UK - FAQs
Entry requirements vary from university to university and course to course. In general, top universities would require 80% and over in Grade 12 and good grades in relevant subjects. You will also find plenty of good universities if your scores are below 80%. You can contact an adviser at Aspire Big to help you identify the best universities with your academic profile.
To apply to undergraduate courses in UK universities, you must apply through a central application system called UCAS, where you may choose upto 5 universities or courses. The information once submitted in the application cannot be changed and the UK universities make a decision on your application only on the basis of the information you submit in UCAS, so it is important to get all the information right and the correct format.
A small number of universities can also accept direct applications from International students.
For help with the UCAS application, please contact an expert at Aspire Big.
Foundation courses are university preparation courses that are taken up before the start of the degree program. The foundation programs can be 9-12 months in duration and can be taken up if you do not meet the requirements of the university for direct entry to year 1 of the undergraduate program. i.e. if you do not have the right marks or the right mix of subjects. Foundation courses prepare you for the undergraduate program.
You do not need to enroll for a foundation course if you are meeting the requirements of the university program directly. However, you may do so out of choice.
For admission to PG courses at good universities in UK, you must have a first division (60%+) in your Bachelors degree. There are a number of good universities that give admission with 50-60% in Bachelors.
Application to PG courses in UK are made online directly on the university websites.
Different courses at Oxford and Cambridge have different entry requirements. But in general Oxford and Cambridge would need a minimum of 90-95% in Grade 12 for most UG courses and 65-70%+ in Bachelors for PG courses. There might be additional entrance exams required depending on the course you choose.
Most UK universities accept all IELTS (academic), TOEFL and PTE tests for you to meet the English proficiency requirement.
However, for foundation courses, you will need to give a UKVI approved English language test.
A number of universities in UK can waive off IELTS at both the UG and PG level.
UG Level – Evidence of Grade 70%+ in Grade 12 English
PG Level – provide evidence that the medium of instruction of the Bachelors degree was English
Waiving off IELTS is at the discretion of the university.
To know which universities can waive off IELTS, contact your Aspire Big adviser.
Most of the top universities require a minimum of 3 years of post study work experience (i.e. 3 years of experience after completing your Bachelors degree) for admissions to MBA program. This is because MBA is accredited by a professional body called AMBA, which only allows MBA to be offered to people with experience.
However, there are 10-15 universities that offer MBA without any work-experience.
There are plenty of scholarships offered to study in UK. These are offered by either the University or external organizations. Scholarship amount can range £1,000 to Full fees scholarship.
As an international student you may apply to scholarships offered for your particular study program OR the scholarships offered by the international office OR that offered by the external bodies such as British Council.
Scholarships are limited in number and competitive to get. If you do not receive a scholarship award, you may choose to fund your studies either through personal or family funds or an education loan from a recognized bank.
Need for paying a deposit to the university before VISA depends on the conditions of your offer from the university. Some universities might require you to pay a small deposit to confirm your place on the course before you can move to the next steps.
Once you’ve met all the conditions of your offer, the university will make your offer “Unconditional” and start CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) process. Once you receive your CAS number from the university and you are ready with your funds, you can apply for your student VISA.
To apply for UK student VISA, you must show that the required funds are maintained in your account or accounts of your parents for a period of 28 days. The required funds are:
Tuition Fees for 1 year (Balance of the amount already paid)
Plus, Living expenses for 1 year
For Universities in London - Total £12,006 (i.e. £1,334 per month for 9 months)
For Universities outside of London – Total £9,385 (i.e. £1,023 per month for 9 months)
In additional to above funds that need to be maintained for a period of 28 days, you will also need make arrangement for funds to pay towards your VISA Fees and HIS.
When you apply for your UK student VISA, you also pay for “health surcharge” i.e. IHS which gives you access to the NHS when in UK. The health surcharge is paid for the entire duration of the study VISA. Hence, you do not need to get an additional health insurance.
