Study Abroad in Singapore- With Visa simplified, Reasons Galore

Higher education in Singapore offers not only world-class courses but also a chance to experience the melting pot of eastern and western cultures!

With four national languages which include Mandarin, Malay, Tamil andEnglish,Singapore has come to represent the ultimate heady mix of modernity with a hint of traditionalism. The country is often considered to be one of the leading contenders for ease of doing business and has taken vital lessons from its management ethos and unity amongst diverse cultures. Today, Singapore is considered to be a modern, vibrant nation with an excellent (yet often unknown) educational system for students wishing to complete their studies abroad in an international location. Along with its high and exacting standards for academics and research, the country has also witnessed great success in connecting with the industry to understand the prevalent business landscape. This ensures that students can gain practical experience to find employment easily in the field of their choice.

With its world class infrastructure, facilities that delights shoppers and businesses alike as well as political stability, the country has emerged as a great destination for drawing international experience and expertise for students. Its higher education courses are comparatively more affordable but the quality in sync with courses from universities based in US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. and above par when compared to other Asian destinations. Not many other places globally can boast the sheer amount of diversity found in such a relatively tiny piece of land as Singapore. With its high standards of living, Singapore can be seen as an expensive place to put up although a lot of this would depend on the individual/student’s lifestyle. On an average, be prepared to apply for an education finance option since living costs with tuition fees could reach up to Singapore Dollars 10,000/ annum.

Students who wish to study abroad in Singapore will need a visa. However, the application route is linked to university application process. After securing the offer letter from the Singaporean university of their choice, students will need to apply for student visa to enter Singapore. Most colleges will help file the student pass for Indian applicants with the Singapore Immigration and Check Point Authority (ICA). The usual costs for visa application is broken into three phases for most Indian applicants with processing, issuing and application fees ranging to about $180. This is apart from the bank statement that needs to showcase proof of funds for students which could be in the range of $8500 + tuition/ course fees annually. Note: It is advisable to secure or work out details for a bridge loan option for such funding requests to ensure funds are available for entering Singapore colleges. Apart from the regular visa which is sent with the in-principle approval letter by the institution, students have to apply for the student pass. This has to be applied for no earlier than two months before the course commences but has to be secured latest one month from the course commencement. The student pass allows needy students to also work during their studies for a maximum of 16hours per week. To obtain a Student Pass, students are required to sign up with the special Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration System (SOLAR). Do note that while studying abroad in Singapore, medical or health insurance is compulsory for students. The cost of health insurance will be S$45 approximately per year and it will cover all medical expenses while studying in Singapore. Students applying to Singapore based colleges should also possess a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months from the completion of the course as well as a valid Singapore visa. Since Singapore has English as the primary language, students with any other native mother tongue are required to share a TOFEL and IELTS score certificate whichever is applicable in concerned educational institute.

The spouse and children of full-time graduate research students in Singapore can get sponsorship from the university for a Social Visit Pass to stay in Singapore. The graduate students should get their spouse and children to apply for an entry visa at Singapore’s embassy. Singapore offers both bachelor’s as well as master’s degree courses in all disciplines for international students. With its top notch teaching infrastructure and high quality methodology, the course curriculum is designed to increase student’s potential and make them more efficient. Truly, a degree from a Singapore university is recognized globally and offers a wide range of job opportunities to students across the World.

Read More: http://www.avanse.com/blog/study-abroad-singapore-visa-simplified-reasons-galore/

What Studying Abroad taught me about life

My journey to international exposure started in the year 2007.  Having secured admission to the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign (UIUC) for my MS in Finance, it was the first international exposure that I experienced. Understandably, stepping out of my nest for the first time and embarking upon this maiden journey taught me much more than just the fundamentals of finance. In hindsight, it became an experience and the year that overhauled my perspective of life.

Just like any other student who opts for study abroad, I also faced the initial hitch and anxiety of being completely by myself. Fear and pressure of competition and performance coupled with a tough roommate almost made me quit UIUC in my first semester and I wanted to catch the next flight home.

