Before studying for my PhD, I worked as a lecturer at a public university in Indonesia. The university is part of the country’s Ministry of Industry, which led me to research related to the economics of trade and industry, particularly in Indonesia. Naturally, the university was supportive of an employee pursuing a PhD in economics abroad, particularly in the field I had chosen.

After you have submitted your application, you might be invited to an interview with someone from the university to complete the application process. This will be the first time that your university will be meeting you face to face, so you should strive to make a good first impression. Here are some things you can do to make that happen.

As a student entrepreneur, I tend to draw similarities between what is required of an entrepreneur and of a student. The key trait of both is that the one who succeeds is not always the most intelligent but the one who plans and prepares the best.

Exams can be stressful, especially because your grades can potentially determine your career choices and higher education journey. 

To excel as a student it is important to try to be a smart worker rather than a hard worker.

What is the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme? 

The Fulbright Program is one of the main academic exchange programmes for graduate students sponsored by the US government. It has been been creating links between the US and other countries since it was established in 1946.

Approximately 8,000 graduate students, teachers and academic professionals are accepted into the programme each year, usually then referred to as “Fulbrighters”. Students are selected based on merit and academic performance.   

Sponsored content: created in partnership with KU Leuven.

Situated some 25km east of Brussels, Leuven may not be as well known as Belgium’s capital city, but it has plenty to offer students. For instance, it is home to KU Leuven, the country’s largest university, with some 65,000 students.

Unlike some people, I did not have a specific country or university in mind when I first started high school. However, I attended a school trip during the summer break of my sophomore year that helped me decide where I wanted to study. 

As part of the trip, we visited Toronto and were all registered at an English language school. For a month, I had the chance to practice my English and experience student life in Canada. After that school trip, I decided to study in Canada and, in particular, Toronto. 

My past three years at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have given me some of the best memories and experiences I could have asked for. But the process of choosing my university and moving to a whole new country was a daunting experience.