Study in Australia

Study in Australia--Enter

Top courses in Australia--Enter

Australia Approves TOEFL Test Scores for Student Visas--Enter

Australia visa fees for students slashed--Enter

No threat to Indian students, says Australia--Enter

Indian students to benefit from Australia s new visa regime--Enter

Study in Australia

Australian universities are widely known for the quality of their teaching and research. Australia is a place where your quality of education is guaranteed. One shall have the opportunity to step outside the classroom and practice ones skills in real and simulated workplaces. This will give him/her a genuine advantage over other graduates.

Services for Overseas Students

The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act protects the rights of international students living in Australia on a student visa. It also has a strong focus on tuition and financial assurance for international students.

A student hotline (1300 363 079) has been set up through which students can raise concerns anonymously. Concerns will be collated and published on www.studyinaustralia.gov.au so all students can benefit from the information.

Study Pathways in Australia

• Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
• Vocational Education and Training Sector – includes Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes.
• Higher Education - Diploma, Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree and Doctoral Degree.

Students must note that all institutions seeking to enroll international students and their courses must be registered under Australian Govt. Law. This information is publicly available at http://cricos.deewr.gov.au.

If one wants to choose an education agent to assist, check that the agency formally represents the institution(s) in which enrolment is offered. The Australian High Commission does not authorize any agents but supports AAERI (the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India). A list of AAERI member cab found at its website: www.aaeri.org

For further details visit http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/Home.htm

Top courses in Australia

• Hotel Management & Hospitality Top
• Engineering
• MBA
• Physiotherapy
• Medicine and Life Sciences
• IT and Computer Science
• Aviation
• Sports and Sports Management
• Education and Teaching
• Medical Radiology

Australia Approves TOEFL Test Scores for Student Visas

Students From Around the World Can Use the TOEFL Test, the Most Widely Accepted English Language Assessment, for Student Visas in Australia

Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

"I am very pleased the TOEFL test has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants," said the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

This announcement has significant meaning for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries, including China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Philippines, who are interested in studying in Australia. International students now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process.

"Nearly every university and college in Australia already accepts TOEFL scores for admission purposes. Today's announcement means that students globally can now use their TOEFL scores for both visa and academic admission purposes," explains David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division.

For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely recognized English language assessment in the world, used by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies, including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites globally, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia.

"The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment worldwide. It is popular with prospective students and agents in all of Australia's major source markets. I'm sure that all of Australia's universities, VET and English language providers join me in welcoming the re-introduction of the TOEFL test for student visa purposes," commented Jeffrey Smart, Pro Vice- Chancellor (International and Recruitment) at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology. "For many years, students have been able to gain academic admission into Australia's universities on the basis of their TOEFL score: now applicants will be able to satisfy visa requirements with this test as well. With students in 165 countries taking the TOEFL test, the Department's decision provides a boost to Australia's international student recruitment efforts offering a larger and more diverse applicant pool."

For more details Click here

Australia visa fees for students slashed

Prospective international students will now need up to $36,000 less when applying for an Australia visa, as the Australian Government rolls out the first stage of its student visa reforms.

"The change that came in this week recognises that the financial requirements for student visas were often too onerous, and discouraged applicants from choosing Australia as their preferred study destination," said Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen in a statement.

"Applicants for the vocational education and training and private education sectors in particular will benefit from this change."

The Government has also taken away the requirement to meet a minimum English skills level before applying for a visa.

Among the other changes implemented is the introduction of a new 'genuine temporary entrant' requirement for all student visa applicants, which allows the immigration department to ensure students intend to stay in Australia on a temporary basis.

"We want to avoid the situation where student visa holders are desperate to stay in Australia to work to pay off large study debts amassed at home," Mr Bowen said.

"While international students may aspire to remain in Australia, if they cannot achieve permanent residency or long-term employee sponsorship, they need to return to their home countries."

The changes to the student visa system are being introduced in response to the recommendations of former NSW Government minister Michael Knight in his review of the Australian international education sector.

For more details Click here

No threat to Indian students, says Australia

Allying fears of any possible threat to Indian students enrolling in its universities, Australia today made it clear that it has taken elaborate steps to ensure their safety.

At a function here to mark signing of seven memoranda of understanding between educational institutes of India and the Australian state of Victoria, its premier Ted Baillieu said initiatives have been taken to enhance security of Indian students in Australia after the 2010 incidents.

The issue has been taken very seriously. Several security and protective steps have been taken and we are ensuring greater presence of police. Additional powers have been given to the police and a significant number of CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a strict vigil, Baillieu said.

He brushed aside apprehensions that the rising value of Australian dollar against the Indian rupee will hamper the traffic of Indian students as Indians always prefer to invest on quality education.

Baillieu said Melbourne has been ranked as the fourth best livable city on the globe by the London-based QS Organisation, establishing the fact that it has world-class infrastructure that holds the potential of attracting even more and more number of students.

He also awarded seven out of 10 Indian students with the Victorian Indian Doctoral Scholarship for cutting-edge research in various fields of education.

Seven MoUs were signed between educational institutes of India and the state of Victoria as part of collaborations to nurture exceptional talents and contribute to skill development.

These collaborations show Victoria and India's commitment to working together to nurture these partnerships in the educational sector, Baillieu said.

