Blogs

As an international student from France, I am fortunate enough to come from a country where being LGBTQ+ is broadly accepted and normalised.

I have always been intrigued by the way society operates and the impact of political and socio-economic factors on individuals and communities. This is why I decided to pursue a course in international politics, which encompasses issues such as human rights, conflict, globalisation, the environment and national security. 

Coming from a humble background, quality education was a far-fetched dream until I joined VidyaGyan, a leadership academy in rural Uttar Pradesh, founded by the ShivNadar Foundation.

Learning English online is very different from studying in a physical classroom. There is not always a teacher looking over your shoulder, which means you need to motivate yourself. But the good news is it’s easy to work on your English from the comfort of your own home.

Read our tips to help you stay motivated, focus on learning and put your skills to good use.

Set SMART goals

One of the best things about university is that whatever you’re interested in, be it sport, theatre or appreciating Nicolas Cage, there’s probably a student society or club full of other people with the same passion. If not, you can set one up and get university funding by registering with your students’ union.

On public transport, in restaurants and at home, people scroll through social media more than ever before. While these platforms are great for staying connected to your social and support networks, social media can also help you learn English and access study resources.

Read more to find out the benefits of using Instagram to learn English, and discover five Instagram accounts to help you study.

How do you get into a top US university such as Stanford? What do US colleges look for in your application? How can you afford to study in the US?

When Indian student Manu Chauhan started looking into studying in the US, he had all the same questions. While many international students dream of studying in the US, the high cost of studying, the competitive application processes and the lack of access to admissions advice can easily make this goal feel out of reach.

A satellite campus is a branch of a university located in a different country, state or area from where the main campus of the institution is situated.

I recently graduated from Purdue University in the US and found a job at a start-up company. This feels like a dream for a student from a small village in Uttar Pradesh in northern India.

My father is a farmer, and my mother is a homemaker; our family’s annual income has always been less than $1,300. With limited means, my family struggled to support my education. I was 12 years old when I passed the entrance exam for VidyaGyan, a leadership academy in rural Uttar Pradesh founded by the Shiv Nadar Foundation.

Hellas, Hong Kong,  junior majoring in environmental science at the University of California, Berkeley, USA

I was drawn to the US because of the flexible curricula.

The main barrier I found when applying to an international university was not the application itself or obtaining a study permit, but the worry over how I would go from using my native language, Portuguese, to being taught in my second language, English.

I knew English from high school, but I questioned whether it would be sufficient at university.