How to Become a Foreign Exchange Student
Many universities all over the world are eager to form partnerships with other schools all over the world to promote learning through foreign exchange student programs. Getting accepted to a foreign exchange program is a great honor and privilege for many university students; if you want to be a foreign exchange student, here are some ways to get yourself into an exchange program with another university.
Check Course Offerings
Some universities usually have an agreement with another university for student exchange programs. Most universities provide students with the freedom to apply for a foreign exchange program, although high-level exchange programs (like grants and applications for graduate school) are usually recommended by professors to students who perform exceptionally well.
Here are some places that you can get information on exchange programs:
Internet. Many institutions and universities that provide exchange programs post information about the exchange program through their official websites.
Student bulletins. Brochures, flyers, and posters may be posted by the student government or the student affairs office on strategic places on campus. Check bulletin boards every day to see if there are foreign exchange programs you can apply for.
Faculty. Instructors and professors can provide you with a good idea of what foreign exchange program you can apply for, especially if they have applied for that program before.
Academic Records
exchange studentThe exchange student serves as the “ambassador” of the school to a foreign university. The student is selected to best represent the school, and should have the best qualifications to participate in the foreign exchange program. Getting into a foreign exchange student program begins with having an excellent academic record.
You may disagree with it, but grades are the best way for schools to gauge the performance of a student in school. If you have exceptionally high grades on a particular subject, or if you have a very high weighted average on all your subjects, you increase your chances at getting selected to represent your school for a student exchange program. Check the announcement or brochure to see if your grades meet or exceed the requirements of the foreign exchange program.
File an Application
Most student exchange programs require that you pass the prescribed application requirements, your transcript, a recommendation letter from a professor of standing, and a letter of intent. Make sure that your letters are clearly-worded, and that you submit the application way before the deadline. As much as possible, get the recommendation letter from the most renowned and respectable faculty member in your university.
Foreign exchange students are in the best position to learn new and different things from students and teachers from other countries. With these tips, you can get the kind of education and learning experience that know no borders.