The guide contains a range of interesting and informative articles exploring the study of specific subjects overseas, written by experts and professionals from within the six main areas of higher education and industry. The guide also contains select articles from counsellors and students about their own experience and their advice about overseas education.

The guide is divided into sections according to subject, with correspond with our interactive online subject guides, where you can find even more useful articles and information.

We’d like to thank all of our contributors who have shared their knowledge and expertise to make this guide as extensive and informative as possible. We are confident that the articles and information within this guide will help students to embark upon the wonderful experience of international study.

If you would like to request a free copy of The Subject Guide 2012, please click here and provide us with your name, school name and address. You can also preview some of the pages from The Subject Guide 2012 in the gallery below.

Interested in contributing to the next issue of The Subject Guide? We are always looking for new associations, organisations and counsellors to contribute to our guides. Please contact us at editorial@i-studentgroup.com

If you are from an institution and are interested in featuring in any of the i-studentadvisor resources – online or in print – please contact us at editorial@i-studentgroup.com

View a gallery of sample pages from The Subject Guide 2012…

The Open Doors 2011 survey has recently been published by the Institute of International Education; the detailed report highlights the trends of foreign students studying in the US, as well as information on American students studying overseas.

The results have proved quite interesting with the overall number of international students studying in America increasing by 4.7%, despite the economic downturn and the increased efforts from other countries such as Australia and China to attract more students to their campuses. Their hard work over the past 12 months must have paid off, after upping their marketing strategies due to the fierce competition from around the world.

There has been some distinct changes in where these students are coming from in comparison to last year. The number of students from African and European countries has stayed around the same, only dropping 0.5-1% from last year. However, Asia and the Middle East has seen an increase of students choosing to study in America with the number of Asian students increasing by 30,000 and those from the Middle East increasing by 11,000.

Some individual countries have seen some very dramatic changes since 2009/10, with countries such as Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and East Timor sending over 40% more students in comparison to last year. And, at the other end of the scale, countries such as Liberia, Laos, Cuba and North Korea sending at least 25% less than the previous year.

Business and Management remains the most popular subject, with 21.5 of students choosing subjects in this area, closely followed by Engineering at 18.7%. The biggest increase in subject interest was Intensive English Language, where the number of students choosing courses in this field increased by 24.0% compared to last year.

To find out more about how you can join the growing number of students choosing the US for their higher education please visit the USA pages on i-studentadvisor. You can also register for free at our online university matching service i-studentenquiry, to see which universities are right for you. Speak to students already studying in the US and learn what it’s really like at i-studentlife.

The Open Doors Report and International Educational Exchange is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States.

‘The Big Science Challenge’ is inviting schools in the UK, and from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and UAE to research and design an original, innovative solution to a problem concerning water, either locally, nationally or globally. It will give the young people involved an opportunity to learn about science and engineering by tackling real world challenges which affects communities around the world.

Young people from the winning UK school will receive a five day trip to the United Arab Emirates’ famous city of Dubai, where they will gain a unique insight into the culture and education system through an exciting programme of activities.

Patrick Brazier, MENA Regional Director, British Council said: “The British Council is delighted to be joining forces with Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s most respected companies. The Big Science Challenge gives young people in the UK a chance to find a real scientific solution to a genuine problem and to share, explore and learn with schools in the Middle East. By forging these international links, the competition creates a greater sense of understanding between young people and gives them an invaluable glimpse into another culture.”

‘The Big Science Challenge’ is also open to a number of secondary schools in eight Middle Eastern countries and all participating schools are encouraged to share ideas and exchange information, emulating real scientists who work in international networks. Over 4,000 schools are expected to participate across the UK and Middle East.

Helen Bishop, Head of Community Investment, Rolls-Royce, said: “‘The Big Science Challenge’ addresses the important issue of water and gives young people an opportunity to work like real scientists and put their scientific research and technological skills into practice. We hope this opportunity will inspire young people in the UK and across the Middle East to make science and engineering part of their future education.”

“We are pleased to be working with the British Council, who have a wealth of experience in building educational links between schools in the UK and the Middle East.”

In the UK ‘The Big Science Challenge’ is open to teams of up to five young people from secondary schools aged 11 – 16.

The competition closes on Friday 3rd February 2012 and entries will be judged by a panel of experts from the UK and the Middle East.

There will be four UK winners and one per Middle East country.

