There are many reasons for choosing the Czech Republic as a study destination: high quality education and research, universities with long-standing reputations, interesting specializations, affordable tuition fees and living costs, and last but not least, a vibrant and colorful cultural life in the heart of Europe. In the following interview Mohanapriya Venkataraman, a PhD student of Textile Technics and Material Engineering at the Technical University of Liberec, shares why she chose the Czech Republic for her studies:

One of the most important factors affecting the total experience of your semester studying abroad are the friends that you make. While some students go on a study exchange with a friend or a few from back home, many decide to go abroad by just themselves.

If you are planning to study in the UK, bear in mind that you will need to provide proof of your English language proficiency to get a visa. For this, you can choose one of the tests approved by UK Visas and Immigration.

If you want to learn about a new topic, to brush up on your skills, or to meet more people in your field, then summer schools are an ideal opportunity. Generally aimed at undergraduates, masters students, PhD students, researchers and professionals, these short courses involve teaching, discussion, and group projects.

The UK government has recently announced its plans to change the way in which postgraduate study is funded. The new system, which will come into effect in the 2016-2017 academic year, involves a system of loans for those wanting to take a taught masters degree. There is a separate proposed scheme for students embarking on a research masters or PhD, which we are covering in another post. Here, we'll describe the new scheme for the funding of taught masters degrees and how it will effect students who are planning to study at a postgraduate level in the future.

This week, the UK government has introduced its new scheme for funding postgraduate study, through a loans program for PhDs and research-based masters degrees. The government hopes that this new system will simplify and streamline the process of applying for, receiving, and paying back loans which are taken out in order to fund postgraduate research. This will have major changes on that finances of postgraduate students in the UK, from the time at which the new system is introduced in the 2018-2019 academic year. Here we will review the changes and how they will affect students who are hoping to study at a postgraduate level. There is also another scheme for the funding of taught masters programs which will be covering separately.

Germany is a prime location for study, and one which draws many international students. The high quality of education available, combined with relatively cheap tuition fees, makes it an attractive option when looking for opportunities to study abroad. If you are considering study in Germany, an important consideration is how you will finance this study time. Tuitions fees are usually in the range of up to a few hundred Euros per semester, depending on the geographical area, as each federal state sets its own level for fees. However, other costs need to be considered as well – not only accommodation and living costs, but also budgets for books, travel, telephone and internet access, and entertainment and social activities. Finally, health insurance can be expensive, depending on your circumstances.

For those looking to start an MBA, there has never been more choice. There are hundreds of schools offering MBA courses to choose from, with different styles, academic emphasis and assessment styles. One of the most prominent distinctions between MBA programs though is the divide between North American (the US and Canada) and European schools (with courses in UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and so on). The US is considered the home of the MBA, where the course concept was first developed and put into practice. Now, with more and more students leaving their home country to study for an MBA, Europe also offers strong MBA teaching. How should you decide where to pursue your MBA? Read on for tips and advice on making this important decision about your MBA.

With rapid globalisation making relocation to a new country easier, more and more students are choosing to travel abroad to study. If you have already completed an undergraduate degree and feel confident in your knowledge and skills, then a postgraduate course in a foreign country can be a wonderful learning experience. While it's common to move across Europe or to the United States for graduate study, there are also great opportunities for studying further afield in Asia. China is a strong contender in the education sector – with thousands of universities in a booming higher education system – and the government is investing more money into higher education for the future. But why should you consider graduate study in China? Read on to find out.

The United Kingdom has been recognised for years as one of the most popular destinations for postgraduate education. The international reputation of British education, the diversity of culture and the connections to other European countries have made the UK one of the favorite destinations for students.

If you are from a country within the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein or Iceland, you will not need a student visa to study in Spain. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the EU or one of the previously mentioned countries, however, you will need to apply for a visa if you plan on staying in Spain for longer than 90 days.