But in retrospection I think my decision to stay back at UIUC was one of the best decisions that I took in life.  It is easy to guess that the cultural shock, the life style shock and the b-school pressure made my few initial months very tough at UIUC and made me more matured as well as ready to face the challenges that life posed for me.  Gradually, as I started to settle down in the place (of course friends played a big role in it); I started catching up on the US fever and homesickness faded away . I started loving everything about campus life whether it was burning the midnight oil till four am in the morning working in a mad rush to complete the assignments, or walking in sub-zero temperatures in the wee hours of morning to attend a class in statistics. Studying abroad and on my own made me like eating frozen foods, finishing my laundry and dishes on my own and made me self-reliant. I now started to feel at one with the US culture. The beauty about studying in US and I think which may hold true for other countries (or to say, about studying abroad) is that it teaches us humiliation, independence and self confidence. The exposure that you get of being on your own breaks your ego and you start respecting even the most menial of jobs like cleaning your bathroom, which I believe is few Indians would do it when they stay in India. Trust me, doing this there also gives u a sense of pride!

The US life, rather the US student life is something which I miss, even today and if given a choice, I would love to go back and re-live that life again. Three things that made my studying in US worthwhile are:

1. The unique manner of imparting knowledge to students by employing case studies wherever possible

I think one of the best things about studying in the U.S. A. is that no matter what course you take, there is only way to learn – CASE STUDIES. The beauty of a case study is that it really imparts  a very practical approach to learning. And to top it up, one of the courses that I undertook dealt with portfolio management where we as a class actually managed one of our professor’s client’s portfolio. The shares in his portfolio were divided amongst the class and each group had to research the stock and offer a buy/sell call on that stock along with a detailed presentation justifying the same. I think this won’t  happen anytime soon in India. You may have mock portfolios, mock trading in universities but with real money , I doubt it will ever happen

2. The world-class infrastructure in US universities.  There is no doubt that the way in which universities are designed in the US are just phenomenal. The kind of class rooms, libraries, research labs that they construct makes sure that we have no reason to not perform and study well.  The only thing that you have to worry is the amount of dedication and inclination that you have towards studies. At UIUC, we had Bloomberg terminals, which a lot of broking houses in India are still not equipped with, and we as students were allowed to take the tutorials and get ourselves Bloomberg Certified. I believe that US the universities prepare you for a corporate life and they make sure they equip you with all that you may ever need from the day one the course starts.

3. The warmth and helpful nature of the international council for students

No matter how well you gel in the USA, there will always be moments where you tend to feel like an immigrant, for instance- at the time of placements where most of the companies that come to campus are looking for a US citizen or a US green card holder, or at the time of securing your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card processed for Optional Practical Training (OPT)/ Curricular Practical Training (CPT). What really helps is the international students council. AT UIUC I had a wonderful experience with the international council. They were very supportive not only during my EAD processing but also went out of the way to help me arrange documents that I needed during my H1 visa processing and helped as well as guided me even when I got my first traffic ticket in US.

Narrated By: Swechha Jain

Source: http://www.avanse.com/blog/studying-abroad-taught-life/

Persuasive Post Graduation courses of overseas for Indian Students

Indian students from time immemorial always headed towards the West for higher studies, but in the recent times the numbers have accelerated to a great margin. Stringent admission process carried out by all top Indian Universities is not just the only reason for a large chunk of our students to flock out for overseas education.

Then, what is the main factor that trigger in the minds of students to pursue post-graduation overseas?

Offer a Platter of academic areas to explore!

Most of the universities of the US and UK offer a range of different courses that are not available in the Indian Universities and in addition to it the option of interlinking or combing the subjects helps one to come out with a comprehensive degree in hand. For instance, UK offers thousands of attractive courses along with traditional degrees that are both well-reputed and offer an edge in the job market. The subjects and their modules are designed in such a manner that a student pursuing studies in English literature are allowed to choose one module on science fiction, one module on children’s literature and one module on short stories. This gives the students freedom to not only stick to a particular subject area, but acquire knowledge from other field of study as well.

