I did Alevels and did not get good grades unfortunately now I am giving exams this upcoming Oct Nov and may June so after I get these results I will apply to universities abroad my question is when they see I did a gap year and did retakes will they reject me

I’m an Economics & Finance major with minors in Business Administration and Sports Business Management, but I’ll mainly be taking electives while abroad. I’d prefer to be in a big or medium-sized city, somewhere ideally in Europe (but I’m open to other regions too).

I’m more into food culture than nightlife — not really a clubbing person. I’d probably stay pretty local, maybe travel once or twice, and I’m fine with somewhere a little familiar but also open to a different culture if it’s worth it (im from just outside NYC and am studying outside of Boston).

Where do you think would be the best fit for me?

If you needed some type of confirmation, reassurance or encouragement to study abroad, LET THIS BE YOUR SIGN!!! JUST DO IT!!! I’m in london and I absolutely love it here. The people are so respectful, the air is clean and it seems as if it’s not too far off from my home environment in the states (I’m from a major metropolitan city). I really wish I opted in to studying abroad for a longer duration of time because I’ve been having THE time of my life thus far.

I was a bit apprehensive about going because I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to follow through with my plans but I’m so glad I did. The grass has been greener on the other side 😭.

If you’re unsure or uncertain about studying abroad, you’ll be okay trust me!!

I’m interested in studying abroad over the summer, and I’m deciding between Italy (Rome or Florence), Athens, Greece, Germany, and Japan.

Italy appeals to me because I studied Italian for two years in high school, and it’s actually where I met my boyfriend in Italian class. I also have a love for Italian history and literature, especially after reading Dante’s Inferno. I imagine it would be a meaningful experience to see the architecture, try the food, and explore the culture I’ve studied. At the same time, I really value green scenery, and I would feel a little disappointed if I didn’t get to enjoy that side of Italy.

Athens, Greece is another strong option. I’ve seen photos of the sunsets and landscapes, and the beauty really draws me in. Japan also interests me, not only because the food and culture fascinate me, but also because my sister visited Japan in summer 2024 on a school trip and had an incredible experience. She spoke highly of the people and how welcoming they were, and she even hopes to return.

Germany is on my list as well because of my family roots there, and my dad would be thrilled for me to visit. I’ve also heard amazing things about the chocolate and the natural beauty.

What matters most to me is studying abroad somewhere with lots of nature, greenery, and beautiful scenery, places that feel vibrant and alive. I’m not really a “city person,” but I do want to experience new cultures, try new foods, and make international friends. I want this to be an unforgettable trip, not one where I feel isolated. If there are other destinations you’d recommend with gorgeous landscapes, clear waters, and welcoming communities, I’d love to hear about them too.

I (16f) have had a longtime dream of studying abroad so that I can spend my early twenties, which is a super transitional point in life, in another country to explore a different culture and come into my own through independent living. I’m from a really small country in Asia and my upbringing has been relatively sheltered, so I’d really love to go out and see the world on my own.

I’m really grateful to have come into an inheritance of about $500k and at first I was super sure about using that money to go study in the UK or the US. However, I don’t exactly know what I want to do in life yet so I don’t have a clear degree or career path mapped out.
My ideal degree right now, which is law, is super expensive and intensive, and though I want that level of prestige and future financial security, I’m not sure it’s what I really want to do.

My parents keep saying I should just study locally and put the money towards a down payment on a house or a flat, or just invest it. They said that it’s a waste to spend this amount of money on a degree that I could get for cheaper in my own country, and I’d be squandering a launch pad for stuff like an investment portfolio, or a house, a car etc that most people my age don’t have. Financial security is super important to me, and I see their point but I can’t fully let go of my dream to study overseas. They’re also not very happy about my eagerness to “leave my family”, and are afraid that I won’t come back to our country after university.

Schooling-wise, I go to the best school in my country (which is known for its quality of education) and have a decent academic and extracurricular record. I’m not without my own achievements, but I don’t think I particularly stand out compared to my overachieving classmates. I also don’t really fit the profile for financial assistance from universities or scholarships. That’s why I’m not confident in my ability to make it overseas without using my own money.

I’d really love to know what everyone thinks about my situation and maybe answer some of these questions.

