<h3>Degree Classification</h3>
System International applicants to a Master&rsquo;s degree in the UK will need to have their international Bachelor&rsquo;s degree to be of the same standard that is required from a UK Bachelor&rsquo;s degree.
In the UK, a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree can be awarded with or without honours. The classification of the degree is dependant on a grading structure. Here&rsquo;s what the numbers mean:
<ul>
 <li> First-class honours (1st): this is the highest degree classification. Usually, the average overall score of 70%+</li>
 <li>Second-class honours, upper division (2.1): usually, the average overall exam score of 60%+</li>
 <li> Second-class honours, lower division (2.2): usually, the average overall score of 50%+</li>
 <li>Third-class honours (3rd): usually, the average overall score of 40%+</li>
</ul>
Ordinary degree (pass): A degree without an honors classification Typically, a Master&rsquo;s programme will need you have at the very least a Second-class honours, lower division (2.2), sometimes called a lower second class honours.
Some do not put an exact grade and request for a &lsquo;good honours degree&rsquo; &ndash; which usually means a first or a 2.1.
<h3>International Comparisons</h3>
The British undergraduate degree classification has been applied to many other countries. If your Bachelor&rsquo;s comes from Canada, India or Nigeria for example, you might find that the system is quite similar to this but with its own variations. It is quite different if you&rsquo;re from outside of the countries that follow this system though.
USA
<img title="USA Grading" src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1550151779-screenshot-2019-02-14-at-14-27-43.png" width="492" height="258" />
The Netherlands
<img title="Netherlands Grading" src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1550151787-screenshot-2019-02-14-at-14-27-59.png" width="484" height="211" />
Spain
<img title="Spanish grading" src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1550151789-screenshot-2019-02-14-at-14-28-15.png" width="486" height="212" />
France
<img title="French grading" src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1550151790-screenshot-2019-02-14-at-14-28-37.png" width="493" height="218" />

<h3>What this Means for You</h3>
The comparisons here are a general guide. There are many things to consider, especially programme expectations, nuances and whether you completed a three-year or four-year degree.
For example, even if your Bachelor&rsquo;s degree corresponds to a lower division honour than the one listed in the eligibility criteria, the admissions team might still consider you a good applicant if you have the right academic background or professional background. 
At the end of the day, the best person to give you feedback <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/want-to-study-abroad-make-your-application-perfect/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on making your application perfect</a> is an admissions expert associated with the school! They can do a credit transfer check, and give you the inside information about the programme.
If you get the chance to get personal assistance, grab it. It will definitely help you get an edge with your Master&rsquo;s application. Read this next: <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/5-brilliant-reasons-to-study-for-an-mba">What is an MBA and 5 reasons why you need one</a>

United Kingdom

 What is a 2.1 degree? Learn about UK’s degree classification system

With an overwhelming amount of options and factors to consider, here&rsquo;s a quick overview of some of the most useful information.
<h3>Application and study format in the UK</h3>
There is a myriad of universities to choose from and a great number of courses within those schools, both as an incoming Bachelor&rsquo;s or Master&rsquo;s student. All Bachelor&rsquo;s students apply through <a href="https://www.ucas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UCAS</a> - you choose up to five universities and, for a small fee, send off one application in one go. For Master&rsquo;s, in most cases, you will apply directly to the university. 
Courses in the UK vary from place to place. In Scotland, four years is the typical amount of time taken for a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree, whereas the standard in the rest of the UK is three. However, if you make the decision to study abroad, you will extend your degree by a year. So on top of studying in the UK, you will get the opportunity to also study at an awesome partner university.
<img title="Study in the United Kingdom" src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1553784632-scotland-5.jpg?w=800&amp;auto=compress" />
<h3>Student Life in the UK: Off Campus</h3>
It&rsquo;s likely that you have already come in contact with some of the UK&rsquo;s best export products. We&rsquo;re talking about J.K. Rowling&rsquo;s Harry Potter, the music of artists such as the Beatles, and a huge number of films. In fact, did you know some of the world&rsquo;s most favourite franchises, such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, were filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire?
Because of this rich culture, there is always something to do with the arts. But there is also stunning nature. The coasts are all stunning and unique, but if you travel more inland, there are mountains. You can hike up Snowdown in Snowdonia National Park, visit the Scottish Highlands up north, or go for a leisurely stroll in your own city or town where there will be parks a-plenty.
The party and club scene in the UK is incredibly diverse and there&rsquo;s always something for everyone. Liverpool and Manchester are infamous for having incredible nightlife around the board, while on the other side, many of London&rsquo;s universities have their own pubs that have discounted prices for students. From Dundee in Scotland to Bristol in the South, there are parties, pubs, and clubs galore.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1553872422-students-in-london.jpg?w=800&amp;auto=compress" />
<h3>Cost of Living for students</h3>
The cost of living in the UK will heavily depend on where you choose to live. London is not only notoriously expensive but also one of the most difficult places in the world to find housing - not just to buy, but also to rent. Students spend on average <a href="https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/cost-studying-university-uk#survey-answer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">between &pound;125 and &pound;182</a> on housing a week, with the higher end being the price in London. Check out <a href="https://www.student.com/">this website</a> if you&rsquo;re looking for accommodation anywhere in the UK.
It is normal for students to live in university accommodation or &lsquo;halls&rsquo; their first year and to move out during their final years to live with friends in private accommodation. This can bring down the price of housing to about &pound;35 a week! More funds for all the fun things that you can do as a student.
Students get discounts on transportation, too, so you can explore the country more freely. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) offers <a href="https://www.isic.se/en/student-discounts/uk-transportation/">discounts</a> on different train and bus companies in the UK.
<h3>Visa Information to study in the UK</h3>
As of right now, EU students don&rsquo;t require a visa to study in the UK, whereas those who are from outside the EU require one - this is only applicable for full-time courses, as part-time courses do not make you eligible to apply for a visa. The necessary visa is called a Tier 4 and is aimed at full-time students from the age of sixteen who have already been offered a spot to study in the UK. 
The application is completed online, but you will also have to go to one of the UK&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre">visa application centres</a> to get photographed and your fingers scanned. Important documents include your passport and proof of sustainable funding, as well as others depending on your age.
The rules for non-EU nationals should remain the same after the Brexit, but the fate of international students from the EU remains <a href="https://www.studyinternational.com/news/will-international-students-affected-brexit-uk-parliament-investigates/">uncertain</a>, as the right to stay has been guaranteed only to those who are already in the UK on 29 March 2019.
<h3>Work regulations in the UK</h3>
There are plenty of opportunities for students with a degree from the UK, both in terms of careers and further academics. 
One of the most common routes for non-UK and non-EU students is a Tier 2 visa, granted to students who have found employment and are earning a minimum yearly wage. Finding work as a non-EU international student in the UK is tough because the competition is intense, but it isn&rsquo;t impossible. 
A tip is to apply while you are still in the UK under a Tier 4 visa - this means that companies are allowed to hire you with an easier process, without having to look through a myriad of UK and EU candidates first. Once you succeed in landing that desired job, you can start making the UK a more permanent home.
If these quick tips have you dreaming of student life in the UK, you could read more about the unique<a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/what-is-a-2-1-degree-learn-about-uk-s-degree-classi/"> degree classification system in the UK.</a> 
Plus, find out why doing well in <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-ielts-and-toefl/">a language test such as the TOEFL</a> will help you enroll in a UK university.

Study in the United Kingdom: 5 Things to Know

<h3>1. Norway</h3>
Although Scandinavia is known to have high-living costs, they are still friendly towards students. Most of Scandinavian countries require no tuition fee ONLY if you are from other European countries. However there is a good news for international students since Norway decided to remain free for everyone no matter where you are coming from.
In addition to that, there are various availability of English-taught programs at all study levels, plus a high number of locals proficient in English. Study in Norway and enjoy the high quality of life &amp; stunning natural beauty!
<h3>2. Germany</h3>
Are you an innovative person who is full of new ideas? If so, Germany will be the perfect destination for you! It offers reputable universities, relatively low costs, and a high quality of life.
There are no tuition fees charged at undergraduate &amp; PhD level at most of public universities. Master&rsquo;s students who didn&rsquo;t study their undergraduate degree in Germany will usually pay upwards of 10,000EUR per semester, however there are various scholarship opportunities will be able to find.
<h3>3. France</h3>
Besides croissant, baguette &amp; the Eiffel tower, France is also a great place to study and Paris has been named the world&rsquo;s number one student city four times in a row! Tuition fees in France are the same for domestic and international students. The costs are usually ~180EUR for Bachelor&rsquo;s, ~250EUR for Master&rsquo;s and ~390EUR for PhD students per year. Living expenses will be highest in the capital, but may find it worth the extra costs by experiencing the best student life ever.
<h3>4. Poland</h3>
If you really want to study on budget with high quality of education, Eastern Europe might be a good place! In Poland, you can study for free if you can speak Polish (Is your hobby learning Polish? Great!) and if you are willing to take English-taught programs, it will cost around 2,000EUR-3,000EUR per year.
However the good news is living costs in Poland is relatively low in comparison to other European countries, so you won&rsquo;t need more than 7,800EUR per year. The capital city, Warsaw, was ranked the second most affordable city for students in 2016!
<h3>5. Austria</h3>
Another country where students can study in Europe for free(or at a very low cost) is Austria. European students will enjoy the same benefits as Austrians when it comes to tuition fees, and can study up to two semesters for free at any degree level. After this time, students will pay a fee of just 363EUR per semester. International students should expect slightly higher fees around 726EUR per semester. Come to Austria &amp; enjoy the city of Music!

Study in Europe

5 Most Affordable Places To Study In Europe

<h3>IT &amp; Cybersecurity</h3>
You&rsquo;ve heard it for so long now &ndash; technological advances are moving at warp speed and the world is becoming increasingly digital. As companies try to keep up, they are increasingly open to risk and vulnerability in technology. Cyber-related crime is on a rise.
This means that there are so many critical skills needed and you have the opportunity to jump in. If you&rsquo;re skilled in data and have an eye for detail this could be the career for you.
What is it? 
The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.
 What jobs can you do? 
<ul>
 <li>Chief information security officer</li>
 <li>Security engineer</li>
 <li>Security architect</li>
 <li>Incident responder</li>
 <li>Computer forensics expert</li>
</ul>
<h3>FinTech</h3>
Also hot on the heels of this never-ending technology boom is the Financial Technology (FinTech) sector. It&rsquo;s a niche sector, but one that is making big waves. As new technologies and financial products continue to materialize, more jobs are also being created to support the movement.
What is it? 
Financial technology (FinTech or fintech) is a movement of technology and innovation used to support or enable banking and financial services.
What jobs can you do? 
<ul>
 <li>Blockchain Developer</li>
 <li>Apps Developer</li>
 <li>Financial Analyst</li>
 <li>Product Manager</li>
 <li>Compliance Expert</li>
</ul>
<h3>Engineering</h3>
It seems Engineering is never going to get out of style. According to <a href="https://www.engineeringuk.com/media/1472/engineeringuk-report-2016-full-report.pdf">Engineering UK,</a> research suggests that about 182,000 more workers are needed to fill engineering positions every year until the year 2022. However, the UK only produces around 46,000 engineering graduates each year.
<blockquote>
 The industry especially needs women! Did you know women only make up about 20% of all Engineering graduates? You could fill in the gap.
</blockquote>
What is it? 
Traditional specialisations include electrial, mechanical and aerospace. However, the rising branches include software engineering, biomedical engineering, virtual and augmented reality engineering.
 What jobs can you do?
<ul>
 <li>Multimedia Engineer</li>
 <li>Optical Design Engineer</li>
 <li>UAV Developer</li>
 <li>Nuclear Engineer</li>
</ul>
<h3>Healthcare</h3>
Another industry that will always need skilled talent is the healthcare industry, especially as globalisation and the earth population continues to grow. In the UK alone, the National Health Service is short of 42,000 nurses, midwives and therapists.
As technology grows, there will also be a need for manpower especially skilled in niche areas such as biohacking and data driven pharmaceutical dispensing.
What is it? 
The organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community.
What jobs can you do?
<ul>
 <li>Healthcare content specialist</li>
 <li>Surgery 3D specialist</li>
 <li>Health data scientist</li>
 <li>VR therapist</li>
</ul>
<h3>Choosing the Right Career is Difficult</h3>
These should give you some good ideas to play with when you try to decide where to study. One good strategy to apply once you have an idea on the industry you want to join is to study subjects that are more general. This means you&rsquo;ll have more options to choose from and you can specialize in a specific skill later on your career by either taking on research roles, Master&rsquo;s or even an MBA.
Get creative and good luck!

Software developer

Jobs in high demand today: Where would you like to start your career?

