not too long, enjoyable to read, honest and smart - this is the point where you have to show that you have clearly defined your goals and understand how the scholarship will help you achieve them. From what I've heard most of candidates are eliminated precisely because they cannot formulate in writing or orally why they need all this and what they will then do with all this. Simple and difficult at the same time.

When the first stage - the competition of documents - is passed, you can relax and be a little proud of yourself, but then you will have to get together again, because the interview is also very important. I can only say that in the case of my scholarship, 50 out of 650 applicants were invited for an interview, but only 13 of them received a scholarship.

I can try to list things that I think should not be done before, during and after the interview: stay up late, have a heavy breakfast in the morning, show up back to back, act arrogantly aware of your own uniqueness, refer to mutual acquaintances and connections, flattering and complimenting the jury, smiling too much or laughing all the time, putting your feet up on the table and asking about the jury's impressions immediately after the interview.

First, read your application and letter again. If you are called to talk, it means that you liked it, but what places in the questionnaire can cause questions and clarifications? Identify them and prepare the correct answers. Think about what is the purpose of your program, who do they give a scholarship or grant, for what? This way you can prepare for the conversation. I personally wrote down all the possible questions on a piece of paper and looked through them in the morning before leaving the house. The second advice is to wake up a good mood in yourself, because you have already achieved a lot and will soon gain experience that others can only dream of. Therefore, smile, enjoy the process and radiate an unobtrusive positive - this is the key to success, I am firmly convinced of this. Don't worry about the circumstances of the interview itself: the environment is always welcoming and very friendly, these people are here to learn about your dreams and aspirations, they work there because they like helping people. It is much more important to practice answering questions and walk to the interview site on foot, if, of course, the weather permits. And the last thing - on the evening before, do not be too lazy to imagine your tomorrow's triumph in rainbow colors. Let's not underestimate the value of visualization."

Icons: 1) Chananan, 2) Isabel Martínez Isabel, 3) Marcos Folio, 4) Ferran Brown, 5) Rflor - from the None Project.

Most foreign universities higher schools, colleges and universities operate according to the generally accepted Bologna educational system. According to its principles, higher education abroad is divided into several stages:

• Diploma programs, education certificates

Short-term programs (up to 1-2 years), providing for obtaining the basic foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and abilities. Graduates of diploma and certificate courses can already start working (this is especially true for practical, working specialties). Also, a diploma course will be an excellent option if you have not fully decided on a profession: having received the necessary minimum of general knowledge, you will be able to transfer to the desired undergraduate program without losing time and money.

• Undergraduate

The first and main stage of higher education - the stage is designed for 3-4 years. Usually (in particular, in the USA, Canada and the UK) there are main specialties (Major) and additional, secondary (Minor), with which the student can supplement his skills and classification.

A big plus (in particular, relevant for American universities): in many of them, a student can enter “in general”, and not some specific specialty– there is even a special status of “undecided”. Subsequently (after 1-1.5 years), the student can already choose the most interesting and priority faculty and profession for him. However, this rule does not work for complex specialties: law, medicine and pharmacology, veterinary medicine, dentistry, architecture, and some engineering sciences.

• Master's degree

An additional stage of higher education, designed for 1-2 years. Many call it an analogue of Russian postgraduate studies, residency, internships - there are indeed common points between them, but there are also significant differences. As a rule, studying for a master's degree and obtaining a degree are chosen by students who want to occupy a prestigious, highly paid, managerial position, want to know all the subtleties of their chosen specialty. Also, the master's program is great for students who want to slightly adjust the chosen course, choose a narrower specialization and field of knowledge. For example, if a bachelor's degree was obtained in the specialty "Hospitality", then at the master's program the student can focus on the direction "Hotel management in the luxe segment".

It is worth noting this variety master's program, as an MBA - Master of Business Administration. Many students from Russia choose it abroad, not paying attention to other options for a master's degree. And such a demand is quite justified: today, almost any manager, top vacancy in the global labor market cannot do without the requirement of an MBA. The MBA diploma enables the graduate to work in a managerial position in almost any business segment (especially finance, commerce, personnel management and human resources) and in any country in the world.

• Doctorate

The highest stage and stage of higher education, to which, of course, far from all students reach. Doctoral studies can add 2 or 5-6 years to your study period - it all depends on the chosen specialty. But obtaining a PhD degree abroad is quoted incredibly highly: this means an exceptional, deep level of knowledge and an unsurpassed level of training, high level abilities.