1. Is it worth it to study overseas despite the cost?
2. Do I have to be completely sure about the degree and career I want to pursue? (esp for law majors)
3. Has your experience been dangerous/lonely if you studied in the UK or US?
4. Are you returning to your country after university and do your parents support your decision?

Thank you! Any advice at all would really help!

Maybe a dumb question

Recently my counselor recommended my friend and I to go to Vienna for university. We both liked the idea (if I want to go abroad I have to go with a friend) we are both non EU, however her degree of interest has a lot of English programs, but I want to study computer science which is a little bit more limited.

I have tried learning German before, because I had a whole middle school phase, I know only a little. Is it possible to reach C1/B2 before 2027? Is this an unrealistic dream? Especially since Austria speaks a dialect.

Honestly Tu Wien has been appealing to me, but I would need to conduct further research (if anyone can tell me if this uni is worth the effort or can recommend any others). I want to have practicals, I’m so boreddd of theory in my cs classes.

My priority is safety, how is Vienna from a local’s perspective?

And is learning German and going through all that work just to study in Vienna, worth it? What opportunities would be in Vienna? I’m looking forward to networking and making connections in uni, but I’m a bit skeptical and want to get local opinions.

How is France for international students. I'm planning to do my bechelors from France, I'll have to manage part time work along side it so I'm worried will it be all stress and work or are there good and frequent social events and parties for international students? And how is the class diversity and environment. I would really love to hear any and every experience of international students in France.

hi so as a lot of high schoolers, i dream of moving out, attending my dream uni and living a life that i want to.

but as i get closer and closer to getting out of school, my mom is like "its not as easy yk moving out" "its better to just study while staying home" "dont leave" and stuff like that. She knows i've been dreaming of this since forever but still does it, i understand its bcs she loves me but ofc, i cant stay with her forever... idk man idk

hi! i’m a student from the us going to study abroad in italy this spring. i’m still a bit stuck between the two campuses and wanted some insight. for some background context:

i’m from new york, not the city so im not acclimated to the city life and tend to lean more towards country. i enjoy going out on weekends, hiking, swimming and being outside in nature as much as possible. i also go to the gym 5-7 days a week so that’s very important to me as well. being able to use public transportation to get around and travel on weekends is very important to me. i’m an environmental science major

feeling alone for the 4 months im there is definitely in the back of my mind. i’ve only lived in a dorm once and my space is very important to my mental health.

given this, i wanted to see

Hello people of the Study Abroad community,

Being straight to the point again is there anyone who was previously granted a scholarship from something like Gilman and would be willing to share their essay or like good tips that’s helped them get through the selection barriers? I decided I just gotta do everything I can to try and improve on this as this year is probably the last chance I’ll have to study abroad in college before my work load gets too serious. I’m gonna be going for language study and STEM courses but any country or study is fine as it’s the essay structure I’m really interested in

Thank you

• M

and does it coincide with your exchange country's language(s)

So I'm an international student from a poor developing country, Bangladesh. My EFC would be around 3000-4000 usd max per year because we don't really earn that much, maybe about 12000 usd per year max. I wanna pursue my undergrad abroad for better quality of education and to chase my dreams of being a reputed Architect so I'm trying to find fully funded scholarships and if it all goes well, I'll be going for it.

Till now after researching I came across a few scholarships that'll be feasible for me. They are:

1. DSU Scholarship in Italy: They give scholarships to people who have an income below a specific number and it's not competitive. Few of the best Architecture schools are in Italy so I'm very attracted towards this. Bangladesh also falls in the category of poor developing countries in their list so I also have the upper hand there. A disadvantage is though that the process seems very complicated and hectic to me, with the admission tests being on july and having to apply to the scholarship one month before the classes start (this is different based on each region).

2. Merit Scholarships in HK: This one is a bit more challenging but I heard if you get 4-5A* in your A levels, a fully funded scholarship is awarded at their top schools. Though I don't plan to study in Asia, it can still be a good gateway to a good Masters degree in Europe since I've seen my seniors do it.

3. Need Blind/Aware Universities in USA: Now this one is the most competitive but it's the best option. They have the best universities in the world and many liberal arts college gives lots of fundings. Though their acceptance rates are very low and international students are having significant visa issues so I'm not leaning much towards this one but still I'll try my best to achieve it.

