1. Overview of application steps for studying abroad
1. Preparing for English test
English is a communication tool. Commonwealth countries like Britain and Australia need to take IELTS. North American countries like the United States and Canada need to take TOEFL. If you go to the United States for postgraduate study, you can take GRE, MBA and GMAT. It is enough to take IELTS in Commonwealth countries. It is also the most valued and trusted material for the Admissions Office.
Second, applying for a university
This corresponds to which country to apply for. Generally, it is the first to decide which country to go to. This involves what kind of English to prepare. The university application is divided into several gradients according to its own conditions. Ok, it is symmetrical with its own status quo. The third grade is guaranteed, and one * * * applies for 5~6 schools, and then it is first. Then choose a major first. Generally, it is consistent with or related to your own background, and some majors don't need a background. For example, MBA.MSC. Education. Sociology. Asian Studies, etc. In the process of English preparation, you can contact different schools, send emails, and apply for a university after you get a clear understanding. You can also apply if your English scores don't come out. Tell the school how much you can take, and the school will give you conditional admission. When you go to school, You can just give the offer to the Admissions Office together with your English scores.
Third, applying for a visa
A visa to study abroad means to endorse (stamp) a passport or travel document held by a person, or to put a label on it, with a clear explanation, indicating the reason why the holder entered the country, the time allowed to stay, or the permission to travel to other countries through its territory. If a person wants to travel abroad, settle down or study abroad, get married, etc., he should hold a corresponding visa in addition to a passport. Passport is the holder's nationality and identity certificate, and visa is the permission certificate of a sovereign country to allow foreign citizens or their own citizens to enter or leave the country or pass through the country. Visas are generally endorsed on passports, some on other travel documents instead of passports, and some also issue separate visas. For example, the immigration visa of the United States and Canada is a piece of A4 paper, and Singapore also issues a separate paper visa to foreigners. Generally speaking, the visa must be used at the same time as the passport to be effective. Generally speaking, foreigners are granted different entry visas according to the identity of the applicant and the purpose of entry, such as visas for traveling, visiting relatives, emigrating, studying abroad and working, and the residence time after entry is limited. Due to different types of visas, the relevant materials required are different. Generally, there are fewer restrictions on applications for short-term residence, and the waiting time for approval is shorter. For the purpose of long-term residence, the application is more restricted and the waiting time is longer. A country has no obligation to allow foreigners to enter the country unconditionally (unless there is a treaty), and a foreigner has no right to ask a government to allow him to enter the country. A sovereign country always has conditional restrictions on the entry of foreigners. In recent years, with the development of international trade, international political relations and the prosperity of tourism, visa regulations in many countries tend to be simplified. There are also agreements between countries to exempt visas or simplify visa procedures.
the validity period of a visa refers to a period of time from the date of issuance of the visa to the future, after which the visa is invalid. Generally, countries issue entry visas valid for three months, and some countries issue entry visas valid for one month. Some countries have strict restrictions on the validity of visas, such as Germany, which only issues visas according to the date of application. The validity period of transit visas is generally short.
The duration of a visa refers to the time allowed for the holder to stay after entering the country. The difference between it and the validity period of a visa is that the validity period of a visa refers to the use period of the visa, that is, the holder can enter or leave the country within the specified time. If the visa for people and exit from a certain country is valid for 3 months and the stay period is l5 days, then the visa can enter or leave the country on any day within 3 months from the date of issuance, but the holder can only stay in the country for 15 days from the day of entry to the day of exit. Some countries must enter the country within 3 months after issuing, and the stay period after entry is 1 month; In some countries, the visa entry period and stay period are the same. For example, the validity period and stay period of the US visitor visa are three months, that is, the entry party is valid within three months and can only stay for three months after entering the country. The validity period of a visa is generally one month or three months; The longest is generally half a year or more, such as employment and study visa; The shortest is 3 days or 7 days, such as a transit visa.
A work visa means that applicants and foreigners other than the nationality of the applicant country apply to the embassy of the applicant country and are employed by a formal institution certified by the applicant country. A work visa is a permit to enter the territory of the applicant country to work, which is a legally binding and non-immigrant document. If you are an international student, the types of work visas applied by different countries are different after graduation. British students can only apply for three types of work visas after graduation: the second-level visa, the fifth-level temporary work visa and the first-level (graduate entrepreneur) visa.
times of validity. besides the validity period and stay period, the visa also stipulates the times of validity. Generally, it is divided into one valid visa, two valid visas and multiple valid visas. The number of times a visa is valid means that the visa will be invalid once it is used within the validity period. Two valid visas, that is, you can use them twice within the validity period of the visa. Multiple valid visas, that is, within the validity period of the visa, the holder can leave and enter its territory many times. For example, some tourist visas for Australia and India allow multiple entry and exit within three or six months. In some countries, employment visas are also valid for multiple entry. Of course, what kind of visa to issue, how long the validity period and the number of valid times are determined by the visa authorities according to the specific situation of the entry applicants.