The MoUs were signed between Deakin University and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, La Trobe University and the Birla Institute of Science and Technology (BITS), Pilani, University of Birmingham, University of Melbourne and the Delhi University, Swinburne University and the AutoCRC Jaypee University of Information Technology, La Trobe University and the HCL,
University of Melbourne and University of Calcutta and between Victoria University and Ganpat University.

A delegation of representatives of eight universities and six vice-chancellors from Victoria's most prestigious universities is in India in this regard.
He also announced that from 2013, the Victorian administration will give additional 10 Ph.D Scholarships and also constitute Victorian International Educational Awards to honour the pioneers of educational research.

He said the existing Victoria-India Vocational Training Programme will be expanded as part of the skill development initiative.

Indian students to benefit from Australia s new visa regime

MELBOURNE: The new Australian government is set to announce a series of steps to make its student visa regime simpler to attract more foreign students, including those from India, and revive the billion dollar higher education industry.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Education minister Christopher Pyne jointly announced that the new coalition Government were keen to revive the industry by undoing the damage done by the former Labor government, according to an official media statement.

The two ministers announced that steps would simplify student visas through a streamlined assessment-level framework (ALF) and by extending streamlined visa processing arrangements to low-risk non-university degree providers. The changes are:

• Assessment levels under the ALF would be reduced from five levels to three
• Financial evidence for AL3 students would be reduced from 18 months to 12 months, provided funds were from a close relative of the student applicant.
• Students from a number of key markets would be able to apply for a student visa with up to 40,000 Australian dollars less in the bank.
• Streamlining of the visa application process would benefit up to 22 low-risk non-university providers for students enrolled in Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree courses or an eligible exchange programme.
• The changes will assist all providers, but particularly the vocational education and training sector, making access to Australia's education system more attractive for overseas students

Source: PTI

Study in Singapore: Student Visa Procedure

New applications must be submitted at least 2 months and not more than 6 months from the course commencement date. Applicants are not required to be present in Singapore while their applications are being considered. Hence, no extension of stay will be considered while their applications are under processing.

Successful applicants may enter Singapore to complete the formalities after applications have been approved. They will be issued Student’s Passes within 1 month from the commencement date of courses.

Local Sponsor is required for the application of a Student’s Pass. The local sponsor must be a Singapore Citizen/ Singapore PR above the age of 21 years old or the school where the applicant intends to study in. Companies are not allowed to act as sponsors.

Basic Documents Required: 
From the Applicant, 

• 2 copies for Form 16, Form V36 and Form V39S duly completed and signed by applicant and local sponsor at the relevant sections. (The first set of forms must be original.)
• 2 recent passport-sized photographs (BW/ Colour) to be pasted on the top-right hand corner of Form 16
• Applicant’s Official Birth Certificate (in English and photocopy)
• Applicant’s highest education certificates and result transcripts (in English and photocopy)
• Copies of personal particular pages of applicant’s travel document/ passport (photocopy)

Additional documents are required if 

• The applicant is a national from the visa-required countries
• one of the applicant’s parents/ step-parents is a Singapore citizen/ PR
• Applicant’s spouse is a Singapore Citizen/ PR

Successful applicants are required to produce all the original copies of their Basic and Supporting documents for verification when collecting the Student’s Passes.

Security Deposit: 


Submission: 
The completed forms together with all Basic and supporting documents can be submitted through the following ways:

By Dropping in the Student’s Pass Drop-in Boxes located at : 
Information/ Queue Ticket Counter, Visitor Services Centre, ICA Building 4 th Storey, 10 Kallang Rd, S’pore 208718
By Posting the applications to: 
Visitor Services Centre – ICA Building, 10 Kallang Rd #08-00 S’pore 208718

Note 1: 
PRC Nationals may submit their Student’s Pass applications direct to the Visitor Services Centre, ICA if:

• They intend to take up a full-time course at an approved SQC PEO
• They are 19 years old and below at the time of application
• They intend to take up a full-time university degree programme at an approved PEO

Else, Student Pass applications for PRC Nationals are to be submitted to: 
The Embassy of the Republic of Singapore- Beijing
No. 1 Xiu Shui Bei Jie
Jian Guo Men Wai, Chao Yang District
Beijing 100600 China

Processing Time: 
The processing time for a new Student’s Pass application is about 4-6 weeks for an approved PEO upon the receipt of you application provided that no further verification is required. The local sponsor and the school will be notified of the outcome by post.

Note 2: 
The security deposit will be required only after a student pass application has been approved
Medical check on the applicant may be required if requested by the ICA
Applicants/ Students have to abide by the rules and regulations of the ICA during their studies in Singapore

For more details : Click here

Top Courses in Singapore

• MBA
• Engineering
• Hotel Management and Hospitality
• Medicine and Life Sciences
• IT and Computer Science
• General Management and Business
• Mass Communication and Media
• Logistics
• Aviation
• Business/Finance

Top Universities in Singapore

1.National University of Singapore (NUS) 
NUS will be a globally-oriented university, in the distinguished league of the world’s leading universities. A key node in global knowledge networks, NUS will have distinctive expertise and insights relating to Asia.

