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Free course advice

Choosing a course abroad, the sensible way.

The right course is the one that fits your results, your budget and the job you want — in that order. These eight rules are how our counsellors build every shortlist.

Eight rules

How to choose your course, level and university.

  • Start from your strengths

    Compare your SSC/HSC, A-level or bachelor's results with each course's prerequisites. Engineering and data science expect strong Mathematics; health sciences expect Biology and Chemistry.

  • Choose the right level

    A foundation or diploma if you miss direct entry; a bachelor's after HSC or A-levels; a taught master's to specialise or change field; a research master's or PhD if you are aiming for research or academia.

  • Work back from the job you want

    Some careers need professional accreditation — ACCA or CPA for accounting, engineering bodies for engineers, nursing registration. Choose a course that carries the accreditation you will need.

  • Plan the full budget

    Tuition, living costs, visa fees, health cover and flights. A one-year UK master's and a two-year master's in Australia or the USA can differ by a whole year of living costs.

  • Match the intake to your timeline

    UK: September and January. Australia and New Zealand: February and July. Canada: September, January and May. USA: Fall and Spring. Leave time for the English test, the application and the visa.

  • Look at post-study work — but don't bet on it

    Graduate work rights differ by country and change often. Treat them as a bonus, and check the current rule on the destination page.

  • Rank by fit, not only by position

    Read subject rankings and graduate outcomes, then weigh class size, location, cost of living and support for international students.

  • Keep a balanced shortlist

    Five to eight options across one or two countries: some ambitious, some a good match, some safe. Check each entry requirement — GPA, English score, gap explanation and any portfolio or GRE/GMAT.

Before your session

Questions worth bringing to a counsellor.

A good counsellor answers each of these in writing. If one gets a vague answer, ask again.

  • What entry requirements does my HSC or CGPA actually meet?
  • Is my three-year bachelor's accepted for this master's?
  • What is the total cost in taka, including living costs and the visa funds?
  • Which scholarships could I realistically win?
  • What are the work rights during and after the course?
  • What happens if I get a lower IELTS score than I need?

Still deciding on a country?

Compare tuition, funds, work rights and intakes for all seven destinations on one page.

Compare destinations

Know the subject already?

Filter twelve popular study areas by level and destination, then search universities by strength.

Get a shortlist you actually qualify for.

Share your results and budget. Within one session we will narrow the options to five to eight courses, with the costs in taka.