Students wishing to study not the traditional post-graduation degrees are offered with multiple diploma and certificate courses that are no less than acquiring a regular post-graduation degree. The subject matter included in these diploma courses are varied in nature that allow to nurture skills and study something new, to which they had studied during their under-graduation level.

A combo-pack that is less tiring and challenging!
Distance learning courses offered by most Universities of UK and US allows students to grab the opportunity of obtaining another degree sitting on campus for the main post- graduation course gaining an edge in the job market for flexibility. This practice is unlike Indian system of higher studies where only in the recent times the concept of distance learning has been introduced and is not widely accepted in job market.

Most post- graduation in the west provides industry experience side by side with the course that enables the students to gather practical knowledge along with theoretical knowledge. The culture of working and at the same time continuing the studies is widely practiced and is accepted by almost all institutions in the west. This builds in the feeling of self –dependency in an individual giving a spirit to conquer any situation in life.

Incurs less expenditure in recent times
Not to forget the very essential factor related to overseas education is the fact that in the recent times, most of the International institutions have lowered their course fee for international students to persuade more and more students to take admissions in their country for higher studies. Besides, a range of financial aid and scholarships are granted in a step towards backing students in terms of monetary assistance. The economic condition of the middle class has slowly increased in the recent times and this has led also led to the acceleration of more students opting for overseas education for higher studies. Where in the past, financial tensions was a great hurdle in way of overseas education , surely the decrease in course fee , hike in of economic condition of middle-class and wide range of financial tensioned have eased most of the financial worry aspects.

Well, the post-graduation courses of the west indeed offers a plethora of attractive facets which act as a magnetic effect for any students who wish to grab the’ best from the best’ without much compromise on the way.

Source: http://www.avanse.com/blog/persuasive-post-graduation-courses-overseas-indian-students/

Studying down under- Seven best destinations for higher studies in Australia

So you have a GPA which can be compared to Sir Bradman’s strike rate and want to study somewhere cricket is avidly followed? Well Crickey! Australia is then the place to be. Where else will you get to hang out with a baby Kangaroo or a wallaby while finishing up on your homework?

Counted amongst the most popular destinations in the world for students, Australia or ‘the land down under’ hosts some of the most respected universities in the world. With its buzzing nightlife, list of great restaurants, colorful markets and a fun calendar of events like Sydney Mardi Gras, you will surely never have a dull day down under.

However, if you thought that Australians are not serious about attracting some great academic talent from around the world, then think again. It boasts an impressive higher education system that hosts more than 300,000 students every year from across the globe. A bulk of this traffic comes from countries like China, India, Korea, and Malaysia, whose students add the oriental twist to the Aussie flavor. Aussie universities, time and again, have been making it to the top 100 lists of university ranking globally. Australia’s focus on education is reflected from its contribution to the Australian economy. Data indicates that only the export of minerals like coal & ores and tourism bring in more money into the country compared to the education commerce segment. Any course work related to the environmental sciences including geology, ecology, marine biology is a natural choice of study in Australia because the country has such a distinctive climate and varied topography. Other popular and highly regarded streams include various types of engineering and management across globally reputed departments across well ranked universities. Although Australian universities have tuition fees which are costlier than the global average, they make up for the cost by offering a higher quality of education as well as a better standard of living when compared to the rest of the globe.

