Scotland
By BLC_4EVeR on August, 21
Scotland, up until recently, has not been an ‘automatic’ choice for foreign students when it came to pursuing higher education. However, the trend has been positively changing with more and more international students looking to attain quality education in one of the northern-most countries in Europe. Influenced by its bigger neighbour, England, Scotland has been able to position as one of the best upcoming countries for international students. Degrees of all levels are offered – undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs that too in the English language. Moreover, as Scotland boasts a good chunk of well ranked universities, foreign students can get the best overseas education here as well. However, Scotland can get a bit expensive given the value of their national currency, the Pound, has a very strong value. But to make this easier for overseas students, Scottish universities and their governments provide a lot of scholarship for international student. As a result, Bangladeshi students can find a lot of interesting opportunities to pursue a study abroad experience in Scotland. The scholarships can range from few thousand pounds one-time grant to 100% scholarship that covers every expense. For instance, the most popular scholarship is the Chevening Scholarship, administered by the British government. Chevening can grant access to Scottish universities too. Although it can get competitive, many talented Bangladeshi students do avail this opportunity every year. The application period normally start 6-8 months prior to the desired semester. There are mainly 2 semesters, Autumn (starting September) and Spring (starting January). Documentations such as high school and graduate certificates are required, along with your transcripts, proof of English language proficiency and work experience (if any). Additionally, an IELTS score of 6.5 should be enough to land admission and visa. However, few degrees may require scores higher than that.
Apart from the educational aspects, Scotland is a great country to live in for Bangladeshi students as the medium of communication is English and a large Asian community also exists. The food is amazing and the people are extremely friendly. As one can speak in English, it is also much easier to find part-time work and build connections. The living expenses can get up to £1000 – £1500 depending on your lifestyle and which city you live in. Interestingly, most cities in Scotland are way cheaper than London and other bigger English cities. You can also work 10-20 hours per week to help cover your living expenses. Therefore, all in all, Scotland is a great adventure waiting for Bangladeshi students!