A month of living and studying in Belgium costs anywhere between &euro;700 and &euro;1,300, highly depending on the city and your lifestyle. With that in mind, here are the many ways in which you can fund your studies in Belgium.
Funding in your home country: Loans
There&rsquo;s no harm in starting early, so you don&rsquo;t have to be arriving in Belgium with all your suitcases to start thinking about money. In fact, many universities require you to prove during the admissions process that you can sustain yourself.
You may already be aware of your government&rsquo;s own student finance scheme, but it&rsquo;s an important one to check out, especially if you&rsquo;re unsure of whether you can take your local grants with you if you study abroad. There&rsquo;s a benefit to be reaped from this, even if they&rsquo;re loans: they often have a low-interest rate and more leniency when it comes to paying back.
Funding in your home country: Assistance &amp; Part-time Work
Scholarships are also a great way to get you started, as securing them while you&rsquo;re still home will help in the application process - having achieved great results during your previous education will give you a head start. Finally, there is the option of private loans, though it is up to you whether you are willing to take the risk: they aren&rsquo;t often as lenient as student loans. Consider this option well and see if it&rsquo;s something you&rsquo;re comfortable with.
If you have a part-time job or are already working full-time, setting money aside is worthwhile as it will help you get your footing in Belgium. This is especially important at the beginning when starting costs come your way: deposits for your room, and furnishing your kot if it comes unfurnished.
Funding in Belgium
While studying in Belgium, it&rsquo;s still nice to maintain a stream of income. There is a variety of ways to do this - one of them searching for a scholarship. Though this technically occurs before your initial arrival, some scholarships can be applied for continually or at the start of a second academic year if your programme has that. <a href="http://www.studyinbelgium.be/en/programmes-de-bourses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus</a> and <a href="http://www.studyinflanders.be/en/scholarship-programmes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Study in Flanders</a> have overviews of available scholarships on their respective websites, some of which are only available if you&rsquo;re studying in a specific part of Belgium.
If you have time to spare, it may be worthwhile to look for a part-time job to help boost your earnings a little. Don&rsquo;t rush with this upon arrival - most jobs will want you to speak at least a little Dutch or French (maybe German). Take your time and practice your language so you can have at least a short conversation, and visit popular student spots to ask them for available shifts in person. This is good because many hospitality jobs are not advertised. Alternatively, many universities have job boards for you to browse. See: <a href="https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/student-life/budget-social-facilities/student-jobs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antwerp</a>, <a href="https://student.vub.be/en/student-jobs#find-a-student-job" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brussels</a>, <a href="https://www.kuleuven.be/english/studentservices/studentcareercenter/studentjob" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leuven</a>.&nbsp;
You can also opt in for searching for an internship within your field of study - sometimes your degree requires this but in other cases it will not. Still, getting this experience is worthwhile and recommended so that you can experience work culture in Belgium.
To work in Belgium as a student from outside the EU/EEA, you will need to apply for <a href="https://www.vlaanderen.be/en/working/work-permit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a work permit C</a>: this is a specific work permit for those who are on a short stay in Belgium, such as students and interns.
Spending your money wisely
Depending on how much money you have, you will want to spend it wisely: whether this means eating out every day, buying all the cool clothes, or saving on daily expenses to explore the country on your days off.&nbsp;
Your every-day expenses such as food will take on average &euro;300 out of your budget monthly. To keep this cost on the lower end, look into buying from larger and cheaper supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl, and Colruyt for the bulk of your groceries. Having a Carrefour around the corner, but going out of the way to that Lidl will significantly lower your expenses and leave more space for other things.
If you&rsquo;re living in the cities, you&rsquo;re in luck: much like the Netherlands, Belgium has a rich cycling culture. You can pick up a cheap bike from a second-hand retailer or buy it from a friend, and set sail to new adventures.
There are plenty of ways to make your studies in Belgium happen but also make them worthwhile with a little bit of extra money to see the sights. Want to discover the land of Manneken Pis, Belgian style frees and craft beers? <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/5-things-to-know-about-studying-in-belgium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out what you need to know about studying in Belgium</a> and <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/want-to-study-abroad-here-are-your-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to find the perfect home in your Belgian city of choice</a>.

Belgium: how to fund your studies and cost of living

There are challenges to navigate, as with every other major study destination, but if you research and prepare &mdash; the experience will be truly rewarding. For example, whilst the younger generation speaks English, French is widely used day-to-day&nbsp;&mdash; from grocery shopping to dealing with administration. However, it will mean that you might even be able to speak French when you graduate. If you intend to work in the country when you graduate, speaking French is definitely a must. But speaking the language can give you a great leg up no matter which field you study. With 274 million speakers, French is the world&rsquo;s fifth most widely used language. It is also one of the UN official languages and the world&rsquo;s third most used business language.
<h3>#1 Work Opportunities in France</h3>
Graduating from a university programme in France means that you&rsquo;ll be in a great position. France is home to many of the world&rsquo;s 500 largest corporations and its industrial groups are leaders in their sector with very impressive global operations &mdash; including Airbus (aeronautics); Sanofi (health); Mo&euml;t Hennessy Louis Vuitton (luxury goods); and Danone (food products).
 Many universities partner with these companies, as well as innovative startups in the country. In fact, Spotify&rsquo;s biggest competitor in Europe is the French company Deezer.
That said, the unemployment rate in France today is 9,1% (November 2018). The top industries such as engineering, IT, computer science, web design, sales are going strong. However, you might find it difficult if you are looking to join industries such as social sciences, architecture, marketing or journalism &mdash; especially if you don&rsquo;t speak French.
<h3>#2 Student Life in France: On Campus</h3>
France used to have a complicated system of degrees and diplomas but are now being standardised to Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees. A lot of schools are state-funded, but business schools are mostly privately owned.
There is also a system of elite schools called the grandes &eacute;coles &mdash; which can be compared to graduate schools. This includes some top institutions such as Audencia Business School, Central Nantes School of Management and Paris School of Business.
If you prefer to study in English whilst in France, you&rsquo;ll be happy to know that schools in France are making a larger effort to offer programmes in English. And with a large percentage of students coming from around Europe and abroad, there is a lot of diversity on campus. Plus, you can expect a lot of activities and events organised by student unions.
<h3>#3 Student Life in France: Off Campus</h3>
Students in France have a lot of opportunity to travel.&nbsp;Just like other European and Schengen countries, students in France get many discounts on rail passes and other travel experiences.&nbsp;You might even get to travel as part of your programme or internship.
You&rsquo;ll also be surrounded by testaments of France&rsquo;s long history and wonderful heritage. There are more than a thousand museums throughout the country, for example. From hundreds of castles and medieval towns, you&rsquo;ll also get to see paintings from great artists such as Monet, Gauguin and Renoir. 
If you get the chance to study in or near the capital city of Paris, you&rsquo;ll never be far from an exciting cultural and social events. Paris has it all, and is one of the most majestic capital cities in the world.&nbsp;You can&rsquo;t miss The Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, Montmartre, the Mus&eacute;e d&rsquo;Orsay, Versailles, and the hundreds of exhibitions.
<h3>#4 Cost of Living for Students</h3>
 Depending on where you study in France and the type of accommodation, <a href="https://www.campusfrance.org/en/faq/what-is-the-cost-of-life-in-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the average student in France spends about &euro;600-800 a month. Living in student halls means you can expect to pay between &euro;150-350.</a> However, in Paris, a student lodging is around &euro;400 and up to &euro;800 if you&rsquo;re in private flats.
Transportation also varies from city to city. There are usually discounts for students, which brings costs down to around &euro;50 per month. Food isn&rsquo;t a big a problem either.&nbsp;Prices at a restau-u&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.etudiant.gouv.fr/cid97554/ou-trouver-nos-restos.html">restaurants in the university</a>)&nbsp;are excellent for students. You can even find complete meals for &euro;3.50.
<h3>#5 Study in France: Visa Information</h3>
Here&rsquo;s even more good news &mdash; especially if you&rsquo;re outside the EU! France is making an effort to recruit international students now, so the French government has simplified the visa process. So if you live in one of the 41 countries of the <a href="https://www.campusfrance.org/en/procedure-studying-in-France" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Study in France&rdquo; procedure,</a> you now have a single online service to help you. This platform automatically transfers your visa application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.
Don&rsquo;t live in one of those 41 countries? You can contact the French consular authorities in your country of residence to help. The <a href="https://www.welcometofrance.com/en/long-stay-visa-equivalent-to-a-residence-permit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VLS-TS</a> (&rdquo;Visa long s&eacute;jour valant titre de s&eacute;jour&rdquo;) visa allows you to stay in France for three months to one year for studies in higher education. With it, you can benefit from <a href="https://www.campusfrance.org/en/VISALE-free-security-deposit-for-students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VISALE</a>, the free rental deposit service for students and receive a housing subsidy from the CAF (short for "caisse d&rsquo;allocations familiales") agency.
This is just a taste of all the amazing things you can expect from student life in France. Want to learn more about what you can expect from schools there? Check out the different schools and programmes available in France on our <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/quizzes">home page</a>.

Study in France

Study in France: 5 Things to Know

So, what do you need to study abroad? Here&rsquo;s a handy list.
<h3>Visa: Getting into the Country</h3>
Getting a visa comes at the top of this list is because of how complex it can get. So many factors come into play &ndash; like your age, where you&rsquo;re from, what your educational background is and where you hope to go. There are also different restrictions on how long you can stay in the country before and after your studies, and whether you can work during or after your degree.
Do your research ASAP. We can&rsquo;t stress it enough! Narrow down your options on this first, and it will prevent huge disappointment if you only find out much later that a visa would prevent you from attending your dream programme.
Once you&rsquo;re ready to apply for one, send out your application at least two months in advance and remember to make copies of everything. You can&rsquo;t be too careful, not getting your visa right can jeopardise the beginning of your whole international student life.
 Generally, here&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;ll need: 
<ul>
 <li>Passport</li>
 <li>Sponsor letter from the university</li>
 <li>Written proof that you have sufficient funds in your bank account</li>
 <li>Biometrics</li>
 <li>Passport quality photos</li>
</ul>
<h3>Proof of English Proficiency: IELTS or TOEFL</h3>
 Almost all international university programmes will need you to prove that you can handle the coursework in English. While some other tests are acceptable, this usually means you need to have taken either the <a href="https://sqore.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-ielts-and-toefl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System)</a> if you want to study abroad.
The scores that you need to have vary from school to school. The good news is if you come from a native English speaking country like the United Kingdom, India, Canada and Australia, or if you already have a degree from a programme done in English, you could be exempt from this rule!
<h3>Proof of Graduate School proficiency: GRE or GMAT</h3>
Even if you&rsquo;re not applying for a post-graduate programme, like an MBA or Master&rsquo;s, right now &ndash; it&rsquo;s never too early to think about the GRE or GMAT. These are exams that post-graduate and business schools require in order to process your applications. But what are they, and what do you need them for?
 If you&rsquo;re thinking of getting into graduate school, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is an exam majorly required by schools in the US and Canada. It is a fairly standardized test that measures the verbal, mathematical and general analytical skills of the candidate.
 The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is more for anyone looking to study management (<a href="https://sqore.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-gmat-top-3-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read more about what is the GMAT and who is it for</a>), so maybe a Master&rsquo;s in Business Management or an MBA. It might come across as a pretty daunting exam, but there&rsquo;s nothing to fear if you&rsquo;re well prepared for it.
<h3>Funding: How to Afford Student Life Abroad</h3>
Money makes the world go round &ndash; and will absolutely make student life more comfortable. It doesn&rsquo;t fall from the sky, and most international students don&rsquo;t have access to deep pockets. Smart financial planning will help you in preparing to study abroad.
Besides grants or scholarships offered by schools or governments, you could think about student loans or perhaps working while you study. You could get a student loan from the government or a bank from your country or the country you plan to study at. It&rsquo;s normal to co-sign for the loan with your parents. Loans from the government usually have lower rates, so remember to do your research.
Also, don&rsquo;t overlook the double benefits of working as you study. Not only will you be earning some cash, but you&rsquo;ll also be gaining experience at the same time. This will be more impressive in your CV. Do your research and you&rsquo;ll find some countries have limits on how much you can work, so be careful if you&rsquo;re particularly depending on money from part-time work.
<h3>Accommodation: Where to Stay</h3>
The easiest way to find out what options you have for accommodation is to reach out to the school. Depending on the housing situation of the city you will be studying in, prices and difficulty of finding an apartment will vary. Also, chances are, if you&rsquo;re studying in a capital city, the housing will be expensive and difficult to find. So remember to start looking early.
That said, remember to beware of scams and be wary about the lease. If deals seem too good to be true or if the landlord seems to be avoiding your questions, maybe ask a local to help with the apartment hunt. You can never be too careful!
<h3>Health: Get Protection to study abroad</h3>
Something that students often overlook when planning for student life overseas is insurance and vaccinations. Health insurance depends from country to country. In Sweden, if you are a fee-paying student, the school covers your full insurance. However, in some countries like Germany or the USA, you are responsible for your own insurance.
Researching the health and safety concerns in the country you&rsquo;ll be studying in is also a good idea. It&rsquo;s not necessary in most countries but it&rsquo;s worthwhile to do your research about the specific vaccines you may be required to have. Since many immunizations require more than one visit to a clinic or cannot be taken together, you should plan appointments in advance.
All the Best! 
There&rsquo;s much more to think about ahead of you, but all the hard work is going to be worth it. Student life abroad is a great adventure! And remember whether you&rsquo;ve decided where to study or not, we&rsquo;re here for you to help make your decision. Browse the best online HTML tools: editor, tags, cheat sheet, character codes, tag generators, website templates and more.

