Choosing where to study abroad can be a difficult and even time-consuming process. As we cannot go personally to all the options of institutions that interest us, we have to do a good research online to be able to decide which one is the best. To help you compare universities, we have brought some factors that you should take into account when making your choice. Check out!

How to compare universities?

Here are several factors for you to consider when comparing universities for your exchange:

Course content – See how the course is structured, the different paths you can take, how much freedom you have to build your grid, etc.

Location – Consider the means of transport, the location on the planet (in general), the prospects of employability in the place (if you plan to stay in the country after graduation) and the cost of living in that area.

Academic reputation – Find out what the university’s reputation is like: what are the admission requirements? Is a diploma from that university respected as much as a diploma from another university?

Employability – does the university have a high level of employability among alumni? Are there partnerships with companies?

Costs – Compare the cost of tuition, accommodation and the cost of living in the area around the university. Also, research the scholarship offer for international students.

Student satisfaction – Look for the opinions of students who have already attended university: what do they have to say about student life?

Student life – What events usually happen on campus? How is the student community? Are there clubs and societies you would like to join?

Where to find this information?

Use university rankings

The rankings can help you a lot when comparing universities. The QS ratings, for example, in addition to pointing out the best universities in the world, still have specialized rankings in other indicators, such as location, academic reputation, employability and student satisfaction. This can help you answer the metrics questions we suggested above.

If you want to do your undergraduate or master’s degree abroad, we recommend that you take a look at these rankings when comparing universities:

• QS World University Rankings– Gives you an overview of the best universities in the world.
• QS World University Rankings by Subject– Reveals the best universities in the world for each area (Medicine, Law, Marketing, etc.) ..
• QS Graduate Employability Rankings– Presents the best universities in terms of employability after graduation.

If university location is a very important factor, you can rely on these other rankings to compare universities:

• QS University Rankings by Region– Highlights the best universities in Latin America, Asia, Arab countries, BRICS, Europe, etc.
• QS University Rankings by Location– Gives you an overview of the world’s most popular study destinations.
• QS Best Student Cities– This ranking shows which cities are popular with students and have good higher education institutions.

Search the university website

The university websites are full of detailed information about the courses offered, student life, accommodation and prices. Some even have online tours , offering the opportunity to take a tour to get a real impression of the university.

When doing your research, take a look at the university’s resources: libraries, size of classrooms, cafeterias, sports centers, proportion of teachers per student and other criteria that can make all the difference in your experience and learning during the exchange.

You can also find out about the university’s career services – what does the institution offer students to help them find work experience after graduation and what resources are available for students and alumni?

Use social media

Take a look at the university’s social media profiles. Often, they publish photos and information about events that take place there. You can even get in touch directly with the university and resolve any questions you may have (Twitter is the most recommended for this!).