{"id":11600,"date":"2024-05-06T15:18:22","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T13:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/?p=11600"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:18:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T13:18:26","slug":"steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree","title":{"rendered":"Six Steps to Choosing a University and Master\u2019s Degree Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One of the most exciting things about deciding to study abroad is that you have, quite literally, a whole world of choices, with thousands of universities around the world to choose from. Each of these schools will offer many different courses, and it can be hard to even begin figuring out what or where you want to study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are six steps to help you start your search and <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/intake-education-application-process-tips-to-study-abroad\">choose a university abroad<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1c12f00808f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1c12f00808f\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#1_Listen_to_both_your_heart_and_your_head\" >1.\u00a0 Listen to both your heart and your head<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#2_Be_honest_with_yourself\" >2.\u00a0 Be honest with yourself<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#3_Research_carefully_and_use_multiple_sources\" >3.\u00a0 Research carefully, and use multiple sources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#4_Identify_your_%E2%80%9Cessential%E2%80%9D_requirements\" >4.\u00a0 Identify your \u201cessential\u201d requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#5_Choose_your_subject\" >5.\u00a0 Choose your subject<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/steps-to-choosing-a-university-degree-and-masters-degree\/#6_Attend_university_fairs_in_your_country\" >6.\u00a0 Attend university fairs in your country<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-listen-to-both-your-heart-and-your-head\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Listen_to_both_your_heart_and_your_head\"><\/span><strong>1.\u00a0 Listen to both your heart and your head<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They might take you in different directions, but both have valid points to make. Often it can be worthwhile to start by going straight to what you\u2019re passionate about, then starting to think carefully about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-be-honest-with-yourself\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Be_honest_with_yourself\"><\/span><strong>2.\u00a0 Be honest with yourself<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Seriously. Any sort of degree is a big commitment, but studying abroad even more so. Make sure that this is something you want to do rather than something you feel you have to do. If you\u2019re doing it because you want to, it will be easier to keep going through the tough times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-research-carefully-and-use-multiple-sources\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Research_carefully_and_use_multiple_sources\"><\/span><strong>3.\u00a0 Research carefully, and use multiple sources<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Studying a master\u2019s degree can take anywhere between one to two years, and it can be quite expensive. It will almost certainly be a worthwhile investment and life-changing adventure, but make sure you know the facts. Check university websites for official data, and student forums for a wider range of opinions. If you\u2019re interested in studying in the US, UK or Australia, check out the <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.topuniversities.com\/university-finder\/student\/match\/user-preference\">QS Course Matching Tool<\/a>, which matches you with your perfect course and university after you\u2019ve answered a few simple questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stick to these ground rules, and you\u2019ll find these next steps even more effective!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-identify-your-essential-requirements\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Identify_your_%E2%80%9Cessential%E2%80%9D_requirements\"><\/span><strong>4.\u00a0 Identify your \u201cessential\u201d requirements<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Narrow down your search by deciding what you definitely want to do or want to avoid. For example, maybe you only want to study abroad at a university where the language of teaching is French? Perhaps you have a specific budget, or want to be within a few hours\u2019 flight of home? At this stage, it\u2019s best to set out some clear guidelines for your search. Here are some examples to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only universities in a particular country\/ world region<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No universities in large and busy cities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only highly ranked universities (in general or in a particular subject)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This step is particularly useful if you want to study a subject that is offered across a very large range of universities. If you want to specialize in a field that\u2019s particularly rare, you\u2019ll probably find you already have a narrower field to focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-choose-your-subject\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Choose_your_subject\"><\/span><strong>5.\u00a0 Choose your subject<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where things might get trickier. Many people know straight away what they want to study, but for some the choice is less obvious. It\u2019s helpful to narrow down your list of options to three or so subjects. If you\u2019re having a hard time with that, think about these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which subjects do you most enjoy learning about?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What skills do you want to gain during your studies?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you want to go into a job where a particular master\u2019s degree is required?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you already know what you want to study, then great! By default some universities will be ruled out (even the most popular subjects aren\u2019t available absolutely everywhere), but more importantly you\u2019ll be able to select your preferred universities based on the master\u2019s courses and curricula they offer. To help you with this, you could start by checking the subject-specific <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.topuniversities.com\/subject-rankings\">QS World University Rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-attend-university-fairs-in-your-country\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Attend_university_fairs_in_your_country\"><\/span><strong>6.\u00a0 Attend university fairs in your country<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ways to make your master\u2019s application stand out is to attend a university fair in your country, and meet with admissions staff from the schools you\u2019re interested in directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Get information straight from the source<\/em> \u2013 learn about the master\u2019s degrees available and what is required to study at each university, including admissions hints and tips, campus life, and <a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/jobs\">job opportunities after you graduate<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Apply for exclusive study abroad scholarships<\/em> &#8211; One of the best reasons to attend a QS Discover Master\u2019s Fair is to gain access to exclusive scholarship opportunities that are only available to event attendees, such as the QS ImpACT Scholarships worth $50k in total. In addition, schools participating in the fair will also have scholarship opportunities and information on how to best finance your degree.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Discover universities and master\u2019s degrees that you hadn\u2019t considered<\/em> &#8211; Do you already know where you want to study abroad, or are you still in the process of narrowing it down? Either way, a university fair can help you discover schools you may not have considered. It\u2019s always a good thing to broaden your horizons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The next <strong>QS Discover Master\u2019s Fair in Nairobi is on Tuesday 14 May at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel \u2013 <\/strong><a class=\"article-body-links\"href=\"https:\/\/qs.topuniversities.com\/events\/masters\/nairobi?utm_source=Brighter_Monday&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;partnerid=2488\"><strong>register now<\/strong><\/a> and get ready to meet university representatives from top global universities including Imperial College London, Politecnico di Milano, John Hopkins University and many more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most exciting things about deciding to study abroad is that you have, quite literally, a whole world of choices, with thousands of universities,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":11601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7,8],"tags":[],"content_author":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11600","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-development","8":"category-jobs-news","9":"category-research-and-job-market"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/173"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11600"},{"taxonomy":"content_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brightermonday.co.ke\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_author?post=11600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}