Study abroad 

How to prepare to study abroad

There are different options for housing. You can live in the hustle and bustle of halls of residence, with tons of other students. If that&rsquo;s not your cup of tea, you can move a little further out and find a place to live with some of your friends, renting from a private letting agency or person.
Here are the top options for student accommodation in the UK!
<h1>Halls of Residence</h1>
By far the most common housing option for incoming students, halls of residence - colloquially often referred to as halls - are almost a rite of passage. Most universities will require their first-year students, particularly undergraduates, to live in halls.&nbsp;
This housing option is often best suitable for social birds, as you get used to sharing a lot of spaces with your flatmates: rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms. Nothing like a casual conversation with your neighbour whilst you wait to take a shower.&nbsp;
Luckily, if you&rsquo;re not a people person or a wisened graduate student who&rsquo;s been through the process before, there are always options to get a single room with an en-suite or perhaps a studio.
<h1>Private Accommodation</h1>
After your first year as an undergraduate student, chances are you will want to live outside of halls. It is also more common for graduate students to live in this kind of accommodation early on, as it often turns out to be cheaper and more suited to their needs.
Your university&rsquo;s housing office is still a great place to start. They will likely have an overview of trusted landlords and agencies, and they may be able to match you with other people looking for housing if you&rsquo;re looking on your own.
Though uncommon, incoming international students are not always guaranteed housing or they do not want to live in university housing. If you&rsquo;re coming in from outside the UK and struggle to find accommodation, <a href="https://www.student.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student.com</a> has a selection of amazing and trusted housing providers. Other popular websites for housing in the UK are <a href="https://www.gumtree.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gumtree</a>, <a href="https://www.spareroom.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpareRoom</a> and <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rightmove</a>.
<h1>Top Tips for Finding Accommodation in the UK</h1>
In order for you to get a nice place to live during your studies, there are a handful of general tips. Starting early should go without saying - even if it just inspecting what kind of housing is available and within your budget. Any extra time you can gain by being ahead of the game is only to your benefit.
Once you have booked yourself a viewing or two, remember to check for important things such as the state of your potential home and its appliances. <a href="https://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/renting-a-home/rental-property-checklist-anc9x8p9hgrg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">There is a handy checklist right here</a> that lists all of the things to look out for and certifications to ask for.
Finally, remember that although it is important to have a nice space, you will be living there for a year at most. Aesthetically pleasing details such as big windows and hardwood floors may seem important, but having a clean and comfortable place to rest your head is the game changer that matters. Keep your expectations in check, and you&rsquo;re more likely to love the place you end up in.
Though the prospect of moving to a new place is daunting, this information should give you peace of mind during your search. In the meantime, you can read about things <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/a-guide-to-student-housing-in-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you should know about studying in the UK</a> and <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/what-is-a-2-1-degree-learn-about-uk-s-degree-classi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the UK&rsquo;s degree classification system</a> to keep you informed.

A Guide to Student Housing in the UK

<h3>#1 Work Opportunities in Finland</h3>
 Not only are the Finns some of the best English speakers in the world, next to Holland and Sweden, they are also well-known for embracing new tech, ideas and talents. Aside from Nokia, some world famous brands you might have heard of were started in Finland: 
Supercell &ndash; mobile gaming company famous for Clash Royale and Clash of Clans Suunto &ndash; outdoor, performance and lifestyle equipment famous in sports communities Rovio &ndash; mobile gaming company famous for Angry Birds
In fact, Rovio was founded by three students while they were studying at Helsinki University of Technology.
Thinking about starting up your own business? After graduating, you&rsquo;ll be in the right place to launch your idea! According to 2017 Global Startup Ecosystem Report,&nbsp; Helsinki ranks among the top 5 cities in Europe for startups.
<h3>#2 Student Life: On Campus&nbsp;</h3>
In a country that prioritises health and work-life balance, it comes as no surprise that student life in Finland is comparatively relaxed. It could also be because of the amount of support that universities, communities and the government afford to students. If you do your research, there are many options to find funds and grants for exchange programmes or internships.
Need to find a way for more allowance? As an international student, you are also allowed to work part-time up to 25 hours a week. You also get to enjoy other benefits like shopping&nbsp; with ISIC student discounts &nbsp;and &nbsp;Frank student service .
<h3>#3 Student Life: Off Campus</h3>
If you&rsquo;re one to enjoy nights out with friends, however, costs can really add up. Drinks are quite expensive in bars, but there&rsquo;s always home parties or those held by student organisations.
What makes Finland truly, truly unique however is the experiences out in nature.&nbsp; The winters and auroras, or Northern Lights, are breathtaking, and can only be found in very few other places in the world. &nbsp;Plus, they are visible in Finland roughly 200 nights in a year in the Finnish Lapland (otherwise known as the home of Santa Claus!).
Love sports? &nbsp;There&rsquo;s also not many other places where you can go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling or sledge dog touring to spot the auroras.
<h3>#4 Cost of Living</h3>
While its neighbouring Nordic countries don&rsquo;t use the Euro, Finland does.&nbsp; According to&nbsp; StudyinFinland, living expenses for students average around &euro;700 a month &nbsp;&ndash; but discounts on housing and transport will help a lot in lowering the costs.
Affordable student housing is also not a stress point. As an international student, some options to find housing include&nbsp; HOAS &nbsp;or student associations. Living in student housing or dormitories are the most cost-effective option.
The average rent for a single room in a shared student flat ranges from approximately &euro;160 to &euro;380 a month. &nbsp;One tip to remember is to plan and register in the queue months before you arrive, especially in the autumn when a lot of new students arrive. There&rsquo;s usually a massive queue for the student dorms in that period.
<h3>#5 Visa Information</h3>
 Depending on your nationality, different visa regulations might apply to individuals. If you&rsquo;re from outside the EU and studying for more than 3 months, you&rsquo;ll receive a &lsquo;student residence permit&rsquo;.
 European Union/European Economic Area/Nordic students do not require a residence permit. This student residence permit is granted for a year at a time or also depends on how long your programme is. &nbsp;To get it, you&rsquo;ll need at least your passport, an admission letter from a Finnish university and prove that you have the funding to cover your student expenses when you&rsquo;re there. The awesome thing is&nbsp; you can do everything online !
 Once you graduate, you can also extend your residence permit for up to a year to look for work. &nbsp;It&rsquo;ll give you the breathing space you need if you hope to build a career there, and once you find work you can apply for a new residence permit.
Quality education, opportunities and great student support. The best thing is, there is much more that Finland has to offer on of all of these.

Study in Finland

Study in Finland: 5 Things to Know

The Netherlands (also known as Holland) may be small, but it packs a big punch. From Amsterdam with its canals and art to Rotterdam - a vibrant modern hub with an exciting mix of cultures. This compact country in Northern Europe has it all. There is so much to discover, and one of the best ways to do it is to study there.
Here&rsquo;s what you need to know.
<h3>A welcoming environment</h3>
As an international student in the Netherlands, you immediately discover that living among the Dutch is relatively easy.
<blockquote>
 English is spoken widely, as the Dutch have the highest proficiency in English for non-Anglophones - second only to Swedes.
</blockquote>
This makes it a popular destination for international students with over 112,000 living and studying there before the pandemic.&nbsp;Every city is different, so there is lots to explore. Whatever you&rsquo;re looking for in your study abroad experience, odds are you can find it in the Netherlands.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1554388305-amsterdam-5.jpg?w=800&amp;auto=compress" />
<h3>Unique education experience</h3>
Studying in the Netherlands means a lot of self-study and self-discipline, as lecturers are not there to remind you to do your work. Instead, they facilitate discussion in the classroom and guide the process. This is true for both Bachelor&rsquo;s and Master&rsquo;s programmes - the focus is on learning from one another instead of just the lecturer.&nbsp;
In seminars and tutorials, where you work closely with other students, group work and equality are central. For many students, this is a good environment to learn in - one that is welcoming to new ideas and questions.
<h3>Job market</h3>
The Netherlands has a <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/netherlands/unemployment-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low unemployment rate</a> (at 3.3%) and lots of companies are keen to hire recent graduates from Dutch universities. As a graduate from one of the universities, you are sought after and seen as a highly intellectual and well-rounded candidate. You'll find the headquarters for big brands like Heineken, KLM, and Shell&nbsp;on the doorstep.
<h3>Visa </h3>
If you are an EU or EEA student, you don&rsquo;t need a visa to study in the Netherlands. However, most of the other countries do require one. For short term stays, you need the Requirement of a Provincial Residence Permit. Otherwise known as the MVV, this is <a href="https://studylink.com/articles/netherlands-student-visa-guide/">an entry visa</a> that you will need even if you are pursuing a full degree in the Netherlands.
Once in the Netherlands, you must apply for a residence permit through your university - they are the ones who will assist you with this process. Although it may seem complicated, with the help of your university it will go smoothly and you will be allowed to stay in the Netherlands during your whole studies, and a little be longer.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1551971743-amsterdam-momentst20jo7abp.jpg?w=800&amp;auto=compress" />
<h3>Cost of living in the Netherlands</h3>
Depending on the location, <a href="https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/553/costs-of-studying-abroad-in-the-netherlands.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you will spend between &euro;800 and &euro;1200 every month</a>, with Amsterdam on the higher end of the scale and Groningen and Enschede on the lower end.
If you live alone, about &euro;170 a month will go toward food - Lidl, Aldi and Albert Heijn are the cheapest to get your groceries at. Where you live will also determine how expensive eating out and going out will be. Transport is expensive - the most expensive in the EU, even - and you can save a lot of money by doing things the Dutch way: using a bicycle to get around. <a href="https://sqore.com/blog/how-to-afford-to-study-in-the-netherlands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more on how to fund your studies in the Netherlands</a>.&nbsp;
We have given you a taste of what you can expect when studying in the Netherlands, but there is much more to be discovered.&nbsp;
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1554387922-amsterdam-bikes.jpg?w=800&amp;auto=compress" />

Study in the Netherlands: 5 Things You Should Know

An MBA is designed to give you practical skills in management and leadership across a range of business subjects. It&rsquo;s perfect if you want to accelerate your career, become more specialized or fast-track an increase in your salary. But what if you don&rsquo;t have a background in business in any shape or form?
<h3>Changing Needs of Corporate World</h3>
You don&rsquo;t have to worry if you don&rsquo;t have a business degree or business background. It&rsquo;s not an entry requirement and won&rsquo;t hold you back from getting your MBA. The world is not divided into specific skills anymore. You&rsquo;re going to be expected to have expertise in various areas.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
 Earning a Master&rsquo;s of Business Administration will mean you can merge your background with business know-how. Having an understanding of finance, marketing and other core business functions will also help you become well equipped to lead others in your field.
</blockquote>
Because of this, many schools are offering dual degrees or MBAs that simultaneously incorporate specific backgrounds in the programme. These degrees will let you blend industries like medicine, law or engineering &ndash; combining specific technical skills with general MBA knowledge. Whatever type of MBA programme you choose to pursue, you'll <a href="https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/why-companies-prefer-mbas">train your critical thinking</a> which is in demand no matter what sector you'll work in.
<a href="https://mystudy.fit/blog/5-brilliant-reasons-to-study-for-an-mba">Here are 5 more compelling reasons you should study for an MBA.</a>
<h3>Benefits of coming from a non-business background</h3>
Pursuing an MBA degree without a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in business also gives you a number of benefits. For one, business schools like enrolling non-business degree students because it makes a class more diverse. <a href="https://www.euruni.edu/blog/diversity-in-education/">Diversity is always important in an MBA cohort.</a> And it benefits both you and your other classmates. You&rsquo;ll get to give ideas and insight from your expertise and you get to hear theirs too.
<blockquote>
 There are also a lot of industries in need of leadership talent from non-business backgrounds. A lot of companies in specialised fields such as Engineering, Technology, and Medical Research even prefer to hire non-business majors because of the larger worldview they can bring to the table.
</blockquote>
To get ahead in the game, you can always try to build a foundation in business before you start your MBA. Without these basic skills, you might struggle to catch up with your peers. It&rsquo;s not that hard to do, either. Some schools that offer MBAs also have preparatory courses available.
<h3>Entry requirements for an MBA</h3>
MBA requirements will differ depending on the programme. But you can expect to come across a similar set of entry requirements and criteria during your research. These include:
<ul>
 <li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree from a recognised university&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Around 3 years of relevant working experience</li>
 <li>Proof of English proficiency&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Other documents like a copy of your CV, employer letters of recommendation and a letter of motivation will need to be sent as well.
You might also be asked to provide a GMAT score. However, not all MBAs require GMAT. You can find out more about the business exam here. Still, in short, not every business school uses the GMAT for admissions decisions. It's about your overall profile and experience as a candidate. Plus, what you can bring to the mix in the classroom, that is just as important.
<h3>Succeed without a business degree</h3>
Now that you know you have every chance of success at an MBA degree without a business background, give more thought to the area in which you&rsquo;d like to specialise. Most MBA&rsquo;s will give you the option to do research, an internship or a real-world consultancy project for a company.&nbsp; Where do you see yourself, or what problems are you passionate about solving? List them down and start looking for the schools that will give you the opportunities you seek. With so many combinations of MBA programmes available today, you&rsquo;re sure to find the right place for you.
Read this next: <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/are-online-mbas-recognised-by-employers">Are online MBAs recognised by employers?</a>

MBA students

Do you need a business background for an MBA?

