Advice

There are two main types of business programmes at business schools. First, there is the more generalist master of business administration (MBA), which is designed to give you an overview of all aspects of business.

Then there are specialised master’s programmes such as a master’s degree in finance or business analytics. These are designed to help you hone your skills in one area and develop the ability to analyse and understand data in a business context.

But which should you choose to study?

What does it take to succeed as an international student?

I wish someone had given me the answer to this question when I embarked on my international student journey many years ago from India to the US.

I was a naive 21-year-old, filled with ideas and dreams of the US, but with almost no understanding of what lay ahead – the challenge of being a foreign student in a different country and culture, as well as all the wonderful opportunities this experience would bring.

The first person in their family to go to university is often known as a first-generation student. University is not always an easy journey for these students and often they may require extra attention.

Based on my experiences of being the first in my family to attend university, with social and financial challenges along the way, I would like to share some advice for other students who might find themselves in a similar position. 

Figuring out how to transfer or exchange money between currencies as an international student is no easy feat.

While you may think that traditional banks are the best and safest way to transfer money between currencies, they can have hidden fees and complex processes.

Luckily, there are an increasing number of alternative options for sending and receiving money while studying abroad, including money transfer specialists and non-bank providers.

Being a refugee student at a British university has been both interesting and rewarding, but I know that many students who are seeking sanctuary in the UK might feel hesitant about applying or unsure of where to find the right support.

To put it simply, this academic year has been a difficult one. Dealing with the ever-changing pandemic, adjusting to online lectures, trying to engage with virtual career fairs, Zoom-based networking events as well as virtual job interviews.

But to top it all off, one of the most difficult parts of this year for me and my fellow students has been the unforgiving flow of job rejections.

I, for one, have found myself hopping from enthusiasm to despair at the prospect of job-hunting.

When searching for a job, students can find themselves swamped with information and advice about how to make themselves attractive to employers, leaving them feeling overwhelmed. Some employers might state that they value good communication over organisation skills; others might prioritise time management over good teamwork.

Truly it really will depend on the industry you wish to work in, the role you are applying for and the specific qualities sought by an employer.

University is a learning curve in more ways than one. While it’s natural to focus on the academic side of things when applying for university, once they arrive on campus many students find themselves wishing they’d spent some more time on practical skills.

A recent survey from Ivory Research found that 64 per cent of students in the UK had never done laundry, 53 per cent had never gone food shopping and just under half had never practised cooking before going to university.

During your time at university, you’ll hear many employers, academics, alumni and careers staff say you need to develop “transferable skills” to secure internships and jobs. But what does this mean?

With a range of world-leading universities to choose from, lots of courses taught in English and a comparatively low cost of studying, it’s easy to see why so many international students want to study abroad in the Netherlands.

If you’re planning on studying abroad in the Netherlands, one of the most important things to consider is how you will fund your studies. Luckily, the Netherlands has a range of scholarship opportunities that could help you fund part or all of your studies.