To sum it up- Australian universities offer:

• A great learning experience and international recognition with acclaimed teaching standards
• High standards of living in cosmopolitan cities featuring great nightlife and social activities
• An active lifestyle promoting varied sports including cricket, rugby, soccer etc.
• Pleasant weather and enjoyable climate all year round
• Exciting wildlife, pristine white beaches, deep & azure oceans that let you spend quality time with your loved ones and friends

Phew! Now, if we helped make up your mind on securing that degree from an Aussie University, then here’s a quick list of the top seven cities for higher studies in Australia

No.1 Adelaide

Attracting huge numbers of students from abroad, Adelaide makes for an ideal place for students planning to study in Australia given the low costs for accommodation. Considered to have one of the best rates of education and related services in Australia, Adelaide houses three universities with a sizeable international student population.

No.2 Brisbane

A great location close to sunny beaches, Brisbane has the ideal climate and is considered to have some good quality institutes and universities for higher education. With reasonable choices of accommodation available for students, it offers three accredited universities and several other smaller seats of learning.

No.3 Canberra

The Capital of Australia provides a quality environment for students and is widely regarded as one of the best mid sized cities for students. The universally acclaimed Australian National University makes its home in the city of Canberra and this also makes it an expensive place to move into.

No. 4 Gold Coast

Surrounded by pristine golden beaches, Gold Coast embodies the rich Australian culture with its beautiful landscapes. Bond University is one of the more well known seats of higher education at Gold Coast.

No. 5 Melbourne

Offering a truly metropolitan lifestyle, Melbourne offers fantastic views of the azure ocean and a taste of the luxuries of civilization. It is likely the largest and most attractive city for international students with at least one third of the entire student population coming from abroad. With eight major universities in the city, Melbourne also offers great public transport facilities.

No. 6 Perth

Boasting a serene and vibrant education focused city, Perth offers four universities with strong job prospects and robust economy. Perth offers educational degrees from four universities. Its warmth is reflected from the natural abundance of bushlands, spectacular views of sunsets at the beach and the Swan Bell- one of the largest musical instruments on Earth.

No. 7 Sydney

Occasionally touted as one of the coolest places to study in Australia, Sydney’s culture is akin to the United States with its abundant beaches, live music feats and opportunities to study indigenous culture of the venerated Aborigines. About 5% of Sydney’s residents are university students studying across five centers of excellence spread across the city. However, the city’s prices for accommodation go through the roof!

Come down under to Australia Mate! What’s not to like here.

Source: http://www.avanse.com/blog/studying-seven-best-destinations-higher-studies-australia/

some frequently asked questions about education loan in india

    People often have few doubts before or after taking education loan in India.  Here are answers to some common questions that people have with regard to student loan:
Who is eligible for Education Loan?
The person taking the loan should have secured admission in the institute. The institute or course of study must be recognized by UGC/AICTE/AIBMS/ICMR, etc. The person needs to be an Indian citizen and should be 17 years old or above.
What are the courses covered for Education Loan?
Education Loan in India is available for all approved courses leading to Graduate/Post Graduate Degree and PG Diploma conducted by recognized colleges/universities recognized by UGC/AICTE/AIBMS/ICMR, etc. Education Loan is also available for part time courses and job oriented courses subject to employability and earning potential. An education loan for study abroad is also available for job oriented professional/technical courses offered by reputed universities.
What are the expenses covered under Education Loan?
The amount of Education Loan is provided to meet all type of expenses which are necessary for completion of course that  includes purchase of books, equipments, computer, travelling, study tours, boarding, lodging besides all types of fees.
What are Documents required while applying for Education Loan?
Some banks or financial institutions require all or any of the following documents as pre sanction documents:
Loan application
Passport size photographs.
Proof of Address.
Proof of Age.
Copy of PAN of student Borrower.
Proof of having cleared last qualifying examination.
Letter of admission.
Prospectus of the course wherein charges like Admission Fee, Examination Fee, Hostel Charges etc. are mentioned.
Details of Assets & Liabilities of parents/guardians/guarantors
In case loan is to be collaterally secured by mortgage of IP, copy of Title Deed, Valuation Certificate and Non-encumbrance Certificate from approved Lawyer.
Photocopy of Passport & Visa in case of study abroad.
Any other document/information, depending upon the case and purpose of the loan

What is moratorium period or grace period?
It is the maximum time given to the student after finishing studies that go without catering any payments for yr loan. Mostly, it range from 6 to 12 months.
What is the repayment tenure of an education loan?
The repayment tenure depends on the amount of loan taken and type of course. The minimum time given to repay the loan is 1 years and maximum is 10 years.
Is guarantor mandatory in education loan?
Yes, guarantor is mandatory in education loan. The guarantor could be an applicant's parents or guardians who take the responsibility for the repayment of loan in case of any mishap.
Is there any tax benefit by taking an Education Loan?

