5 Tips to get through the first year of University

5 Tips to get through the first year of University

by | Aug 28, 2017 | Study tips

If you are going to University for the first time this year, you may have questions on how this big step in your life will turn out for you. For this reason and to help you a bit, I gathered 5 pieces of advice to have a better start and a successful year.

 

Tip 1: It’s dangerous to go alone!

 

Screenshot of The Legend of Zelda, showing a famous scene, in which Link receives a wooden sword from a nameless old man.

 

When arriving in your University, try to quickly find study groups. As a result, it will help you to meet new people. Not to mention it will also help you to understand new ideas faster and you will keep each other more motivated through the year. Working with many people, with a simple organization with WhatsApp, has only advantages.

 

Tip 2: How to make SOmeone happy = take Him/her to the library

 

You love your place because it is cozy and home. But for the same reasons, it is also not the most work_focused place you can be. All things considered, the library is the answer to numerous issues when we talk about studies. You have nclose by all the books you can need, a web connection, maybe some friends or the librarian to help you too.

 

Tip 3: Keep calm and carry on

 

Keep Calm and Carry On

 

You may encounter some difficulties along the way, receive a few or a lot 🙁 bad marks. To get through them, you have to keep your motivation up. It’s alway simple if you already have a project for the long term and think about it to re-boost your mind. If you don’t have one, and you are at University to explore what you can do, then don’t hesitate to create a smaller goal. For example, if you have a good first semester, you reward yourself with a trip to a nice place.

 

Tip 4: Shut Up And Don’t Take My Money!

 

Shut up I'LL KEEP MY MONEY

 

With your student status, in many countries, you will have access to special prices. Check every time, especially for cultural outings or urban transport. In the same way, ask student associations too, they often give good tips and plans to buy at the best price the things you need.

 

Tip 5: It’s time for some Me time

 

It's Time for some ME Time

 

Don’t forget yoursefl! Take time to stay healthy in order to avoid burnout during the exam period. Eat home-made food regularly. And if you don’t know how to cook, the web is full of recipes for students like you. Cheap fast and easy but good meals are waiting for you. (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-survive-student-basic-recipes)
Equally important, make time for physical exercise. Universities are full of students sports clubs. You prefer the easy “lazy” solution? Walk a bit faster and say no to lift-elevators, try to go to the next bus/metro station on foot from time to time.

 

Need more Tips? Check our posts about Tips to prepare for an exam or Tips to get back to school

 

 

 

 

Study abroad photos 30 years later and scholarships!

by | Jul 26, 2017 | Students, Study tips, Travel

I try a new kind of post today. Not quite a press review but close. I will aggregate here some post I found interesting in the week about study abroad stuff. Today summary:
  • A woman has made a second trip abroad, and have made the most logical thing to do during her stay.
  • a post list 15 scholarship opportunities open to African students
  • fact about the benefits of studying abroad

30 years later, nothing has changed for Lisa Werner

During your study abroad trip, you make unforgettable memories. Lisa Werner from California has chosen to recreate them with a second abroad trip 30 years later. You can read her story and see many photos on the HuffingtonPost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/study-abroad-photos_us_59680477e4b03389bb164217 Do you parents have done a study abroad trip too? Why not suggest them to go again and have fun with this simple idea 😉    
 
On this photo, she is standing in front of the Cologne’s Cathedrale. Cologne is one of the 4 largest cities in Germany ( you can read more about Germany and German language here), She was also in France (City of Strasbourg).

Boost your study abroad project with Scholarship opportunities

 
I think that I may help some of you to realize their study abroad project with this information.
Africa, Top 15 scholarship opportunities It’s a post with a list of 15 scholarship opportunities for African students. Tokyo, China, Australia, Malaysia, Denmark… all those countries are possible destinations with those scholarships. Read the full article here: http://worldscholarshipforum.com/top-15-scholarships-opportunities-for-africans-to-study-abroad-2017-2018/
I look at them and I find this one really interesting:Read more here : http://worldscholarshipforum.com/monash-international-merit-scholarships/ If you are going to apply for one, tell us in the comments why!

Why do more and more people choose to study abroad?

The answer is very simple because, despite all the possible difficulties (Budget, administrative paper, unknown language), students gain a lot with this experience. For the majority of students going abroad means:
  • a gain in maturity
  • a better understanding of their own cultural value
  • a boost in self-confidence
  • new skills useful for their future career
I know that most of you didn’t need to be convinced to go abroad, but maybe this fact will convince your parents if they have a bit afraid to let their child going far away. I hope you will like this post, don’t hesitate to tell in the comments if you want to see more like this one! I wish you a very good day.
Useful apps to follow you everywhere you go during your abroad studies

Useful apps to follow you everywhere you go during your abroad studies

by | May 17, 2017 | Study tips

Nowadays our smartphones do all the work for us and they are pretty useful when it comes to new situations. For example, when you study abroad you can need it to find a place to go, a good restaurant…

I found out for you some really great apps so you might want to have a look. I’ve tried some of them and they are so useful you’ll probably not be able to stop using it even when you are back home.

