Study abroad – international study advice and applications
Our study abroad advisers have been helping students take their first steps towards building a successful future with an international education since 2016. As the official, in-country representatives for over 500 international education partners, we can help you every step of the way, from providing guidance around university programmes and country selections, to university admissions and applying for your student visa.
Get in touchGet a global education at the institution of your choice
Our international universities and education partners are located across the world in countries such as Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Mauritius, Ireland, Hungary, Sweden, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
Meet the students we've helped
Mthikazi Shezi
Thank you to the organisation for assigning someone who respects and genuinely loves working with students. Her understanding of processes and competence made it all possible.
Tolu Babatope
Wow this company is the best. If you need help in schooling abroad, they helped me from beginning to end and the communication is excellent. They helped my family to fulfil our dreams of relocating and studying abroad.
Eunice Neidy
Such a great communication between the agent and the student. She made sure everything was in order and that things were well organised. Whenever possible she was able to help me, explaining doubts and was very patient, especially for not being in the same country. It was 100% great communication and interaction.
What Study Abroad can do for you
1. Institution search
Browse through our catalogue of international universities and educational institutions to discover what they have to offer.
2. Tailored admissions advice
We guide you through the various study abroad programmes and help you choose what and where to study, tailored to your education and career goals.
3. Application and admissions support
Our access to the admissions department at our partner universities and educational institutions means that students get a quicker, more streamlined application process.
4. Visa application assistance
Once you’ve been accepted at an international university, our advisers will guide you through the visa application process and assist you in preparing the necessary documents required for submission.
5. Pre-departure assistance
We can help you organise everything from on-campus accommodation to airport pickups and orientation in your new home.
The benefits of a global education
Better employment opportunities
Whether you choose to stay abroad after your studies or return to your home country, studying abroad contributes significantly to having a more global mindset, which is highly favoured by employers.
Education at top-tier institutions
Gain access to the best institutions for your chosen field of study across the globe. You don't have to limit yourself to your home country, you can choose and apply based on your long-term goals.
A route to immigration
Some people choose to return home after studying abroad, but you can also decide to stay in your new country. Many countries have reduced immigration requirements if you have chosen to study there.
Build international connections
Studying at an international institution is a fantastic opportunity make friends across the globe, not to mention encountering new cultures, languages and experiences.
Access over 500 top institutions across 24 countries
We work with over 500 international education partners, many of whom are top international universities throughout the world, offering foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. We have direct access to the university admissions teams, making it easy for you to apply and get your enrolment letter.
Speak to an expert to discuss your options.
Frequently asked questions about studying abroad
If you don't find the answer to your question below, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Our skilled study advisers are here to assist you in any way they can.
1. Can you help students from anywhere in the world?
Yes, our advisers can assist from any location. Counselling sessions are done via Skype, Zoom or a digital platform that works for you, as well as over the phone. All paperwork is received via a secure portal so advice and assistance can be offered to anyone without the need to come to our offices.
2. Do you have a special agreement with the institutions?
Yes, in most cases we will have a contract which allows us to represent the institution. This also means that the institution will have given specialised training to our study advisers and that we have direct access to the admissions teams.
3. Do I need to do a foundation/pre-university year or can I go direct to the first year?
This will depend on your grades. However, in most cases, you should be able to enter the first year if you have high grades and have studied for at least 12 years. It will also depend on your chosen country and institution so please discuss this with your study adviser.
4. How long will my visa last for?
Your visa will generally be valid for the duration of your course. However, this will depend on the type of visa you applied for. It may be possible to move to a post-study visa, depending on your course and which country you study in. Please speak to your study adviser for more details.
5. How long will my visa take once I have applied?
It will depend on the country and the type of visa you have applied for. There are also fast track visa application services for most countries. Speak to your study adviser to find out more.
6. Can you help with scholarships?
Most universities offer partial scholarships. However, these are normally academically based and take the form of a fee reduction once you’ve been accepted. You will still need to show proof that you can pay the fees before you will be accepted. Browse our list of recently announced partial scholarships to see if you might qualify.
7. Can I work while I study?
It will depend on your visa and country. In most cases, you will be able to work around 20 hours per week and full time during breaks.
8. Can I get my tuition deposit back if I decide not to go to the university I applied to or I get a visa rejection?
This will depend on the institution’s refund policy. In most cases you should be able to apply for a refund of your deposit if you receive a visa rejection.
9. When are the intake dates?
There are two intakes for most universities, one in January/February and the other in August/September. However, some universities offer a third intake in May/June.
10. Can I transfer my university credits to another university abroad ?
Yes, you can. Requirements will depend on the university where you're applying.
11. Can I do my honour's degree overseas?
Yes, you can. It would depend on the university and whether they have an honour's programme.
12. Can I remain abroad after I've completed my studies?
Your student visa will be valid only for the duration of your studies. However, many countries have immigration programmes for recent graduates. Your study abroad adviser will be able to provide more information about possible post study work visas.
13. Who can be my sponsor?
This is dependent on the visa restrictions of your destination country. Usually your sponsor needs to be someone in your direct family and you will need to provide proof of your relationship in your application.
