There are many
destinations to choose from for those who wish to study abroad. The United
States is one of the most popular countries for international students. The
cultural diversity is highly appealing. US universities’ fame reigns supreme.
Seven (7) out of 10 best universities in the world according to the Times
Higher Education League Table 2013 are in the US. Australia and New Zealand are
also strong contenders. Both countries boast of its reputation for being
educational powerhouses with some of the world’s best facilities. In Asia,
Singapore and China are attracting more and more attention with their growing
economy. However, Europe never loses its charm. This continent is arguably the
best destination for international students for the following reasons.
Culture
It is undeniable
that Europe has a rich history with a variety of cultures, each of which is
vibrant and enticing in their own unique way. The European countries are famous
worldwide for their cultural capitals so resplendent that praises have been
sung for them for centuries. Music and the arts are not the only things that
flourish in Europe. Europe is also home to philosophers and politicians,
economists and scientists. These cradles of Western civilisations have given
birth to ingenious men and women, who created and left behind a wealth of
culture and knowledge that attract and enchant many. The UK is one such cradle.
Cities such as London and Edinburgh house cultural treasures that are hard to
find elsewhere. For philosophers and scientists alike, Europe is the place to
be. What can be more wonderful than studying in one of the most beautiful
cities in the world, soaking up the fantastic culture and languages?
Excellent
Educational system
Europe has a
long-standing tradition of learning and education. The very first high-learning
institutions were established in Ancient Greece. Education has always been an
essential part of European countries. The modern universities in Europe have
state-of-the-art technology, modern facilities and the best educators. Their
libraries have an extensive collection of books, from standard textbooks to
rare first-editions, that will definitely quench your thirst for knowledge.
Moreover, the high quality of teaching and learning in Europe is constantly
monitored and improved by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) created
through the Bologna Process. The EHEA ensures the comparability and
compatibility of the educational systems in Europe, which means that the
European universities cannot afford to let their standards slip and are
prompted to continue improving. Students interested in studying in Europe have
a wide range of high quality, institutions to choose from. The UK in particular
has many highly regarded universities. Oxford and Cambridge remain on top of
the league tables. International students are entitled to the best education
they can have. Europe surely can provide it.
Travelling
Europe is the
ultimate place to travel. The cities are resplendent; each has its own colour,
all so vivid that none can outshine the others. Studying in Europe enables you
to travel easily from country to country. For those who need a visa to travel,
with the exception of the UK and Norway, a student visa or residence permit of
any European countries entitles you to visit other countries that are parts of
the Schengen area. The single currency, used in most countries makes it even
easier for you to travel without concerns over exchange rates. Only in Europe
can you have such an experience.
In summary, here
are a few of other reasons why studying in Europe is advantageous.
1. High quality academic programmes
2. Cutting-edge laboratories and facilities
3. Innovative research
4. Internationally-recognised degrees
5. Improved career prospects
6. Good value for money
7. Scholarships and funding opportunities
8. The chance to learn a new language or study in English
9. A great choice of cultural and leisure opportunities
10. Chances of Permanent Residence & Settlement in Europe after
completion of study program.
Studying in Europe
brings you more than just a brilliant education. When you study oversea, you gain unparalleled experience. You can pick up
a language, immerge in cultures so rich that you are determined to come back to
experience more. The benefits are limitless!
World-class quality higher education with
reasonable cost of studying combined with multicultural environment and rich
historic cultural background makes Europe an ideal place to study in.
For years, many European universities have been
leading in the top positions among the highly ranked universities in the world.
The 2013 world universities’ ranking placed European universities in the
following positions.
