FAQs

1. What financial help can students obtain for their studies abroad?

2. Can Students apply directly to Universities in the UK?

3. Some students and their families are concerned about current security levels in the USA and UK. What can I tell them?

4. Do all students need a TOEFL to study in the USA?

5. What is a TAFE college?

6. How do I overcome negative perceptions of community colleges?

1. What financial help can students obtain for their studies abroad?
A large number of schemes providing financial support to international students do exist. However, competition can be stiff and the demand for funds for international students often exceeds the resources available. An important aspect of the advisor’s role is to take care to match a student’s personal circumstances to the criteria of sources of help available. Poorly prepared applications are not only likely to fail but may also prejudice subsequent cases supported by the same institution, or on behalf of the same student.

By far the largest numbers of scholarships are offered on a government to government basis, so it can be worthwhile making contact with your Ministry of Education. It may also be of help to make links with your own network including national bodies, local trusts and private companies.

Some international students may be eligible for financial assistance from the university or college to which they are applying by way of a full or partial scholarship. Students can usually only apply for such scholarships after the university/ college has offered them a place. In some cases, private institutions discount or reduce the cost of tuition. Students should request information about financial aid when requesting an application form.

For further information on scholarships and funding opportunities, please visit the following pages:
Australia: www.i-studentadvisor.com/australiacosts.html
Canada: www.i-studentadvisor.com/canadacosts.html
Ireland: www.i-studentadvisor.com/irelandcosts.html
New Zealand: www.i-studentadvisor.com/newzealandcosts.html
UK: www.i-studentadvisor.com/ukcosts.html
USA: www.i-studentadvisor.com/usacosts.html

2. Can Students apply directly to Universities in the UK?
Students planning to study full time at undergraduate level in the UK, will almost certainly need to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Postgraduate students generally make applications for study directly through the university or college concerned.

For further information, please visit the International Student section of the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/studyuk/index.html

3. Some students and their families are concerned about current security levels in the USA and UK. What can I tell them?
Some students and their families may express concern about how current tensions in world affairs may affect participation in international study programmes in the USA and UK. Even under the most peaceful of circumstances, the safety of students at home or overseas can never be guaranteed and both students and their parents should be reminded that ultimately the decision to study abroad is their responsibility.

Communicate with students about their programme choice. It is very important for the student to choose the most appropriate program based upon academic and personal objectives. However, the advisor’s interest and support is key.

Information gained from television and news reports only provides a snapshot of the wider picture and it is essential to go direct to official government sources for up to the minute information on the security situation in the USA or UK. Please see below for further details.

USA: Students and their families can keep themselves well-informed in preparation for, or during, an international study experience in the USA by monitoring the State Department’s guidelines for travelers www.travel.state.gov. The following definitions from that website provide guidance in interpreting this information:

Consular Information Sheets They include the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security."

Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.

UK: The Home Office (the part of the British government which is responsible for the safety of people living in the UK) has issued some advice about security, including terrorism threat, on their website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Although by international standards, the UK is a safe destination for international students, it is of course sensible to be cautious. If your students would like to take further advice about personal safety while in the UK, the following publication that has been published by the British Council: www.educationuk.org/downloads/safety_1st.pdf

4. Do all students need a TOEFL to study in the USA?
No. Institutions in the USA are becoming increasingly flexible about English language entry requirements. In the past, non-native English speakers were almost always expected to have a TOEFL at a level determined by the college concerned, but with increased competition for international students worldwide, colleges are willing to accept other proofs of language competence. This is not to say that the accepted level has dropped but simply that a less narrow assessment criteria is used. While some institutions may still insist on TOEFL, others will accept evidence of a different type. It is clearly absurd that a student who has studied since infancy in a school in which the teaching medium is English should have to go through the formality of passing an English language test.

5. What is a TAFE college?
TAFE is Technical and Further Education. TAFE colleges are public institutions in Australia and form an important part of the HE sector. Like the community colleges in the US, they offer mainly diploma programmes of two years duration, although full undergraduate programmes can also be taken in some subjects in some colleges. The emphasis in TAFE colleges is on vocational study. There are links between TAFE colleges and the university sector so that a student can move from the former to the latter to complete a degree. All TAFE colleges are accredited by the government and fees in TAFE colleges are generally considerably lower than in universities.

6. How do I overcome negative perceptions of community colleges?
One of the problems faced by counsellors is that parents frequently hold the view that community colleges are somehow second-class citizens of the HE world. This view is particularly entrenched in certain cultures, but it is misguided since community colleges form an integral part of the North American HE system and provide excellent opportunities for international students; given that entry requirements are less demanding and that fees are much lower, they enable many students to enter the system who would otherwise struggle. A student can spend two years at a community college and then transfer to an affiliated university for a further two years, resulting in a university degree from an accredited and prestigious institution. Furthermore, the quality provided by many community colleges is extremely high and accreditation ensures certain standards and practices. In addition, as their name suggests, community colleges have strong links within their locality making them secure and friendly environments.

www.aacc.nche.edu/
www.accc.ca/