Courses offered by the University 
Undergraduate programmes in 

• Architecture
• Arts and Social Sciences (Offering 18 Majors)
• Building and Real Estate
• Project & Facilities Management
• Real Estate
• Business Administration
• Business Administration (Accountancy)
• Business Administration
• Computer Engineering (Jointly conducted by School of Computing and Faculty of Engineering)
• Computing (Computer Science Courses)
• Computing (Information Systems Courses)
• Dentistry
• Industrial Design
• Law
• Undergraduate Law Programme
• Graduate LL.B. Programme
• Medicine
• Music
• Nursing
• Pharmacy
• Science (Offering 15 Majors)
• Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Engineering Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Concurrent Degree Programmes (CDP) 

• Overview and FAQ
• BBA & Master in Public Policy
• LLB & Master in Public Policy
• BComp & Master of Entertainment Technology
• BBA & Master of Science (Management)
• BComp & Master of Science (Management)
• BEng & Master of Science (Management)

Double Degree Programmes (DDP) 

• Overview and FAQ
• DDP in Business Administration/ Business Administration (Accountancy) and Communications & New Media
• DDP in Computer Science and Mathematics/Applied Mathematics
• DDP in Law & Life Sciences
• DDP in Physics & Materials Science
• DDP in Business Administration & Engineering
• DDP in Business Administration & Law
• DDP in Economics & Law
• DDP in Engineering & Economics
• DDP with six premier French Grandes Ecoles
• Bachelor/Master of Engineering or Bachelor/Master of Science or Bachelor/Master of Computing from NUS and Diploma d’Ingénieur from French Grande École (the equivalent of Masters in France)

Double Major (DM) Programme 

• Overview and FAQ
• Second Major in Management
• Second Major in Management (Technology) Joint Degree Programmes
• Partner Institution: Australian National University
• Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Actuarial Studies and Economics^
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) NUS and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) ANU ^
• Joint Bachelor of Arts (Honours) NUS and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) ANU
• Partner Institution: University of Melbourne
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)^
• Partner Institution: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Joint Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Part-Time Programme 
Bachelor of Technology Programme

Admission requirements 
Applicants must be proficient in the English language. As such, applicants whose native tongue or medium of university instruction is not English must complete the TOEFL, IELTS. Applicants may be required to sit for or pass the Diagnostic English Test (DET), administered by the Centre for English Language Communication. Other admission requirements may vary depending on the nature of the graduate programmes.

Location: 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077

For more details : Click here

2.Nanyang Technological University (NTU) 

NTU is an internationally reputed research-intensive tertiary institution. Our broad-based education covers science and technology, business and the arts, entrepreneurial and leadership skills to prepare students for the global working world. The objective of this University is to nurture the entrepreneurial and creative leaders through diverse educational disciplines.

Programmes offered: 
Undergraduate Programs in 

• Accountancy
• Business
• Digital Animation
• Visual Communication
• Product Design
• Communication Studies
• Aerospace Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Computer Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Information Engineering and Media
• English Literature
• Sociology
• Linguistics and Mulingual Studies
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physics and Applied Physics
• CN Yang Scholars Programme

Post Graduate Programs of Nanyang Technological University: 

• M.Sc (Civil Engineering)
• M.Sc(Marine Studies)
• M.Sc(Environmental Engineering)
• M.Sc(Information Systems)
• M.Sc(Digital Media Technology)
• M.Sc (Embedded Systems)
• M.Sc(Communications Software & Networks)
• M.Sc(Systems and Project Management)
• M.Sc(Asian Studies)
• M.Sc(Asian Studies)
• M.Sc(International Relations)
• M.Sc(Logistics)
• M.Sc(Smart Product Design)

Eligibility: High school passing certificate is a must. Admission procedure usually starts in between October to March.

Lacation: 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798,
For more details:  Click here 

3.Singapore Management University (SMU) 

SMU has established undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that aim to produce leaders and creative entrepreneurs capable of excelling in a rapidly changing and dynamic world. Set up as Singapore's first private university offering a style of education modeled after The Wharton School, SMU occupies a state-of-the-art city campus located in the heart of Singapore's civic, cultural and business districts.

Postgraduate Programmes 
Postgraduate studies at SMU are tailored to groom a new breed of leaders and entrepreneurs through a proven innovative teaching platform and world-class research.

Programmes by Coursework: 

• Master of Business Administration
• Master of IT in Business (Financial Services)
• Master of Professional Accounting
• Master of Science in Applied Economics
• Master of Science in Applied Finance
• Master of Science in Applied Finance (China)
• Master of Science in Wealth Management
• Juris Doctor Programme

Programmes by Research: 

• Master of Science in Economics
• Master of Science in Finance
• Master of Science in Management
• Master of Science in Operations Management
• Master of Science in Information Systems
• PhD in Economics
• PhD in Information Systems
• PhD in Business (Finance)
• PhD in Business (OBHR)
• PhD in Psychology

Admission procedure: 
Satisfactory SAT scores are required. Through their admissions procedure, the quality and other achievements of the students are judged. Admission process is highly competitive at this university.

Location: 81 Victoria St Singapore, 188065, Singapore

For more details : Click here

International Universities in Singapore

Leading International Institutions with Asian Campus located in Singapore

The world’s leading foreign universities having either set up a physical campus (institutes of higher learning) or have joint collaborations/ programmes with local universities (local tie-ups).

INSEAD
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
SP Jain Centre of Management
ESSEC
Digipen Institute of Technology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia

Leading International Universities in Collaboration with Singapore Universities 

John Hopkins
Georgia Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Stanford University
Waseda University
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
New York University School of Law
Cornell University
Duke

World Universities having joint programmes with National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University 

The local Singapore universities, the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University also have joint programmes with more than 16 other institutions around the world. These include:

University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)
Australian National University
University of Melbourne (Australia)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA)
UCLA Anderson School of Management (USA)
Ecole Supérieure d'Electricité (Supelec) (France)
Peking University (China)
Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)
University of Basel (Switzerland)
Technical University of Denmark
King's College London
Tsinghua University (China)
Université Pierre Et Marie Curie
Université Paris Sud
The French Grandes Écoles.