University
of Oxford (United Kingdom)..........................................................2nd
position
University
of Cambridge (United Kingdom)....................................................7th
position
Imperial
College London (United Kingdom)....................................................10th
position
ETH Zürich – Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology Zürich (Switzerland).......14th position
University College London (UCL) (United Kingdom).......................................21st
position
London School of Economics and
Political Science (LSE) (United Kingdom)....32nd position
Karolinska
Institute (Sweden).........................................................................36th
position
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland)..............................37th
position
King's
College London (United Kingdom)........................................................38th
position
University
of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)......................................................39th
positin
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany)....................................55th
position
University
of Manchester (United Kingdom)....................................................58th
position
KU Leuven (Belgium)........................................................................................61st
position
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Germany).............................................63rd
position
École
Normale Supérieure (France).................................................................65th
position
Leiden
University (Netherlands).......................................................................67th
position
Universität
Heidelberg (Germany)...................................................................68th
position
Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)...................................................69th
position
École
Polytechnique (France)............................................................................70th
position
Erasmus
University Rotterdam (Netherlands)..................................................73rd
position
Universität
Basel (Switzerland).........................................................................74th
position
Utrecht
University (Netherlands)......................................................................74th
position
Wageningen University and Research Center (Netherlands)............................77th
position
We can only give a list of some of the universities above.
However, Higherway educational Consultant partners with a number of the highly
rated universities in many of the European countries. We are happy to pride
ourselves to have this privilege.
If
you therefore think of studying in Europe, think Higherway Educational
Consultant; We are always there to serve you!
Our students come from various countries and cultures around the globe. By sharing their diverse life
experiences, and through our very highly experienced Representatives, our students can enhance their emotional growth, as well as their educational
development.
A good number of our students come from the following countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt,
Pakistan and India. They all study in various universities in USA, UK, Europe,
Asia, The Caribbean. Many of them are graduates today. We are always in
constant touch with all of our students no matter the country they are.
As a reputable educational consultant, our goal is to help you
achieve your own goal and to give you value for your money. We
start and finish your admission processes because we understand it from “start to finish”. If in any case where we think that we cannot handle your application to a
particular institution we let you know from the beginning rather than give you false assurance.
This is the reason why we have been able to win the trust of our students and their
parents over the few years that we've been on ground. As a result of our honesty we get recommendations from students we've worked
for.
We are happy to say that we strongly believe in our capability and
are happy to boast of our achievements as well. You can browse through our site
to read through the testimonies of some of our
students whom we have helped to pursue their career abroad. We therefore ask
you to join the list of our students and let us help you achieve your
dream.
Higherway
Educational Consultants is always there to serve you!
The Caribbean is a region that consist of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean), and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.
Situated largely on the Caribbean
Plate, the region comprises more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. The Caribbean island, consisting of the Greater Antilles on the north
and the Lesser
Antilles on the south and east, are part of the somewhat larger West Indies grouping.
Geopolitically, The Caribbean islands are usually regarded as a
subregion of North America and are
organised into 30 territories including sovereign
states, overseas departments,
and dependencies.
Geography
& Climate
The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies: some
islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin.
Others possess rugged towering-ranges like the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Dominica
Republic, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts etc.
The climate of the area is tropical but rainfall varies with
elevation, size, and water current. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently
from the east creating rainforest/ semi desert divisions on mountainous
islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter.
The region enjoys year-round sunshine, divided into ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ season,
with the last six month of the year being wetter than the first half.
Countries where it occasionally snows, in the Caribbean, are: Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Cuba.
The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of
fish, turtles, and corals reef formations.
Hurricanes that sometimes batter the region usually strike
northwards of Grenada and the west of Barbados.
AREA: The Caribbean islands cover a total
area of 2,754,000 km2(1,063,000 sq mi).
The Land Area is 239,681 km2 (92,541 sq mi).
POPULATION:
The population of the Caribbean is around 39
million (39,169,962).
ETHNIC GROUPS: AfroCaribbean, European,IndoCaribbean, ChineseCaribbean, Amerindians (Arawak, Island
Caribs, Tainos)
LANGUAGEES: English, Spanish, French,
Dutch, among others
GOVERNMENT: 13 Sovereign states and 17
dependent territories
COUNTRIES: The countries in the Caribbean islands include the following:
Anguilla, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Island, Bonaire, Saint Lucia, Cayman Islands, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands,
United States Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti,
Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba
United States Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti,
Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba
LIFE IN THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean
island is one of the most exciting places to live in the world. It has an exciting
lifestyle, music, food and culture. The people in the Caribbean are very close
with their family, that’s why they are considered a happy people. They put themselves
around the people they love and are rarely alone. When it comes to receiving foreign visitors,
the people of the Caribbean islands are very hospitable and this is the reason
why the very rich and influential people in our societies today go to the Caribbean
to spend their vacation. No doubt, you will sure enjoy your stay in this
beautiful region as a student.