<h2>What is an MBA?</h2>
An MBA is a type of Master&rsquo;s degree and stands for Master of Business Administration. It&rsquo;s not only a fast-track into management &amp; C-suite positions. But a valuable asset to daring entrepreneurs or anybody looking to switch career paths!
It might come as a single piece of diploma but the MBA packs a lot of punch. Earning an MBA means no matter where you plan to build your career, no matter the location or industry, you&rsquo;ll increase your credibility. You could even say that all you need is an MBA qualification to be successful in your career.
If you&rsquo;re still on the fence about taking the leap and committing your time and finances to an MBA programme,&nbsp;here are five truly compelling reasons to give it serious consideration.
<h3>#1 Leadership Skills</h3>
MBA programmes can be seen as training grounds for the world&rsquo;s future business leaders. They&rsquo;ll teach you both hard and soft skills to become the ultimate team player.&nbsp;
While studying for an MBA, you&rsquo;ll not only learn how to manage key business areas like finance and marketing. You&rsquo;ll also boost your team-building skills and become an expert in problem-solving, promoting collaboration and empowering others.
You often learn through hands-on projects and group work. And these groups include highly ambitious professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. So it&rsquo;s an excellent opportunity to build the communication skills you&rsquo;ll need in your future management role.
<h3>#2 MBA Salary</h3>
Personal development and upskilling are important. But why do most people choose an MBA? The salary increase.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gmac.com/news-center/gmac-press-releases/firms-voice-increased-hiring-projections-for-mba-graduates-in-2021">MBA graduates earn around 75% more</a>&nbsp;than those with a bachelor&rsquo;s degree, with an average salary between $105 - 115,000.
You might have wondered what the job market is like for recent business school graduates since the pandemic. Well, when asked about hiring plans for 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gmac.com/market-intelligence-and-research/research-library/employment-outlook/employability-and-business-school-graduates-corporate-recruiters-survey-2020">89% of corporate recruiters</a>&nbsp;say they plan to hire MBA graduates.
Business school graduates are still in high demand. And most other Master programmes can only boast more modest results. There&rsquo;s no doubt an MBA is worth the investment!
<h3>#3 Access to a Large Business Network</h3>
An MBA programme is a meeting of the minds. So perhaps the most valuable part of the MBA experience is the powerful network you could build in the classroom. As well as connecting with potentially 1000&rsquo;s of alumni in top positions across the globe.&nbsp;
Being surrounded by talented professionals means not only will you be more driven to do your best, but you could be meeting your next business partner. Some MBA programmes even make the effort for you to find a mentor through their alumni network.
Employers are always on the lookout for top talent and have found a lot of success by recruiting directly from university MBA programmes. There&rsquo;s every possibility that your dream employer is waiting to meet you at a recruitment fair, careers workshop or networking event.
<h3>#4 Change Careers with an MBA</h3>
The idea that an MBA is only good for continuing your career is a huge myth. Want to switch from finance to fashion? Or from manufacturing to marketing? Do it! An MBA qualification offers you the perfect opportunity to switch direction.
You have to be committed to investing your time though. Be decisive in your move and then choose your steps wisely. Here&rsquo;s where it would be smart to make use of the large business network to meet people who could introduce you to new career opportunities.
Many MBAs offer excellent possibilities for internships or real-world consultancy projects at companies, too. Perfect for testing the waters of new industries or other sectors that spark your interest.&nbsp;
<h3>#5 Full-time, Part-time, Online. Anywhere in the World</h3>
True leaders know that it takes a deep understanding of working across cultures for any business to succeed internationally. You&rsquo;ll find MBA qualifications available worldwide, with large communities of international students.&nbsp;
Consider doing your MBA in a city, country or region that meets your career goals. Berlin has a hot startup scene while Paris hosts more Fortune 500 company headquarters than any other city. Think about graduating in the part of the world where you would like to grow your success.
Need the flexibility of managing your current commitments while you study? Using the latest digital learning methods, staying disciplined while studying online is easier than you might think. With a structure and assignments that are specially designed to keep you on track, studying for an Online MBA has become a popular option.
<a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/are-online-mbas-recognised-by-employers/">Read more about what employers look out for in Online MBAs.</a>
<h3>An MBA is worth it - even in today's crowded market</h3>
It&rsquo;s going to be hard work and sometimes stressful, but an MBA is worth it. You can pursue many career fields and increase your salary much faster. With an MBA qualification on your CV, you&rsquo;ll be well-prepared for the high-level business career that you deserve.

Business students preparing for an MBA

What is an MBA and 5 reasons why you need one

5 years ago, getting an online MBA degree could say that you don&rsquo;t take your education seriously. But times have changed. Back then, it wasn&rsquo;t always easy to find an accredited online MBA programme. Today you&rsquo;ll find online MBAs with the best accreditations available.
But are online MBAs respected by employers?
Most professionals choose to study for an MBA qualification to enhance career prospects. So what employers think about online MBAs is a big deal.&nbsp;
But before we dive in, there&rsquo;s a couple of things to get out of the way first.&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Online MBA degrees don&rsquo;t say that you earned your qualification on the diploma.</li>
 <li>It&rsquo;s not even necessary to state that your MBA was completed online on your CV. If the hiring manager is curious, they&rsquo;ll ask.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Today&rsquo;s employers acknowledge the added-value online students can bring and there are many factors that make an online MBA just as respected as a traditional MBA.
<h3>1. Reputation of the School</h3>
The first thing that would be obvious to a recruiter is from where your online MBA degree has been awarded. A school with a solid reputation, especially one with a quality traditional on-campus programme, is always in good standing with employers.&nbsp;
This is because most online MBAs share the same curriculum, outcomes and accreditations as their on-campus counterparts.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some countries are much more renowned than others for their higher education system. The UK, France, Netherlands, Germany and Spain offer the <a href="https://www.qs.com/the-strongest-higher-education-systems-by-country-overview/">best higher education systems in Europe.</a>&nbsp;
Why not consider an online MBA degree from one of these countries with the highest education systems in the world:
<ol>
 <li>United States</li>
 <li>United Kingdom</li>
 <li>Australia</li>
 <li>Germany</li>
 <li>Canada</li>
 <li>France</li>
 <li>Netherlands</li>
 <li>China</li>
 <li>South Korea</li>
 <li>Japan</li>
 <li>Italy</li>
 <li>Spain</li>
</ol>
<h3>2. MBA accreditation</h3>
You might not have even thought about accreditation while doing research on MBA degrees. But companies will. Schools go through rigorous processes to get their MBA accredited. So having a double or triple accreditation means employers will have more respect for your MBA degree.
<blockquote>
 Most of the top-ranked schools in the world carry an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT Sloan. The other two are the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Foundation for Management Development&rsquo;s (EFMD) Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
</blockquote>
This tells your future employer that you&rsquo;ve earned your online MBA qualification from an institution of quality. So the conversation can swiftly move on to how your skills, knowledge and confidence can transform their business!
<h3>3. Virtual Teamwork</h3>
<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/working-from-home-covid-nber/">Remote working is here to stay.</a>&nbsp;And in the new normal, employers pay extra attention to the set of skills needed to thrive in the digital workplace.
So it should come as no surprise that technical knowledge is high up on the agenda for today&rsquo;s recruiters.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.associationofmbas.com/remote-work-the-top-skills-employers-are-looking-for/">Even above organisation and problem-solving skills, according to one study.</a>
Managing digital tools, exploiting the latest apps, getting to grips with state-of-the-art technologies. Computer skills bring huge value to the modern workplace where productivity is under the microscope.
Studying for an online MBA, you&rsquo;ll start building virtual teamwork skills from day one. And it&rsquo;s ultimately down to you to sell these types of advantages during an interview.&nbsp;
But why not consider choosing an online MBA from a school with a strong profile in digital technology? This way, you can be sure to prepare yourself with the right tech skills. Have lots of ammo for your interview. And future-proof your CV.
<h3>Employers respect online MBAs from great candidates</h3>
At the end of the day, employers are looking for candidates with a strong work ethic.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/do-you-need-a-business-background-for-an-mba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Did you pursue an MBA, even though you don&rsquo;t have a traditional business background</a>? Or perhaps you completed your MBA online while juggling career and family. Your drive to succeed will be obvious in your application and negates any doubt that you are a quality candidate.
<blockquote>
 In summary &ndash; employers are open to the idea of hiring MBA graduates who completed their education online. That said, employers will be checking the reputation of the school and the accreditations that the programme has.
</blockquote>
If investing your time on campus is not an option then learning online is a great opportunity to do it on your own terms. Where you earned your degree is going to be more important than how, whether online or not.&nbsp;So remember &ndash; research, research, research. Use all the information you get to be sure you pick the right school!

Are Online MBAs Recognised by Employers?

Thinking about earning an MBA, but worried you will have to take time away from work and family? Find out how Senior Accountant Ranim Yaman from Lebanon found the perfect MBA programme online to help her.
Having worked at a Switzerland-based organisation for many years, Ranim realized that she wanted to take on a more challenging and demanding position. Based in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, one of the main skills she knew she needed to pick up was the ability to work well across cultures.
An international MBA was the obvious answer, but Ranim wasn&rsquo;t yet ready to leave her newborn baby or the job that she really enjoys. In order to make it work, she would need a programme and school that offered flexibility. After months of careful research and assessment, she found the perfect one to apply to. Today, she&rsquo;s a proud student at the reputable Maastricht School of Management&rsquo;s (MSM) Online MBA.
<h3>How did she choose the right Online MBA?</h3>
Choosing the right MBA was an important decision, considering all the factors that needed to be accounted for. The programme ticked all the necessary boxes: Ranim can do the programme in her time off without having to miss out on work or spending time with her daughter. 
Plus, she had also taken a course with Maastricht School of Management in the past, and recognised them as a distinguished and reliable institution. It also helped that she was offered help with her tuition after she successfully enrolled in the programme. 
<blockquote>
 &ldquo;The extra financial help was appreciated,&rdquo; she says.
</blockquote>
<h3>What is it like to study for an MBA Online?</h3>
The courses are organised through online presentations, weekly assignments and a final assignment at the end of every course. There are two live sessions for every course that they do, which also gives her the opportunity to interact online with other students from all over the world.
Ranim takes every moment that she can to study. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a live session in the first week, where we get to know our directors and meet our classmates, discuss how we are going to start with the course,&rdquo; she explains.
&ldquo;Then, we have a second session during the third week where we discuss how we should work on our final assignments.&rdquo;
She&rsquo;s enjoyed her time with the programme so far, especially the Business Communication course. &ldquo;I really enjoyed the course because I think that to be a manager, you need to work on your personality. You need to work on your attitude at work.&rdquo;
<h3>What is her experience like as an Online MBA student?</h3>
One of Ranim&rsquo;s main aims was to learn about European business communication styles. Coming from the Middle East, she wanted to be more aligned with her colleagues in Switzerland. 
The programme has definitely helped. In the short time that she has been studying for the MBA, she is already applying communication skills in her current projects.
With this MBA, she is confident that it will help her move up and become Finance Manager at her organisation. She will finish her first semester soon and is excited that she&rsquo;s already able to apply the knowledge to in her daily work.
&ldquo;I think this is the situation for many women today. No one is not working, or not studying.&rdquo;

Balancing Time: How to find the Right MBA Programme

Whether you&rsquo;ve decided to take the leap and <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/study-in-sweden-5-things-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">move to Sweden to study</a> or you're still mulling it over, housing is an important aspect of moving abroad to study. It's important that you're able to find a place to rest and recoup during your hectic university days.
There are a multitude of options for housing. You could choose to live in student halls where some of your best friendships will be formed, or you could rent an apartment either on your own or share with your friends. Heres a list of options for student accommodation in Sweden. The <a href="https://studyinsweden.se/life-in-sweden/accommodation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average cost of accommodation can range from SEK 2,500 - SEK 6,500 per month</a>, with Stockholm costing closer to the higher end.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;University housing schemes
The most common housing option for students, most universities may offer accommodation to first-year students and expect you to have found your own by the time you're in the second year. There is also another option where certain areas in Sweden such as Sundsvall offer a housing guarantee for all students. This option offers shared living, such as a shared kitchen, living room and potentially bathrooms. Sometimes universities offer a studio where you may have a stove, sink and small bathroom for your own use so there are options if you would prefer not to have to worry about no toilet paper in the shared bathroom.&nbsp;
Some universities, especially those in Stockholm, may not typically have a campus but rather a housing office where they may have different types of accommodation for their students. Other universities may have sponsored housing from one of their corporate partners. However, this may be dependant on a grade requirement (such as a high GPA) or location (outside EU) requirement.&nbsp;
It is worth it to get in contact the housing association or office in your university once you've been accepted as this will give you the best chance to get the kind of housing you want. As there are limited spaces and many applicants for university housing, its best to start as early as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Private accommodation
&nbsp;There are many options <a href="https://www.thelocal.se/20181122/looking-rental-student-housing-sweden-useful-websites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for private </a>accommodation but again you can always contact your university housing office and ask for the best places to start looking. Blocket.se is one of the more popular websites to use to search for housing for renting privately. But always be careful when it comes to private accommodation:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=legal+renting+sweden&amp;oq=legal+renting+sweden&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57.4436j1j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rental law in Sweden is complex.</a> One of the things to look out for to be sure that it is legal and legitimately safe for you to be renting and living in this space is that the landlord has authorisation from the apartment&rsquo;s housing board.</li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure that you get insurance for anything that breaks</li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure that you've checked both your rights and read the contract thoroughly before you sign.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;For Stockholm specifically, there are also organisations such as the <a href="https://www.sssb.se/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stockholms studentbostader </a>with requirements such as being a member of the student union at a Stockholm university. It can be quite a tedious process and queues could go on from between 6 months to even 4 years. Prepare early, so you can minimise the stress.
Accommodation Tips&nbsp;
As with any country starting as early as possible to find housing in Sweden is always helpful. The best way to find suitable housing to meet your needs and within your budget is to start as soon as you get your acceptance letter.
Contact your university housing office, look at all of your options, think thoroughly about what you can expect that within your budget and start as early as possible. All of these things ensure that you will have a smooth and successful start to the year because you won't be stressed or worrying about finding housing.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Now that you&rsquo;re familiar with student accommodation in Sweden,<a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/study-in-sweden-5-things-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> learn more about what life could be like while you&rsquo;re there.</a>