New GMAT Practice Exams from GMAC

Test takers preparing for the GMAT exam with the popular GMATPrep software can now purchase two additional computer adaptive practice exams made up of retired GMAT questions. The Graduate Management Admission Council, the non-profit council of business schools that administers the GMAT exam for graduate business and management programs worldwide, released the Exam Pack 1 to help students get the benefits of additional practice.

For years, GMAC has offered to all test takers two full-length, computer adaptive GMAT exams that simulate the exam experience as part of free GMATPrep software.

The two unique, additional exams give test takers even more opportunities to practice using the same computer adaptive algorithm as used in the Quantitative and Verbal sections of the real test. Like the original free GMATPrep tests, the Exam Pack 1 tests also provide real-time scoring for the Quantitative, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning sections, as well as essay prompts for the Analytical Writing Assessment. Questions used in Exam Pack 1 are not found in any otherGMAT preparation product.

Exam Pack 1 can be purchased and downloaded from the mba.com/store for US$39.99 and requires that users have already installed the free GMATPrep software. Like the real GMAT exam, each Exam Pack test comprises one 30-minute Analytical Writing Assessment prompt, 12 Integrated Reasoning questions, 37 Quantitative questions, and 41 Verbal questions. Users taking each of the two Exam Pack tests more than once may see the same questions repeated.

Exam Pack 1 is a new addition to the GMATPrep suite of test preparation products. The free GMATPrep software itself, compatible with Windows and Macintosh products, features two full length exams with accurate scoring, 90 practice questions and answer explanations, as well as a math tutorial. The popular Question Pack 1, available for US$29.99, features an additional 404 questions and answer explanations (200 Quantitative, 180 Verbal and 24 Integrated Reasoning), as well as reporting tools that allow test takers to review their progress. Both Question Pack 1 and Exam Pack 1 are used exclusively in the GMATPrep software and extend the use of the software.

Source: Graduate Management Admission Council

Business Administration: one of the most popular graduate degrees in the USA

A Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most popular graduate degrees in the United States. Today it is most important to include a concentration with the degree, as the specialization shows your skills and interests. An MBA degree is traditionally earned in two years but can be completed in one year through accelerated programs. An Executive or Professional MBA is more tailored to those interested in managerial positions and allows students to work full time while taking graduate degree programs. In maintaining student visa status, international candidates at this level may consider internships or work from abroad to carry on professional activity during program completion. Students who are very directed towards a career in finance and financial markets may consider a Masters of Science in Finance (MSF) program rather than a more generalized MBA. An MSF is often shorter in duration and upon completion many students will chose to continue their studies in becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Graduate Programs in Business Administration: 
Business administration students usually will choose among a variety of degree concentrations such as accounting, corporate strategy, decision sciences, property management, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, human resources, international business, marketing, information systems, telecommunication, organizational behavior and project management. A sample of courses available at the graduate level includes Business and Government, International Economics, Strategy and Negotiation, Corporate Accountability, Financial Reporting and Control, Leadership and Organization Behavior, Marketing, Technology and Operations Management.

Occupations in Business: 
With a degree in business administration, consider your professional opportunities at the Managerial or Executive level in consultancy firms, investment banks, start-up or venture firms, and other businesses in the private sector.

In addition to researching regionally accredited colleges and universities which offer study in business administration, prospective students can also identify academic programs with professional accreditation.

Professional accrediting organizations for business administration include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (www.aacsb.edu), the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (www.acbsp.org), the MBA Association (www.mbaassociation.org) and the Executive MBA Council (www.emba.org).

Art Programs are offered at Art Institute/ College/ University level in US

General studies in art may include taking a variety of classes such as photography, sketching, sculpting, woodworking, etc. These classes are usually taken during the undergraduate level. However, as one advances their level of education (e.g. graduate studies), they begin to take classes pertaining to one or two specific areas of study (e.g. computer design or interior decorating). Although most undergraduate programs are designed to study a variety of art programs, if you already have an interest in a specific skill (e.g. sculpting) there are also programs that will focus solely on these areas of study.

Art Institute vs. College or University 
For those wanting a program that is designed to preserve and perfect the knowledge of a specific area of art, an independent “Art Institute” may be preferred over a typical university. Art institutions offer programs of study focused primarily on the practice and performance related to the particular concentration of art. A college or university will offer diverse and comprehensive programs in the various concentrations in the field, incorporating a more multidisciplinary approach which will include general education courses.

Undergraduate: 
Students pursuing an undergraduate program in art may receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art or in the area of specialized study. The BA degree provides well-rounded academic programs, including general education course requirements in social sciences and humanities, while courses required for a BFA degree may be only within the art department. The Bachelor of Art degree requirements are determined by the institution’s Art Department and may or may not include a multidisciplinary academic approach.

Graduate: 
Students pursuing a graduate program in art may earn a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Art. Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Graduate students usually choose among a variety of degree concentrations in the field such as painting, sculpting, illustration, paint making, fashion design, interior design, ceramics, glass, textiles, wood, metal, art history, art therapy, media arts, art administration, decorative arts, museum studies, etc.