The lure of
the beauty of the Caribbean isn't just for those seeking fun and relaxation. It
is also for students wishing to study there as well. Higherway educational
Consultant focuses on medical students recruitment into Caribbean schools. With
over 60 medical schools listed in the International Medical Education Directory
(IMED), the Caribbean has increasingly become the preferred destination for
students seeking alternatives to their domestic medical schools.
The 25 most
popular Caribbean medical schools are located on islands varying in size,
demography, and environment. Official languages of a majority of the region’s
islands/countries are English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento.
As if the
perpetually sunny forecast isn't enticing enough, doctors-to-be (and nurses,
too) who choose the Caribbean for medical school often enjoy the benefits of
personalized attention and a small student body typically lacking in most other
places. Caribbean medical schools also provide students with specialties and
training opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.
From
specializing in tropical medicine to fulfilling residency requirements in small
family or community-based practices, students who graduate from Caribbean
medical schools will possess extensive hands-on clinical experience in settings
that will give them insight into the ways in which society and medicine
intersect.
There are
still more benefits to studying medicine in the Caribbean. There’s a benefit
that’s often overlooked: that’s diverse student bodies. Universities in the
Caribbean attract students from around the world.
While this is
also true of continental universities, foreign students in large schools often
get absorbed into their own unique cultural groups. In the Caribbean, the small
admission ratio serves to keep students intermingling regardless of their
background. Other advantages of studying in the Caribbean include:
1.
Less tuition fee: Caribbean
medical schools cost less than US medical schools both public and private but
at the same time offer high quality education since they have the privilege of
having global medical faculties.
2. American
curriculum: Caribbean medical schools follow the American curriculum
of education.
3. Short
duration of program: Unlike medical degree that is 6 years elsewhere
like in the US and in European countries, it is a 4 years program in most
Caribbean islands’ medical schools.
4. Advanced training
methodology: Studying in a medical school that imparts training
through the latest and the most advanced equipment in healthcare not only
expedites the learning process for the student but also gives him/her the edge
over their counterparts. It also helps the students in their residency
applications as well as when they are seeking employment opportunities in the
US and Western European countries.
5. US based
Clinical Rotation Opportunities: There are clinical rotation
opportunities in the U.S and Canada. In many of the Caribbean schools, the
first two years of basic science is done on their campuses overseas, while
clinical rotations are done in U.S. hospitals. Though your home school is still
overseas, you have the advantage of the same clinical exposure and
opportunities as the hospitals' home medical students. Many past students cite
this as an advantage in applying to United States and Canada residencies.
6. International
Exposure: As is the case with pursuing education abroad, the
international exposure gained in Caribbean islands helps the student in gaining
exposure to the global world, since he/she gets a chance to interact with
foreign students from over all the world. This also adds to their advantage
list when seeking employment opportunities in the US and western countries and
lead to significant advancement in their careers.
LIFE IN THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean island is one of the most exciting places to live in the world. It has an exciting lifestyle, music, food and culture. The people in the Caribbean are very close with their family, that’s why they are considered a happy people. They put themselves around the people they love and are rarely alone. When it comes to receiving foreign visitors, the people of the Caribbean islands are very hospitable and this is the reason why the very rich and influential people in our societies today go to the Caribbean to spend their vacation. No doubt, you will sure enjoy your stay in this beautiful region as a student.
We have
given you some of the advantages why you may have to study in the Caribbean.
Now, take a decision today and let’s work your way to the Caribbean.
Higherway
Educational Consultants is always there to serve you!
