A.  Student Counseling Network (SCN) has been into the business of study abroad since 1999 and we have so far placed hundreds of students to popular international destinations for study. We are authorized representative of Australian college and university. We have professionally trained staff at our office to assist students. All our offices provides students with FREE counseling and information on various courses and institutions Application Forms - Brochures - Guides etc. Admission Assistance Visa Counseling Travel and accommodation arrangement

A.  Universities at Pakistan offer Bachelor Degree both for 2 yrs. And 4 yrs. Where as a Australian Bachelor Degree is always of 4 yrs. However the Australian Government recognizes few Pakistani awarding bodies. To avail the credit transfer facility students are required to submit their course syllabus to the institution and the university management would take the decision in light of their policy.

A.  The average time taken by the Australian High Commission for the visa procedure is anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks depending on the individuals background, so the students need to apply for their visas atleast 3 months prior to their course commencement.

A. Many International web sites rate educational institutes on different standards. It is not necessary that standard criteria set by one site match the other.  Education in Australia is supervised and regulated by Govt. bodies. Students generally follow the market trends like MBAs or BBA, MIT etc., but it would be unfair to judge universities as one can only compare the course structure and faculty.

A. On a student visa, a student can work 20 hours per week part time and full time during the semester break, expected to leave the country on completion of the course. However Australian immigration system has chalked out a clear path of qualifying the permanent resident status for international students, once they are done with their studies. The student can also get a work permit up to 4 years.

A. If your visa is refused and you have paid a deposit to your institution for tuition fees then you will receive a refund of the deposit after sending the institution a copy of your visa refusal letter from the High Commission. A few institutions deduct a small amount usually no more than £ 100 for processing the refund payment, we advise you to contact your consultant for confirmation.

A. Studying abroad seems expensive when we put it in comparison to local institutions but the quality education, employment opportunities and growth in profession are the perceived benefits which force us to go for that. A student can rely on sources like family funds, bank loans, scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships etc to provide for funds required by him.

A. Some universities require the students to pay part of the tuition fees in advance in order to reserve a place for them in the university. In any case we recommend that all students should make a deposit payment as it facilitates in getting a student visa.

A. British Universities do not have a formal ranking system but the government does take the responsibility to monitor and control the quality of education provided by each university through the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. The Government conducts a Research Assessment Exercise once in every 5 yrs. which determines the level of research activity in a university department. The departments are graded as high as 5* and as low as 1. General League Tables Prepared by newspapers like the Sunday Times and Financial Times can also be checked.

A. A transfer option is to complete at least 2 years of the Bachelors / Diploma program in any country and then apply for a transfer to the University that a student wants to attend in USA. The years waived off in your transfer status will depend on the courses covered in Pakistan and the grades for the same. It is rare that one can get exact transfer of credits.

A. Acceptance in top universities largely depends upon performance in previous education, Level of acquired education, relevant work experience, future course of study, score in TOEFL, G-Mat or GRE whatsoever required by the university. The acceptance ratio of top ten Universities is only 1% - 4%. Therefore, in order to improve your chances of admission, you should also apply to other Universities that offer good programs. Also the entry requirements are extremely stringent for such institutions.

A. Once you are in the US, you are governed by the USCIS rule. According to this rule, you cannot change the school before completing one semester at the school. It is advisable that you make your choice carefully to avoid problems at a latter date.

A. Generally, the students need to apply for USA 6-9 months in advance. Those looking for scholarships should apply 12 months in advance. Most commonly available start dates are in the Fall Session (August/September) and the Spring session (January/ February).

A. Students are allowed at work 20 hours a week on-campus during the term and full-time during the vacation period.

A. Any academic award achieved from an Irish University is of a very high standard and does have an international recognition. Before undertaking a course at an alternative institution you should ensure that the qualification is approved by the Higher Education and Training Award Council (HETAC), a body established by the Irish Ministry of Education. Qualifications awarded by this body are internationally recognized by academic, professional, trade and craft bodies.

A. Each of the individual institutions will be able to provide you with comprehensive information on course content, fees, academic entry requirements etc. Their individual websites are an excellent starting point.

A. Costs vary depending on the course of study, the length of stay and the lifestyle of the student. However, we have calculated that, on average, a student can expect to pay between Euro 6,500 and Euro 10,000 in living costs per year. For a more detailed breakdown of costs please refer to our 'Costs and Living Expenses' section.

A. Most of the universities have an International student office with trained staff on hand to deal with any issues arising for overseas students. This office usually organizes an orientation program at the start of the academic year to assist students in acclimatization to Irish life and college procedures. Other events such as day and weekend excursions and sporting and cultural activities are also run by the international student offices.