As a rule, doctoral studies are chosen by those specialists who want to work in the scientific field: to be researchers, inventors, scientists, etc.

Of course, there are a large number of additional courses: advanced training, development of additional skills, acquisition of an additional specialty, preparation for language or professional exams, and much more. Our experts will help you choose the best option depending on your capabilities and desires.

List of leading universities abroad: how to quickly choose a university abroad

Smapse presents to your attention an expert list: the catalog contains the best educational institutions in the world - you can choose the best one in various ways.

Our directory provides the ability to sort information according to specific parameters. In this section you will find blocks indicating the countries in which training is available, types educational programs. Direct sampling will sort technical and humanitarian institutions according to academic criteria.

Filter by type of program will optimize the time spent on finding an educational institution. Do you need special preparation for admission? Choose the appropriate program. In the search results of the directory, you will see all the universities in the world where a particular course is available.

You can also choose universities abroad by country. An extended form of information search is also available in the catalog. It allows you to add a priority language of instruction to the sample.

Foreign universities: types and features of universities abroad for Russian and foreign students

In the SMAPS catalog, universities abroad are presented in assortment. Each educational institution has its own characteristics. You can get acquainted with them, as well as the conditions for admission, living, studying, receiving scholarships and grants (if any are provided for by the chosen program) on the page of a particular educational institution.

Presented in the catalog foreign institutions can be divided into several categories, educational institutions are classified according to size and level. Major companies offer their services to foreign students educational institutions, included in the world TOP, are small private specialized universities. In the catalog we have placed options, admission to which is absolutely real.

You can also classify options by the average price of training - the cost depends on many factors. One of the main ones is, of course, the rating. Training in prestigious institutions international level will cost more than those of lesser fame. The cost of the programs also varies depending on the country of study. So, study at the branches prestigious universities in Asia, Latin, Central America is cheaper than on the main campuses in Europe, USA, Canada.

Separately, we note the well-known groups of the legendary, most prestigious universities in the world, admission to which is very difficult, but the diploma of such an educational institution is a pass to the world of the business elite of our planet:

• oxbridge

As the name implies, this is a symbol for the two most elite universities in the UK - Oxford and Cambridge. Still, it is impossible to call them a single group: from time immemorial they have been competing and trying to get around each other in all directions, but the term “Oxbridge” is used quite often.

• Rusell Group

Bringing together the best British universities, which includes 24 institutions. These are Oxford and Cambridge, the Universities of York and Birmingham, Imperial College London, London School economics and political sciences, universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and others. According to statistics, Rusell Group universities account for 2/3 of all UK research grants, 56% of doctoral degrees awarded, and 70% of promising scientific potential.

• Ivy League

The American analogue of the Rusell Group is not inferior in prestige, but includes only 8 of the oldest and most rated US universities: Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Cornell, Dartmouth College. Almost all of them are located in the north-east of the country, and almost all of them are incredibly different. high cost learning.

• Swiss Education Group

Professional association of the best Swiss higher schools of hospitality, tourism, hotel and culinary business. SEG includes Cesar Ritz Сolleges, Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, School of Hotel Management (IHTTI), Hotel Institute Montreux, The Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS). Studying here is a guarantee of successful employment in the promising global industry of the hotel and restaurant business.

Which university is better to enter: public or private?

Universities abroad: individual selection of an educational institution

Have you studied the collection of universities for applicants, decided, or Europe, but have not decided on the choice of an educational institution? SMAPS experts are ready to help you with professional advice. We offer a selection of establishments on an individual basis.

Online recommend to you interesting universities taking into account the priority specialty and type of program (preparation for admission, bachelor's, master's, doctoral studies), an online chat operator can. You can also get expert advice via Skype. We accept applications for the search for an educational institution and by e-mail.

SMAPS experts are also ready to advise applicants by phone. For you, dear customers, there is a multi-channel telephone (free of charge on the territory of the Russian Federation). The catalog presented on the site also provides the possibility of ordering a callback. Fill out a simple form and our managers will contact you shortly.

Studying at foreign universities is still a dream for many. It's time to turn it into a goal, take the first step towards achievement. Call or write to us, SMAPS experts will select for you free of charge foreign universities that meet the stated requirements.