The prizes include a week-long visit to London for all winners to present their entries in an international forum and the first place UK school will win a five day visit to Dubai.

Winners will be announced the week commencing 20th February 2012.

To enter, visit ‘The Big Science Challenge’ website.

For further information, please contact Elizabeth Bananuka on 020 7389 4808 or email elizabeth.bananuka@britishcouncil.org

Previously, Iranian students had only been able to apply for single entry visas, meaning that if they chose to leave the US, they would be required to re-apply for a visa if they wished to re-enter the country. In addition, these single entry visas were only valid for a three month period.

Late last week, however, the US Department of State announced that two year, multiple entry visas would now be available to certain Iranian students. In a press release, they stated:

“As of May 20, 2011, qualified Iranian applicants for visas in the F, J, and M categories for non-sensitive, non-technical fields of study and research and their dependents will be eligible to receive two-year, multiple-entry visas. This is an increase in the current visa validity of three months, single entry.

This change will allow Iranian students and exchange visitors to travel more easily, furthering our goal of promoting the free flow of information and ideas. This important decision is being taken as the global community witnesses the Iranian Government’s increasing censorship and isolation of its own people.

Iranians currently in the United States on a three-month, single-entry visa in one of these categories must reapply outside the United States at a consular post in order to obtain two-year, multiple-entry visas. Keep in mind that the validity of a visa refers to the time period the visa holder has to enter the US. It has no bearing on the length of stay permitted by US Customs and Border Protection officials at the port of entry. Iranian students and exchange visitors in good standing in the United States do not need to apply for a new visa until after they depart the United States.”

Commenting on the change in stance, the Chronicle of Higher Education pointed out that the visa change will come as welcome news to the “4,700 Iranian students in the U.S., according to the most recent figures from the Institute of International Education.”

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University is part of the San Raffaele Foundation which includes hospitals, research centers and the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.

San Raffaele is well known worldwide for its excellence: it is a highly specialised center for molecular medicine, diabetes and metabolic diseases, as well as biotechnology and bio-imaging. The hospital channels many of its resources into cancer treatment, cardiovascular diseases and numerous acute and chronic-degenerative diseases and a very efficient Emergency Department that serves a vast area.

The International MD Program builds on the institution’s solid presence on the international scene: San Raffaele healthcare centers can be found in many countries of the world, including Brazil, India, Uganda, Poland, Chile, Israel, Mozambique and Algeria. This degree course provides medical-scientific education at the highest level, allowing students to improve their skills and to upgrade their knowledge. It also provides clinical and laboratory research opportunities and additional education in humanities and cultural sciences: philosophy, communication skills, cognitive neurosciences and psychology, which are the building blocks of human society, regardless of social status, race, or creed.

The International MD Program is designed to train a new kind of doctor: someone who possesses the necessary human, cultural and professional abilities to actively participate in healthcare and share ideas in today’s globalised world. Unlike other Medical Programs in Italy where clinical courses are held in Italian, the International MD Program is fully in English, including classes, lectures, practicals and all clinical activities.

Students enrolled in the San Raffaele International MD Program have access to all the facilities of the Vita-Salute San Raffaele Institute and the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, including skills labs for practical training, a library with more than 20,000 books and several thousand scientific e-publications and resources, as well as to the clinical and research laboratories of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, the largest private research institute in Italy, that further expanded with the inauguration of DIBIT, a scientific facility for basic, translational and clinical research. DIBIT is part of the largest biomedical science park in Italy, which includes the San Raffaele Hospital, Science Park Raf, created to support the foundation’s development, and the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.

Applicants who wish to enroll in the International MD Program are required to take an Admission Test. 64 places are available for Academic Year 2011-2012:

• 32 for EU citizens
• 32 for Non-EU Citizens

The Admission Test will take place on April 28th 2011 in the following locations:

• Milan, (Italy)
• New York, (USA)
• Kuala Lumpur, (Malaysia)

Candidates who wish to take the Admission Test can visit the following website for detailed information: http://bit.ly/mdadmissions

The deadline is April 20th, 2011.

Here are the guidelines on the admission process for A.Y. 2011-2012: (click to view or download PDF)

For more information on the International MD Program please visit the following website: http://bit.ly/mdprogram

The WISE Prize for Education was announced by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, at the conclusion of the second World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha, Qatar, in December 2010. The first Laureate will be named at WISE 2011 in November.

