22 February 2023
Many students dream of studying abroad. However, as exciting as the idea of learning in a new country sounds, many international students get conflicted about which course to pursue. This makes us think Bachelors vs Masters: which is the best one to study abroad?
Let’s read here.
Bachelors Vs Masters: Whether you study a bachelor’s or a master’s internationally is an important decision. Even though both of these options have their own advantages and disadvantages, you need to make your decision based on various factors.
You need to keep a few things in mind, such as your goal, the field you are in, and your finances. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of studying bachelor’s and master’s abroad to help you make an informed decision.
Why should you study bachelor’s abroad?
When you want to complete your bachelor’s degree in a new country right after you have finished high school, it is both a scary and an exciting journey.
There are a lot of great countries like Germany, Australia, the UK, Canada, and the USA that have become educational hubs for international students. Studying bachelor’s abroad offers you a lot of attractive benefits, such as:
- More choices and options in selecting a program or a degree:
Other countries typically have more programs for undergraduate students. Students can choose their course on the basis of its subject, domain, specialization offered, length, and career opportunities.
Studying for your bachelor’s abroad offers you more flexibility in terms of your education as compared to learning domestically.
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Complete your bachelor’s with honors:
Many colleges and universities abroad offer international students the chance to finish their degrees with honors.
Honors definitely add a lot of value to your resume and make you an attractive candidate for future career opportunities. Many colleges also allow students to pursue a minor specialization along with their choice of major.
This allows you to be a preferred candidate in more than one domain, field, and industry, which in turn provides you with more lucrative opportunities post your graduation.
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Get more exposure during your undergraduate:
Nowadays, industries prefer candidates who have a more practical understanding of their field. Colleges and universities abroad focus on providing their students with a lot of practical knowledge using workshops, lectures, projects, and assignments.
You can also work part-time while you are studying and gain some real-world exposure.
Why should you study master’s abroad?
Many international students prefer to go abroad for their master’s degrees. Studying master’s abroad offers you a lot of advantages as well. Here are some of the most significant reasons:
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Get financial aid easily:
Most international universities and colleges offer a lot of different options for financial aid to their master’s students.
These are quite easy for international students to get since they are catered to the needs of international students. Students can get fellowships, scholarships, and student loans to aid their tuition.
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Get more focused exposure in your field:
Since master’s students have already completed their bachelor’s, most of them have a clear idea of the field they want to study. Students are more aware of their interests and their future plans by the time they go abroad for a master’s.
This clarity allows them to get more relevant exposure in their fields and even pursue the things they are genuinely interested in.
Since students already have a basic understanding of the concepts they studied in their bachelor’s, they can avail more academic exposure from institutions and their academic professors.
For example, international students can get the opportunity to explore and expand their research projects with the help of their mentors and supervisors.
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Learning Objective
The main difference between studying bachelor’s and master’s abroad is the learning objective of students. International students are motivated to study abroad for a lot of different reasons.
However, it is crucial to identify the primary reason when you are deciding to go abroad for your education.
If you want to complete your bachelor’s abroad, you need to think of it as starting your career abroad. When you are pursuing your undergraduate degree, you start to specialize in a particular field that you are interested in.
You attend more classes and study more subjects related to the field of your choice. For many international students, this may add some pressure since not all undergraduates are confident in their field of interest.
However, if you are someone who is clear on the industry and domain that interests you, studying for your bachelor’s abroad can help you accelerate your education.
If you want to complete your bachelor’s abroad, you can gain in-depth working knowledge about your subjects and fields.
If your main goal of studying abroad is to expand your area of expertise and research and open doors to unique opportunities, then it is the right path for you.
Most international students who study for their master’s abroad benefit from their academic institutions and reputed professors.
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Associated Costs
Another essential factor you need to remember when considering if you should pursue a bachelor’s or a master’s degree abroad is the associated cost.
Typically, the cost of studying for your bachelor’s degree internationally may be extensively less when compared to a master’s degree. Tuition costs are largely based on the country, university, and program of your choice.
Based on your choice, you need to factor in the associated tuition costs when making your decision. Since a bachelor’s degree generally takes somewhere between 3 to 4 years to finish, you should also consider the costs of living and transportation.
When you are thinking about pursuing a master’s from a foreign university, the costs may not be extravagant since your program would be shorter as compared to an undergraduate course.
Also, there are a lot of easily available fellowships and scholarships available for master’s students. These can significantly help in bringing down your financial costs and make it easy for international students to study abroad.