Occupations in Art: 
With a degree in art, consider professional opportunities as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, cartoonist, sketch artist, museum curator, graphic designer, web designer, advertising agent, package designer, design strategist, jewelry designer, glass maker, pottery craftsmen, filmmaker, character designer, 3-D animator, game designer, art therapist, and others.

Anthropology: Research oriented education in US

Specializations and subfields in anthropological studies include cultural, biological, physical, and medical anthropology. Each of these subfields focuses on a different aspect of human population and culture throughout time. A degree in anthropology involves significant research that can range from the study of small scale ancient tribes to large, complex modern societies. 

Undergraduate: 
Students pursuing an undergraduate program in anthropology may receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Anthropology. Both the BA and BS degrees provide well-rounded academic programs, including general education course requirements in social science and humanities for the BA degree and hard or natural sciences for the BS degree. A sample of courses available at the undergraduate level includes Introduction to Archaeology, Primate Behavior, Field Methods, Religion and Culture, Human Origins, Old World Prehistory, and People and Cultures of Africa, Asia, etc.

Graduate: 
Students pursuing a graduate program in anthropology may earn a Master of Art, Master of Science (MS), or a Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology. Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Graduate students in anthropology usually will choose among a variety of degree concentrations in the field of anthropology such as physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, sociolinguistics, cultural anthropology, social anthropology, psychological anthropology, forensic anthropology, and paleoanthropology. A sample of courses available at the graduate level includes Culture and Society, Ethnography, Anthropology and Development, Political Anthropology, Gender Studies in Anthropology, Archaeological Sites and Studies, Forensic Anthropology, Culture and Personality, etc.

Occupations in Anthropology: 
With a degree in anthropology consider your professional opportunities as a museum curator, field archaeologist, professor, archivist, genetic counselor, environmental impact assessment researcher, travel consultant, social worker, and others.

Associations and organizations affiliated with the study of Anthropology:

• American Anthropological Association, www.aaanet.org
• Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, www.wennergren.org
• American Association of Physical Anthropologists, www.physanth.org
• National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, www.practicinganthropology.org
• The Society for Applied Anthropology, www.sfaa.net

Aeronautics & Aviation Science: financial aid is provided for these studies in US

There are over 100 schools in the U.S. that offer aviation and aeronautic degrees with almost half offering financial aid to international students. Although aeronautics is often studied in combination with aviation science, students can combine other areas of study with aeronautics. Specializations and subfields in aviation science include aviation management, air traffic control, aviation law, air transportation, and flight mechanics.

Undergraduate: 
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree can receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Aeronautics and Aviation Science or a B.S. in Air Transport, Commercial Aviation, Flight Education, or Aviation Systems Management, depending on the specific university. Students in this major prepare for exams given by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Depending on the institution, students can complete the first two years of this four-year bachelor’s degree at a community college, often with the option of earning both a private pilot license and commercial pilot license at the end of those two years.

Graduate: 
Students pursuing a graduate program in Aeronautics and Aviation Science earn a Master of Science (M.S.). Degree titles vary by institution and academic program. Graduate students usually choose among a variety of degree concentrations in the field of Aeronautics and Aviation Science, such as Aviation Education Technology, Aviation Management, Aviation/Aerospace Operations, Safety Systems, Human Factors in Aviation Systems, and Space Studies.

Occupations in Aeronautics & Aviation Science: 
With a degree in Aeronautics and Aviation Science, professional opportunities include airline commercial pilot, corporate pilot, professional flight crew member, air traffic controller, airline executive, natural resources pilot, aircraft dispatcher, law enforcement pilot, flight instructor or aerial applicator.

Choosing an Aeronautics & Aviation Science Program: 
In the U.S., all pilots that transport passengers or cargo must have a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating issued by the FAA, which requires a minimum of 250 hours of flight experience. For commercial airlines you must have an airline transport pilot’s license, which requires a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, obtain night, instrument, and multiengine ratings, and complete FAA written and flight examinations.

No change in visa policy towards Indian students: US

Washington: The US has said that there is no change in its policy towards issuing visas to Indian students. I don't think we've changed our policy with regard to the way we interview applicants, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.

I think what we are doing is making sure that the sponsoring organisations truly are what they say they are in the United States; that if they say that they are bringing students over to educate them, that they intend to educate them, not put them to work, et cetera, she said.

Nuland said the US supports the recent initiative of opening community colleges in India on the pattern of those here. Last week, education ministers of four Indian States  Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, visited several US cities to have a first hand experience of the community colleges here. Well, obviously, we support this initiative.

We have been working with the Indian side to flesh out the initiative that was agreed between the President and the prime minister through our Education Bureau here. And obviously, we are responsible for the visa issuance for the various folks studying in the United States, Nuland said.

New visa processing system for Indians travelling to US

New Delhi:  The United States embassy here Wednesday announced a new visa processing system under which Indians travelling to the US can have easier visa procurement and fee payment system.

"The new visa processing system will streamline appointment scheduling, simplify fee payments and provide the applicants with new delivery options. Under our new system, we have more payment options available for visa application fees," said Julia Stanley, minister counsellor for consular affairs.
While the changes in procedure are a part of global support strategy programme by US state department across the world, the new system will be implemented in India Sep 26.

Under the new system, the US visa applicants will be able to pay application fees through electronic fund transfer, mobile phones and collect their documents from 33 document pick-up locations in the country.
The moves comes after the launch of interview waiver programme back in March which   allowed certain qualified applicants to renew their visas without coming for the interview.