The Jury members are:

• Dr James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, USA
• Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University, USA
• Mrs Fatma Rafiq Zakaria, Chairman of the Maulana Azad Educational Trust, India
• H.E. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, MP, South Africa
• H.E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, PhD, Chairman of WISE, Qatar Foundation, Chairman of the Jury

The WISE Prize for Education will reward an individual or team for an outstanding, world-class contribution to education. The Laureate’s achievements should have had a significant, lasting impact upon education at any level, and should demonstrate an inspiring and visionary approach.

The Prize will support the WISE mission of raising the status of education internationally by establishing an award of similar standing to those that already exist in other fields such as science, literature, peace and economics. The winner will receive $500,000 and a gold medal.

Nominations are invited until the end of April from individuals and institutions such as universities, schools, NGOs, teachers’ organisations, the media and private corporations.

From mid-July to mid-September 2011, the Jury will examine the candidacies of 15 finalists pre-selected by a committee responsible for screening all submissions.

Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Chairman of WISE, Qatar Foundation, explains: “As Chairman of the Jury, I am pleased to welcome this group of eminent people to form the WISE Prize for Education Jury. They have been selected because of their international vision, professional achievements and expertise. I believe their rich experience and diverse competencies will enable us to identify a Laureate of the highest calibre, and the WISE Prize for Education will become the world standard for achievement in this field.”

Qatar Foundation inaugurated the World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE – in 2009 to harness the knowledge, skills and experience of multiple stakeholders in addressing the challenges facing 21st-century education.

Find out more about the WISE Prize for Education: http://www.wiseprizeforeducation.org

WISE is dedicated to building the future of education through innovation. This global collaborative initiative was inaugurated in 2009 by the Qatar Foundation, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Its mission is to address the challenges facing 21st century education, to expand dialogue around the world and to implement practical and sustainable solutions. With this purpose, WISE holds an annual international summit that provides a unique platform and meeting place for thought leaders and experts to share best practices about education. WISE is also a year-round initiative devoted to reaching outside the traditional circles of the education community to promote innovation and implement concrete actions. The WISE 2011 Summit will take place in Doha, Qatar, 1-3 November 2011.

We at i-studentadvisor are looking for talented writers to contribute an article about their experiences studying business or medicine related subjects, especially if they are studying overseas. The winning article will feature alongside respected associations and societies in our magazines, and will be fully accredited to you! This is a great opportunity to show off your skills and have your work published, whilst sharing your experiences with other students.

Requirements

• An article of 500-800 words, in a Word document
• A high-resolution photo (.jpg) of yourself, plus any others that compliment your article, such as study activities etc
• Please state clearly your full name, nationality, course title and institution
• A title for your article

The article should be about your experiences studying. Here’s some ideas of what you could cover:

>Why you chose your particular course / institution

>What skills you are learning

>What activities you have taken part in during your course

>Any work experience / internships you have done, and how these went

>If you are studying abroad, why you chose to study in this country and how you are finding it – challenges, benefits etc

>What you most enjoy about your course and study location

>What you intend to do when you graduate- be it work, further study, travel etc

>Anything else you think is of interest!

Our magazines are designed to help students research their study options and decide what, and where, to study. This means that the target audience for your article is generally pre-university students, and your article should promote the subject you study whilst giving information about your experiences.

Criteria

• The competition is open to all undergraduate students currently studying a medicine or business related subject full-time.
• You can be from, or be studying in, any country in the world.
• Whilst international students studying in a country other than their home country will be given preference, we will consider all entries including home students.

Hurry, this competition closes in one week’s time – 17.30 (GMT) on Friday 25^th March! We will read all entries and the winning article will be chosen based on content, fluidity and style. The winner will be notified by Wednesday 30^th March.

The winning article will be featured in one, or possibly more, of our magazines. Depending on the style of the article, this may also lead to the opportunity to become one of our student bloggers on our sister site, i-studentlife.

Please submit your entry, or any queries you have about the competition, to Jasmine at jasmine.j@i-studentgroup.com.

We look forward to reading your articles!

Please note: Judges decision will be final. By entering this competition, you are giving us permission to use your article in our magazines. Whilst we may make minor changes to the article, we will always accredit to you, will not change the nature of the content and will always notify you every time it is used in our products. There is no exchange of money, from either party, involved in this competition.

i-studentenquiry.com, the free service matching students with universities, colleges and English language schools around the world, has relaunched and now offers faster, clearer results for both students and institutions.

