Studying in Singapore

Singapore comprises of the main island of Singapore and some 63 offshore islands. It is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There are close to four million Singaporeans of Indian, Chinese, Malay, and Eurasian ethnicity. The main religions practiced are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. The four official languages in Singapore are Bahasa Malayu, Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil and English. Singapore's climate is warm and humid, with only slight variations between the average maximum of 31 degrees Celsius and minimum of 23 degrees Celsius. This makes it ideal for those who enjoy sunbathing, swimming, sailing and other water sports. But for those who do not enjoy the tropical climate, Singapore is sheltered from the worst effects of the sun with air-conditioning in almost all of its shops, hotels, office buildings and restaurants.
Singapore is considered to be the premier education hub in Asia, offering a diverse and distinctive mix of educational services in a safe, cosmopolitan and comfortable environment. Singapore Education offers a broad-based curriculum and global perspective to equip students with the relevant qualifications and training that serve as a Springboard to a Brighter Future. Singapore offers all the technological excellence of the West. It is less expensive to study in Singapore than in most other major cities of the West. Students who are part of this dynamic growth process would have opportunities in the various Financial, Information Technology and Manufacturing sectors. With political stability and a conducive study environment, Singapore is an ideal place to gain an internationally recognised educational qualification.
Singapore has both local and foreign universities and institutions which offer world recognised courses to students. Higher education is provided by three kinds of institutions, universities, polytechnics, and other centres of public and private training. There are three institutions of university level, the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University. They are almost wholly financed by the Government, whose representatives are members of the governing councils. All post-secondary programmes offered by public and non-public institutions must be approved by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Division.

There are lots of private Universities or institutions which are affiliated to universities in other countries like UK, Australia, and USA having their campuses in Singapore. The advantage of studying at private schools is that one can obtain a world recognised degrees from Universities in countries like USA, UK and Australia at a comparatively lower cost (almost 1/3). Another important aspect is that Singapore is geographically closer to India as compared to other popular study destinations. Singapore also has a large Indian community which makes it is easier for the Indian students to adjust.
Strategically located, Singapore is poised to grow tremendously in the new millennium. The economically less expensive options for various courses and excellent quality of education is now attracting students to Singapore in large numbers. Selection of the right country and the right University is certainly on the minds of the students and their parents and they will certainly not go wrong by selecting Singapore.

Global Education Counsel
www.globaleducationcounsel.org

Opportunities in Mass Media

Changing times have revolutionised prospects in all most every career field one can find today. So many new and exciting career options are lined ahead which makes it difficult to choose one. Mass Media is one such field which offers many interesting career options to all in the field. It covers a wide area, comprising of closely related fields of advertisement, communication and public relations.

Mass Media covers following courses under it:

Journalism
Film & Television
Advertising
Public relations

Book Publishing

Mass Media being widely spread requires a combination of skills and traits. It is not easy to get in and progressing is even difficult. In general, excellent communication skills, being a good team player are important, besides being confident and hardworking. Physical stamina and will power count in favour for jobs in mass communication. Other attributes vary from one another depending upon the area one pursues. Anyone who is creative, dynamic, and enterprising and has flair to project his ideas, thoughts, observation through different mediums of communication can accommodate himself comfortably in this industry.

Opportunities for placement in diverse fields of mass communication are available in publishing houses, radio and television companies, corporate world, entertainment industry, media industry, advertising agencies, public relations agencies, government organisations, teaching etc. As far as remuneration is concerned it varies from one area of mass communication to another. However in every area, it is much dependent on the size of the organisation, its location combined together with the level of responsibility and experience of the candidate.

Many Universities broad offer courses in Mass Media under various majors. One can opt either for a Diploma/Bachelors degree/Masters degree/Post Graduate diploma. The courses available could be journalism, creative writing, advertising and so on. Students need to check the contents of the program before selecting their University as each may have different course content. Some of the Universities are:
UK:
þ Cardiff University
þ Bristol University of West of England
þ Coventry University
þ Leicester University

Australia:
þ Bond University
þ La Trobe University
þ RMIT University
þ University of Melbourne

Singapore:
þ MDIS, Singapore
þ Nanyang Technological University

USA:
þ Georgia State University
þ Texas Tech University
þ University Of Texas At Austin
þ RIT
þ New York University

Note: The Universities are in random order.


Courtesy:
Global Education Counsel (division of Growth Centre (I) Pvt. Ltd.)