As a student, you may choose amongst various kinds of accommodation options. You can opt for University halls, which are run and managed by the university. Or you may choose to private student halls, that are owned and managed by private companies OR rent a private house.
You can choose on-campus or off-campus accommodation AND be able to choose from different rooms types such as shared, single, ensuite or studios depending on your preference.
For more information on what type of accommodation to choose, please contact an expert at Aspire Big.
Australia - FAQs
Yes, Australian degrees are recognized world over. They are sought after for their teaching excellence. In fact, 7 of the Australian universities are also ranked amongst Top 100 universities in the world forming an elite group of universities known for their academic excellence.
As an international student, from 1 Jul, 2023 onwards you can work 48 hours every 2 weeks as part-time along with your studies.A small number of universities can also accept direct applications from International students.
For help with the UCAS application, please contact an expert at Aspire Big.
As an international student, you’d like to apply for a student VISA to study in Australia, and the student VISA is only granted for full time programs. You maybe able to take up a part-time course in Australia if you already have a valid residency permit and are not dependent on a student VISA to enter Australia.You do not need to enroll for a foundation course if you are meeting the requirements of the university program directly. However, you may do so out of choice.
Entry requirements for different courses and universities may vary. However, in general, you would need a minimum of 60-65% in Grade 12 for admission into a Bachelors course and 55-60% in Bachelors for admission into a Masters program in Australia. With lower grades, you maybe able to apply for Diplomas or Certification courses.
Yes, Australian universities accept 15 years of formal education as valid for entry to Masters courses.
To apply for a study program in Australia, the applications are made online directly on institutions’ website. You may contact an adviser at Aspire Big for support with your applications to Australian universities.
There are multiple scholarships that are offered by Australian government, universities and external bodies to international students to support their studies in Australia. These can be in the form of scholarships, grants or bursaries.
You would need OSHC i.e. Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of your course in Australia. This is also an important requirement for a successful student VISA application for Australia.
Canada - FAQs
The entry requirements in Canada vary depending on the courses and institutions. However, the minimum requirement for admission is 55% in previous education qualification for the Community colleges and 70% and over for Universities.
Along with the minimum percentage requirement, you would need to show English proficiency via IELTS or TOEFL. AND some courses may also need additional standardized test scores.
For a number of PG Diploma level courses, 15 years of formal education is acceptable. The Masters level courses at the Universities may traditionally require 16 years of education. However, subject to different evaluations, some universities may accept students with 15 years of formal education onto Masters courses.
For more details, you may contact an expert at Aspire Big.
There are multiple scholarships that are offered by Canadian government, universities and external bodies to international students to support their studies in Canada. These can be in the form of scholarships, grants or bursaries.
As an international student on study permit in Canada, you can work part-time for 20 hours a week during your semesters and 40 hours a week during your vacation time.
You would be eligible for a post graduation work permit (PGWP) provided you have completed course from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) of 8 months or more. The duration of your PGWP will depend on the length of your course. You can get a PGWP of 12 months after completion of course of 12 months AND for courses over 2 years, you are eligible for a PGWP of 3 years.
So, provided your Diploma is from a DLI and is 8 months or more in duration, you will be able to apply for a post graduation work permit.
Yes, getting a health cover is mandatory to study in Canada. The amount of health cover for different Provinces may vary. In most cases, the health cover will be offered by the universities on top of the tuition fees.
Singapore - FAQs
Some of the top universities in Singapore are National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technical University (NTU Singapore), which are also top 20 universities in the world. Besides these, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) are some other top universities. Singapore also has Global campuses some of the top universities in the world.
For admissions to a Bachelor’s program, some courses at universities require SAT or ACT scores, and for admissions to Master’s program, some courses require GMAT scores.
However, despite the course or degree level, all students need to take an English proficiency test i.e. IELTS or TOEFL.