Over the years we have recorded a large number of
students from African countries (e.g Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa)
and even the United States of America, coming to us to work their way to the
Caribbean to study. Over 98% of these
students want to study medicine in the Caribbean. This led us to focus on
medical students and medical schools respectively as far as study in the
Caribbean is concerned. We then focused majorly on four of the best major
Medical Universities which we partner with today. They are:
All Saints University School of Medicine
Windsor University School of Medicine
Ross University
St. George’s University
Because the competition for admission to medical
schools in the United States is extremely strong, many applicants consider
attending medical school in the Caribbean. In fact, a great many bright and
talented applicants are now opting to obtain their medical education in the
Caribbean.
How can you decide what is the best choice for you?
What must you consider in evaluating these schools? And will you be able to
obtain a residency in the United States after you graduate? To help you decide
if attending a Caribbean medical school is a good choice, we put this piece for
you.
A Little Background
In the last four decades, the Caribbean has seen a
steady increase in the number of medical schools on the islands as well as the
size of their student bodies. In the late 1970′s three Caribbean medical
schools were established: American University of the Caribbean, originally
located on the Island of Montserrat, Ross University on the Commonwealth of
Dominica, and St. George’s University in Grenada. Since their
inception, these schools have educated many US citizens seeking a medical
education outside the US, and now about 60 medical schools in the
Caribbean are listed in the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education Directory (IMED).
The physicians who graduate from Caribbean medical
schools play an increasingly important role in the US health care system by
supplying residency programs with qualified applicants and helping to meet a
well documented physician shortage, particularly in primary care
medicine. While accreditation, didactic studies (first and second years
of medical school), and clinical rotations (third and fourth years of medical
school) differ among institutions, requirements for graduate certification in the
United States, as outlined by the Philadelphia based Educational Committee on Foreign medical graduatess, are the same for
all students graduating from all international schools, including the
Caribbean.
Caribbean Medical School
Accreditation
Accreditation
for Caribbean medical schools is on several levels, including local Ministry of
Health accreditation by some individual Caribbean country’s government,
regional accreditation by organizations such as The Caribbean Accreditation
Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The
World Health Organization (WHO) does not accredit medical schools but maintains
a list of schools that are recognized by local governments. In the United
States, The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Acrreditation of the US Department of Education (NCFMEA) of the
United States Department of Education determines whether the process conducted
by an accrediting organization is comparable to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) process of accreditation. This is a voluntary process so not all
schools undergo this evaluation. If a school’s accreditation is deemed
comparable to the LCME process, then that country can apply for US federal
loans for those students. Currently, only 3 schools in the Caribbean are
eligible for these loans.
It is important to know which organizations have
accredited any school you consider attending. Knowing if the state in
which you intend to practice recognizes your school is also important.
Caribbean medical schools proudly display these accreditations on their
websites so if an accreditation is missing, be wary.
Quality of Medical Education
in the Caribbean
The only way to
evaluate the education Caribbean medical students received was to examine students’
scores on the United States Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1, which is taken after
the second year of medical school. Investigators calculated the average USMLE
Step 1 first time pass rate for each country in the Caribbean. In evaluating
this data they also took into account that some islands have more than one
medical school. The countries with the highest percentage of students
passing the (USMLE) Step 1 on the first attempt were Grenada (84.4 %) and
Dominica (69.7%). Countries with the lowest pass rates were Saint Lucia (19.4%)
and Antigua/Barbuda (22.9%).
Preclinical Years
Students
typically spend the first four to five semesters of medical school in the
Caribbean completing basic science courses before taking USMLE Step I.
Basic science curriculums in the Caribbean are similar to US curriculums.
Some schools offer a fifth semester, either in the Caribbean or in the US, to
help students prepare for the USMLE Step 1 and transition to their clinical
semesters.
On the plus
side, many students form strong relationships with classmates and also enjoy
learning about the history and culture of the local West Indian population.