First launched in 2010, i-studentenquiry allows prospective students to fill out one simple form for either undergraduate, postgraduate or English language study. Students enter their requirements, such as the courses they would like to study and in which countries, along with their qualifications and personal details on a secure form. The form is then processed by the intelligent algorithm powering i-studentenquiry.com to find which universities and colleges around the world could provide the education the student is seeking.

The latest version of i-studentenquiry includes a range of new features to make the system more accessible and easier to use, such as:

• The “My Account” page, allowing students to log in and view their enquiry history and matches
• Easier to fill out forms, allowing students to complete their enquiry quickly and simply
• Improved control for institutions, ensuring faster responses to student enquiries

i-studentgroup would like to thank all of the students, counsellors and university admissions professionals who provided valuable feedback during the development of the new and improved i-studentenquiry service. To fill out your form, visit http://www.i-studentenquiry.com

You can also join the i-studentenquiry Facebook page here – http://www.facebook.com/istudentenquiry

If it’s the latter, then Swedish universities may have cause to worry. Compared with last year, the number of international applicants for masters programmes has dropped by 73%, whilst the number of applicants across all international courses plummeted by 86%.

The new tuition fees, which were partially intended to reduce the number of international students and thus the additional administration involved, may reach US$30,000 in some institutions, though each university is free to set its own tuition fees.

Some commentators have expressed concern that such a dramatic drop in international applicants could have a detrimental impact on the quality of higher education in Sweden. Some have cited the example of certain masters programmes where Asian students make up more than half of the class; without these international students, certain programmes may become increasingly scarce, reducing the options available to the native Swedish population.

Niklas Tranaeus, the head of a project to coordinate information on the fees across 31 Swedish higher education institutions, believes it is too soon to panic about the drop in numbers:

“I think all Swedish higher education institutions are expecting a drop in the number of international students in the short term. But within a few years, many of them should be able to attract increasing numbers of international students.”

The majority of international students on masters programmes in Sweden originate from Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the UK and the US. Those students who are already studying on courses in Sweden will be exempt from paying the new fees.

The students’ wish to stay in Egypt to watch the protests from the safety of their temporary homes, plus a sudden increase in interest for study abroad programmes in the Middle East, may be part of a bigger trend; that of education abroad being used as an opportunity for a bit of ‘revolutionary tourism’.

Revolutionary, or political, tourism is not a new phenomenon. For example, every election time in the US sees thousands of tourists flock to New Hampshire to see the candidates in person during the first primary in the presidential election cycle. And reportedly after the uprising in Oaxaca, Mexico, against the marginalisation of the poor, large numbers of Americans travelled to the city to ‘experience’ the lives of the poor there. These are not examples of extraordinary cases, but can be seen as common occurrences.

The main draw seems to be the opportunity to be involved in ‘history’ – to see something extraordinary, something of significance that could make a real change to the country, if not the world. Having travelled to Thailand to teach in the midst of the Red Shirt protests in 2010, despite being warned against it by almost everyone and being one of the few foreign employees that didn’t cancel, I can say from personal experience that – although at times worrying – travelling to a country in some sort of state of emergency can also be an exhilarating experience.

However it seems that recently, it is students that are getting more and more involved and interested in world, and home, events. Take the recent student protests over tuition fees in the UK; students came out in their droves to have their voice heard in a way not seen since the mass students protests of the ‘60s against the Vietnam War.

And what better way to get involved than be in the middle of the action? After the tragedy of 9/11, interest in studying in the Middle East sky rocketed; according the Institute of International Education, the number of students choosing to study in an Arabic-speaking country between 2002 and 2006 increased by 127%.

Although Egypt may be quiet on the study abroad front for now, it seems that it will only be a matter of time before students start flocking there again. According to the Times Higher Education, both Stanford University and Middlebury College in the US are still planning to keep programmes in the middle east, and Northeastern University’s international affairs programme and has been receiving emails from interested students.

Safety is, of course, an important consideration and it is important that student’s travelling abroad are informed and aware of the dangers they may face. But if they do decide to travel to a ‘risky’ country, they are sure to return with an unrivalled experience.

Have you studied or travelled as a ‘revolutionary tourist’? Do you think it’s a good idea? Have you had to leave Egypt? We want to know your stories!