Since 2011, the number of Master’s programs across Europe taught entirely in English has increased by 42%. Quite a large number of these programs are in Spain. Thus, if you are applying to a Master’s program in Spain, the language requirements will likely differ depending on the language of instruction – whether it’s a program fully in Spanish, both in Spanish and in English, fully in English or in another language such as Catalan or Basque. We will focus here on English and Spanish, offering information regarding the most common examinations and scores required for both of these languages.

Choosing a destination to study abroad in, either for a semester or the entire degree, can be an extremely daunting task. Mainland China is currently home to thousands of international students looking for an international education. Since the 1990s, China has been rapidly expanding its number of universities and higher education programs. This expansion runs parallel to the large economic growth that China continues to experience, making Chinese universities an attractive destination for international students. Thousands of students from around the world are going to China to experience the waking of the ‘sleeping dragon’ and the fast growth of the Chinese markets. All major cities in China have at least one university, and international students are often drawn to these metropolitan hubs.

If you are interested in earning your Master’s degree in Spain, it is important to pay close attention to the specific guidelines of the programs to which you are applying, as requirements can vary greatly from program to program. Yet, there are certain elements that tend to be quite universal across applications. Whether you are applying to a program fully in Spanish or one of the growing number of courses taught in English, you will almost certainly be asked to provide most, if not all of the following components as part of your application.

If you are an international student from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and are interested in studying in the UK, you will need to apply for a student visa in order to do so. You may only apply for a visa if you have already been accepted to study a full-time course – part-time students will not be granted visas.

For many students, one of the most difficult subjects when it comes to university applications is how they plan to obtain funding for their studies. If you feel that you fall into this category, do not let fear of high admissions fees hamper your decision to apply to the university of your choice. Although admissions fees vary widely across institutions, students can apply for funding for nearly any course, receiving small to very large amounts of money in order to cover the cost of studying a postgraduate degree.

If you are considering applying to a study program taught in English, whether in an English speaking country or elsewhere, you will almost certainly be required to send proof of English proficiency as part of your application. Moreover, if you are interested in applying to jobs that require English proficiency, having a language certificate will make your application process much smoother.

With the global flow of students higher now than ever before, there is an abundance of advice available regarding the benefits of studying abroad. Whether for a semester or a full degree, studying in a foreign country can boost your CV, help you learn a new language, expand your cultural understanding and allow you to create a worldwide network of friends and colleagues.

In the first section of this advice area we briefly discussed the fact that any international students for whom English is not a native language will need to present proof of proficiency as part of their Master’s course application. Proficiency tests measure the student’s level of language comprehension and capability with the aim of offering a standardized rubric for calculating whether the individual is prepared for postgraduate study in the UK.

Most Master’s courses at universities in the UK do not require specific entrance exams, apart from language proficiency exams for anyone who does not speak English as a native language. For an explanation of which English proficiency exams are generally accepted, take a look at the first question in this section.

With application season largely behind us, it’s now time for students to make final decisions about where they will be heading this coming fall. For those in the lucky position of having been accepted to multiple universities, the question now is how to compare programs in order to make a final selection. Most people rely on rankings at some point in the application process, but do rankings really offer the nuance necessary to know if a program is a good fit? And without comprehensive lists comparing Master’s programs in particular, how useful are rankings at all?

Over the past few weeks we’ve posted lists of Top Summer Schools in Economics and Top Summer Schools in Business and Management. While we are happy to promote the many great programs out there, we also understand that wading through the sea of options might leave you feeling a little overwhelmed.

There are many great summer programs our there, but wading through the sea of options might leave you feeling a little overwhelmed.

University rankings are considered to be an important tool, if not the most relevant one, in determining the quality of education at higher education institutions, schools, departments and programs according to a specific set of factors. Rankings are often consulted by both applicants in the university admission process deciding on their next place of study or work, as well as directors of the institutions measured in the rankings as a benchmark against other relevant institutions.

Source: Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (China), The Survey of Earned Doctorates, National Science Foundation (US)