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Want To Study Abroad? Here Are 7 Smart Tips To Help You Get Started And Succeed

Published

5 months ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Studying abroad is one of the best decisions any Nigerian student can make. It opens doors to world-class education, international exposure, and better career opportunities.

Contents
1. Set clear goals
2. Choose the right country and school
3. Start your application process early
4. Search for scholarships and funding opportunities
5. Prepare for visa application and travel documents
6. Join a community or connect with alumni
7. Learn basic survival skills

But the process can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? What should you prepare? How can you get funding? To make things easier, we’ve put together these 7 simple but powerful tips to study abroad

1. Set clear goals

Before you even pick a country, take time to think about why you want to study abroad. Is it for better quality education, a specific course, or job opportunities after graduation?

Your goals will determine the best destination, school, and course for you. Don’t choose a country just because your friend is there or it sounds fancy. Think long-term.

2. Choose the right country and school

Some countries are better for certain courses. For example, Canada is popular for tech and healthcare courses, Germany is known for engineering, while the UK is great for business and social sciences.

Examine tuition fees, living expenses, work options, and visa rules. Choose what fits your career dreams and financial strength.

3. Start your application process early

One of the biggest mistakes Nigerian students make is waiting too long to apply. Most schools abroad open applications 6–12 months in advance.

You’ll need to prepare transcripts, write a personal statement, get recommendation letters, and sometimes write exams like IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT. Starting early gives you enough time to prepare well and avoid rushed mistakes.

4. Search for scholarships and funding opportunities

Studying abroad is expensive, but many Nigerian students don’t know that there are scholarships. Some are fully funded, while others cover part of your tuition or living costs. Scholarships are competitive, so apply early and make your documents strong.

5. Prepare for visa application and travel documents

After getting admission, your next big step is getting your visa. This part can be stressful if you’re not well-prepared. You’ll need to show proof of admission, financial capability, a passport, and sometimes health checks or police reports.

Always check the specific requirements on the embassy website of your destination country. For example, the UK visa process is different from that of Canada or Australia. Be truthful in your documents, as visa officers can easily spot fraud.

6. Join a community or connect with alumni

It helps a lot to speak with Nigerians who have studied or are studying in your country of choice. You can find these communities on LinkedIn, Twitter (now X), or even WhatsApp groups.

They can guide you on what to expect, what to pack, how to settle down, and how to avoid common mistakes. This real-life advice is often more helpful than what you read online.

7. Learn basic survival skills

Living abroad can shock you if you’re not financially prepared. Learn how to budget, cook your own food, and manage time. Don’t assume you’ll find a job immediately after arriving.

Go with enough funds to cover at least 3 months of expenses. Also, avoid the temptation to live like a big boy or big girl. Focus on your goals.

The journey won’t always be easy, but with the right mindset, proper planning, and useful resources, you’ll be well on your way to building a better future through international education.
(Tribune)

Related Topics:Nigerians stranded abroad Study Abroad

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FULL LIST: US To Review Green Cards From 19 ‘Countries Of Concern’ After Washington Shooting

Published

20 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it will review the immigration status of all permanent residents, or “Green Card” holders, from Afghanistan and 18 other countries following the attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

U.S. officials identified the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting as a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan.

The individual was granted asylum earlier this year, not permanent residency, according to AfghanEvac, an organisation that assists Afghans resettled in the United States after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

“I have directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” said Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on X.

The review follows a June executive order from President Trump classifying 19 countries as “of Identified Concern.”

The order banned entry for nearly all nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. The full list of these countries is:

Afghanistan

Myanmar

Chad

Congo-Brazzaville

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Haiti

Iran

Libya

Somalia

Sudan

Yemen

A partial travel ban applies to seven additional countries, though some temporary work visas remain allowed: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

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Romanian Defence Minister Quits After Admitting Error In Academic Record

Published

21 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

Romania’s defence minister resigned on Friday after saying he made a “mistake” on his CV about his university education, as controversy swirled over alleged lies on his resume.

Ionut Mosteanu – who has admitted to writing on his CV that he graduated from a university he never attended – said he did not want the row “to distract” the NATO member at a time when it and Europe are “under attack from Russia”.

Romania has repeatedly seen drone fragments fall on its soil since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and reported a number of drone incursions.

On Tuesday, a drone crashed in eastern Romania, which borders Ukraine.

Romania has also accused Moscow of “hybrid attacks”, including meddling in presidential elections last year that were subsequently annulled.

“Today, I resigned from my position as minister of national defence,” Mosteanu said in a Facebook post, adding he wanted the country to be focused on its “difficult mission”.

“Romania and Europe are under attack from Russia. Our national security must be defended at all costs,” he added.

Mosteanu had come under pressure after a media investigation published on Thursday revealed that he wrote in a CV that he graduated from a university which he did not actually attend.

That same day he apologised for what he called “a mistake”.

“In a CV I quickly put together in 2016 using a template I found online, there is a mistake that I admit embarrasses me. I didn’t pay much attention to these details at the time,” he said on Facebook.

Mosteanu was appointed defence minister in June of this year, when a new pro-European government was formed after months of political turmoil.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said in a press release that he would propose economy and tourism minister Radu Miruta take over the defence portfolio in the interim.

AFP

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Russia Insists Ukraine Must Cede Land Or Face Continued Military Push

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims at its own — otherwise his army would take it by force.

The Russian army has been slowly but steadily grinding through eastern Ukraine in costly battles against outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces.

Washington has meanwhile renewed its push to end the nearly four-year war, putting forward a surprise plan that it hopes to finalise through upcoming talks with Moscow and Kyiv.

“If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,” Putin said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan. “If they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means.”

Russia controls around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. The issue of occupied land, which Kyiv has said it will never cede, is among the biggest stumbling blocks in the peace process.

Another important issue in the talks are Western security guarantees for Ukraine, which Kyiv says are needed to prevent Moscow from invading again in the future.

Washington’s original plan — drafted without input from Ukraine’s European allies — would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognise the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk regions as Russian.

The US pared back the original plan over the weekend following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, but has not yet released the new version.

Putin, who has seen the new plan, said it could be a negotiation starter.

“Overall, we agree that it could form the basis for future agreements,” he said of the latest draft, which the US is thought to have shortened to about 20 points.

US negotiator Steve Witkoff was expected in Moscow next week to discuss the revised document, Putin said.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is meanwhile due to visit Kyiv later this week, Ukraine’s top presidential aide Andriy Yermak said.

– ‘Little can be done’ –

In his remarks Thursday, Putin repeated the claim that Russia had encircled the Ukrainian army in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region — the most fiercely embattled area and a key target for Moscow’s forces.

“Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov are completely surrounded,” he said, using the Russian names for the cities.

Moscow was also advancing in Vovchansk and Siversk, as well as approaching the important logistic hub of Guliaipole, he added.

The Russian offensive “is practically impossible to hold back, so there is little that can be done about it”, Putin said.

Ukraine has denied Pokrovsk and Myrnograd are encircled, insisting its forces continue to hold the enemy along the front line.

Putin also questioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy and said signing any agreement with him would be legally “almost impossible” at the moment, a suggestion that has drawn groans from Kyiv and its allies.

According to data analysed by AFP from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have conquered an average of 467 square kilometres (180 square miles) each month in 2025 — a step up from 2024.

Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.