Just a few days ago, a new batch of corps members who commenced their service year a couple of months back completed their service year. This means that there must be something they should be unto next, whether it is to get a job or further their education; a phase has ended and a new one must start. If you belong to this category and looking to continue your education, especially outside Nigeria, then, a good thing you are reading this article. Your plans to study outside the country are valid, however, you need to make the plans right and get the necessary documents ready.

Start preparing to study abroad

Once you have made up your mind about going abroad to study because you just completed your Nysc, then it’s important to get started with the plans. While you are getting your documents ready and getting your applications done, you can’t be idle. It may take time for the school to process your application and get back to you, so during this period, you should:

Apply for a job or start learning a skill

Sometimes, it takes from a few to several months for a study-abroad plan to work. So, in your waiting period, don’t just wait without doing anything; maximize your time appropriately. If you already have a skill, send job applications and attend interviews. Also, you could start learning a skill you’ve always wanted to. You may even take on a business and start providing people with their needs while you get paid for it. However, all of these should never stop your plans.

What documents do I need to prepare for my study-abroad plans?

Ensuring you have all your documents in order is what validates your “Japa plan.” So, if you want to know what to do and what you should prepare, here’s a list:

Curate a list of all available local and international scholarships

The idea of a scholarship thrills everyone looking to study abroad because of the different packages it comes with. Sometimes, it comes with a fully paid tuition, visa application fee, monthly stipend, and even a flight ticket. However, some other packages may not contain all of these but it would surely pay the tuition fee partly or in full. This makes it important that you have an idea of schools and organizations offering these scholarships so that you can know which to apply for.

Make sure that the schools you are looking to apply to offer the courses you like

It is one thing to really want to be part of a particular school because of the information you have about them, and it is another thing to make sure that this school(s) offers the course you are willing to study. So, you may need to make a list of the schools you like and be sure they offer the course(s) you want. Read the course requirements and ensure that it is what you have been looking forward to.

You may need to start making inquiries on writing TOEFL or IELTS

Some countries need to know how well you can speak English or if you speak it at all, hence the need to provide the result of a proficiency test which could be TOEFL or IELTS. In some cases, you may not need to provide these results if you have a letter of proficiency from the University you had your first degree from. This letter explains to whom it may concern that you had every course and wrote your exams throughout your learning in English language. You must know that it doesn’t work this way for all schools, so it is important to check the requirements of the school (s) and course (s) you will be applying to.

Have your school issue you a student copy of your transcript

A transcript reveals the type, number, and grades of courses you took while studying for your first degree. This is an important document that must be available during the process of your application and if you are yet to request it from your school, now is the time to do so. The transcripts are of two types; the official transcript and the unofficial transcript. The unofficial transcript is also known as the student transcript and is issued to you upon request. On the other hand, the official transcript is required post-admission approval, and only your alma mater can send it to your prospective international institution.

Prepare a convincing statement of purpose or motivation letter

Go online, there are tons of motivational letters and a guide on how to write them. Use these guides and samples to write a convincing statement of purpose/motivation letter. Everyone needs to write a good SOP but if you are applying for a scholarship, you most likely have to write the best SOP. The SOP serves as an opportunity to put your best foot forward.

Apply for your international passport

There is no way to start a study abroad application without having an international passport. Usually, this takes 3 months; so, if you don’t currently have it, make a new project and shift your application towards the time that your passport would be ready. To be on the safer side, you can even wait till you have collected your passport before starting any application.

Start thinking of who your referees are going to be

The application process requires that you present reference letters from 2 or 3 people who are either in or have been in the same academic or professional space as you. These people could be your lecturers in school or your team leads at work – anyone who is capable of testifying to your strengths and abilities.

Following all that has been listed above means that you are preparing to study abroad. We are rooting for you and hope that your dream to study in an international school comes true.

You want to travel abroad to Study Post-Nysc: Get these Documents ready