How to narrow down your course options for studying abroad

Choosing your course is a very important decision that should not be rushed into. Whatever choice you make will greatly affect the rest of your life, so you should take it very seriously.

Don\'t rush your decision. Take at least a few days off to just think about how you would like to spend your days after you complete your degree. Think about how you see yourself in the future, and what career you think will make you fulfilled.

If you\'re still unsure, perhaps speak to a course advisor, IDP counsellor or a trusted adult to help you discover what studies you want to pursue, and help you narrow down your passions. This can help you narrow your choices, especially if you can\'t decide between two options (e.g. being a surgeon or a teacher).

An important thing to consider to help you narrow down your ideal course is deciding where you will study abroad and what university to choose.

Studying abroad offers up many experiences that can be quite different depending on the country you choose. It will show you how other universities work, to experience living in another country, to learn a new language, and of course it will help you become even more independent.

So, if you\'re having trouble narrowing down your decision of what course or university to choose, it might really help to start by picking your ideal country and work out your options from there. This way, you can also satisfy the explorer inside you.

Where you will study will often have a big impact on what you choose to study. Since each country and university will often specialise in different fields, industry, areas of research and how they teach, if you have a preferred country, city or university, this will really help you to narrow down your search.

And if you\'re quite nervous about settling in to your new home abroad, remember, we get used to things so that your new town will quickly become your second home.

Another tip which could be very helpful is to sit down and make a pros and cons list of the various courses on your list.

To start, take a paper and a pen (yes, a physical paper and a pen in the old fashioned way!) and write down as many choices as you want to. Then, write down what you think are the positives and negatives for each of course options you have listed on your paper.

The rest is relatively easy – look at both positive and negative things related to a specific course, count which one has the least of those negative and the most of those positive ones and consider it as your number one preference.

Once more, you don't have to rush this process. Studying abroad is an important decisions so it's important to take as much time as you want.

One of the most important things that can seem logical but some people still dont do, is to do the research and take a thorough look at your potential future course.

You can start by looking up and taking note of all the information available on the university website: look at the modules and what they include, look up your professors and their accomplishments, and lastly, look up the career options available to you afterwards.

You can also get in touch with the university to speak to a course advisor or try to find someone who is already studying the same thing and ask for advice.

If you want to see more of the university or study facilities, some universities offer virtual tours or there are often videos uploaded to YouTube by staff and students that can show you what the campus grounds and classrooms look like.

Rankings list can be a great help if youre looking for help in choosing the right option since university rankings cover at more than just research output.

First, find your university choices on this years ranking list of the worlds top 1000 universities. If you know what countries you are considering or the area of study, then you can filter your options a bit further to see what the top picks are for your destination or industry.

Some popular university rankings include QS Top Universities and Times Higher Education. Each country might have their own country-specific university rankings such as the UKs Complete University Guide.

You can use rankings to find useful information on universities focus on research, the number of international students and you can even choose two particular universities to get a comparation between them!

If youre still unsure about your course options, then reach and out and talk to an IDP counsellor. IDP counsellors are skilled and knowledgeable, and will help you narrow down your course selections and advise you on the best options. Speaking to a counsellor is always free and there are no obligations to commit.

So, if you are struggling to find the ideal course, or if you have concerns about the university or destination, then it might be worth it to find the nearest IDP office and book in a chat to make sure you have all the correct information to make the right choices.

Wherever you decide, dont feel pressure to make a rushed decision. We are all expected to make this important decisions very young, and its difficult to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Thats why its important to take the time you need and consider all the factors, and maybe get a little help along the way.