Accommodation in Sweden

Belgium has a lot to give: there&rsquo;s a bustling social life for students, exciting art and history, and so many places to discover. There is something for everyone and activities are guaranteed to fill the time. At the end of the day, though, you&rsquo;ll need a place to rest your head, and it&rsquo;d be great if that place was comfortable, clean, and within budget.
If you&rsquo;re going to be looking for a place to live in the Belgian city of your choice, you have to familiarise yourself with the word &lsquo;kot&rsquo;. A kot is a Flemish word that signifies a small space that is now used to describe student housing.&nbsp;
Want to know the ins and outs of finding a kot to call home? Look no further.
University Residences
As an incoming student at a Belgian university, it is worth looking into the university&rsquo;s own housing options. In general, <a href="http://www.studyinbelgium.be/en/content/accommodation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">student accommodation in Belgium costs around &euro;400</a>. There are often rooms available in residences that are either managed by one university or multiple universities in the city itself. These rooms include students sharing kitchens and bathrooms, though sometimes the room is equipped with a kitchenette or a private shower. The prices are often pretty low and the koten are an easier way to get settled into your new life.
In cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, your possibility of getting a kot with your university vary depending on what you study - some students will receive priority based on scholarships that they are receiving, for example. With these conditions in mind, it&rsquo;s good to check out what housing options are available to you as an international student.
Private Market
The most popular way to find a kot in any Belgian city is through the private market - this is where local and international students alike find gems in the rough to make their home. The good thing, and perhaps the bad thing, is that you can find a wide variety of places to live. From rooms in houses where the landlord still lives, to studios where you can live in peace, and a kot in a house with many other students. So, everything you could possibly think of.
The prices here vary wildly depending on the area in your city of choice and size of the room, among many things. It also depends on the situation that you end up in: are you joining an existing house full of students, or deciding to look for a house with a handful of friends? Are you opting for a studio, a furnished room, or a small room that just fits the necessary bed so you have a place to sleep? The private sector is what you make for it: there is bound to be something that ticks all your boxes.
Some of the most popular websites to find a home are <a href="https://ikot.be/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iKot</a>, <a href="https://www.student.be/nl/koten" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student.be</a>, <a href="https://www.studentkotweb.be/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KotWeb</a>, <a href="https://brik.be/en/student-housing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brik</a> and <a href="https://icts.kuleuven.be/apps/kotwijs/search/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KotWijs</a>. Make sure to look at your university&rsquo;s website; some of them have their own database with trusted landlords.
Top Tips for Landing the Kot of your Dreams
Finding a perfect home is often a combination of luck, precise searching, and a dash of extra luck. There&rsquo;s no controlling how lucky you may get, but you can maximise your searching skills by keeping some things in mind.
For one, there is no rush to start too early. The kot-market in Belgium has been stimulated highly by the universities and policymaking, meaning that the offering of rooms is not as small as you may think. If you&rsquo;re starting your studies in the fall, aim to search between them months of May and July. Starting much earlier means you risk the landlords raising the prices on you.
Finding a kot while you&rsquo;re still living abroad is especially hard, so if you&rsquo;re afraid of getting scammed by landlords, you should consider arriving in your new city a little early to be able to visit several homes. This way you can ensure that the kot is legitimate, but also that it&rsquo;s safe and up to living standards.&nbsp;
Unfortunately, it can still happen that you don&rsquo;t find a permanent place to live by the time the academic year starts. However, there&rsquo;s a high chance of finding something fitting throughout the semester, as people will not make it or drop out - keep an eye out throughout September, October, and November.
Have you got the word &lsquo;kot&rsquo; on your mind now? There&rsquo;s so much more than only that about studying in Belgium. <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/5-things-to-know-about-studying-in-belgium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out these five things you must know about studying in Belgium</a> and how to fund your studies there.

Finding Housing in Belgium

Thinking about <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/study-in-sweden-5-things-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studying abroad in Sweden</a>? It would be a great education experience, but finding a way to fund a student life abroad is also a crucial factor to think about.
On average, the <a href="https://studyinsweden.se/life-in-sweden/cost-of-living/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost of living in Sweden as a student </a>is around SEK 8,370 (~&euro;815 or $925). The capital city of Stockholm will fall in the higher end of the spectrum. What are your options and how can you gather a budget to make this work? Here are some things to think about.
Funding in your home country&nbsp;
The best way to avoid being overly stressed out about funding your studies in Sweden is to start preparing to fund your studies as early as possible, this gives you ample time to arrange it. There are a variety of options that are available to you. The best place to start once you've received your acceptance letter is to look at what support you could receive from your home country, this means researching what things are available to you from the local government.&nbsp;
This could range from scholarships, government schemes, and loans. Scholarships often come with GPA requirements and some are specifically available for low-income families, so its best to research and look into your options. Student loans are also an option that could be offered by your local government. Usually, the plus side of these is that they offer low interest and are lenient regarding the payback. Government schemes are also handy to look at, again they come with a multitude of requirement so its best to research and see what suits you.&nbsp;
Savings are another great way to fund your studies, however, savings require a lot of preparation. Its always good to have extra money set aside, so it might be worth considering taking on some form of work. When you first arrive in Sweden your costs may initially be high, as you&rsquo;ll have to pay for a deposit the room, potentially furnishing if necessary, course materials, etc.&nbsp;
Lastly, there is an option to take a private loan, however, this is a risky option as the interest is higher and there is no leniency for the payback.&nbsp;
Funding when you're in Sweden: Scholarships
Once you've landed in Sweden there are many options for funding your studies and gaining extra income. If you&rsquo;re a student from the EU, you're in luck - tuition is free for you in Sweden and you have one less thing to worry about.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re not an EU/EEA student, however, you have the option of looking out for scholarships. This is something a majority of schools offer, which could mean that you receive discounted tuition or you get cheaper accommodation. There are many types of scholarships both for Bachelor&rsquo;s and Master&rsquo;s so make sure to do your research to see which one fits you best.&nbsp;
Funding when you're in Sweden: Part-time work and Internships
In Sweden, many students like to supplement their student life with some extra income, whether that be a part-time job and internship or a side business. All students, EU/EEA and international alike can work as long as they have a personal number - the Swedish national identification number.&nbsp;
It is easier to find work if you are able to speak Swedish in general but given the international community in Stockholm, there would be opportunities to find English speaking roles. Your university could also offer student ambassador or student assistant jobs. In some cases they are voluntary and others they are paid, be sure to check with your university.&nbsp;
Whilst some university programs in Sweden may require you to complete an internship, most won&rsquo;t. However, it is still something worth thinking about for summer or during the year alongside your studies. They come in a wide variety, part-time, full-time, paid, unpaid, be sure to ask to clarify any questions that you may have.&nbsp;
Budgeting
Budgeting is vital for a student, there are many apps such as <a href="http://www.kvittar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kvittar</a> and <a href="https://dk.storebox.com/#/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Storebox </a>to keep track of your spending. This way it allows you to splurge on things that are important to you whether that be exploring the country on your time off or buying those clothes you've been eyeing. Budgeting means that you will have one less thing to stress about.&nbsp;
Sweden is known for being slightly pricy but there are ways around that! <a href="https://studyinsweden.se/life-in-sweden/cost-of-living/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food on average will cost 2000 kr </a>which is roughly &euro;190. However, this will be much higher if you go out to eat at restaurants often and Stockholm may be slightly more expensive. The best way to stay on budget for food is to bulk buy items and shop at stores such as Lidl, Coop, and Willys. Restaurants offer a discounted price for lunch meals and universities can often times have canteens on campus where they offer cheap and super filling meals for students.&nbsp;
Regarding transportation, a car will be very expensive so it&rsquo;s best to think about bicycles and public transport. Sweden is a country that loves to bicycle, so you can either buy one, second hand or from a retailer. Public transport is great in Sweden, a monthly pass in Stockholm with student discount will cost you 590 kr which is &euro;60.&nbsp;
So many options&nbsp;
There are a variety of ways to <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/study-in-sweden-5-things-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fund your studies in Sweden</a> and make this happen as successfully as possible - <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/want-to-study-abroad-here-are-your-options/." target="_blank" rel="noopener">just like studying anywhere else in the world, </a>it just requires some research and preparation.

Funding in Sweden 

People can pursue an MBA (Master&rsquo;s in Business Administration), for a variety of reasons. It&rsquo;s an executive degree meant for those in the workforce who want to boost their careers: an MBA is a pathway to managerial positions, boosted salaries, and increased skills in business.
To get into the MBA of your dreams, you usually will have to fulfil a handful of formal requirements, such as a minimum of a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree, a number of years of professional experience and <a href="https://www.mystudy.fit/blog/how-to-prepare-for-the-gmat-top-3-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a GMAT score</a> in some cases. Having those under your belt is great - we have also outlined some useful skills that will help you both get into an MBA and succeed once you&rsquo;re in.
<h3>Communication skills</h3>
No matter what you will be doing after the MBA, you will be working with people. It's not overkilling to be prepared to communicate with different folk - you never know who else will be doing the MBA alongside you. 
Being able to talk and listen to others opens the door not only to more efficient work but also opportunities to learn. Both in your studies and in your career, you will have to work on projects with other people. If you aspire to become a manager or have another leadership position, you will need great communication skills in order to succeed.
<h3>Strategic thinking</h3>
Knowing how to prioritise and put certain tasks before others is a skill many already possess - whether it is from previous studies, hectic lives, or hours spent playing strategy games. It&rsquo;s a part of staying sane when there is a mountain of work in front of you.
Thinking strategically is crucial in an MBA - in part because you must be able to handle the work. However, showing your lecturers that you possess this skill already shows them that you may be well on your way to that higher-up position you&rsquo;re working for.
<h3>Desire to learn</h3>
Like any other degree, an MBA requires time spent reading, writing, and studying. All those can be quite hard if you&rsquo;re not excited about the actual learning part. This can happen if you&rsquo;re in it for the MBA qualification rather than for the experience and knowledge there is to gain. 
<blockquote>
 No matter your motivations, it&rsquo;s important to know that it&rsquo;s a degree. Most MBA programmes take two years and they cost money. When making the decision to pursue an MBA, double-check to see if you&rsquo;re ready to commit a little more time of your life to education.
</blockquote>
<h3>Hard worker</h3>
The flip-side of wanting to learn is actually doing it. Doing an MBA alongside the things already going on in your life is no easy feat, so if you want to succeed you have to be willing to work hard. This may mean missing out on social events and spending more weekends working at home.
Hard work cultivates greater results, too. An MBA is a degree you still want to do well in. By putting in that little extra effort, you can receive great feedback from fellow students as well as your lecturers. Those remarks are valuable: they show others that you are a hard worker and go through with what you intended to do.
Choosing to do an MBA comes from the ambition to go higher, further, faster - beyond what you already know. Having the above skills is great, and there is so much more to be learned by doing an MBA. 
Don&rsquo;t worry if you feel like you&rsquo;re not secure in one skill or the other. Studying an MBA will give you security in all of them and prepare you to employ them in your field of work. 
Do you need further convincing on why to do an MBA? We&rsquo;ve outlined <a href="https://mystudy.fit/blog/5-brilliant-reasons-to-study-for-an-mba/">five great reasons to study for an MBA</a> you might not have thought about yet.

Skills you need to study for an MBA

So, you&rsquo;re interested in applying to a vocational school in Sweden? Great! This step-by-step guide will help you find the right school and lead you through the application process.
Before you start:
You'll need to choose a program and orientation that matches your interests and goals first. Interested in more than one program? No problem. You can apply to multiple programs and schools.
These are the program names in Swedish, you'll need them later on:
<ul>
<li>Childcare and Recreation Program / Barn- och fritidsprogrammet</li>
<li>Construction and Building Program / Bygg- och anl&auml;ggningsprogrammet</li>
<li>Electricity and Energy Program / El- och energiprogrammet</li>
<li>Vehicles and Transportation Program / Fordons- och transportprogrammet</li>
<li>Business and Administration Program / Handels- och administrationsprogrammet</li>
<li>Handicraft Program / Hantverksprogrammet</li>
<li>Hotel and Tourism Program / Hotell- och turismprogrammet</li>
<li>Industry Engineering Program / Industritekniska programmet</li>
<li>Natural Resources Program / Naturbruksprogrammet</li>
<li>Restaurant and Food Program / Restaurang- och livsmedelsprogrammet</li>
<li>Sanitary, Heating and Property Program / VVS- och fastighetsprogrammet</li>
<li>Care and Treatment Program / V&aring;rd- och omsorgsprogrammet</li>
</ul>
<h3>Step 1: Find a school</h3>

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567676619-vocational-blogpost-3.png" />

<ul>
<li>Go to <a href="http://www.gymnasieinfo.se/skola/sok">http://www.gymnasieinfo.se/skola/sok</a></li>
<li>In the box 'Alla program', find the name of the program you are interested in. Look at the list above to see what the program is called in Swedish.</li>
<li>Enter where you live in the boxes 'Alla l&auml;n' and 'Alla kommuner'. Then click Visa Skolor to see all the available schools.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Step 2: See if the school offers your preferred orientation</h3>

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567676616-vocational-blogpost-2.png" />

<ul>
<li>You'll see a list of schools in your local area that offer the program you are interested in. *However, not all orientations are available at all schools.*</li>
<li>You can see which orientation(s) is offered at the school under 'Intiktningar som skolan erbjuder'. If your preferred orientation is not listed, have a look at another school.</li>
<li>Click on 'Programstruktur' to see all the different courses you'll be studying in the program.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Step 3: Login details&nbsp;</h3>
So, you found the right school and it offers the orientation you'd like to study. Now what? Time to login to the website of your local Upper Secondary School Admissions Office - Gymnasieantagningen in Swedish - and make an online application.
<ul>
<li>If you are registered in a primary school, a password is sent to your home in January. You can use this to log in to your local Upper Secondary School Admissions Office.</li>
<li>If you are registered in a county in Sweden but don't go to school, you will need to contact your local Upper Secondary School Admissions Office for a password.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567676612-vocational-blogpost-1.png" />

You can find the contact details for your local Upper Secondary School Admissions Office at <a href="https://antagningskanslier.se/">https://antagningskanslier.se/</a>
The application period for high schools is different across Sweden but usually opens in early January and closes by the end of February.
<h3>Step 4: Making your application</h3>
After logging in to your account, you can start your application. Here are a few things to think about:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">You can choose more than one school or program in your application. This is good because it gives you lots of options.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">You will need to rank your choices of school or program. Put the school or program you&rsquo;d most like to study at the top. If you are accepted on to a program, you will join the program highest on your list.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">You should contact your local Upper Secondary Admissions Office (Gymnasieantagningen) about how to apply with foreign grades.</li>
</ul>
Good luck with your application, all the best!