In 2011, the US consular office processed around seven lakh visa applications witnessing an increase of 11 percent over 2010.

According to Stanley, a significant change in the processing system is that applicants will need to schedule two appointments -- one for fingerprint collection at an Offsite Facilitation Centre and one for consular interview at the Embassy or consulates.

The consulate has also launched its new website in Hindi and English where applicants can also track their application status.

"Applicants can also contact us, schedule their appointments through telephone, e-mail or online chat. The call centre service, free for all, can answer questions in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu," Stanley added.

Applicants renewing their visa may not have to give their fingerprints more than once.

Dental Education in US after BDS

Introduction 

The United States has been one of the most favorite destinations for Indian dental students for higher studies and further settlement. Indian graduates cannot get permission to practice in US directly as Indian dental degrees are not recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Indian dental degrees are recognised in the USA as degrees from non-accredited dental schools and Indian dental graduates can sit for NBDE exams.

In order to enter into US dental practice, Indian graduates either have to join Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM), which are equal degrees of four years’ time span, or two-year International Dentist Programme (IDP), which will lead to DDS degree; which are accredited by either CODA or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).

Requirements
Based on the student’s merit and performance in BDS exams, NBDE Part-I exam and TOFEL, they would be given admission either in first year of DDS/DDM or IDP. Some schools offer admission into 2nd year of DDS/DDM to those students with very high GPA.

In the US, the licensure for dental practice is granted by the individual states, districts and dependencies. The conditions for licensure vary from state to state and such licence is valid only within the respective geographical confines.

The international dental students shall fulfill three requirements to get the licensure in the United States. They are:

• Obtainment of DDS, DDM degrees, which are accredited by either CODA or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
• Successful completion of the computer-based National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE) Parts I and II exams, and
• Successful completion of a clinical examination administered by a state or regional testing agency. > In these three qualifications, the dental degrees are granted by different dental schools, which are accredited by the CODA. 

The NBDE Part-I and Part-II exams are conducted by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) and they are being accepted by all the states, however with different sets of conditions. For example, some states accept NBDE results only if earned within the last five to 15 years.

And clinical examinations, third requirement, may be conducted by individual state boards of dentistry or by regional or independent dental clinical examination agencies. These exams usually have several components such as written, clinical and the practicals performed on patients. The different boards include the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB), Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) and the Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA). Some of the states like California, Connecticut, New York and Minnesota are states which allow candidates to complete a 1-year General Practice Residency (GPR) or an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) in lieu of a regional board exam.

Procedure of NBDE Part-I Exam
The Indian dental graduates those who would like to make it into US shall pass the Part-I exam of the NBDE.

The NBDE conducts two exams for dental graduates namely Part-I and Part-II. Indian students are eligible to sit for Part-I after 2nd year of BDS, however they will get eligibility for Part-II only after getting admitted into American dental degrees. They shall complete both the exams mandatorily by the end of their American degrees, to fulfill the second major requirement for the licensure.

To begin with, only Part-I exam is pertinent for Indian students; hence, this article focuses more that exam. The following are the process, syllabus and evaluation details of the exam.

Process of Part-I Exam
Indian graduates shall get their dental degrees verified by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), the agency which prepares evaluation reports that identify U.S. equivalents of educational qualifications earned in other countries. Please find the details of ECE at www.ece.org. The ideal GPA is 3.30 on 4 points GPA scale.

This evaluation process involves the following steps: 

• Student shall contact ECE and request for an ECE evaluation report. The ECE evaluation report request will describe what educational credentials are required, the manner in which to submit them to ECE, and the applicable fee. To request an evaluation report, visit www.ece.org, select Start Your Evaluation Request, and request that a General Report be sent directly to the JCNDE.
• Only official reports electronically transmitted from ECE to the JCNDE will be accepted. Personal copies or faxed copies are not acceptable.
• The JCNDE will not process the examination application before the ECE Evaluation Report is received.
• The name on the ECE report must match the name on your application exactly. Any name changes must be accompanied by legal documentation.

Application process generally takes 60 days and involves the following steps -

Day Step of Process
Day 1 Web Based assessment and online registration with American Dental Association (ADA).     Obtainment of Dental Personal Identification Number (Dentpin) in registration number from ADA. Process for appearing in NBDE Part-I starts.

Day 4 Payment process starts with forwarding application to ADA for registration for NBDE part-I.

Day 5 Apply for eligibility certificate evaluation (E.C.E.) with ADA and Send courier to ADA for ECE.

Day 15 You will get your confirmation email and application number from ADA within few weeks.

Day 45 Receive E.C.E. & GPA, courier it to ADA and apply for visa. s.

Day 60 Sit for the exam in the USA. Syllabus of Part-I Exam

The syllabus for Part-I exam consists of the following topics:

The NBDE Part I consists of 400 examination items. For each discipline,

approximately 80% of the items are discipline-based and approximately
20% are interdisciplinary testlet-based items.
A testlet consists of the patient scenario and a set of items from the various disciplines that are associated with the scenario. One item from each of the disciplines listed below will be designated for the testlets under the topic, Professional Ethics/Patient Management.