To help you find free wifi wherever you are

WiFi Map

 

To stay in touch with the ones you love

WhatsApp : Many people use it in their daily lives but I think it’s much more useful when you’re abroad and need to stay in touch with people. They’ll need to have the app too of course and you can even create group conversations.

Facebook : Well, who doesn’t know Facebook nowadays? Thanks to Facebook messenger you’ll be able to talk in private with people and thanks to Facebook you’ll be able to see what they are up to and share your daily life.

Skype : What’s better than a phone conversation instead of just writing text messages? Well, a video conversation of course! And thanks to Skype you’ll be able to video chat with one or even several persons.

 

To help you understand people

Google Translate : Need to know the meaning of a word or a sentence? Google helps you 🙂

The Intepreter : You don’t understand people’s accent? Their way of talking? Or you just need to make yourself understood? Well, this app is perfect as it recognises the voices and is able to translate them. A daily useful tool.

 

To brag about the amazing places you’ve seen

Instagram : Perfect for those who want to share amazing photos on a social network dedicated to that.

Snapchat : Want to send short videos or photos that’ll only remain a few seconds on your friend’s screen? Then Snapchat is made for you.

Facebook

My PostCard Photocards : Send postcards of photos you took with your phone camera to the people you love and pay for them online. Fast and easy.

 

To help you travel

Skyscanner : For those who want to find the cheapest flights.

AirBnb : Hotels are too expensive for your small budget? Then renting a room or even an entire flat to private individuals on AirBnb might be the solution for you. It’s cheaper than staying at hotels and makes you meet new people.

Tripadvisor : What about this restaurant? Is it good or not? Read the opinions(and even photos) of people who went there and discover if you should try it or find another oneto have dinner at.

Uber : Taxis can be really expensive. Find a cheaper solution thanks to Uber. You can book your drive online.

GoogleMap : If you are like me and have no sense of direction, Google Map will help you find your way!

Around Me : Need help finding bars, coffee shops, gas stations, movie theaters, hospitals, hotels and many other places? Around Me is the app for you.

 

To be careful with your spendings

Money lover : Are you scared to spend too much during your trip? Money Lover is especially here for you to help you keep track of all your expenses.

 

Do you have any favorite app yourself and do you want to share it with us? Then do it in the commentary section and I might add yours to the list 🙂

 

-Emilie, Community Manager

How to find a job abroad

How to find a job abroad

by | May 3, 2017 | Study tips

Many of you will study abroad soon and will want to earn a living by working once in your host country. I’m giving you a few tips to find a job once you are settled.

 

1- Before everything, check if you are able to work in the country you are currently in

 

Every visa has its own particularities and some may not allow you to work in the country you chose to study in. That is why it is really important to choose carefully what visa you’ll get before leaving.

Gif

You can’t be angry if you haven’t picked the right visa, I warned you to be careful!

 

2- Look for opportunities

 

When you start searching a job, you should begin with the university’s career center. Not only they can help you but they also can prepare you for job interviews.

There are also a lot of websites helping you find the perfect job for you.

https://www.reed.co.uk/ (UK)

https://www.seek.com.au/ (Australia)

https://www.monster.com (US)

https://www.indeed.fr/ (France)

http://www.infoempleo.com/ (Spain)

Also, you might want to have a look at supermarket chains and other important industries.

Gif

3- Get a kick-ass resume and motivation letter

 

 

Gif

 

No more boring CVs please! Express yourself through your motivation letter and your resume. It takes time to personalize each letter but trust me, it’s important and your soon-to-be employer will appreciate it.

 

4- Be prepared for the interview

 

 

Gif

 

 

Prepare in your mind all the questions you can be asked and what you should answer. And if a question pops up and you don’t know what to answer, don’t panic and take your time. You can do this!

 

5- Success!

 

 

Gif

 

 

We knew you could do this.

And if you still need help to find your study abroad program, we are here to help you 😉

 

 

-Emilie, Community Manager

 

What are the French scholarships available for international students

What are the French scholarships available for international students

by | Apr 12, 2017 | Study tips

France is becoming more and more attractive to international students. Is it its beautiful landscapes, its pastries or its arts? Whatever the reason is, many of you think it will be too expensive to join a School there and want to know more about the Scholarships you can get when studying in France as an international student. So I made some research especially for you and came across different Scholarships that you can get to come study in France. So get ready because here are the most famous ones:

Eiffel Excellence Scholarships

It helps bring the best foreign students in the French higher education institutions for masters and Ph.D. degree programs. It was developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those who can get this scholarship will receive an allowance of €1,181 for the Master’s programs and of €1,400 for the Ph.D. program.

Moreover, the return trip, the health insurance, and the cultural activities are included and you can even be eligible for an additional accommodation allowance. Though, you’ll be charged with the tuition fees.