To study in universities in Singapore, exceptional students may apply for scholarship grants or tuition grants offered by the Government. These may cover upto 50% of the tuition fees.
Besides these, there are other scholarships offered by the universities and other external organizations that can cover upto 100% of the tuition fees.
As an international student on a valid Student PASS in Singapore, you may work part-time for 16 hours a week during term time and full time during vacation time, provided you are enrolled with an institution approved by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and you have permission from your institution to take up this work.
Ireland - FAQs
University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin and the top most universities in Ireland. These also rank amongst the top universities in the world. The other top universities are University College Cork; National University of Ireland, Galaway; University of Limerick; Maynooth University and more.
Entry requirements for different courses and universities may vary. However, in general, you would need a minimum of 55-60% in Bachelors for admission into a Masters program in Ireland and 70% and over in Grade 12 for admission to a Bachelors program.
There are multiple scholarships, bursaries and grants that are offered by the government of Ireland, universities and external bodies to international students to support their studies in Ireland.
As an international student on a valid student VISA, you may work part-time for 20 hours a week during term time and 40 hours a week during vacation time.
Yes, it is mandatory to have medical insurance to study in Ireland. The proof of this is also included in your VISA file.
France - FAQs
No. French proficiency is not mandatory to study in France, as a number of universities and courses have adopted English as a medium of instruction for courses in management, sciences, engineering to attract more international students. However, you are encouraged to learn basic French to be able to communicate with locals.
There are 2 major intakes for French universities, i.e., September (Fall) and February (Spring). For the Fall intake, you must target applying by February - March and for the Spring intake by November - December.
Yes, there are multiple scholarships and grants that you may apply for to study in France as an international student.
Yes, you can work part time along with your course in France for 20 hours a week.
After completing a Masters degree from France, you may stay back on a temporary VISA of 2 years.
Italy - FAQs
There are 2 major intakes for universities in Italy, i.e., September (Fall) and February (Spring). For the Fall intake, you must target applying by February - March and for the Spring intake by November - December.
Yes, there are multiple scholarships and grants that you may apply for to study in Italy as an international student. Funding may be offered by the universities, the government or external bodies.
Yes, you can work part time along with your course in Italy for 20 hours a week.
After completing your degree from Italy, you may stay back on a temporary VISA of 1 year to look for work.
Netherlands - FAQs
Delft University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Eindhoven University of Technology are some of the top universities in Netherlands.
There are multiple scholarships, bursaries and grants that are offered by the government of Netherlands, universities and external bodies to international students to support their studies in Netherlands.
As an international student on a valid student VISA, you may work part-time for 16 hours a week during term time and full time during vacation.
International students from outside the EU/EEA coming to Netherlands need a long-stay visa and a residence permit to study a full-time university program.
For Master’s and Bachelor’s programmes, the international students need to pay institutional tuition fees that can vary between €6,000 and €20,000 per academic year depending on the institution, programme and degree level.
During your studies in the Netherlands, you will need an average budget of 800–1,200 EUR/month. This amount should cover your rent, food, transport and additional spending. The necessary monthly budget for studying in the Netherlands will depend based on the city you choose to live in.
To study an English-taught higher education programme in the Netherlands, you will need to prove that you are proficient in English. You can do so by taking IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge English language proficiency test.
Usually, the requirement of an exam depends from course to course. Furthermore, an English language test is necessary for higher education studies in the Netherlands.
Switzerland - FAQs
There are 2 major intakes for Swiss universities, i.e., September (Fall) and February (Spring). For the Fall intake, you must target applying end of March and for the Spring intake by end of November.
Yes, there are multiple scholarships and grants that you may apply for to study in Switzerland as an international student. The funding may have offered by the universities, the government or external organizations.
Yes, you may work part-time for 15 hours a week and full time during vacations. And for some Cantons like Geneva, you are permitted to work 30 hours a week during term time.
You are allowed to stay back in Switzerland for 6 months after completion of the course, to find a job.