These items will require a basic understanding of professional ethical principles in patient management. The items for the NBDE Part I are drawn from the following disciplines:

Anatomic Sciences [100 M]

• Gross Anatomy [49 M] The following topics will also be considered under each category of gross anatomy:

1. Bone Muscles
2. Fascia Nerves (peripheral and autonomic)
3. Arteries, veins, and lymphatics Spaces and cavities
4. Joints and ligaments Endocrines and exocrines

• Histology [23 M]
• Oral Histology [16 M]
• Developmental Biology [11 M]
• Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1 M] 

Biochemistry & Physiology [100 M]

• Biological Compounds [10 M]
• Metabolism [17 M]
• Molecular and Cellular Biology [9 M]
• Connective Tissues [8 M]
• Membranes [4 M]
• Nervous System [7 M]
• Muscle [6 M]
• Circulation [9 M]
• Respiration [6 M]
• Mechanical aspects
• Renal [8 M]
• Oral Physiology [3 M]
• Digestion [5 M]
• Endocrines [8 M]
• Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1 M] 

Microbiology-Pathology [100]

• General Microbiology [20]
• Reactions of Tissue to Injury [10]
• Immunology and Immunopathology (at least 3 on oral immunology) [13]
• Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology of Special Infectious Diseases (at least 8 on oral diseases) [22]
• Systemic Pathology [22]
• Growth Disturbances [12]
• Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1] 

Dental Anatomy and Occlusion [100]

• Tooth Morphology [43]
• Pulp Cavity Morphology [5]
• Calcification and Eruption [6]
• Principles of Occlusion and Function [37]
• Clinical Considerations—Tooth Morphology and Anomalies [8]
• Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1]

Exam pattern of Part-I Exam
The NBDE Part-I is comprised of 00 multiple-choice items, which are evenly distributed across Anatomic Sciences, Biochemistry and Physiology, Microbiology and Pathology, and Dental Anatomy and Occlusion. Approximately 20% of the items are grouped in testlets with interdisciplinary focus and clinical application. The time of examination is 7 hours, excluding one hour lunch break.

About 80% questions will be in multiple choice format and 20% questions are being asked in a new format called testlets. A testlet consists of a patient scenario/history and a set of items from the various disciplines that are associated with the scenario, and 6 to 10 questions will be asked on the given case sheet.

One testlet from each of the disciplines listed above will be asked in the exam under the topics of Professional Ethics/ Patient Management. These testlets will test the basic understanding of professional ethical principles in patient management of the candidates.

Evaluation of Part-I Exam
According to the new test pattern, candidates can get to whether he/she is passed or failed and the numerical scores are no more available. The minimum pass percentile is 75, and averages percentile is 88.

Admission into Dental Schools 
The aspiring graduates shall apply to obtaining good average percentile in the Part-I exam for admission into DDS, DDM or International Dentist Programme. The Indian students generally apply for admission into four-year DDS, DDM courses or two-year IDP.

Those who have very high GPA can apply for direct entry into second year of DDS, DDM degrees and the IDPs. However, competition for these seats is very high.

For successful admission into schools, one should do well in the following variables: 

1. NBDE Part-I score
2. TOEFL iBT score
3. GPA (Grade Point Average)
4. 3 Letters of Recommendation
5. A solid and professional Career Statement or Statement of Purpose
6. Original Transcripts signed by Dean/Principal of your college/university
7. Application submission
8. Personal Interviews
9. Resume
10. Paper/Poster presentation

There are a few institutes in the country are offering coaching and mentoring for American dental education. Their assistance is a useful source for the aspiring candidates.

Students can apply for dental programmes in two ways; they can apply to schools directly or send single online application to different dental schools through
the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
For more details on admission, process please log on to the following websites of American Dental Association and the AADSAS - http://www.ada.org/3219.aspx and
http://www.adea.org/Landingpage.aspx?id=16878 - respectively.

Finances 
The NBDE Part-I exam would be around US $ 1,200, excluding exam coaching costs and airfares. Student shall read the relevant literature available at ADA website (i.e. www.ada.org) and related blogs so that they don’t have to incur extra costs during the exam and admission application process.
The tuition fees of dental programmes for the first year would be somewhere between US $ 8,000 and US $ 35,000 and annual average expenses would be around US $ 11,000. Those who have opted for three year and four-year dental degrees have to spend more than those could get seat in IDPs.

Note of Caution 
Dental education in US is an expensive proposition and only few scholarships are available. The dental practice is US is presently in doldrums due to economic slowdown as well as increasing number of dental graduates. Similar situation is prevailing in neighbouring Canada.
Hence, students shall make detailed enquires and estimates before they opt for an US dental degree. The final decision made shall be a thoroughly informed one. 

Flying to the USA? Follow these tips | Study in USA |

The United States of America has thousands of accredited colleges and universities renowned for quality, numerous programs of study, and flexibility to change fields of study and schools. The wide range of tuition and living costs makes the United States affordable for thousands of international students each year. It is a wonderful place for Indian students too. 

My passport is stamped with F1 visa, what should I do now? What groundwork should I do? How should I prepare before flying to USA? What should I do after landing in USA...? Such questions flash on your mind. Do not falter, each US University has an international student services office with trained counselors available to answer your questions and guide you through the process of adaption to US university life. The international student services office also organizes a variety of regularly schedule events for international students. Many US campuses also have Indian student associations, which also organize events on a regular basis.

Here are some tips that Indian students have to follow before leaving for USA:

Identification: 
Always carry photo identification with you. Take 3-4 copies of your passport with you and give a copy to your parents or guardians in India. This would help you to display the proof if you loose passport.