 

Scholarships offered by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

French government scholarships are allocated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for studies, training courses and language courses in France.

There is one organism that grants the majority of scholarships and that the students should contact: the SCAC (Cooperation and Cultural Action Departments) in their country of origin in order to get comprehensive information about scholarships, the criteria, the required documents or any other useful information.

 

ERASMUS Mundus Joint Master Degrees

This scholarship covers the student’s participation costs that are to say :

  • tuition fees,
  • library
  • laboratory costs,
  • full insurance coverage
  • many other costs related to your participation in the Master.

It also provides the students a contribution to their travel and their installation cost. Plus, it includes a monthly allowance for the entire duration of the program.The requirements are the following: you must have obtained a first higher education degree or an equivalent and live outside of the European Union.

 

Scholarships offered by Schools

  • ENS International Selection Scholarships. This scholarship enables some students to get a monthly grant of 1,000 Euros for three years. Indeed, the “École Normale Supérieure” organizes every year a selection of several international students who seem to be the most promising in order to offer them a scholarship. They’ll have to study Science or Arts & Humanities and follow a three-year Masters Degree at the University.
  • Emile Boutmy Scholarships for Non-EU Students at Sciences Po. It has different levels and you can get from 3,000 Euros to 19,000 Euros for the three years. To be eligible, the students have to be first time applicants, from a non-European Union state, and who have been admitted to the Undergraduate or Master’s program.
  • Grenoble Institute of Technology Foundation Scholarship program. If you are applying for a Master’s degree at Grenoble Institute of Technology, you can be offered scholarships for international Master’s degree students. You can get up to 5000 euros per semester (2 terms maximum).

 

Many other Schools allow the students to get scholarships, so you might have a look at what a School offers. Most of the time, it will depend on your grades and your personality. So make sure to work well during your high school and undergraduate years!

If you want to know about the other scholarships available in France, visit this website.

And if you are looking for other worldwide scholarships, follow our Twitter account that retweets every scholarship offer from all over the world: The Scholarsheep Twitter Account.

So, ready to study in France? 😉 Then make your study abroad wish on our platform! 

 

-Emilie, Community Manager

English Language Certificates – Conclusion and Comparison chart

English Language Certificates – Conclusion and Comparison chart

by | Apr 7, 2017 | HigherEdMe News, Study tips

Choosing between all these tests and certificates

We hope that all the details we gave you about these certificates and standardized tests helped you understand them better and will help you make a choice. There are so many parameters to take into account before taking your decision. Do I want a real certificate or a standardized test? what level do I need?  TOEIC or IELTS or Cambridge?

You can find below a chart of comparison between the different tests based on levels.

If you had to compare the ETS tests to the Cambridge tests  we might add that the Cambridge are better suited if you are planning to join a British school and The ETS ones if you are going to the US. Although it is not definitive. You can indeed study with a TOEFL in the UK and about everywhere. Conversely your IELTS or CAE will be recognized about everywhere. In the end it is just about what certificate or test the school you have set your mind upon will accept.

 

TOEFL / IELTS / CECR Levels comparison chart

English certificates comparison chart

More certificates and tests we did not mention :

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE academic) by  by Pearson Language Tests is an Australian test  to assess non-native English speakers’ readiness to follow university-level studies. It is recognized in the UK, the US and many other countries like France, Spain, China, Italy Malaysia… in prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, business schools like London business school, HEC and also a number of art and music schools.

Test scores range from 10 to 90, using the GSE (Global Scale of English) .

ECL English language test by the  ECL – European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages.

The ECL provides a standardised test system customised to the languages of the EU member states. The test system is based on the recommendations of the CEFR.

The ECL language exam can be taken on four levels based on CEFR levels:

  • A2 – Waystage
  • B1 – Threshold
  • B2 – Vantage
  • C1 – Effective Operational Proficiency

The exam consists of four parts: oral communication, listening, written communication and reading comprehension. The test does not grammar tests and translation tasks.

The exam can be taken in 15 languages.

Other european test systems are available in multiple languages like the TELC managed by a German organisation and the DCL run by the French ministry of National Education

Let’s mention the GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test before we finish. It is a test in English language partially managed by Pearson that can but the test assesses more than just English proficiency.

Indeed it measures several skills considered essential for students who pursuing admission in a graduate management program, such as an MBA so it assesses certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for that purpose. We have included this one to be complete but this one is borderline. It is a language test but not entirely a language test.

Talking about completeness, there are more than 50 different English language tests on the market and we did not include every one of them. Chance is you can take one of those we mention near your place because we have tackled the most renowned tests and certificates in the world today. They are recognized for their quality and so you know what you are getting and chances will be greater than your school recognizes it.  Whatever your decision regarding which examination you should take, we have to insist that it is better to contact the school first and read their requirements for admission. They usually list a batch of tests or certificates they accept for admission and we obviously advise you choose one of them. If you think we have missed a major actor on the market or you have in mind one you would like us to mention, please leave a comment below.

 

Make a study abroad wish