4. Buying air tickets
You can also find information about air tickets online.
5. Physical examination and exchange of foreign exchange
Go to a quarantine office designated by a certain country for physical examination, and exchange foreign exchange at the Bank of China, with an admission notice, which will explain how much you want to change.
6. Prepare before departure
Information such as luggage specifications can be found on major websites.
VII. Flying
Those who have no experience of flying can go to the airport two or three hours in advance and ask the airport staff, who are very friendly.
VIII. Find the international office
They will help you arrange everything, so you can study with peace of mind. As for living off campus or on campus, it's the same as in China. It's safer on campus and more convenient off campus.
2. Main preparation materials for studying abroad
1. Passport
Passport is a legal document issued by the state to prove the nationality and identity of the citizen, and it is a pass for citizens to pass through international ports in various countries. Since the passport has a validity period of 1 years, it is recommended that small partners who are willing to go abroad apply in advance. Because different regions have different requirements for handling passports, you can consult the exit-entry administration department of the local public security bureau and ask what materials, fees and detailed procedures are needed.
passport requirements of entry-exit administration: take photos on the spot and wear dark clothes (black); There is and only allows cash payment to 16 yuan; You can choose to pick up your passport from the entry-exit administration department or mail it to the designated place after 14 days.
2. Certificate of education
Students who are studying
Students who are studying need to prepare a certificate of studying in Chinese and English and a three-year complete transcript in Chinese and English. It is suggested that students go to the archives for unified printing after the results of the summer semester of junior year are announced.
Some schools' archives don't provide corresponding English translation services. Students are advised to consult the archives of the school in advance. If they don't provide English services, they need to find another professional translation agency to translate it into English and stamp it in the archives of the school, so that the documents will be effective.
graduate students
students who have graduated need to prepare degree certificates in Chinese and English, academic credentials and four-year complete transcripts in Chinese and English. If the school's archives do not provide relevant English translation services, you should find a professional translation agency to translate the English version and go to the archives to stamp it.
3. Language scores
The effective language tests are IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, etc.
Generally speaking, to apply for IELTS in European schools and TOFEL in American schools, but what kind of proof should be provided depends on the official information, and the requirements of arts and sciences are different. Other schools, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, can prove that these languages are acceptable. However, it is suggested that students should carefully read the specific requirements of the master's program announced by the school, select the types of exams to take, and determine the minimum language standards after determining their intended colleges.
Different schools, even different majors in the same school, have different language requirements. Students should carefully browse the official requirements of the intended school, make plans in advance, and strive to get proof of language scores before applying.
the language scores of English and Swiss schools can be submitted after getting the offer!
3. Safety reminder for studying abroad
1. Choice of residence area
Relatively speaking, especially in the United States, no state can be called absolutely safe, so it is particularly necessary for international students to choose a residence area. Generally speaking, it is safer on campus than off campus. It is recommended to choose an area near the school with simple personnel composition.
2. Don't travel alone
In today's frequent campus accidents abroad, it is suggested that you inform your classmates and teachers of your itinerary before going out, try not to go out alone, walk with your classmates, avoid going to areas with fewer people, carry your mobile phone with you, and call for help in time in case of danger.
3. Don't expose your wealth
For China people who like to pat and pat, they often like to walk around with cameras around their necks, so as to record beautiful scenery at hand, but they are easily followed by criminals. It is suggested that valuables should be put in the bag, with a small amount of emergency cash on them, and some coins should always be prepared for emergencies.
4. Protect personal information
In foreign countries, we should pay attention to the protection of personal information, properly keep things like credit cards, carefully check the receipts after each consumption, and properly handle documents containing personal information in time, because many civil rights of students studying abroad are not clearly defined locally, so it is difficult to get protection.
5. Encountering danger
In more developed countries, taking the United States as an example, it is often legal to hold a gun. Therefore, when we encounter danger, please judge the other party's purpose first. If you just rob money, please hand over your finances on the premise of protecting your own life, remember the robber's appearance and call the police afterwards. In case of life-threatening behavior, please try your best to deal with it and actively call for help.
6. Take transportation
When taking transportation abroad, be careful not to hitch a ride with strangers. Several recent incidents of campus violence in foreign countries are related to it. Secondly, when taking the subway, don't choose the time at night. In some subway areas in the United States, gang activities are often rampant at night. Please protect your personal safety.
7. About the law
For international students living and studying abroad, it is extremely necessary to know the local laws. For example, the laws of many states in the United States are different, and many habits that we are used to in China may be illegal in the local area. In addition, being familiar with local laws is beneficial for us to use legal weapons to safeguard rights and protect ourselves.