For PG (under SPP) and MBA in Switzerland, you will need IELTS band 6.0.
Dubai - FAQs
Yes, Dubai is a great place to study. There are some of the world’s top universities that have their campuses in Dubai and moreover, Dubai offers an environment of best of innovations and development for students to immerse themselves and benefit from.
Dubai is not very expensive to study for international students as compared to some of the other popular destinations. The tuition fee ranges from INR 9 Lacs to 11 Lacs per year, for undergraduate courses and INR 11 Lacs to 18 Lacs per year, for postgraduate courses. And the living expenses range from INR 6 Lacs to 8 Lacs per year.
Yes, you may work part-time along with your studies, only if you have permission to do so from your University/College and you get a work permit from the UAE Labor Department to work part-time in Dubai. With this, you may work 15 hours a week or 60 hours in a month OR 40 hours a week during summer break.
Universities and colleges have a number of scholarships that you can apply for. Funding is also offered by external organizations to cover your tuition fees and living expenses in part or in full.
If you are applying for an undergraduate course and have already taken SAT or ACT, you may choose to submit your test results, even though it is not a mandatory requirement for application.
As for postgraduate courses, some courses may require GMAT scores, however, it is best to check the requirements of the course before applying.
It is mandatory for all international students to take English proficiency test i.e. IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE.
If you obtain an overall GPA of at least 3.75 in your course, you may be allowed to stay back in Dubai on a long-term VISA of 5 years, which can be further extended and converted to permanent residency. You may use these 5 years to either look for a job or spend time working at one.
ACT - FAQs
You can register for ACT online on http://www.act.org/, where you’d need to make your profile and schedule a test date.
No, you cannot take the ACT Exam at home. You would need to take the test at an approved test centre.
You may take the exam 12 times in 5 years.
The ACT exam is conducted multiple times a year in the months of September, October, December, February, April, June & July.
The ACT Exam is conducted over 2 hours 55 mins OR 3 hours 35 mins including the optional Essay Writing section. You are allotted 45 mins for English, 60 mins for Math’s, 35 mins each for Reading and Science and 40 mins for Writing sections.
The ACT exam consists of all multiple-choice questions in English, Maths, Reading and Science sections.
GRE - FAQs
You can register for GRE General Test online on http://www.ets.org/gre, where you’d need to make your profile and schedule a test date.
You can take the GRE test either at the designated test centers around the world or online at Home.
You can take the GRE General Test 5 times in rolling 12 months period, but once every 21 days.
You can take the GRE test once every 21 calendar days.
Your test scores are typically made available to you within 8-10 days of your test.
You can send your GRE test scores to upto 4 institutions free of cost. But you may order reports to be sent to additional institutions at a cost of $30 per institute.
GMAT - FAQs
You can register for GMAT online on www.mba.com, where you’d need to make your profile and schedule a test date.
You can take the GMAT test at either at the designated test centers around the world or online with the help of global partners.
You can take the GMAT test 5 times in 12 months period or 8 times in your lifetime.
You can take the GMAT test once every 16 calendar days.
You may re-schedule your GMAT test upto 24 hours before the scheduled test.
Your test scores are typically made available to you within 7 business days, but may also take upto 20 business days to process. Once your official scores are available, you will be notified on your official email ID.
You can send your test scores to upto 5 institutions free of cost. But you may order reports to be sent to additional institutions at a cost of $35 per institute.
SAT - FAQs
You can register for Digital SAT online on www.collegeboard.org, where you’d need to make your profile and schedule a test date.
No, you cannot take the digital SAT at home. You would need to take the test at an approved test centre.
You may take the exam as many times as you want.
It is suggested you book 3-4 months in advance of test date you’d like to appear for the test.
Digital SAT is conducted multiple times a year in the months of August, October, November, December, March, May and June.
The Digital SAT exam is 2 hours and 14 mins (plus 10 mins break) in duration. The Reading and Writing section is conducted over 64 mins and Mathematics section over 70 mins.
