But what should you ask?


It can be easy to simply ask about the
scholarship opportunities they offer.
However institutions receive hundreds of
such enquiries, so your message won’t
stand out. The more unique or
personalised your question or enquiry, the
more likely it will resonate with the
university staff member who reads it; it
will be something different from what they
see normally.

There are a lot of other things you should
be asking. Just think of everything which
you would want to know about a university
you might be studying at (especially one in
a completely different country from your
own).
Here are some ideas to get you thinking
about what you may ask...

‘Where can I live?’

Do you know what accommodation the
institution offers? Is this accommodation
on or off-campus? How expensive is this
accommodation and what’s included? Are
you guaranteed a place in on-campus
accommodation in your first year? What
support is there to find accommodation
off-campus?

‘What’s the international student body
like?’

What proportion of students currently
enrolled are from overseas? What
countries do these students come from?
Are there many students from your own
country? If so, are there any specific clubs
or societies which are tailored to students
from here?

‘How is the course taught?’

Is the course taught through lectures, lab
work or seminars? How many students are
in these classes? What is the structure of
a normal lecture/seminar? Will you work
independently, or with one or more
students as part of group-work? How
many hours can you expect to spend on
campus each week? Does this include
face-time with your professors in their
office hours?

‘What would you study specifically on a
course?’

Can you get some specific details on the
material you’ll be studying i.e. specific
authors or cases? How much depth would
you go into? Do you get to choose the
modules you take? Or is there a core
curriculum which is mandatory for
everyone?

‘What have previous graduates on this
course gone on to do?’

Does the university have any notable
alumni in your field? Perhaps someone
famous who you look up to? What
companies or organisations are these
alumni now working for which you might
be able to apply to later too? Could you
get work experience with one of these
companies or alongside one of these
individuals? Are there any unusual paths
which graduates have gone down which
might not be obvious?

‘What should I study if I want to study at
a higher level later?’

If you have aspirations to study at
postgraduate level or a further study level,
what should you study before that (i.e. at
undergraduate level)? What courses does
the university offer which you could study
which would allow you to make this
progression? Are there pathways or pre-
masters courses available?

‘Can you confirm the application
deadlines?’

When are these deadlines? Are there
different deadlines for students from
different countries? What are the deadlines
for scholarship applications for these
courses? What do you need to provide by
this date?

‘What’s the local area like?’

Why should you study in that region? What
are the main attractions? Is there much of
a nightlife? How easy is it to get around
by public transport? Is it a major student
town, or a mix of ages and backgrounds?

‘How can the university help me find
employment after I complete my course?’

Does the university have links to local,
national or international industries or
organisations?

Are any of these in the
same field as you’re studying? Is there a
careers department or service on campus?
Are there are opportunities to complete
work experience or practical work as part
of your course?
And if you really must , ask about
scholarships (but ask the right way)...
Read our guide to enquiring about
scholarships the correct way . Universities
will respond to enquiries about
scholarships; but only if they’re specific
and indicate that the student is passionate
about studying at that institution.

Source; www.hotcoursesabroad.com/study-abroad-info/applying-to-university/10-things-you-should-really-ask-a-university/