HIGHER STUDY ABROAD

Md. Majbah Uddin

BUET CE 06
Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Stamford University Bangladesh
 Fall (September - December):

 Starts from end of August, ends in Xmas. Best Semester to target

and apply.

Winter(Canada)/Spring (USA) (January- April):

 Starts from second week of January and lasts till start/end of May.
 Many universities do not have any intake in this semester.
 Relatively low funding.

Summer (May - August):

 Only a few universities (mainly research based) take students in

Summer.
 If you want to apply for fall’14, should start your preparation from
May/June’13.

 Deadline varies university to university.

 Try to send your application package before deadline.

 It’s better to send application within December.

Application Package contains

BSc, MSc Transcripts & Certificates(attested & Sealed by Exam

Controller)

Standardized test score. (GRE)

Language test score. (IELTS/TOEFL)

Graduate application form + fee.

Statement of Purpose (2 pages, 800-1000 words)

Recommendation Letter (from 3 teachers)

Resume(2 page)
 Ranking
• Quality of Education
• Research Field Specific
• Funding Opportunity
• International Exposure
Requirements
• CGPA
• GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IETLS
• Research Experience
• Job Experience

Job Prospect Expense

• Area specific Field specific • Tuition Fees
• Internship • Living Expense
US News Subject Ranking (Civil & Environmental)
(http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/civil-engineering-
rankings?int=2049a7)

 QS World University Ranking by Subject

(http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2013/engineering-civil-and-
structural)
Fellowship
• Highly Competitive
• Highest Paid
• Good Overall Academics
Tuition Waiver
• Excludes general fees like
library fees, computer lab
fees, Sports and health
service
• Full or partial waiver
Research Assistantship
• Research Fund
• High Ranked Universities
• Eminent Fields
• Covers Tuition & Living
Scholarship
• Academic excellence, Field of
study, Financial need, Ethnic
background
Teaching Assistantship
• Making Notes, Grading
Exams, Conducting Classes
• School with Large Intake
• Faculty with Large Undergrad
classes
• Covers Tuition & Living
On Campus Jobs
• Library/Lab assistant, Front desk
jobs, Cafeteria jobs, Programmer,
Web designer, Network admin
• 20 hours per week in USA
• No Tuition Waiver
 2 universities (Top ranked)
2/3 universities (Middle ranked)
2/3 universities (Low ranked)

 You should apply total 6-8 universities.

 Class position is important.
 Don’t hesitate to apply for the higher ranked university.
Networking (Most Imp factor)

Facebook (University Groups, Alumni )

LinkedIn (Professional Network)
E-mail

Advantages
 Try to know the funding scenarios of that program.
 Attitude of the professor.
 How to convince.
Go to department’s website> “Faculty/People”>Faculty by
Research Group>Go through the professor’s personal page>
Make a Spreadsheet

Mail in the weekdays and in the morning time in US/Canada.

Don’t mail to two professors in the same research group at the

same time. Wait for reply from the one you mailed to, for at
least one week, then go for the options of mailing other
professors.

Expect reply after 20-30 mails.(!!!)

 Transcript (Scanned Copy)

 Standardized test scores (GRE, IELTS/TOEFL ).

 Resume.

 Make a personal Website.

 Last 2 years CGPA is important.

 Once you have been asked to send your resume for primary evaluation by any
professor that means some how s/he is 10% managed already, and now want to
know in details. So, this is the time to take the position.
Thank you for your interest in our program.
Unfortunately, at this time I do not have any open
positions for PhD students in my laboratory. I wish
you luck finding a position for your PhD studies.

Thank you for you interest in our graduate program. We make all
admissions and funding decisions as a transportation systems faculty
group based on complete application packages. I encourage you to
submit an application.

Regards,
Thanks for your interest in doing your MASc with me at the University
of ****. The positions available with me will be for either to start in
May or September 2013.

The GA position in a given term is a total of 130 hours per term at a

rate of 10 hours per week. Typically, the monthly income that any
graduate student (domestic or international) receives while enrolled as
a student will be around $950. Scholarships and GA positions are
provided for the duration of the program and are based on academic
performance. Also, to qualify for the scholarship from Graduate
Studies, your CGPA should be a minimum of 86% (i.e. grade of A).

I look forward to receiving your application in the near future.

Best regards,
I have read your CV and visited your website. I
am impressed by both. I would encourage you to
apply to *****. Also, if you have the opportunity
I would like to speak with you via Skype about
your research interests.

Regards,
 Registering for GRE: 14,500;
 Registering for TOEFL: 11,500, Registering for IELTS: 12,800 ;
 Application fee for a university ($50-$100): 4050- 8100
 Courier postal fee: 2400

 you need to $25 for sending GRE score in extra 2 universities.

 you need to $17 for sending TOEFL score in extra 2 universities.