After landing in USA, always protect your personal information, including social security numbers and credit card numbers. Be aware of scams that are often communicated via email, in which you may be asked for personal details, such as your social security number or credit card details. At the same time, do not ask for personal information of Americans.

Be well aware of your surroundings at all times, and avoid flaunting either your religion or your wealth. Learn to blend in and make the effort to mingle with the locals. This will ensure you stay safe and make good friends.

Documentation: 
Make sure you have all and proper documents well in advance. You will be turned away (or sent home) if you don't have all the necessary documents. Admission letter from your university, i.e. your I-20 form, contact details of your foreign student officer (email, cell numbers), contact details of friends/ relatives, if any, living in the US, for when you land at a US airport and contact details of your family/ friends in India for reference purposes are very important that must not be missed.

Save dollars through search: 
Save money when you go to USA as every penny counts while you are in a developed country. So, it’s always imperative to do extensive internet search on every topic so that you can get specific tips that would save your dollars. For example, most of the Indians, without prior knowledge buy a lot of stuff like load of clothes, spices, stationary etc. and ship them to USA. It is not advisable to buy everything in India. USA climatic conditions vary from place to place. Browse internet find the climatic conditions of the place you are supposed to go and buy clothes suitable to that climate. Search and interact with as many people as possible who are staying in USA, research about the living conditions, food, travel facilities, accommodation etc. Current students from your University and Alumni members can be a good source for you to explore the conditions and save dollars accordingly. Also, find various types of funds, scholarships, loans, stipend options, part-time jobs by browsing thoroughly. Smart online research always saves your dollars.

Currency: 
It is not advisable to carry a large amount with you. The fee amount can be transferred through wire transfer, as you only need to pay tuitions per semester, or twice a year. It is recommended to take $200-$300 in cash for personal use, making sure to get bills in multiple denominations. Insist on a few one-dollar bills, as you'll need them when landing in the United States for tipping and luggage carts.

Also, carry $1,000 to $3,000 in travellers’ cheques. Keep at least three copies of the numbers of these cheques and place of issue, separately in your pocket, handbag and luggage. This way, in case of loss, you will have at least one copy of the required information for the bank upon arrival.

Medical insurance: 
As we in India are not used to medical insurance, this is the most important aspect where care has to be taken. Without medical insurance, it is almost impossible to get treated by a doctor in the US. International students are required to have medical insurance and many universities offer their own medical insurance services. Consult your university’s international student services office to research your options. It is advisable to perform all medical check-ups like dental/ optical, immunization tests etc. and get prescription and medicines for all common ailments.

Learn basic cooking: 
Cooking for yourself will save you money. Indian food is expensive in the US! It will also satisfy your urge to eat ‘home food’ during moments of cultural shock. Before you travel to the US, learn how to make basic Indian foods, such as rice, daal and gravy. Indian spices are not commonly available in smaller cities, but there are often shops on campus where you can get ingredients used in most Indian food.

After landing in US, the first and foremost thing is to inform the university officials that you have reached. Attend the international student orientation, and feel free to ask your questions, as they are more than willing to help you. You need to get a Social Security Number. Apply for one soon after arriving in the States.

Be cautious at the airport:
Fill up customs declaration form and arrival departure record given by flight attendants well in advance and submit them after landing in USA at the airport. Do not stumble at port of entry and fluently explain about your purpose of visit, course and university details, destination and any other details if so asked by the authorities. After customs verification, you will be issued I-94 that has a declaration and status (D/S) stamp on SEVIS form. Take care not to loose it at any cost, as this is mandatory identification in USA for any student. You have to report and register at the University within 30 days from the date of issue of the D/S stamp, or else, the consequences would be very serious.

Registering: 
When you reach your destination, report at the college and go to international center. They will provide you with maps and instructions about banking, transportation, health insurance, and other things that need to be completed. Then, apply for your Social Security Number. Once your permanent accommodation is decided, you will have to get a telephone connection and change electricity to your name. Once you are settled, register for classes.

Live as a composed foreigner: 
As you will be living in the US as a foreigner in a new culture, make efforts yourself to bridge the cultural gap between you and other students to avoid cultural misunderstandings. Always stay calm and unruffled and be willing to listen to others. Try learning their culture and living conditions at the university. Interact with the university alumni and current Indian students and learn about the living conditions and ways to approach staff and fellow students.

Remember that Indians are not the only foreigners but there are many other people from different countries. Discover different cultures and ethnicities that you have to interact through your university website. Though you have the option to live in a closed community of Indian, interaction with other students can make you gain knowledge and excel in career.

Comfortable accommodation while studying: 
Regarding accommodation, you can gain knowledge about facilities through current Indian students. Generally, Indian students have the option of staying in dormitories (similar to a hostel system in India) or in private accommodations. Take care that the place you live is close to your university or near a university shuttle bus or metro station. Dormitories are advantageous because rooms will be maintained by the owner and utility bills for gas, water, and electricity too will be included in your rent and need not pay again. Also, take care that your residing place is nearer to local banks, worship centers, restaurants and libraries.

Learning about American accent: 
As you are aware that American accent is different from that of Indians, you might feel difficulty while communicating with Americans. You must have taken TOEFL and you are already aware of their accent. Improvise your accent by talking to American students and professors regularly. In future, you will have to attend events, interact with many people in USA and so, improving American accent plays a very important role for public interaction.

Finally, don’t forget to put your best efforts to fare well in your studies!