Former students also have fond memories of celebrating yearly holidays such as
Carnival, the colourful, festive, and historical event celebrated annually
throughout the Caribbean. After successfully passing the USMLE Step 1, students
proceed to their clinical rotations, which usually are outside of the
Caribbean. When evaluating schools, it is important to ask what percentages
of students who initially enrol in each class actually take and pass the USMLE
Step 1 and successfully proceed to clinical rotations.
Clinical Years
Core clinical
rotations and third and fourth year curriculum in Caribbean schools resemble
those of US medical schools. Caribbean schools that offer clinical training in
the US have strict guidelines about the location and quality of students’
clinical training. All core rotations and subinternships must be
completed in hospitals with which the Caribbean medical school has an active,
written affiliation agreement and which have appropriate clinical faculty
members. Rotations must be approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education (ACGME). In addition, it is preferable that hospitals have
approved residency training programs (or their British equivalents) in the
specialties through which students rotate. Students also take both parts
of USMLE Step 2 (clinical knowledge and clinical skills) after the third year.
Hospitals in which electives are taken should also
have approved postgraduate programs in those specialties. For example, it
is best to do an anesthesia elective at a hospital that has an anesthesiology
residency. Regardless of school affiliation, however, individual hospitals still
reserve the right to screen individual students for elective clerkship
acceptance. Some individual hospitals and departments do not accept
international rotating students, which can limit the away electives in which
students can participate. From a competitive perspective, it is always
preferable to participate in clinical rotations located in hospitals that not
only have ACGME accredited residency programs but are academic teaching
hospitals rather than community hospitals.
If I Go To a Caribbean Medical
School, Can I Get a Residency?
Graduates of
Caribbean medical schools have tremendous success in obtaining residency
positions, even in competitive specialties. It helps to attend a
well-established Caribbean school, perform well on the USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and
obtain strong letters of recommendations. Before applying for the residency
match and early in medical school, students should strategically plan their
clinical clerkships in the US, ideally arranging rotations in the settings
where they prefer to match. In recent years, Caribbean students with
strong academic and clinical performances have been able to obtain competitive
residency positions at an increasing rate. However, the largest number of
students pursue less competitive specialties, such as internal medicine or
family practice. Some students are also able to “prematch” into residency
positions outside of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
When evaluating the success of a Caribbean medical
school’s graduates, it is important to find out specifically where and in what
specialties students match. Also determine what percentage of fourth year
students match into categorical programs. This information may not be easy to
obtain. While schools typically publish their match results, it is unclear if
these lists are truly comprehensive.
After residency, Caribbean medical students, along
with their domestic colleagues, will obtain board certification and must meet
specific requirements for state licensure. The quality of one’s residency
training usually carries more weight than the medical school attended, so
obtaining the best possible residency and even fellowship can help Caribbean
students overcome some of the bias foreign students face when competing for
competitive attending positions.
Educational Commission for
Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) Certification and Graduate Medical Education
Programs
To be eligible
for ACGME accredited residency programs in the United States, and for licensure
in many states, students who graduate from a Caribbean medical school must
obtain an ECFMG certificate. Eligibility for this certificate includes
graduating from a medical school listed in FAIMER’s online International
Medical Education Directory (IMED) and passing the USMLE Steps 1 and 2
(both clinical knowledge and clinical skills).
Studying in the Caribbean Medical Universities
could be the ideal place for you. Let’s work your way to one of our partnering
Universities.
.
There are a lot of other programs that one could study
abroad aside Medicine. Many people usually think that Medicine is the only
course that one can study abroad. Well, the fact is that you can study any
course of your choice abroad provided that you are ready for it and have what
it takes to study it.
Here are other programs that we can help you to secure
admission to study abroad.
·
Engineering:
(i)
Automobile Engineering
(ii)
Civil Engineering
(iii)
Computer Engineering
(iv) Industrial Engineering and Technology
(iv) Industrial Engineering and Technology
·
Information
Technology
·
Computer
Science
·
International
Relations
·
Business Administration (BBA)
· Economics
·
Marketing
·
Finance
·
Accounting
·
Tourism
·
Public
Administration
·
Nursing
·
Dentistry
·
MBA
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