You may use an approved calculator for the Maths section of the digital SAT exam.
Digital SAT consists mainly of multiple choice questions in both the Reading and Writing and Mathematics sections, with few questions under Mathematics section with questions where users must enter their answers.
IELTS - FAQs
You can register for IELTS online on https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/ or offline at an IELTS centre.
No, you cannot take the IELTS test at home, if you are based in India. You would need to take the test at an approved test centre.
Your IELTS score will be valid for 2 years.
You can choose to take coaching for IELTS or prepare via self-study. But make sure to devote time to prepare for the test.
You can re-sit the test anytime.
All of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE solve the same purpose, i.e. assess your English language proficiency on 4 parameters i.e. Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. But to choose, which test is right for you, you must refer to the test requirements of the institutions you are interested in applying for, and choose the test that is accepted by all the institutions of your interest.
PTE - FAQs
You can register for online on http://pearsonpte.com.
Yes, you can take the PTE Academic test at home.
Your PTE score will be valid for 2 years.
You can choose to take coaching for PTE or prepare via self-study. But make sure to devote time to prepare for the test.
You can re-sit the test anytime.
All of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE solve the same purpose, i.e. assess your English language proficiency on 4 parameters i.e. Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. But to choose, which test is right for you, you must refer to the test requirements of the institutions you are interested in applying for, and choose the test that is accepted by all the institutions of your interest.
TOEFL - FAQs
You can register for TOEFL online on https://www.ets.org/toefl.
Yes, you can take the TOEFL iBT test at home.
Your TOEFL score will be valid for 2 years.
You can choose to take coaching for TOEFL or prepare via self-study. But make sure to devote time to prepare for the test.
You can re-sit the test anytime.
All of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE solve the same purpose, i.e. assess your English language proficiency on 4 parameters i.e. Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. But to choose, which test is right for you, you must refer to the test requirements of the institutions you are interested in applying for, and choose the test that is accepted by all the institutions of your interest.
GENERAL - FAQs
You must keep a look out for the scholarship requirements and deadlines and apply well in time. Some scholarships require you to have an offer to study from the university of your choice, which means that you must start the process as soon as you are able to. Also, the selection process for different scholarships consists of different stages, which also require you to make your scholarship applications soon.
You can apply for as many scholarships as you want, but depending on the conditions of the scholarships, you may be eligible to be granted only one.
Universities offer different scholarships on the basis of academic merit. For information on the scholarships offered by your chosen university, please contact an adviser at Aspire Big.
There are multiple scholarships available covering partial tuition fees to Full tuition fees. For details of scholarships, please contact Aspire Big.
Please refer to your chosen university and academic department for information on scholarships for a distance learning course. You may also refer to scholarships awarded by the Government of your university’s country or other organizations.
The scholarship offer usually comes with certain conditions, and one common condition is you requiring to meet the conditions of the university and maintaining high academic performance to be able to get scholarship for the subsequent years as well.
While the number of LORs may differ for different institutions, but you may need 1-3 references depending on your chosen university and level of study.
You must get the LOR from someone who’s worked with you, either a professor or teacher from your previous institution OR a superior from work who has worked closely with you on projects or works with you on continued basis.
Please avoid getting LORs from someone who have never taught you or may know you in limited capacity.
You must apply for your student VISA at the earliest possible. As soon as you have met all the requirements of your chosen university and have received the confirmation of enrolment, you may start your VISA process.
You don’t need a separate VISA to work part-time in your chosen country. However, the guidelines on the time permitted or additional requirements for part-time may vary from country to country and you are advised to follow these guidelines.
You must apply for your accommodation at the earliest. If you are interested in University halls, be mindful of the application deadline for the accommodation. You need not wait for the Visa to be granted to apply for accommodation. Rather in some cases, you may need to show evidence of living arrangement as a part of your Visa application.