Planning to study abraod, but don't have a clue as to which university to choose from among the thousands available? Here are some tips to help ou narrow down the search.

Taking the decision to study abroad is perhaps the easiest part of the preparation involved in seeking foreign education. The toughest is to select an institution that fulfills your requirements and takes you closer to your future goals. This is the time to start planning since it takes around a year to prepare and obtain admission into an institution overseas. Most countries have their main intake in September-October.

Foreign education is a huge investment of time, money and effort for any aspirant. For some, it could involve spending the lifetime savings of their parents. Since, it is not just about the few years you would be spending at a foreign locale but also your entire career and life thereafter, finding the `right' institution is of utmost importance.

FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND

There are several criteria to choose an institution. For some it could be the country (many still chase the American dream), reputation of the university (the Ivy League or top ten in UK), study programs, size of the institution (some prefer to study in smaller universities), cost effectiveness (some institutions/ countries may be more affordable while others may offer more scholarships or financial aid), placement opportunities and so on.

According to Bangalore-based Harish V H, who will be soon leaving for his Master's program in business management at Euromed Marseille, France, "Though US and UK are the most sought-after destinations for Indians, I did not apply to any B-school at the two countries because I found them to be prohibitively expensive and secondly the number of scholarships available were few.''

For some, the presence of Indian students at a particular institution can be a comforting factor. Shankar Sharan Rajan aspired to study at an American university and eventually picked Virginia Commonwealth University on account of it being a home to a lot of Asians.

Thus the bottom-line is to choose an institution that best fits your requirements. "Understand your personal requirements - which program you want to pursue, the kind of institution you prefer, size of classroom, student teacher ratio, financial requirements, whether you would prefer a metropolitan or a smaller city/ town and so on - to decide about your course and college. What may be good for your friend may not be good for you,'' says Luna Das, educational advisor, North India, United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI).

Sources of information

Today there are several channels available for students to obtain information on educational opportunities available across the globe. The internet has made information easily available at the click of a mouse. Education divisions of the countries which include United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI), British Council, Canadian Education Centre, EduFrance, Singapore Tourism Board, German Academy Exchange Service (DAAD), and IDP Australia, to mention a few - can be a good starting point for a prospective student.

"USEFI library is a good source of information for an aspirant. There are also several informal websites that provide information on US education,'' says Das. Counselors at these institutions advise students about the various institutions, programs, eligibility, financial, visa and other aspects of studying abroad for a nominal fee. Their recommendation is often taken into account by the home country institutions as well, when it comes to admitting an applicant.

Peter Reed, MBA director and associate professor of marketing, Monash University, Australia, says: "IDP is a well-run and professional organization that provides an honest and trustworthy service for students and the Australian universities that it represents. Studying overseas is a high involvement decision-making process for students and it is essential that the advice they receive is honest and well-informed.''

Some institutions have also opened their offices in India or appointed country representatives to provide customized services. Noteworthy among them are the University of Leeds, UK, University of Windsor, Canada, Tuck School of Business, US, Middlesex University, UK and so on. Ranjan Pal, who has been recently appointed as the key market representative for China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore by the Tuck School of Business in Dartmouth, US, says: "Besides providing customized information about Tuck to prospective students, my role involves gauging a student's suitability for the business school so as to ensure a good fit. It works out both for the student as well as the institution.''

Education consultants or agents are another channel of information which attracts a large number of the dreamy-eyed. They usually represent several countries or institutions and provide guidance to student's right from picking their institution and course to applying to the institutions and even fulfilling visa formalities. "Since we represent certain universities and are in direct touch with them, we may get a quicker reply from them about a student's application, which might take months otherwise,'' informs Mrinal Kapur Singh, executive director, Prem Kapur and Associates Private Limited.

Some of them may even offer to write SOP's (Statement of Purpose) for prospective students (though it is advisable not to get lured by it since universities can make out genuine applications). Thus, students need to be cautious about approaching a consultant. "I had gone to an educational consultant who advised me to go to Glasgow Caledonian University. Only later did I come to know that Caledonian does not enjoy a high standing. My suggestion to students would be to decide on a university themselves instead of depending totally on consultants,'' says Suraj Gandhi, who resides in Lucknow and is now going to the University of Glasgow to pursue an MSc in International Business. Several countries and institutions are now becoming strict about who represents them. "Most countries have embassies which provide a list of their preferred agents. One can always check the websites of such agencies to find out how long they have been in the market. These are the some of the measures that a student can follow to ensure that he or she isn't taken for a ride by these fly-by night operators,'' advises Singh.

Checks and balances

There have been instances of institutions shutting shops overnight and jeopardizing the future of thousands of students. Thus it is important to be sure that the university/ college/ institution one is applying to has a certain standing and is recognized within the home country.

"Even before deciding about an institution in UK, I would advise students to think about the subject area. Even the not-so-well known institutions may be strong in one or two disciplines. There are two broad ways to narrow down on the choices available - Teaching Quality Assessment, which basically measures the quality of teaching in different subjects; and Research Assessment, which is more useful for students going for research programs. Both these rankings are done by the government and are reliable sources of information to help identify the right institution,'' opines Ruchika Castellino, Head, Education UK for India, British Council.

Similarly, Frank H O Conor, manager, International Education Services, Enterprise Ireland, advises students to check the bonafide accreditation of the institution before they apply. "The genuine colleges, schools and their courses are listed on the website of our Department of Education and Science (www.education.ie - international register), Government of Ireland,'' says Conor. An aspirant can check the credibility of the institution with the embassies of the respective countries as well.

There are several national and international accreditation agencies like the UK-based Association of MBAs (AMBA), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and European Quality Improvement System, to mention a few, that recognize institutions and programs in specific disciplines.

Speaking about Australia, Reed, says: "There are eight universities in Australia that comprise what is called the Group of Eight (www.go8.edu.au). These are basically research-intensive universities. In addition, in the last three to four years a number of Australian universities have sought accreditation with the internationally-recognized accreditation bodies of EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA.''

In Canada there are associations like the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (www.aucc.ca) that list Canadian institutions. "Every province in Canada has a list of recognized, accredited institutions, including both public and private institutions, which enable students to choose credible institutions for their course of study,'' says Kenneth Macartney, acting high commissioner for Canada.

Reputed newspapers and magazines are also a good source of information, though their rankings may vary. "Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Economist Intelligence Unit can be referred to while making a decision to study abroad. However, their rankings may differ since they may be based on different criteria. Therefore, always read the fine print,'' remarks Pal.

"One can also go through the rankings done by Times Higher or Financial Times. But I wouldn't advise a student to base their judgment entirely on it,'' adds Castellino. Lastly, get in touch with the alumni and current students of the institution to get an insider's view.