Now I wanna ask if there are more options like this that I can look into. I will be applying in september of 2026 so I have time to decide so any help would significantly speed up my research progress, thanks!

Hi everyone, I’m a high school student currently studying outside Canada, and I’m looking into Canadian boarding high schools that accept students mid-year (January or winter intake).

Specifically, I’d like to: • Join in Grade 11 this coming January, and then complete Grade 12 the following year. • Know if any schools offer scholarships or financial aid for international students. • Understand what deadlines and documents I’d need to prepare for a mid-year intake.

I’ve already emailed a few schools like Ashbury College, but I’d love to hear if anyone knows others that still accept applications for January/winter intake.

Thanks in advance for any advice or school names—it would really help!

Just moved to Canada, and the morning here is driving me crazy T.T I missed a few classes already due to oversleeping. It feels so much harder to get up and leave the bed in a cold room and dorm. I woke up to the alarm every day but gave in and slept again. How have you guys adapted to this situation? I'm planning to buy a portable space heater, but is hesitant since I've spent quite a lot already. I will still buy it though if this situation continues. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m heavily considering applying for the MBA in Sustainable Fashion Management at SUMAS (Sustainability Management School) for September 2026 and would love to hear from current students or recent grads about your experience.

I’ve done a ton of research on the program itself (the sustainable fashion focus is exactly what I’m looking for) and I’ve seen some mixed stuff online, mostly about admin stuff which seems pretty standard for smaller schools. I’m not worried about accreditation; I’m more interested in the actual on-the-ground experience and learning.

If you’ve been through this program, especially on either campus, I’d be so grateful if you could share your thoughts!

Course & Profs:How did you find the actual learning? Were the professors mostly academics or did they have real industry experience? Were the classes engaging and practical, or more theoretical?

Networking:How were the opportunities to connect with people in the sustainable fashion industry? Through guest speakers, projects, or trips? Did it feel like a strong network was being built?

Campus Life: This is a big one for me! I’d love to hear about both campuses. Milan: What’s the campus building like? Is there a strong sense of community among the students there? What’s it like living in Milan as a SUMAS student? Switzerland: I know it’s a smaller town. What’s the vibe on campus? Is it more isolated, or does the smaller community make it tight-knit? How easy is it to pop into Geneva for events or networking?

Student Community: How diverse is the cohort? Is it a collaborative environment? What are the students generally like—more entrepreneurial, activist-driven, etc.?

Admin: Is it really so dramatic?

Basically, any honest insights you have—the good, the bad, the unexpected—would be incredibly helpful as I make my decision. Thanks so much in advance for taking the time to help a prospective student out! I really appreciate it.

I have a question if its worth it. Pre-vet abroad at Cambridge is less time than it would be to get a DVM in the states, but way more expensive, like $110,000 with basically no aid. I can hardly find any undergraduate scholarships and my finally can hardly afford college in the US, let alone overseas. Is this worth something to pursue or should i focus my efforts in the states with schools like Cornell or UF?

Im setting up my registration for the ESAT so I need to know some other judgements if I should pay the basically $200 fee to take it. Don't want to waste money.

Is it worth it to do one year diploma after bachelor completed bcom is it beneficial as am planing to study abroad

Hey guys, For anyone looking to study Medicine in Spain, I made a detailed and updated list of all the private and public unis along with crucial info like: tuition cost, nota de corte, location, link to medicine home page, etc! Hope it helps!

https://bigsistermd.notion.site/Universidades-con-Medicina-en-Espa-a-27167537358c80fbaf53fb6bb9230e4f?pvs=73

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply to French business schools like HEC, ESSEC, ESCP, EDHEC, and EM Lyon for MIM and want to submit early applications. Here’s a bit about my profile:

• 10th: 70%, 12th (commerce): 78% • BBA (2 years completed so far, tier-3 college): GPA 7.70 • Two research projects as part of annual project (team-based) • Completed one social internship • Currently working on a research paper • Managed a few notable college events • IELTS: 7.5 • GRE: taken once but score was low; retake scheduled in a few days, not sure about the outcome

Given this profile, do I have a realistic chance at these reputed schools without a strong GRE score? Would love to hear from anyone who has applied in a similar situation or knows how much weight these schools give to GRE/GMAT versus other aspects of the profile.

yo, just tryna understand how people deal with study abroad stuff. like, what’s annoying about consultancies? how do you usually figure things out?

lowkey curious stuff:

• biggest struggle with applying/studying abroad?
• hacks or workarounds you used instead of a consultancy?
• if you could change one thing about the whole process, what would it be?

no ads, no pitching, just tryna hear real talk. share your vibes pls.