Apply to a Vocational Program: Step-by-Step Guide

If you didn&rsquo;t know yet, Belgium is a unique location to be in Europe. It is the administrative centre of the European Union and contains a rich history of diversity between its three autonomous regions: Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. Each has its own majority language and rules and regulations.
Fear not, because as an international student, you are welcome at any of the universities in this country. What follows is key information about studying in Belgium - read it carefully.
#1 Work Opportunities in Belgium
Despite being a relatively small nation, Belgium excels at its specialities. It has excellent beers, delicious chocolate, and so much more. It&rsquo;s no surprise then that there are plenty of jobs in these areas. If you like beer, take a look into Anheuser Busch Inbev: they own some of the world&rsquo;s most popular beers and some of Belgium&rsquo;s finest, too.
Plus, with an <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unemployment rate of 5.7%</a>, you&rsquo;re likely to find a job to your liking somewhere in Belgium.
#2 Student Life in Belgium: On-Campus&nbsp;
Belgium&rsquo;s different schools are run differently depending on the region that they are in. While English is a popular language medium in Belgian schools, there are opportunities to study in local languages if you are interested. The northern region of Flanders runs its schools in Dutch exclusively, whereas Wallonia is predominantly French and Brussels is a mix of both. This also indicates the language requirements: for many programmes, you will be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge of either English, Dutch, or French.
You can choose to attend a traditional university (with a focus on research) or a university college (where you will learn more applicable knowledge). Only the traditional universities grant access to the full range of Bachelor&rsquo;s, Master&rsquo;s, and PhD&rsquo;s.&nbsp;
#3 Student Life in Belgium: Off-Campus
No matter where in Belgium you end up, you are bound to have a great time. Take Leuven for example; it is considered one of the most active student cities, with its university dating back all the way to the 15th century. On the flip side of that, there is Brussels, which is highly diverse not only in its student population but also politically. It&rsquo;s the place in Belgium where you&rsquo;re most likely to hear people speaking both Dutch and French.
There&rsquo;s something for everyone in all of the Belgian cities: bright student culture, discounts for gyms, museums and even haircuts, and specific hot-spots that you cannot miss as a student.
#4 Cost of Living for students
Depending on where you live and how you live, studying in Belgium can be more expensive or actually cheaper than it would be if you were to study in your home country. On estimate, you will need to budget at least &euro;930 a month for all your expenses - with Liege on the lower end of the scale and Brussels on the higher end.
If you&rsquo;re looking to explore Belgium during your time there, there are <a href="https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/overview-products/young-child" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discounts on trains available for young adults under 26</a>. However, within cities, you can cut your costs even more by purchasing a bicycle and explore your new home that way. The bike lanes in many Belgian towns are well-developed, and you can even explore other cities with the bike routes that exist between cities.
#5 Study in Belgium: Visa Regulations
Since Belgium is in the European Union, students from the EU/EEA are free to get up and move there to start their studies. All others will have to obtain a visa D from your local Belgian embassy. This is only possible after you registered for a specific study programme at a university and have the documents to prove it. You can find more information at <a href="https://dofi.ibz.be/sites/dvzoe/EN/Application-guides/Pages/Higher_education_or_preparatory_year.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Belgian Immigration Office</a> or <a href="http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/embassies_and_consulates/belgian_embassies_and_consulates_abroad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your local Belgian embassy</a>.

5 Things to Know About Studying in Belgium

If you&rsquo;re planning to apply to a university programme in Sweden, you must have found out by now that all applications go through one central portal: universityadmissions.se. The application deadline is the same for all Swedish universities. The online service opens on October 16th 2019 and closes on January 15th 2020.
Some other things you might want to know:
<ul>
<li>The universityadmissions.se site is completely in English</li>
<li>You can find the entire catalogue of courses taught in English on the site</li>
<li>None of the courses taught in Swedish are on the site</li>
</ul>
The process can look quite daunting at first glance, but here&rsquo;s a simple step-by-step guide on how to apply to Universities in Sweden.
<h3>Step 1: Create your account</h3>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567777313-chalmers-scr-1.png" />
<ul>
<li>Go to universityadmissions.se, click on the &lsquo;Login&rsquo; tab and create your account.</li>
<li>You will be asked if you have a personal number or not. Select &lsquo;NO I don&rsquo;t have a Swedish personal ID number (personnummer)&rsquo;. Enter your details. Remember to match your name with your passport or identification documents.</li>
<li>Once your account is created, you will receive a confirmation email from &lsquo;University admission in Sweden&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Step 2: Find your course</h3>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567777503-chalmers-scr-2.png" />
<ul>
<li>Select &lsquo;Find a course&rsquo; to find the programme you want to apply to.</li>
<li>There are different ways you can search for the programme:</li>
<li>Search for the name of the university and look for your programme of interest OR Search for the specific programme name OR&nbsp;</li>
<li>Type in the programme code found on the university&rsquo;s course page.</li>
</ul>
This is the best way be sure that you&rsquo;re selecting the right programme from the right university and avoid any mistake. For example, the code for the Master of Science in Data Science at Chalmers University of Technology is CTH-87009.
Typing in this code will lead you directly to this exact programme. Click &lsquo;add&rsquo;. The programme will then be added to a list of courses you want to apply to.
<h3>Step 3: Upload your documents</h3>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567777510-chalmers-scr-3fixed.png" />
Next, select the &lsquo;Documents&rsquo; tab to upload the materials required by your programme.
This includes your:
<ul>
<li> English language proficiency test scores: this is usually either the TOEFL or IELTS. There are different places to get them if you have not taken the test yet.</li>
<li> ID documents: scans of passport copies are not accepted. Remember to scan only the original passport.</li>
<li>Certificates, diplomas &amp; transcripts</li>
</ul>
If the programme needs you to submit material beyond these, you can upload them through &lsquo;Other documents&rsquo;. For example, University West requires a separate essay to be written.
<h3>Step 4: Confirm your selection</h3>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1567777507-chalmers-scr-4.png" />
Look for the &lsquo;My selection&rsquo; blue box on the bottom right of the screen and select &lsquo;To application&rsquo; to get to the next step.
Check the courses on your list again to be sure that they are correct and select &lsquo;continue&rsquo; below name of the programme.
<h3>Step 5: Complete your payment</h3>
The next thing you&rsquo;ll have to do is answer some questions related to your nationality. International students outside the EU/EEA zone and Switzerland will have an application fee of 900 SEK applicable.
<h3>Step 6: Check for updates</h3>
 Once the application is complete, you&rsquo;ll receive a confirmation email. But if there&rsquo;s something missing from your application you&rsquo;ll receive an email about it or a message on the universityadmissions.se platform. So remember to keep checking for updates regularly.
The application process is pretty straightforward, especially if you already have all your documents ready.
Good luck with your applications, all the best!

apply to a Swedish university

How to Apply to Universities in Sweden: Step-by-Step Guide 

Software Engineering is undeniably a lucrative industry and one of the&nbsp;<a href="/blog/jobs-in-high-demand-today">jobs most in demand today.</a>&nbsp;Earning a Master&rsquo;s in this field is absolutely a great investment in your future.
But even within software engineering, the landscape is constantly changing. New methods and areas of specialization pop up all the time. With this constant innovation, you might find yourself wondering what type of software engineering Master&rsquo;s should you apply for? Let&rsquo;s unpack some of the popular programmes around the world today.
<h3>#1 Robotics Engineering</h3>
What is Robotics Engineering?
Robotics engineering is one of the most exciting emerging fields. A robotics engineer is responsible for creating robots and robotic systems. The role is crucial because it helps to make jobs, especially in manufacturing, safer, easier, and more efficient.
Why study Robotics Engineering?
According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/06/21/1026967/0/en/Global-Spending-on-Robots-Projected-to-Hit-87-Billion-by-2025.html">Boston Consulting Group</a>&nbsp;study, the industry is expected to reach $87 Billion by 2025. Aside from the staggering amount of money to be made in the industry, you could be specialising in the areas of Intelligent Systems and Artificial Intelligence and work on incredibly inspirational projects like self-driving cars, humanoid robots, smart devices, or even buzzing drones bearing packages from Amazon.
There are many Master&rsquo;s in Robotics being offered around the world, including the US, Sweden and&nbsp;France.
<h3>#2 Cybersecurity</h3>
Where does Cybersecurity fall in Software Engineering?
Cybersecurity is a really broad field. In the work of keeping online activity secure and protected, software engineers in cybersecurity could be working in things like firewall or vulnerability scanning, or pushing out security patches. The work also includes being an expert in defense and countermeasures so as to end up with strong and reliable software.
What is great about Cybersecurity?
The world is digitising at a high speed. With this, there&rsquo;s also an increase in threats and cybersecurity attacks. It has cost a lot of people, governments and companies a scary amount of money over the years. According to a report by McAfee, the cost of cybercrimes reached $600 billion in 2017 alone. This demand means the salaries of experts in this field will also be lucrative.&nbsp;According to the U.S.News and World report, the cybersecurity profession is projected to grow around 36.5% by 2022.
<h3>#3 System Development</h3>
What is System Development?
Systems development is the process of defining, designing, coding, testing, and implementing a desktop application or program. The software you use on your computer? A system developer helped make that.
What is great about System Development?
The fact that people will not stop using computer controlled technology anytime soon, in fact it will only be increasing in the future, means that the demand for this position is also increasing. From law firms to banks and telecommunications companies, organisations are struggling to fill this position.&nbsp;According to the&nbsp;U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for the role is going to increase by 17% from 2014 to 2024. Be an expert in this field, and job security will not be a worry for you.
<h3>#4 Web Development</h3>
What is Web Development
If systems development is about creating the software that we use on the computer, the web development is the coding or programming that enables functions on a website. So systems developer builds Chrome and a web developer builds this website that you&rsquo;re reading on Chrome&hellip; or your browser of choice.
The role involves things like content management, web designing, security etc. The engineers who develop web applications are also called web developer, full stack web developer, front-end developer, UI developer, back-end developer.
What is great about Web Development?
The web is going to continuously evolve, and future-forward companies will be pushing the boundaries of web development all the time.&nbsp;In California close to the bay area, web developers are averaging over $90,000 a year. But aside from all the brilliant companies you could be working for, there is also the option of making it a whole business on your own. Freelance, or create an agency &ndash; there&rsquo;s always going to be a market for what you do.

