As Nigerians exodus in droves in search of a better life and quality education, no one wants rejection in addition to life’s numerous problems. Therefore, in order to ensure your application to study abroad is not declined, you need to provide the relevant documentation to the admissions department. These documents are so important that failing to include them in an application will result in the application being rejected. Here is a list of these documents:
An International Passport
This is essential for international travel and you will need to make sure it’s up to date. You will also need a passport that is valid for at least six months after your planned return date. This is one of the most important Study Abroad Documents. You would be required to scan the first page of your international passport- this page contains your passport photograph and your personal information. This would be used by the university to identify you.
WAEC/SSCE
You’ll be required to submit your secondary school certificate. Please note that the WAEC result is preferable to NECO. You should consider using your WAEC result if you have a good one, as it is preferred and recognized by most Universities abroad. In some cases, once you have your WAEC or NECO, there is no need for a Proficiency Test.
Academic Transcript
You will need to submit official copies of your academic transcripts as part of your application. These are your academic records similar to consolidated mark sheets. It is a detailed breakdown of your academic performance undertaken throughout your bachelor’s or masters. It contains all the relevant information about the courses you took, marks obtained in various subjects and the total aggregate of all semesters. An academic transcript provides the University with a holistic idea of the student’s academic performance and achievements.
The document must be stamped and certified by the issuing authority. Depending upon the institution/university protocol, students have to make a formal request to the college administration for their academic transcriptions. To get the official transcript, you must pay the set fees and produce the required documents.
Language Proficiency Letter.
This is the measure of one’s competency to communicate in a foreign language. Language abilities are measured based on speech and communication skills, grammar, vocab, linguistics, and other areas. Asides from the English proficiency exams such as Toefl and IELTS, other countries have proficiency exams like Def/Dalf required by France. Some colleges, on the other hand, grant exemptions to students who have earned good grades in WASSCE English (credit minimum) and can demonstrate that they were taught in English at their institution.
Curriculum Vitae
The Resume/CV is a very valuable document to be able to showcase your skills, experience, and work history along with academic achievements. This document is particularly important for an applicant because it casts the first impression on the admission committee. Therefore, you need to be extra careful while preparing your CV. Mention the significant points about yourself and your achievements carefully while writing the CV. You must discuss your qualifications, the name of your academic institution, specialization, and year of passing. Also, y mention any relevant experience you have. You can mention the name of the employer and discuss your profile at length. You must mention your job duration, responsibilities, and your accomplishments in the organization. Mention this information in bullet points with at least a couple of sentences for each point.
If a particular experience or job role doesn’t align with the program you’re applying for, it’s best to remove it from your CV. Also, it’s important to fill up your CV if you have study gaps. Universities want to know what you’ve been doing between the year you graduated from school and the period of your present application. Don’t leave unexplainable study gaps. However, if you have unavoidable study gaps, it’s best to give your reasons and explain them clearly in your Statement of Purpose.
Statement of Purpose
A Statement of Purpose (SOP), also known as a research statement or a letter of intent, is written to the admission panel and talks about your career path interests, professional contributions, goals and the driving force behind pursuing a particular program. This is usually submitted in the form of an essay; however, certain universities may also keep it question-based. It is the most integral part of your application and has to be done with great care. a well-written SOP paints your overall personality for the universities. It is an opportunity to pitch your purpose to the committee and reasons why they should choose you over other applicants. Several elements are vital for your Statement of Purpose. These include:
- Personal background
- Financial background
- Academic details
- Professional experience (full/part-time, voluntary)
- Immediate and long-term goals
- Reasons why you wish to study at this particular institution
- Reasons for being interested in the chosen field
- About extra-curricular activities
- Published works, if any
- Papers submitted, if any
- Interests, hobbies
Reference letters or recommendation letters
The Letter of Recommendation is another important piece of documentation that helps the admissions committee evaluate the student profile. It gives insights into the applicant’s journey through college and introduces the participants to their achievements as well as their specific patterns of working. This may be from a professional, academic, or personal standpoint. Your lecturer, project supervisor, senior colleague, CEO, etc. are examples of people you can get a letter of recommendation from. You would be required to submit one or two letters of recommendation.
Portfolio
Only very specialized programs necessitate the use of a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of work that demonstrates your abilities, personality, and creativity. It should tell your story from beginning to end, from what you’ve learned and created to what you intend to do next. In order to be considered for a master’s degree in the arts, design, or architecture, you must submit a portfolio.
Please note that the foregoing documents are required for gaining admission which is just the first step in the study abroad process. After that, the visa application follows, and your visa could be denied if you do not satisfy other requirements such as proof of funds, medical and police report, travel history, family ties, and proof that you will return to your home country after your studies.
