Choosing the right program and the right university

After finishing your Bachelor’s, if you are willing to do your master’s, you need to do a lot of research to choose the program and the University.

Steps to follow in choosing a right program

Your passion

Only if you have a passion for a particular subject, you can excel in that subject. So, choose your interested subject along with the specialization required for your dream career. For example, if you want Master’s in Management you should also select which area of management you want to pursue. Is it marketing? Is it finance, or is it HR?

You should also check if the curriculum is globally recognized.

Pre- requisites

Every Master’s program requires certain technical skills and knowledge, so make sure you have secured those skills during your UG studies.

Skills required for Master’s program

Depending on the program, you may also need soft skills such as:

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Leadership
• Openness to criticism
• Problem-solving
• Emotional Intelligence
• Critical thinking
• Decision-making

Career goals

Go through the university website to find the course structure of your chosen program. Ensure that the spirit of the program and learning outcomes match with your career goals.

Steps to follow in choosing a right University

After choosing your Master’s program, you have to shortlist the universities that are offering your program. You should also prioritize the rankings of these universities to choose one.

Reputation of the University

Your university should be as good as your program. Master’s program from a reputed university broadens your employment scope. Therefore, you should focus on the course content and the teaching methods of the university.

You can speak to the course manager and the professors of the University about your chosen program. They give you an insight of the program. It enables you to understand the logic behind designing the curriculum. You need to know what kind of professionals is produced with this program and how highly they are demanded in the job market.

Rankings

Rankings are very important to identify the better universities, so you can rely on below given world organisations to find the rankings of the universities.

QS Rankings

World University ranking are published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. These ranking are highly popular and approved by thousands of global universities and other concerned organizations.

The QS system consists of three parts; Overall rankings, Subject wise rankings and some region wise rankings.

Times Higher Education

Times Higher Education magazine publishes World University rankings every year. It comprises Global, Subject and Reputation rankings along with some regional tables.

Location

Location is one more important factor. It is important to find if industries / business firms related to your course are situated around the university. This will enable you to get the hands-on experience within your own industry.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria depend on the program you choose. Such as your area of studies in UG and English proficiency test scores if you are from non- English speaking country.

Credentials of professors

You must check the credentials of the professors, their teaching methods and the learning outcomes of the programs.

Research standards

You can also measure a university on the basis of its research standards. Find their inventions and discoveries and how the research is contributing to the advancements of the subject and the society.

Industry Tie-ups

Many universities have tie-ups with several industries. These tie-ups enable the students to do internships in those industries and get practical experience, needed to kick start their professional career immediately after the graduation. Even industries can recruit the students easily as they get the opportunity to observe their abilities during the internships.

Tuition Fee

You can also compare the tuition fees of the shortlisted universities. Check if the fee matches your budget and decide accordingly

Scholarships

Almost all universities offer several types of scholarships. These scholarships are very useful. Find the scholarships you are eligible for

Placement Outcomes

Universities generally run Placement Service Cells in their campuses. Here, students get expert advice and guidance all the time during their graduation. Consequently, more than 90% of the students gets employment immediately after their graduations or within six months of their graduations. Campus recruitments are very common. So, you should also check the placement rate.

Researching on Universities

This is a strenuous job which can’t be avoided. So, you have to spend ample time for it. After choosing your course, you have to look for the universities offering that course. Not only the course, you should also search for other elements such as student organizations, clubs, job assistance cells etc. These are all within the university campus, so you should also consider the surroundings of the university campus like shopping malls, restaurants, pubs etc. These things depend on your interests and hobbies. One more factor is transportation facility which is very important.

Preparing a portfolio of the Universities to apply

Generally, you are advised to apply to at least 5 to 6 universities to maximize the chances of getting the admission. The strategy goes like this.

Career after the graduation

A master’s graduate is high in demand, but these days there is a lot of competition as number of graduates is being increased day by day. Search for the companies that hire the graduates. Find the interview criteria, the job profile and the salary packages etc. Ensure that you have hands-on-experience, high skillset and knowledge with required communication skills to explain the logical reasoning behind your stand points. Of course getting your dream job also depends on how reputed your institutions is.

Conclusion

In the whole process of study abroad, choosing a Master’s program and a suitable University is the most crucial step. Never take it easy. Spend enough time and take the valuable advice from the experts before finalizing the program.