Female software engineer

4 Types of Master’s degrees to get in Software Engineering

So you want to apply to study abroad? That&rsquo;s great! However, to get accepted into a University programme, you will need proof of your English language abilities.
This means you will need a passing score on an English exam. The two most popular ones are the <a href="https://www.ets.org/toefl?utm_source=Sqore&amp;utm_campaign=Blog">TOEFL</a> (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and <a href="https://www.ielts.org/?utm_source=Sqore&amp;utm_campaign=Blog">IELTS</a> (International English Language Testing System). Each university has different test requirements. Make sure to check which English test and which score the organisation you are applying to recognises.&nbsp;
Both exams will test you in four areas: Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening. That said, the process of preparing for and taking these exams are really different. You should also know that after taking the tests, the scores will only be valid for two years so you may have to retake them if you move on to higher studies. 
<h3>TOEFL</h3>
TOEFL scores are accepted by more than 10 000 universities in over 150 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., the United States, and all across Europe and Asia.
How does it work and where to take it?
The TOEFL is taken through the Internet-based (iBT) version. There are sessions available over 50 times a year at authorized test centres around the world. You can select <a href="https://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl&amp;utm_source=Sqore&amp;utm_campaign=Blog">your test date and location here.</a>
<center><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1560257612-toefl.png" width="599" height="522" /></center>
When and how to prepare?
You will need to take the TOEFL test at least 2 to 3 months before you apply to the University of your choice to make sure you get your scores on time.
The ETS TOEFL offers many preparation materials including free sample questions, practice tests, and detailed tips and information about the test. <a href="https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/">Learn more here. </a>
<h3>IELTS</h3>
The IELTS certificate is recognised by more than 10,000 education and training providers worldwide. Note that universities in non-English speaking countries that provide courses in English will also require an IELTS score. 
There are two versions of <a href="https://www.ielts.org/?utm_source=Sqore&amp;utm_campaign=Blog">IELTS</a> that you can choose from. The most common is Academic for people applying for higher education, but there is also General Training which is usually required for people going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programmes.&nbsp;
Where to take it and how does it work? 
There are about 1200 IELTS test locations in over 140 countries. <a href="https://www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-a-test-location">You can search your nearest centre here.</a> The IELTS test can be taken on paper OR Computer.
The cost to take the exam varies between USD215 and USD240, depending on each market&rsquo;s local currency. The test lasts around 2 hours and 45 minutes and includes:
<center><img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1560257679-ielts-1.png" width="598" height="789" /></center>
How and when to prepare?
IELTS <a href="https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions">provides sample questions</a> to train and get an idea of what to expect during the test. Once you take the test, you will receive a Test Report Form after 13 days and you will be able to view your results online for 28 days.
If you&rsquo;re certain to study abroad, we recommend you to register as early as possible for a test date with an IELTS centre. Indeed, there is a limitation of the number of people who can take the test on a specific date.
<h3>Are you still on the fence?</h3>
Here&rsquo;s a quick way to check which test you should take (if the university of your choice accepts both English exams).
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9406/1560257783-toeflielts-1.png" width="598" height="352" />

American flag

All You Need To Know About IELTS And TOEFL

Most people know Sweden as the land of Ikea and meatballs. Music fans might also recognise it as where a lot of great bands come from - including Abba, Robyn and Swedish House Mafia.
But this country of talented people also takes their relaxation seriously. There&rsquo;s even a tradition revolving around taking a daily break with a hot beverage and a sweet bite, which is to 'fika'. To sauna is also an important social custom.&nbsp;Sweden has a lot to offer for anyone wanting to study there. Here are five things you should know if you are planning to study in Sweden!
<h3>#1 Work Opportunities in Sweden</h3>
Sweden has a long track record of innovations. In fact, it has the largest number of multinationals per capita in the world. It is the birthplace of companies like Ikea, Volvo, Ericsson, Tetra Pak, H&amp;M, Scania and Spotify.&nbsp;With a healthy job market and a&nbsp;low unemployment rate, there&rsquo;ll be lots of great opportunities for you to find work after your studies.
The country is also well known for its work-life balance. Swedes stick to the 40-hour work week and working overtime is not seen as necessary.
<h3>#2 Student Life: On Campus</h3>
Sweden has a non-hierarchical society and everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas and well-informed opinions. This means that when you study in Sweden, you&rsquo;ll be encouraged to think critically and independently as well.
<blockquote>
You don&rsquo;t have to learn Swedish to get understood because next to the Dutch, Swedes are the best non-native English speakers in the world.
</blockquote>
You won&rsquo;t have to worry about getting lost in translation either.&nbsp;
<h3>#3 Student Life: Off Campus</h3>
If you&rsquo;re a nature lover, Sweden is great for you. It&rsquo;s been named the most sustainable country in the world because of its commitment to renewable energy. There are 29 national parks and almost 4,000 national reserves that give you chances to hike, fish and go camping.
In the winter season, it&rsquo;s also your best bet for spectacular skiing and ice skating. The aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights, also appear in this period all over the Swedish Lapland where you can also go on dog sledge and snowmobile tours.
Plus, with nature all around in Sweden, you are also likely to enjoy the special events that only occur on that side of the world. The midnight sun, for example, is a beautiful phenomenon that happens in the middle of summer when the sun doesn&rsquo;t seem to set. In summer, young Swedes spend a lot of time camping, or throwing parties by the many lakes in the country.
<h3>#4 Cost of Living</h3>
According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the <a href="https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Studying-in-Sweden/Universities-and-university-college.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average student budget</a> in Sweden is about SEK 8,000 (equivalent to $880) a month, including the cost of housing.
Student housing and dormitories are the most cost-effective option and you usually get help from student unions or university office. In the capital city of Stockholm, this is the SSSB (Stockholm StudentBost&auml;der in Stockholm). The queuing time for a student corridor room could go on for as long as 6 months to 1 year and even 3-4 years for a student apartment. So do your research as soon as you can, or you might find yourself in limbo.
Private residences can also be an option, but they can be expensive and it&rsquo;s important to be diligent about scammers in this case. Student rooms or a single room in a student flat range between SEK 2,500 (approx $ 275) to SEK 6,500. (approx $ 715).&nbsp;To get around, students usually get the SL pass for the Tunnelbana (metro), bus or Tramway. An adult pass costs SEK 860 (approx. $ 95) but for students, it is SEK 570 (approx. $ 63) a month.
However, there are other expenses that are quite costly in comparison to most European countries. Food at the supermarket, for example, can be quite expensive. So is drinks at the bar or eating out - which means you might find yourself at more house parties than in the clubs.
<h3>#5 Visa Information to study in Sweden</h3>
Depending on your nationality, different visa regulations might apply.&nbsp;European Union/European Economic Area/Nordic students do not require a residence permit. If you&rsquo;re from outside the EU, you&rsquo;ll receive a &lsquo;student residence permit&rsquo;. You get it for a year at a time, depending on the length of the programme that you&rsquo;re in. You would also have to prove that you have the funds to support your student life.
The good news is that after graduation, you can apply for a 6-month extension. That will give you some time to find a job and build a career after having a great student life in the country.
There&rsquo;s still much more to learn about student life in Sweden, but maybe you might want to see what you might want to study first! Check out the different schools and programmes available in Sweden, and discover even more reasons you should plan to study in Sweden.

Swedish students enjoying the long summer nights

Study in Sweden: 5 Things to Know

Did you know that students who studied abroad earn 25% more than their peers who didn&rsquo;t? Studying abroad also means meeting more people, experiencing different cultures and expanding your horizons. There are undeniably many more reasons why having an international education is the better choice, and if you can make it happen for yourself &ndash; you absolutely should.
International education can be done at any stage of your learning journey. No matter if you just graduated high school or looking for a Master&rsquo;s degree, it&rsquo;s crucial you understand what programmes suit you best. You want to be sure you are investing your time and money on the best possible programme you can find.
There are thousands of programmes, courses and universities you could look at. Here are just some possibilities you could consider.
<h3>Before Your Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree</h3>
The one thing that most study abroad programmes require is that you&rsquo;re able to speak English. In fact, a lot of eligibility criteria <a href="https://sqore.com/blog/study-abroad-tips/toefl-vs-ielts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">need you to have a good IELTS or TOEFL score.</a>
If your English grades can do better, don&rsquo;t let it hold you back from your dream career or study experience! Have you considered going for short courses in American colleges, or even take part in a foundation programme in the UK?
Both of these options are great opportunities for you to live and breathe the English language. Speak it everyday with everyone &ndash; your professors, new friends and neighbours.
English Language Courses
A lot of colleges in the US offer English language courses that you can take while you&rsquo;re in high school, or just after you&rsquo;d graduated. These are generally short courses that you can take in between any stage of your learning journey &ndash; after high school, or even right before your Master&rsquo;s.
Foundation Programmes
Foundation programmes are increasingly popular in the UK. It&rsquo;s not just because you get to practice your English, but also because you can specialise in a field of your choice &ndash; like Business, Engineering and Law. Plus a lot of universities also offer direct admission into their Bachelor&rsquo;s programme if you do well!
<h3>For a Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree</h3>
Bachelor of Art &amp; Design
Increasingly, creativity is being more valued in the world. There are tons of rewarding and challenging careers in the arts and design fields in wide ranging industries. From architecture, to advertising and fine arts, it is worth your while to consider an arts education.
<h3>During Your Bachelor&rsquo;s</h3>
Summer Programmes
Here&rsquo;s a pro-tip: graduate faster, spend a productive summer and explore exciting new areas at the same time! There are tonnes of universities around the world that offer summer programmes where you can earn credit towards your degree.
Some exotic locations even include seasonal activities you can do after class. From sailboats to museum tours, it&rsquo;ll be the experience of a lifetime.
<h3>After Your Bachelor&rsquo;s or to Propel Your Career</h3>
MBA
No matter if you have <a href="https://sqore.com/blog/do-you-need-a-business-background-for-an-mba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a business background or not,</a> the Master&rsquo;s in Business Administration is the <a href="https://sqore.com/blog/master-business-administration/5-brilliant-reasons-study-mba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most powerful qualification you can have</a> to propel your career. It prepares you to be an inspirational leader and effective manager. It also opens doors for your career, creating opportunities you would not otherwise have had.
Because of this, the MBA can be quite costly. There are many ways you can deal with the high cost &ndash; some companies would sponsor top employees, or you could find more flexible options. Part-time and online MBAs are getting quite popular today.
That said, if you&rsquo;re already set in your industry and you&rsquo;re sure on the path that you are going to take, a Master&rsquo;s programme will help you become an expert in your field.
<h3>All of the Above &ndash; but with Flexibility</h3>
Online Programmes
One of the biggest problems with getting an international education is the time and financial cost of physically being overseas. Whether it&rsquo;s mobility, family or visa reasons &ndash; it&rsquo;s not a luxury that a lot of students can&rsquo;t afford.
The good news is, online degree programmes are getting increasingly popular! From Bachelor&rsquo;s to Master&rsquo;s and MBA programmes, you can find one that will tailor to your needs. You can now learn at your own convenience with top accredited universities around the world.
We hope this guide makes your options much clearer. Isn&rsquo;t it good to know that you&rsquo;re not limited only to certain choices when it comes to looking for a study abroad programme?
Now that you know the different options that you have, start your research by browsing through the different programmes that are up on Sqore today.

Two students 

Want to study abroad? Here are your options

Thinking of applying to business school or maybe even studying for an MBA? While you search for schools, you would have realised that a lot of them require the GMAT as part of your application. Each graduate business school has their own policies, some schools even combine GMAT scores and undergraduate grade point average. 
<h3>But what is the GMAT exactly? </h3>
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is an exam used to measure skills that are important to study management. More than 7,000 programmes and 2,300 graduate business schools worldwide use GMAT as a way to make admissions decisions, so preparing for the test is really important. 
The exam itself is made up of four sections, and will take you about 3 hours to complete: 
<ul>
<li>Analytical Writing Assessment:&nbsp;One writing task, 30 minutes</li>
<li> Integrated Reasoning:&nbsp;12 multiple choice questions, 30 minutes</li>
<li> Quantitative:&nbsp;37 multiple choice questions, 75 minutes </li>
<li>Verbal:&nbsp;41 multiple choice questions, 75 minutes</li>
</ul>
 The GMAT doesn&rsquo;t have a Pass or Fail grade. You&rsquo;ll receive a score and this score is what will be used by the schools to make a decision on your admission. The scores are not determined just from what you answered right or wrong, but it also depends on how difficult the questions are. &nbsp;
<h3> Who needs to take the GMAT exam?</h3>
 You might have noticed that not all business school programmes or even MBAs require the GMAT. Do you need it for a business programme at the Master&rsquo;s level? Not necessarily. In fact, some MBAs&nbsp;(Master&nbsp;of Business Administration) might also not need you to take the exam. Neither is the GMAT only for people who have a business background. 
The programmes that do not require this test will instead need you to meet other requirements. They vary but more often than not, it includes having work experience on top of a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree.
<h3> How do I take the exam? </h3>
Register online at the <a href="https://www.mba.com/?utm_source=Sqore%20blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official&nbsp;Graduate Management Admission Test&nbsp;website</a> and you will see what dates, times and centres are available near you. You can manage your appointments with your account on the website and no matter where you are it costs US $250 dollars.
 Remember to complete the exam and receive your score in time for your MBA application deadline! 
 All the best with your business school journey!

What is the GMAT and Who is it for?