Admission Process for USA

United States is considered as the most popular destination among students. The US schools, Universities and institutions offer excellent education and training quality. The education received from a US Universities is recognized everywhere in the world. The Universities institutions in United States attract students from all around the globe. These schools and institutes not only teach but also help incoming students in various other matters; earning scholarships or free-ships and or getting a part time job to meet study expenditures. Anyone can opt and earn degrees or certificates from US institutions. The International students mainly choose to migrate to US at two stages. After completion of 12 years of schooling or equivalent to earn undergraduate graduate degree; And After completion of 16 years of education or equivalent (i.e. college education) to earn a graduate degree.

Compared to other countries, admission procedures of US Universities
are highly competitive for international students. The procedure is even more competitive in the top educational institutes. Universities and colleges have their own selection criteria and decide which student meets those criteria. You must apply to each college and university of your interest separately every College or University has its own unique policies. It is time consuming and it is important that the applicants must start preparing well in advance. It is very important to begin the admission process early as the application deadlines are far in advance of the start of the semester. Students should also schedule the required standardised tests needed for admission on time so that they have the results of these tests on time to be sent to schools. Normally there are two major academic sessions i.e. fall intakes in August-September or spring intakes i.e. January-March.



Application process is the stepping stone for any student who wishes to go abroad and study. Since the university does not meet the student personally their entire evaluation and perception of a student depended on the application. Admission officers look at a variety of factors, including essays, prizes, community service and work experience, hobbies, and special talents, as they review applications to try to determine your potential for success at their institutions. So it becomes very crucial for a student to present himself or herself in best possible manner that will make his or her application stand out distinctly from the several other applications that a University generally receives.


When students apply to any University they have to be sure that they send all the required documents well before the application deadline. Some Universities even have early deadlines. If a student misses out on these he/she may have to forego the intake. Once the application is sent then the University responds either with an acceptance offer or a reject. The student then needs to follow the instructions if he/she wishes to join the University. Universities usually inform students of their admission decisions well in advance of the beginning term.

It is also likely that a student may receive a letter that informs him/her that they are on a ‘waiting list’. This generally means that the admission office determined that they were qualified for admission but there was not enough room to admit all qualified applicants. If a student is placed in the waiting list of a college they wish to attend, they will be asked if they are interested or not in trying to get a seat in it. If the student shows the willingness to be apart of the Institute he/she may be offered admission if space becomes available.


The major steps for applying:
· Identifying university and the course that the student wants to pursue – Every University offers hundreds of course so it is essential the students recognize the University that offers the course as per their requirements.
· Obtaining the required Application Forms – It can be obtained online or by requesting the University to send the printed form.
· Taking various required tests- Student needs to appear for the tests and meet the criteria of scores required by the University to which they wish to apply.
· Reporting various test scores to the universities- Students are allowed to send some scores free while taking the tests. If they apply to any other University they have to make sure that the scores are sent on time.
· Arranging and preparing essays and recommendation letters- These are one of the important aspects of application and play a crucial role in getting students an acceptance form.
· Preparing financial documents – The student needs to provide the proof of sufficient funds to cover the costs of the course as well as the living expenses.
· Preparing other important documents: Along with recommendations and essays students also need to send their mark sheets and other relevant certificates
· Completing and sending Application Forms along with required documents- The form needs to be sent to the right place as per the instructions provided by the University.

Planning ahead gives you sufficient time to make successful applications to the colleges of your choice especially if you want to apply for scholarships. Moreover, generally the deadlines for scholarships are earlier than the university ones.
Your study and stay in US will be a great experience; you will be able to share your knowledge with best brains, since scholars from all part of the world come here for study or work. Stay and study in US means having enriched with latest technological knowledge which will give you an edge over others in real life. Hence a US degree is beneficial in several aspects and preferred over others.

VISAS

Once student receives admission in the desired University, comes the most important stage, VISA. This is where it is actually decided whether student will be able to pursue his/her studies abroad. Different countries have different Visa procedures and regulations. The students should obtain maximum information about it before applying. Obtaining a Visa is the last but very essential step to go abroad to study further. Every student has to be extremely cautious while presenting the papers or while attending a Visa interview. There are certain important things which a student needs to bear in mind while applying for the student Visa. A student Visa is just the permission granted to a student to go to a particular country to study and then return to his/her home country. There are different procedures to obtain Visas for different countries. For USA the students have to appear for an interview; for UK the students need to submit their documents and if required also appear for an interview. For Australia again only the documents need to be sent to the Consulate.


