3-Year Bachelor’s to Master’s Abroad: 8 Things Indian Students Should Check Before Applying
Have you already obtained a three-year Bachelor’s degree in India and are you planning to do a Master’s course abroad?
While many universities will accept three-year Bachelor’s degrees from India, certain universities or particular Master’s programmes might have extra requirements. The extent to which you are eligible will depend on the type of degree you have, your academic background, the credits you have obtained, your grades, the subjects you have studied and the university you select.
The following eight points are important for Indian students to take into account prior to applying for a master’s degree abroad.
1. Verify the exact degree requirement
The first check should not be merely the length of your Bachelor’s degree.
Universities may look at several aspects of your qualification, including:
1.Degree level
2.Recognition of your university
3.Duration of study
4.Academic credits
5.Subjects studied
6.Grades or CGPA
7.Relevance of your previous degree to the Master’s programme
For instance, TU Wien requires that applicants who hold an international Bachelor’s degree should have a relevant qualification from a recognised institution and that their prior studies must include at least 180 ECTS, and the university also checks whether the qualification is equivalent to the relevant Bachelor’s programme.
You need to verify that your particular degree satisfies the requirements of the university and programme that you would like to apply to.
2. See if the Type of Your Degree Makes a Difference
A further important point is the kind of Bachelor’s degree you have finished.
In certain countries there can be a difference between a general bachelor’s degree and an honours degree when it comes to eligibility.
For instance, the admissions guidance issued by Sweden for Indian applicants says that a three-year Indian Bachelor’s degree with honours fulfils the general entry requirement for postgraduate study. Other ways of meeting the requirement may be to have a four-year Bachelor’s degree or to complete a Bachelor’s degree and then a Master’s degree which amounts to four years of study.
Before applying
1.Exact degree title
2.Whether it is an honours degree
3.University name
4.Duration
5.Subjects studied
6.Academic credits
3. Understand the difference between credits and ECTS
When you are looking into European universities you are likely to come across the term.
ECTS is the abbreviation for the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System and is commonly used to refer to the academic workload in European higher education.
Indian academic credits should not be taken as equivalent to ECTS automatically.
For instance, even if your Indian transcript indicates a certain number of credits, you shouldn’t just suppose that the same number corresponds to the same number of ECTS.
The academic workload, the content and the structure of the courses you have already taken can be evaluated by universities.
For example, TU Wien requires that relevant international Bachelor’s programmes have at least 180 ECTS for the relevant admission route.
Instead of attempting to convert your credits on your own, you should refer to the university’s official requirements or get in touch with the admissions office if the information is unclear.
4. Make Sure That Your Subject’s Background Matches
The fact is that having a bachelor’s degree that is accepted does not mean that you are eligible for all master’s programmes.
It may be necessary for your earlier academic record to correspond with the programme as well.
For instance, a student who has a B Com or a BBA may qualify for some master’s programmes in the field of business. Yet, if they want to apply for a highly technical Computer Science programme they will need to have completed previous coursework in subjects such as programming, mathematics or algorithms.
This is why you should always look for sections such as:
1.Academic requirements
2.Previous studies
3.Eligibility
4.Required credits
5.Subject requirements
6.Prerequisites
5. Do Not Treat Country Rules as Universal
Germany provides a clear example of this. Uni-assist states that applicants for a Master’s degree usually need a first degree equivalent to a German Bachelor’s degree, and the equivalence required can be that of a three-, three-and-a-half- or four-year German Bachelor’s degree depending on the programme.
Sweden also issues national guidelines for Indian qualifications, although individual master’s programmes may retain their own requirements regarding subjects and credits.
So, before applying, always move from:
Country → University → Programme
6. Compare Different Universities Before Assuming You Need Another Degree
Before deciding that you need another degree, compare the different universities available.
The fact that one university won’t take your three-year Bachelor’s degree doesn’t mean that you can’t study abroad.
It is a requirement specific to universities and not something that should be regarded as applying to all universities or all Master’s programmes in the Netherlands.
If a particular option fails, then you should look into other universities which offer similar programmes and compare their requirements.
Look at:
1.Degree duration
2.Degree type
3.Required credits
4.Academic background
5.Minimum grades
6.English-language requirements
7.Programme-specific prerequisites
7. Do not take on an additional qualification unless you first check.
On hearing that they are supposed to have four years of education, some students immediately think about obtaining another diploma or enrolling in another course.
A further qualification is only of any use if the university accepts it as regards admission.
For instance, finishing a one-year course doesn’t automatically make your three-year Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a four-year Bachelor’s degree.
If the degree you have does not satisfy the specific requirements of a particular university, you should first find out from the university what other qualifications they will accept.
Depending on the institution, possible routes may include:
1.Additional academic credits
2.A recognised postgraduate qualification
3.A Master’s pathway
4.Another accepted qualification
Since the available options differ, don’t spend money on an extra course merely on the basis of general advice.
8. Get Your Academic Documents Ready Carefully
When you have discovered some universities at which your qualification seems to be acceptable, the following stage is to prepare your documents.
1.Depending on the university, you may need:
2.Degree certificate
3.Semester-wise marksheets
4.Complete academic transcript
5.Grading information
6.Course descriptions or syllabus
7.English-language test results
8.Passport
Other programme-specific documents
It can be particularly important because it clearly shows the material that you studied.
In the case of programmes which have specific academic prerequisites, universities will have to examine each subject and credit before deciding if your earlier education fulfils their requirements.
For Germany uni-assist gives detailed advice regarding the educational documents needed for applications and those which are specific to the country.
Countries Indian Students Can Explore
Austria
When assessing applications, some universities in Austria will take into account international Bachelor’s degrees provided that the previous education satisfies their academic and credit requirements.
For example, TU Wien requires that applicants have a relevant international bachelor’s degree and also a total of at least 180 ECTS for the appropriate admission route.
Germany
There is no single rule in Germany which states that every three-year Indian bachelor’s degree is either accepted or rejected.
Uni-assist states that applicants for master’s programmes usually need a first degree equivalent to a German bachelor’s degree, the specific requirements depending on the programme.
Sweden
Sweden has specific national advice aimed at Indian applicants. A three-year Indian bachelor’s degree with honours counts as meeting the general entrance requirement for postgraduate studies, provided that the relevant programme’s requirements are satisfied.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming every three-year degree is accepted:
Time by itself does not decide if you qualify.
Assuming every four-year requirement applies everywhere:
A requirement that is specific to a university should not be regarded as a rule that applies nationwide.
Taking an extra course without confirmation:
It would be a good idea to get in touch with the university before investing time and money in obtaining an extra qualification.
Final Thoughts
The fact is that an Indian student does not have to be prevented from obtaining a Master’s degree abroad simply because they have a three-year Bachelor’s degree.
At the same time, there is no one rule that applies to all universities.
Which is why it is more useful to research the exact programme than simply to look for a list of countries that accept three-year degrees.
Before you submit your application, carefully check your qualifications, compare them with the official requirements of the university, and get ready the required academic documents.
Having trouble choosing the appropriate study abroad option?
A bachelor’s degree lasting three years may provide access to international study opportunities, but it is necessary to carefully check your eligibility for the particular university and programme. If you are uncertain as to whether your Indian degree satisfies the requirements for the master’s programme you wish to join,
SPAN International will be able to assist you in understanding your options, in narrowing down the universities that suit you and in guiding you through the application process.
If you plan to do your studies abroad after completing your three-year Bachelor’s degree, please get in touch with SPAN International and take the next step in your journey to studying abroad.