The moment a person start repaying the education loan, he/she can deduct the interest amount from the total income while calculating tax. This means the effective interest rate on the loan works out to a lower amount.

Pre Approved Study Abroad Education Loan

“Dream is not the thing you see in sleep but is that thing that doesn't let you sleep.”

-      APJ Abdul Kalam

Are you also getting sleepless nights because of you desire or dream to pursue education abroad is seeing no light because of financial constrains and that is the reason you are not giving the necessary entrance exam? Now, you can have sound sleep as Avanse brings you study abroad pre approved loan. A pre-approved loan is one that is approved for a purpose before the need for it actually arises

Avanse is a new age education finance company. We are an Associate Company of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd. (DHFL), a leading player in the housing finance sphere. Avanse is a Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC) and is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

Avanse brings pre-approved loans that provide 100% educational finance at competitive price. The amount of study abroad pre approved loan will depend on the applicant credit history and his repayment capacity. The amount of pre approved loan will covers costs related to tuition fee, admission fees, examination fee, hostel fee and other compulsory fees that are related to the course demanded by university or institute. It also covers expenses related to purchase of books, laptop and technological tools.

The five major benefits of getting study abroad pre approved loan from Avanse are:

·         100% education finance to students

·         Competitive interest rate.

·         Flexible re-payment options as per your convenience

·         Loan approval in just 7 days

·         No upper limit for loan amount

Avanse offers pre-approved loan to help students to cross the hurdle of finances in pursuit of their educational dreams. To avail, study abroad pre approved loan, you need to fill the online application and submit it with necessary documents.

Student Loan: A helping hand in pursuing education

Education is essential for everyone. In today’s competitive world education is necessity for man after food, clothing, and shelter.  it has become an indispensable part of life both personally and socially. As a student, we always want to study in best college with our chosen course of study. But, few people are not able to pursue their dream of higher study because now pursuing education has become a costly affair.  Financial problem is main hurdle that people faces in pursuit of their higher education. In such a situation student loan runs to the rescue of a student. 

Now-a- days, study loan have been made hassle free to apply for and get too.  It is viable for a person to visit the website of a bank or financial institution and understand the student loan facility and terms & conditions associated with the loan. You can choose from various banks or financial institution.  The terms and conditions are not that hard to be met. The interest rates are low. Thus, it is easy for the students to apply and acquire an education loan. The education loan process may vary from bank to bank and from financial institution to financial institution. Banks and financial institutions are encouraging student loans

Student loan in India covers:

·        Expenses related to tuition fee, admission fees, examination fee and other compulsory fees that are related to the course demanded by university or institute.

·         Expenses (if any) and hostel fee.

·         Expenses related to purchase of books, laptop and technological tools.

·         Any other expense related to complete the course- like study tours, project work, thesis, etc.

Student Loan plays an important role in helping people to cross the hurdle of finances in pursuit of their educational dreams. In the economic slowdown,   it is very tough for parents to provide fund for education. Study Loan helps meritorious students to come out of this crisis and go for education. So, without worrying for their educational expenses, students can fulfill their educational dreams.

But, you need to be cautious while taking student loan, you should choose the bank or financial institution that offers low interest rate, no prepayment penalty, minimum or no collateral required and flexible repayment options. You must go through each and every detail of the education loan and should be clear about terms and conditions to avoid problems at the time of repayment.