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Eligibility Criteria
One of the most significant factors, when you are deciding between a bachelors and masters abroad, is their respective eligibility criteria. The typical eligibility criteria for studying a bachelor’s program internationally are as follows :
- You must have completed your higher secondary education to get admission to a bachelor’s program.
- Some universities even ask international students to submit their standardized language proficiency tests results like PTE, IELTS, and TOEFL.
- You may also need to submit your competitive exam scores, such as ACT and SAT.
- Some universities also require their applicants to maintain a minimum score or percentage in their previous academic courses before they apply to particular bachelor’s degrees or programs.
The typical eligibility criteria for studying a master’s program internationally are as follows :
- Applicants need to finish their bachelor’s degree in a relevant field before they apply for a master’s program. Some universities may also require 12+4 years or 12 + 3 years of education.
- Universities may have some different academic requisites based on the complexity of their programs. Applicants need to keep these in mind before they apply to a master’s program.
- International students are also required to submit their standardized language proficiency tests scores such as the PTE, IELTS, and TOEFL.
- You may also need to submit your competitive exam scores in GRE or GMAT.
- Some universities or colleges may also need their applicants to have at least 3 to 4 years of work experience before they apply for a master’s program.
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Duration
You need to also consider the duration of your education when you are making your decision. Generally, a bachelor’s degree takes somewhere between 3 to 4 years to complete if you are studying full-time.
The duration of your course will also be based on the country you want to study in. For example, in the UK, it takes around 3 years for an undergraduate degree to complete.
However, in the USA, undergraduate degrees generally require 4 years to finish. The duration of your course will be largely based on the program and university that you choose.
When you are pursuing your master’s degree abroad, you may need anywhere between 1 and 6 years to graduate. This is based on the choice of your program and the scope of your research.
If you are pursuing a full-time master’s course, you may only need 1 to 2 years to complete it, while a part-time one can take twice the time.
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Course
When you are undergoing your bachelor’s degree, many students usually have a lot of different courses and subjects to choose from. These programs are designed to emphasize both practical exposure and theoretical knowledge.
Students also incur more freedom and flexibility when it comes to selecting their curriculum. Here are some of the most popular bachelor’s degrees pursued by international students:
- Bachelor’s in International Relations.
- Bachelor’s in Computer Science and IT
- Bachelor’s in Business and Management
- Bachelor’s in Medicine and Health Sciences
- Bachelor’s in Engineering
A master’s degree generally comprises a trained master’s as well as a research master’s. The entire course structure is completely different for both of them.
Taught master’s is usually less independent and is quite similar to pursuing an undergraduate degree. However, research master’s are considered to be more independent.
The curriculum and subjects vary greatly under both of these and are also based on the university of your choosing. Here are some of the most popular master’s degrees pursued by international students:
- Master’s in Computer Sciences
- Master’s in International Business
- Master’s of Management Studies
- Master’s in Economics
- Master’s in Business Administration
- Master’s in International Relations
Bachelors vs Masters Abroad: Environment
It is also essential to look at the environment when you are deciding between a bachelors vs masters degree to study abroad. Studying for a bachelor’s degree in another country can be highly challenging and competitive.
International students might often feel like outsiders and get lonely since they are taking the time to adjust to a new environment. It might take some time for international students to get familiarized with the people, traditions, cuisine, and language.
However, if you get adapt at an early stage in your career, you also begin to feel more comfortable when you need to take the next step to accelerate your career.
Eventually, when you choose to continue studying for your master’s abroad, you would already be acquainted with the local land and people, which will make it simpler for you to concentrate on your education.
On the other hand, if you decide to pursue your masters from a new country, you will naturally get a higher amount of financial freedom, and you will be in a position to avail more job opportunities.
Maturity also plays a role in equipping an international student with the capacity to deal with problems and challenges calmly as they come up.
Conclusion
Just as with other decisions, there are real pros and cons to deciding whether you want to immigrate abroad for your bachelor’s or your master’s degree. Even though both pose their merits, as an international student willing to settle in a new country for their education, you need to choose on the basis of various factors.
It is important to keep in mind that adequate research into specific programs and colleges that you are interested in can help you in making an informed decision.
We can help you through the process with the right counseling, student visa process, the right course, and college.
Our expertise knows no boundaries so whatever your academic plan may be, we can help you map out the right path toward a bright future. Contact our experts at Landmark Immigration for more information.