Certain important documents required for student Visa irrespective of the country are:
Proof of admission:
Applicants must submit the proof that they have been unconditionally accepted to an accredited academic program.
They must have received an acceptance letter from the school.
Applicants should carry their relevant certificates, transcripts listing courses they have taken and grades received, their TOEFL score report, and any other score reports usually required for the course (GRE, GMAT, etc.)
Prove that they have the skills and background necessary to successfully complete the course.

Proof of Sufficient Funds:
Applicants must prove that they have enough funds to support their tuition, health insurance, and living expenses.
They must show how they plan to meet these expenses, either through waivers, on-campus employment, assistantships, scholarships, or personal funds.
If applicants have received scholarships, they must provide evidence that the organization providing the scholarship has the intent and ability to pay.
If they plan to use personal funds, they must show that they have adequate funding for the entire course of study, in terms of liquid cash, fixed deposits, property, and jewelry and so on.
Applicants must submit their sponsor’s bank statement, IT returns and related documents to the Consulate.

Once all the required documents are submitted, a consular officer can make a decision about whether or not to issue a visa. Students should allow sufficient time for the processing of visa application. Granting of Visa is entirely at the discretion of the Consulate. Applicants must ensure that they have submitted all the required documents that will help them establish their intention of returning back upon the completion of their education.

Students should also note that Student Visa does not allow a student to work in any country abroad. Students need to seek separate permission to be able to work while they are taking their classes. In some countries it is even illegal for a student to work while he/she is in that country on a student Visa.


USA

The US Visa process includes
Applications
Interview

There are different types of student visas:
F-1 (Student Visa). The F-1 visa is for full-time students enrolled in an academic or language program. F-1 students may stay in the US for the full length of their academic program. F-1 students must maintain a full-time course load and complete their studies by the expiration date listed on the I-20 form.
M-1 (Vocational Student Visa). The M-1 visa is issued for students attending non-academic trade and vocational schools. The M-1 visa is valid for at most one year. Recipients of an M-1 visa may not change fields of study.

U.S.A Visa Processing Time
At least 5 business days before your visa interview appointment.
U.S.A Visa Application Documents
Passport should be valid for more than 6 months from the date of return.
One photograph as per specification.
Original signed form DS-156
Original Form DS-157 only if you are 15 to 55 years of age.
Original form DS-158 only if you are applying for F, M or J visa.
Valid HDFC Bank fee receipt
U.S.A Visa Fees: Mode Fee
Visa Fee is payable in cash or by DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring “US Embassy - Visa Fees” current fees is approx 131 $ (Rs 6550 approx). The amount of fees varies as per the Dollar rate.


UK
Visa is a certificate that is put into your passport or travel document by an Entry Clearance Officer at a British mission overseas. The visa gives you permission to enter the UK. Student visas are normally granted for an initial period of one year, usually determined by the length of the course to be studied. Students however must be able to show that they have been accepted on a course of study at an institution of further or higher education (for example, a university) and that he/she will undertake:



a recognised full-time degree course
a course run during the week involving at least 15 hours organised daytime study per week.
a full-time course of study at an independent fee paying school.
They must also:
be able to pay for their course and support themselves and any dependants and live in the UK without working or any help from public funds.
Passport should be valid for more than 6 months.
An explanation of his current status.
Evidence that he plans to leave the UK when he completes his studies
Although if the applicant is a degree student and he successfully complete his studies, he may be able to take work-permit employment if he meets the requirements for this.
Letter from the institute confirming that the applicant has been accepted and that the course meets the immigration rules.
The cost of the course fees and receipts if paid.
Details of your accommodation and their costs.
How many hours will the applicant study?
The start and end date of the course.
Relevant diplomas or educational certificates. In case the applicant has a degree he has to send his passing certificate as well as his degree certificate.
Certificate from an organization which shows that his English is good enough for him to complete the course. E.g.: International English Language Testing System(IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOFEL)
If the visa applicant is self employed he needs to provide his company documentation and most recent tax certificates.

UK Visa Processing Time
Minimum of ten working days approx(during peak periods it may take a little longer)
UK Visa Fees:

· Visa Fee is payable by DD favoring “British Deputy High Commissions “approx 99 Pound (Rs 8400/- approx). The amount of fees varies as per the pound rate.