Tuition, housing, transportation. The costs of studying abroad can be quite daunting. But is it worth it? Absolutely. As the old saying goes &ndash; an investment in education is an investment in yourself.
Not only will you be increasing your knowledge, you&rsquo;ll also increase the chance of a higher salary and also make solid networks with the people you&rsquo;ll meet. This will all change your life for the better.
<h3>Fund Your Education</h3>
It&rsquo;s hard to say how much on average it costs to study overseas, but cost is usually the main barrier for most students &ndash; but it doesn&rsquo;t have to be. Scholarships are often what students turn to, but they are competitive and come few and far between.
Other ways you could consider looking at financing your education abroad include:
Private Bank Loan 
The key thing about taking a private bank loan is to start the process as early as you can! As you start your research, you&rsquo;ll learn that loans come with varying rates of interest. Some banks require a cosigner, so be prepared for that too. Take your time to digest all this information, and also go through the fine print before you sign it. You should also be checking for pre-payment details or if there&rsquo;s an option to extend it in case you are unemployed after graduation.
Decided on taking out a loan? <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/06/19/new-grads-heres-how-to-keep-your-costs-low/#48ad16c462b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a> has tips on how you can keep your costs low, including not taking out debt that&rsquo;s more than your expected first year salary, and to keep your repayment to less than 15% of your monthly gross income.
Financial Aid 
Aside from banks, there are a lot of private and public organisations that offer additional sources of funds for studying abroad. Some of these institutions will give funding in exchange for your commitment to contribute to the company or industry. This is especially helpful if you&rsquo;re already sure about the industry that you want to go into &ndash; like hospitality, engineering or aviation.
Crowdfunding 
Crowdfunding, a way of raising money from a large number of people over the internet, is a rising trend and increasingly becoming a fearless way for some enterprising students to pay for their international education. A lot of crowdfunding sites are online businesses, and there will be fees involved. However, if you do some digging there are some specialty crowdfunding sites that give you the option to avoid fees if it&rsquo;s specifically for your studies.
Work as You Study
Some countries even let you work part-time. An Australian student visa lets you work 40 hours every two weeks, which should be enough to cover some cost of living while you&rsquo;re there.
Have great computer skills? Try working freelance online where there are lots of ad hoc work like transcribing, editing and social media management. Even better if you can code!
Choose the Right School
Depending on where you go to school, you can also check how the country, university or programme will affect your investment in your studies. Think about factors such as how much it would cost to live in a certain country, or what the odds are that a university or programme will increase your earning potential.
According to travel money experts FairFX, the European countries for best value to study are Italy, Germany and Finland. Some European universities don&rsquo;t even charge tuition fees at all.
<h3>Your Return in Investment</h3>
Did you know that in the UK,<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40965479"> if you&rsquo;re a university graduate you&rsquo;re likely to increase your lifetime earnings by at least &pound;170,000?</a> That said, you&rsquo;ll have to be smart in calculating your return on investment (ROI). Many graduates do find themselves in large student debts and find themselves not making enough per annum to cover their payments.
Forbes also lists out a way you <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2014/09/30/is-grad-school-worth-it-7-steps-to-calculating-the-roi/#2cd1276a70a3">can make the calculations to find out your potential ROI at the end of your studies.</a>
<h3>What Money Can&rsquo;t Buy</h3>
At the end of the day, an international education &ndash; whether you do it for a short while, on campus or online &ndash; will provide you with an experience like no other.
So while you consider the return on monetary investment, don&rsquo;t forget the worth of the knowledge you&rsquo;ll get, the adventures you will go on and the lifelong networks you will make. It&rsquo;s priceless.
Ready to make that investment?<a href="https://sqore.com/">&nbsp;Read more about Sqore and how we can help!</a>

Return of investment

Want to study abroad? Find your return of investment

Applying for university, or a higher education programme, can be overwhelming. Depending on where you go and what you study, you&rsquo;re going to face a mountain of paperwork. Visas, references, past certificates. Where do you even begin?
There are quite a few things most universities will require and that you can prepare beforehand. Here are a few things you can think about:
<h3>Proof of English Language Ability</h3>
If you&rsquo;re applying for an international programme, chances are it will be held in English.
This is why a lot of universities need you to demonstrate that you can work well in English. If you&rsquo;re not from an English speaking country, most of the time this means you&rsquo;ll need to have an<a href="https://sqore.com/blog/study-abroad-tips/all-you-need-to-know-about-ielts-and-toefl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> IELTS or TOEFL certification</a>. But if you don&rsquo;t have them yet, or if your grades don&rsquo;t make the cut &ndash; there might be ways around it.
Some schools are happy to extend the deadline so you can take the certification. Some even offer it as part of the programme. Getting the right advice will help you know how best you should approach getting certified.
If you&rsquo;re a high school student looking to apply for a Bachelor&rsquo;s programme &ndash; a Foundation Programme might be better for you. These are programmes in English speaking countries, especially the UK, that offer the chance for direct admission into the university if you do well.
Did you also know that some universities offer short English courses? These are both great opportunities for you to speak English, all day everyday!
<h3>Latest Qualifications</h3>
When you find study abroad programmes, certifying your latest qualifications across different countries can be a huge headache!
Every day, students ask questions like:
<ul>
<li>Are the American SATs equivalent to the UK GCSEs?</li>
<li>Can I do a Master&rsquo;s in Architecture if my Bachelor&rsquo;s is in Engineering?</li>
<li>Does it matter if I only have the GMAT and not the GRE to get into business school?</li>
<li><a href="https://sqore.com/blog/do-you-need-a-business-background-for-an-mba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Do I need a business background to complete my MBA?</a></li>
</ul>
You could always do your own painstaking research or reach out to the programme co-ordinator to find out.
That said, it takes a really long time to do either of those. If you do your own research, you can&rsquo;t be sure that you&rsquo;re right. Programme co-ordinators are also usually swamped with other administrative work and take weeks to reply.
<h3>Visa </h3>
Another tricky must-have paperwork is the student visa. Being accepted depends on many factors. Aside from where you&rsquo;re from and where you&rsquo;re going, they will check how you plan to fund your studies.
But what does that mean exactly? Some countries put a firm number &ndash; in Australia, for example, you need to show you have AUD 18,000 per year living costs. In America it&rsquo;s less clear. You have to have &ldquo;proof of liquid assets to cover cost of first year study and living expenses.&rdquo;
Another typical question students ask is if they can work while studying. In general, most countries state you can work up to 20 hours per week if you&rsquo;re on a student visa.
If you&rsquo;re planning to start a career in your study destination, it&rsquo;s also best you check what this means for your student visa application. In Singapore, for example, you have up to three months after graduation to secure a job and work permit.
<h3>Essays</h3>
Writing essays as part of university requirement can be quite tricky too. Different countries have different levels of expectations and decorum.
For example, the UK system expects you to be more formal while the US want more personal essays. You are expected to show flair and personality so that you stand out among the pool of equally capable applicants.
The question is, just like writing a cover letter to a job &ndash; how would you tailor your essay to impress the specific school? Does it also matter if your English language skills are not the best?
<h3>Interview</h3>
Some universities have interviews as part of their application. This is for the faculty to assess your motivation and ensure that you&rsquo;ll be a good fit for the programme. A lot of the time, interviewers are not interested in how much you know. They care more about how you think.
<h3>Here&rsquo;s the Good News For You</h3>
All these requirements make university applications quite stressful. This is where Sqore comes in!
<blockquote>
If you find a programme you&rsquo;re interested in, and your profile matches what the school is looking for &ndash; we&rsquo;ll connect you with each other.
</blockquote>
This means you will get personalised assistance direct from admissions experts. They&rsquo;ll guide you every step of the way. If you&rsquo;re concerned with anything at all, you can work together with them to make sure you have your paperwork pitch perfect, and done on time.
For example &ndash; you might be concerned if you don&rsquo;t meet the English language requirements. An admissions expert can advise you if the university can wait until after a certain date, and give you more time to complete your IELTS or TOEFL if you need to.
Maybe you don&rsquo;t know if your GCSE or high school credits meet the requirements listed in the eligibility requirements. Or perhaps you&rsquo;re a little lost on how to complete your visa applications, or you want insider tips on how to impress the school with your essay and interview. An admissions expert can help advise you on all of this too!
So remember to be sure that you complete your profile as best you can. The better we know you, the more we can help.
All the best with your applications!

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The STEM education approach is a modern way to make Science, Tech, Engineering and Math more interesting to students and less traditional, dismal and dry.
<h3>One could argue it all started in 1957. Why?</h3>
Well, that was the year Russia put Sputnik into space. The Americans, under the leadership of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, were forced to step up in order to retain their status as a leader in technology. That period of innovation drove the birth of NASA and the world saw the value of a focus in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
And what did that then lead to? In the next few decades, the internet was invented and a company called Apple released the Macintosh and the iPhone.&nbsp;Today &ndash; not only does the electric car exist, but there is a Tesla in space!&nbsp;
But is STEM something that works for you? Here&rsquo;s three good reasons why.
<h3>Reason #1: STEM is not boring</h3>
What does it mean to have a STEM education then? It means that instead of being taught each of the subjects (Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths) separately, your curriculum would mix them up and have them applied to real-life situations.
This means you won&rsquo;t just be laboring over Trigonometry &ndash; you&rsquo;ll be taught to understand how it correlates (or doesn&rsquo;t!) to Quantum Mechanics and renewable energy. You&rsquo;ll be encouraged to fail and fail hard so that you will learn from it, and you won&rsquo;t just be assessed by rigid standardised tests &ndash; you&rsquo;ll also get to produce and create!
<h3>Reason&nbsp;#2: STEM is both professionally and financially rewarding</h3>
<ul>
<li>A STEM education will help you be successful in tomorrow&rsquo;s world regardless of specific interests or career goals. Don&rsquo;t just take it from us &ndash; here are the numbers:</li>
<li>STEM employment grew 3 times faster than non-STEM employment between 2010-2012. By 2018, there&rsquo;s an estimated need for 8.65 million workers in STEM-related jobs</li>
<li>The skills gap in the manufacturing sector is significant. It faces a big shortage of skilled employees &ndash; nearly 600,000.</li>
<li>According to the American Engineering Association, STEM graduates earn 87% more than the average salary of a non-STEM graduate. For example, the average starting salary for mechanical engineering graduates is $58,392 and computer scientists start, on average, at $61,205. According to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2014/07/03/the-top-paying-stem-jobs-for-recent-grads/#4396eae0ef34">Forbes</a> the top paying jobs for recent graduates range from Drilling Engineer (Median Pay: $113,900) to Clinical Informatics Specialist (Median Pay: $61,400) and Software Developer (Median Pay: $61,300)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reason #3: In STEM, Women are Welcome</h3>
It&rsquo;s been said that men outnumber women significantly in Science, Tech, Engineering and Math careers, but a wind of change is coming and the industries are actively trying to change that.
Today, schools and companies are reaching out more to women to balance the gender gap and encourage diversity. They&rsquo;re starting to see that the &lsquo;tech bros&rsquo; who claim women don&rsquo;t belong in STEM fields are wrong &ndash; in fact it&rsquo;s unacceptable and unsustainable.
Having a balanced perspective will only guide the direction of scientific inquiry and product design even more.
<blockquote>
Here&rsquo;s the good news: according to the National Science Foundation statistics, in the last two decades in America, the only fields in which men greatly outnumber women are computer science and engineering. In fact, women already greatly outnumber men in the field of Psychology (with 78% representation).
</blockquote>
Progress!
<h3>But What Do Science, Tech, Engineering and Math Programmes Actually Look Like in Schools?</h3>
The first thing to know is that no two STEM courses are alike, and that is the beauty of it. You can choose from the wide-ranging courses available to fit your specific needs.
One end, there are course-specific classes. These could be something you sign up for before university. You might have even already joined a computer science pathway in high school, which is popular today. Other pathways in demand include Engineering and Bioscience.
Some Universities offer Science, Tech, Engineering and Math programs within different schools, with degrees that apply the STEM principles in their curriculum. Others have built the entire school built around STEM, so that all the programs are designed to push innovative minds to their full potential.
<h3>The Options are Endless</h3>
Whether you&rsquo;re looking for a foundation course, a degree program or to find a school specialising in STEM &ndash; there is definitely a place that will suit you, somewhere in the world. Interested? Browse these Science, Tech, Engineering and Math study programmes on Sqore to find the one that fits you.

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3 Reasons Why You Will Want a STEM Education

Are you considering to get an MBA or planning to expand your knowledge in the area of business further? If so, &ldquo;The Graduate Management Admission Test&rdquo; (GMAT) is usually a must requirement in admission to a graduate management programme.
GMAT is unlike any other exams where you can just cram for it in the last minute. In terms of test difficulty, it&rsquo;s thought of it as middle-of-the-road. However, if you start early enough, you will definitely get a great score. Continue reading to find out the three best tips that you need to know in order to ace your GMAT.
<h3>1. Plan ahead</h3>
Most students taking the GMAT allow 3 to 6 months to study for the exam. This time should be spent learning about the test format and gaining content knowledge. It is important that you learn about the computer-based test, and practice writing essay for the analytical writing section, which presents excerpts of business writing and asks you to evaluate how well reasoned you are.
Also, don&rsquo;t forget to register for the test early enough since the spots will fill up quickly. <a href="https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat/before-the-exam/register-for-the-gmat-exam">(Click here to register for the test). </a>
<h3>2. Understand the GMAT test format</h3>
Knowing what to expect in your test will generally improve your test score. The test consists of three sections, with an optional 8-minute break between each one.
Analytical writing 
One topic &ndash; argument analysis (30 minutes)
Quantitative 
37 questions &ndash; data sufficiency, problem-solving (75 minutes) 
Integrated reasoning 
12 questions &ndash; multi sourcing reasoning, graphics interpretation, two-two part analysis, table analysis (30 minutes)
Verbal 
41 questions &ndash; reading comprehension, critical reasoning, sentence correction (75 minutes).
When you answer a question correctly, the computer follows with a more difficult question; when you answer incorrectly, your next question will be easier. Within the first 10 questions of each section, the computer places you in a general scoring range based on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly. Work carefully on the initial questions in each section to increase your chances of getting into a high-scoring category for the section!
<h3>3. Study for the GMAT test content</h3>
Purchase and use a GMAT study guide that includes plenty of sample tests. The more you practice, the better you&rsquo;ll do. There are also lots of free resources available online such as software from mba.com. This software will teach you how the computer adaptive test works.
Schedule enough time to study and take sample tests. The more you study, the better you&rsquo;ll do. It is better to study a little every day rather than to cram all your preparation into one week.
Learn to pace yourself. Take practice tests to train your time management for each section so you can finish the entire exam on time!
Put extra efforts on the first few questions of each test. As mentioned above, the computer adapts to your ability. The greater the number of difficult questions you answer, the higher your score will be!
 Guess ONLY after you have removed one or two wrong answers. GMAT will penalize you a quarter of a point for each incorrect response, and the computer won&rsquo;t let you return to unanswered questions. Your odds of guessing correctly improve with each incorrect answer you can eliminate.

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How to Prepare for the GMAT: Top 3 Tips

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