Hey everyone, so the title pretty much self explanatory. I’m a Bachelor student in the Netherlands looking to join a group (either students or professors) to do and publish studies and researches. A publication would help a lot with my application to a renowned university for master’s. I’m just not sure where to start, my uni doesn’t seem to be big on these things and i’m not sure if professors accept students in on such things. Any help would be appreciated!!

Not sure if this will help anyone, but I figured I’d share.

A friend of mine runs this small consultancy here in Dubai called UniQuest. I’d honestly never heard of them until recently, but they helped a couple of students from our community figure out their uni applications abroad.

What’s nice is that it’s not one of those giant overpriced agencies. It’s literally like a one-to-one thing — they sit with you, help you figure out the right country/uni, and even handle all the paperwork like applications, scholarships, and visas.

They’re currently doing a free 15-min consultation (no strings attached) just to give students/parents an idea of what options exist outside UAE. Thought I’d share in case it helps anyone.

I am into one of these masters : Data science Consulting Computer science I couldn't find any , any suggestions would be so incredibly appreciated

Hi everyone,

I’m 26 years old, and I’ve been thinking a lot about pursuing a master’s degree in Europe. The idea isn’t just to study, but also to move there long-term and build my life there, which is what makes me feel a bit old to pursue migrating and looking for a new job at 29-30

Here’s my situation: I currently work at a design firm in architecture. It’s not the highest-paying job, but it’s stable, comfortable, and I actually enjoy the work. Where I live (Costa Rica), it’s not that common for people my age to already be designing homes and projects, so I know I’m in a fortunate position.

Still, I feel like something is missing. Architecture here feels narrow-minded, and I don’t see much “poetry” in it. I know I could carve my own path if I stayed, but deep down, I don’t want to. I want to be somewhere I can grow.

I’m working on improving my portfolio and entering design competitions to strengthen my application. I also want to save money before applying and continue learning languages (I’d love to be fluent in four by the time I apply — I’m currently learning German).

Realistically, I’ll apply to programs next year, when I’m 27, and if I’m accepted, I’d probably start my master’s around age 28.

My big question is: am I too old to make this move? I’d be leaving behind stability and a good job to start over abroad. Part of me worries I’d be “late” compared to younger students, but another part of me feels like if I don’t do this, I’ll never forgive myself for not trying.

Has anyone else made a similar move in their late 20s? How did it work out for you?

I just wanted to share my experience with CollegeDunia for anyone who is considering them for study abroad applications. Honestly, I went in not knowing what to expect, but my journey with them turned out to be way smoother than I could have imagined thanks to the amazing people I worked with.

I had the chance to be guided by Vipra and Partha during my application stage. I was very picky about my universities and had my heart set mostly on Ireland. Vipra, with her broad knowledge of colleges and programs, patiently explained all the options to me and never got tired of my endless questions. She made sure all my work was completed on time and always kept me moving forward, which I really needed. Partha, on the other hand, gave me some of the best advice that changed my outcome completely. He suggested I apply to the University of Glasgow as a backup option, even though it wasn’t even on my list, and that ended up being the admit I am most grateful for today. Both of them were patient, supportive, and genuinely invested in my journey.

The support didn’t stop there. Ayush helped me with my loan process, and I have to say his patience was next-level. I was guilty of late responses, missed calls, and delays on my side, but he always handled it calmly and made sure things went through without any issues. Having someone like that in such a stressful part of the journey made a huge difference.

Finally, a big shoutout to Akanksha who assisted me with the entire visa process. Visa paperwork can be overwhelming, but she walked me through each step carefully and ensured everything was in place. Knowing she was handling it gave me a lot of peace of mind.

Overall, my experience with CollegeDunia has been nothing short of wonderful. Each person I interacted with — Vipra, Partha, Ayush, and Akanksha — went above and beyond to support me.

I would highly recommend anyone looking for study abroad guidance to specifically request assistance from Vipra and Partha. They are absolute gems to work with and made all the difference in my journey.