LanguageschoolSearch DIY

I am applying to graduate school in the UK. As a resident of the US, what do I need to study there? Do I need a student visa ? They are taking forever with sending a decision so I want to go ahead and get stuff together just in case. How long does it usually take to get everything one needs to study in another country?

I suggest that you push them a little harder to make sure you get your documents in time.

Its summer holidays in the UK right now so that means most staff isn’t around. Try to contact the International Office directly (if they don’t answer e-mail, call them) and ask them to make a decision.

Without an unconditional offer from the University you cannot apply for a student visa. As you are a US resident the language requirements shouldn’t be a problem. Visa processing depends on the British Visa office, but for the US should be just a few days. Find the closest consulate/embassy to you and make a list of documents you need to prepare.

Living in the UK is straightforward. Just start off on university campus — and decide if you want to stay there. Bring a suitcase full of clothing and a credit card and a guaranteed way to draw cash from the wall.

Some useful contact info:

British Council USA
The British Embassy, 3100
Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
FAQ line: 1(800) 488-2235
Fax: (202) 588 7918
www.britishcouncil.org/usa

For visa information:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-educationuk-immigration-and-work.htm

Survivor asked:

I’d like to know which country is the best place to study English abroad. I need it to be a good place to chance myself after a year of work stress. What is a good time of the year to start based on weather conditions?

There is no easy answer as much depends on your own interests of course.

The best time is of course now ; there is no real reason to wait. A language course can start every monday. If you like to cold(er) weather then pick a winter — if its summer in Canada, its winter in Australia.

If you are stressed out how about going somewhere slightly out of the way? New Zealand and Australia offer some great places that allow you to relax, sample a little fine wine and enjoy their fresh foods. (No more instant food !)

Some popular study abroad cities in order of increasing “busyness / stress”

• Christchurch / Perth / Bournemouth
• Auckland / Brisbane
• Sydney / Vancouver
• San Francisco / San Diego
• London / New York

TypicalBoy asked me:

For a high school program, where are some of the cheapest places to study abroad outside of the US?
Could you please include sources such as websites?

If you are on a budget then for a high school programme you can consider either New Zealand or Australia.

Both have a low cost of living, and tuition fees are pretty reasonable. Their education systems also rank very highly — they offer good quality for reasonable money in a safe environment.

The most important thing to consider is why you are looking for high school studies overseas? This can help you decide on which country is most suitable.

Also, do you have relatives which are already abroad that can help with housing (and thus save a lot of money?)

For some more reading below is a listing of some schools in New Zealand I found while researching your question.

• Awatapu College
• Central Hawkes Bay College
• Feilding High School (FAHS)
• Freyberg High School
• Hastings Girls’ High School
• Horowhenua College
• Iona College
• Napier Boys’ High School
• Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• St Peter’s College
• Tawa College
• Wanganui Girls’ College
• Wanganui High School
• Wellington Diocesan School for Girls (Nga Tawa)
• Wellington East Girls’ College

It should be possible to apply for academic studies in Australian with just a TOEFL score. The university should probably not have a big problem with this.

But you still need to sit for the IELTS exam — it is a requirement for the academic student visa.

To quote from the immigration website:

The Student Visa Regulations require students to have sat an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test prior to lodging their application.

Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/english-requirements.htm

Studying abroad is an expensive undertaking, a year abroad might cost as much as a decent sized car. Below I have written down 22 tips that can save you big money if you want to study at a language school. All of them are based on preciously gained experiences from working for years in the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Saving money – image by Darren Hester

We are halfway through 2008, and that means that most language schools are starting to look at their fees for 2009.

Usually they will raise them by some 3-5%. The transition period were they go from one fee set to another is usually a bit of a gray area and you can use this to your advantage.

Before you book, you should ask your agency, or the school if you book directly the following question:

If I book now, can I get 2008 fees for my studies in 2009?

You would be surprised how many schools would be happy to give customers a discount for guaranteed business.

There are some common exception through:

Firstly, this rarely works for public institutions (universities, colleges), it is best to stick with privately run language schools.

Secondly, accommodation fees are not set by the school and are paid to their homestay. So you might be able to get a discount on the fees, it is unusual to get a discount on accommodation.

According to the US Department of Commerce, this March tourism to the USA has jumped 19% compared to 2007. That would be a solid recovery after the many year of slump since the September 2001 attacks. However, many tourism officials are not yet convinced:

According to Roger Dow, Chief Executive of the US Travel Industry association:

“With the dollar the way it is, business should be extraordinary. We’re just not getting the people we should be”

The US is currently most popular with the Europeans — the Euro being strong, and of course Asian visitors.

If you are interested in enrolling for a Diploma (not Degree) course in Australia check the table below what the entry requirements are for your country.

Generally speaking the requirements are a completed high school degree, and an English level of at least IELTS 5.5+ to be able to enter a diploma program.

For some countries it is required that you first complete a Certificate IV (ADF Framework) before being able to apply for a diploma course. This should be done in Australia, and takes about 6 months to 1 year depending on the subject. The Certifcate IV should be relevant to your Diploma study plans.

When selecting a school in New Zealand, there are many things to look at. You probably first checked the price, the courses and location. But with so many schools to choose from which ones provide the quality you need?

The New Zealand government regularly checks all language schools in New Zealand, and publishes its reports on the NZQA website. This website can be a little confusing because it not only lists language schools but all education providers (such as the local music schools and dance studios).

To take an example, lets find one school listed on this website. Nelson English Centre is a great small school in sunny Nelson on the tip of New Zealands South Island. If you want to go off the beaten track this is a fantastic place to relax.

First enter the NZQA website here.

Then select “Nelson” , and in the list that follows you have to search for “Nelson English Centre” (use CTRL-F to quickly find it if the list becomes very long).

This should give you the Nelson English Centre school profile , as shown here.

On this page you will find the schools contact details, and at the bottom the two bits of most crucial information. First there is the school audit report. This should list in detail all that is good and bad about the school in plain English.

Secondly, it lists the schools Audit Cycle. Here it is three years, which means that the government only thinks its necessary to come by once every three years (the longest period). Newer schools, and schools that have previously failed inspection will have shorter inspection periods.

They fit in your pocket — you can use them everywhere, and if you ever studied a language you probably have used them before. Flashcards. They are a great tool to help you memorize keywords and phrases.

The principle is simple, you buy, or make your own cards. If you make your own simply take a sheet of paper, and cut it into squares. Bookstores usually sell hard paper empty cards in a little box that make great instants.

On the front of each card you write the word you want to remember and on the back the word in your own language. When you have a spare moment, in the train or waiting for the bus, you get them out of your pocket and shuffle through them.

At home you get can reverse it by looking at the back. Try to write down the word you are learning correctly, and then check your answer. Try not to look at the other side of the card !

Still cheating yourself? Get a computer to do the same thing — it flashes the words, and you type the answers. This can be a very fast and good way to repeat the same set of words over and over again until you perfectly remember them. And its completely honest.

If you want to just memorize a set of words — you can also enter them online in one of the many online flashcard sites. One website you can try is flashcardexchange.