ant to pursue further studies abroad but feel clueless about your options?

International education counsellor Karan Gupta has the answers.

• Got a question for Karan? Please write to us!

I want to do my Ph D in the US or the UK.

I've heard I will have to show one year of aid and solvency for the remaining three years to get a visa.

Does just giving a solvency certificate for the remaining years and showing cash for one year work?

Do I need to show how I will be financed for a course that could last three to four years?

In the US, I am not getting admission. In the UK, I am getting admission but I will have to finance myself.

-- Madhavi Dere

Unless you get funding from the university, you are required to show you have the ability to cover the entire cost of your education through liquid assets.

Liquid assets include savings accounts, fixed deposits, and so on.

To get a student visa, you must show you can pay for your entire education.

• Plan to study in US, UK?

My friend has work experience and wants to pursue an MBA degree abroad.

The only problem is he doesn't want to write the GMAT exam as he hardly has time to prepare.

He is willing to write TOEFL as it needs almost no preparation.

He wants to finish the MBA programme or any graduate level management programme within a year so he can return to work without losing much time. 

Please suggest some top-ranked universities in the USA/ UK that take students without GMAT.  

-- Mahendiran Selvaraj

All good universities in the US and the UK require the GMAT and TOEFL scores.

Some of the universities that may take students without the GMAT are Cardiff University, Middlesex University, American Intercontinental University and so on.

If your friend is keen on getting into a good university, he should take the GMAT and then apply for admission.

• A study schedule to crack TOEFL, IELTS

I got rejected twice for a Canada [Images] study permit visa -- first in February, then in April. 

I have applied for a Diploma in Business Administration.

My background is B Com.

I have the rejection stamps on my passport. Can you please suggest what I should do next?

Should I apply for a third time or try for another course or another country?

-- Haneef

Since you have already been denied twice, it is very unlikely you will be successful in your visa application the third time, unless you have compelling new reasons to show you are a serious student and will return to India after your education.

Since you have applied for a diploma course, I presume you have not taken the GMAT or the TOEFL.

This MAY have led the visa officer to believe you are not a serious student. I recommend you apply for a degree course rather than a diploma course.

• Top reasons to study in the US

I am a software professional having more than three years of work experience.

I wish to do my MS in Information Sciences in the US, but money is a constraint.

All I can shell out from my pocket is Rs 2,00,000.

But I do have a burning desire to complete my MS. What should I do?

-- Hemant

You can research universities and apply to only those that offer full scholarships or funding.

However, to apply for an MS degree, you will need to appear for your GRE and TOEFL exams and mail your applications to the universities.

The application process itself can cost about Rs 1,00,000.

• All you wanted to know about the new SAT

I have completed my B Sc in Visual Communication in March from Loyola College, Chennai.

I am interested in doing a master's in filmmaking abroad. 

I want to specialise in direction/ film-making and am not interested in doing a general course involving theory.

For instance, I don't want to do a general media course that will include advertising, production and journalism. I am looking only to specialise in direction.

As you will be aware, this field requires more practical training than bookish knowledge. It would be nice if you could suggest colleges that give more of a hands-on experience.

I have browsed through the Net and have not been able to find a college.

Please do suggest some good colleges.

Money is not a problem. However, do let me know if financial aid/ assistantship is available.

-- Raja

I have listed some universities that offer courses in film studies. You will have to research these colleges to check if the course meets your criteria.

• California Institute of The Arts
• Academy of Art University
• University of Southern California
• University of California, Los Angeles
• New York University

Got a question for Karan? Please write to us!

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Note: Questions may be edited for brevity. Due to a tremendous response, all queries will not be answered.

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