14. Will I need to prove my English language ability?
This depends on the entry requirements of the university you apply to and what previous English qualifications you hold.
15. Do I pay tuition fees directly to the university and are there payment plans available?
Tuition fees are paid directly to the university through their chosen payment platform. Some universities will offer payment plans. Your study abroad adviser can help you discuss these options with your university of choice.
16. Can I take dependants with me?
This depends on which country you are studying in and your choice of programme. Most countries will allow you to bring dependants if you are studying a post-graduate research programme. Ask your adviser for more information on the different country requirements.
17. Can I apply for a short course abroad?
Unfortunately we are only able to assist students studying courses that are longer than nine months.
18. How long does it take to get an offer/response to an application?
Times can vary depending on the university and programme you are applying to, as well as the time of year the application is made. We cannot guarantee responses from univeresities within a certain timeframe. However, our advisers make sure to follow up regularly if no feedback is given after two weeks.
Meet the study abroad team
Our latest news and articles
Sending your kids to study abroad? Here’s what you need to know
Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity for your child to explore the world, grow as a person, expand their international network, gain international work experience and, in the process, become global citizens. But it can be daunting for parents to let their children move to a new country. We take a look at the step-by-step process to prepare your child for studying abroad to ease your worries.
The thought of sending your child off to study in a foreign country is enough to rattle the nerves of even the most easy going of parents but when you’re armed with information, you will feel better about making a seemingly scary decision.
Explore which countries and overseas universities are the best option
When your child presents you with the idea of studying abroad, the first thing you should do is explore all the options available. This isn’t restricted only to the course they wish to study, but also what different countries have to offer, the cost of living and how safe it is for someone who’s likely going to be living on their own for the first time.
Safety is one of the biggest concerns for parents who are considering sending their children off to study a foreign country. Aside from comparing universities, the courses that will help your child in their career goals and the fee costs, you can also investigate just how safe the towns or cities where the universities are located. You can check the crime rate in most first world countries online, sometimes right down to the neighbourhood, and make an informed decision this way.
It’s a good idea, during this phase of your investigations, for you to take a serious look at your budget because this limits the countries that your child will be able to go to. For example, in terms of tuition, countries like Mauritius and Hungary are more affordable than the UK and US. In Mauritius, you’re looking at anything between $8,000* and $12,000, while studying in Hungary will set you back between $6,000 and $10,000. Compare this to the US where tuition fees are between $10,000 and $80,000 and in the UK, where you’re looking at anything between $14,000 and $50,000.
And that’s just tuition. When taking your budget into consideration, you should also factor in what their living costs will be. Let’s say your child makes the decision to study in Mauritius, you’re looking at an additional $3,000 to $6,000. While in the UK that cost can skyrocket to $15,000, or $30,000 in the US.
*All figures in this article are correct as of 2022 and as on the day of currency conversion
How a study adviser can guide you
University and course advice
A qualified and knowledgeable study adviser will be able to help you in every aspect related to studying abroad. They will be able to answer all your pertinent questions and ease your anxieties. A study adviser will assist your child with choosing a course that can help them achieve their career goals and also find the best university for them to do this at.
They have your child’s best interest at heart and look at the full picture of their individual circumstances, as well as your financial position, to help your child make an informed decision. They will provide you with a list of university options depending on the information given to them and you’ll be able to select the option that suits your child best.
Other information a study adviser will be able to provide you with are the costs involved when studying abroad such as university application fees, tuition and living expenses as well any costs involving the visa application.
University applications
Now that your child has their shortlist of universities, the next step will be to submit their applications. All the relevant documents need to be verified, you need to keep in mind all application dates and know just what the university needs from you. Usually, applications can be made directly through the university’s website and all the required documents can be submitted this way. In some countries, applications can be made through a dedicated online platform that allows applications to more than one university at a time. For example, UCAS for the UK, where Sable International is a registered centre.
Our study advisers have direct access to over 250 universities’ admissions departments, making the application process smoother and giving your child’s application the best chance of success. We also give them support when writing their personal statements that are an important part of the application process. Having a study adviser takes a lot of anxiety and uncertainty out of what can be a very stressful time.
Applying for a student visa
The next step once your child has received their acceptance letter is applying for a student visa. There are a few requirements that can make this tricky to navigate. The first port of call would be to check the relevant government’s website and see exactly what is needed in order to apply for a student visa. Generally, you would need:
- An acceptance letter from the institution
- Proof of funding for your child's stay
- Proof of at least a partial payment for the course
- A valid passport
- SELT certificate (if needed)
- Health insurance
Having a study adviser to guide you can help take the anxiety out of this process. They will handle the application process, assist in preparing the necessary documentation as well as helping with the interview preparation if one is required for your child’s visa process.
Pre-departure assistance
Now that your child has their acceptance letter and their student visa, what happens next? Well, now they need to prepare for their big move. Things that need to be organised include:
- You will need to secure accommodation before their departure. Both on and off-campus accommodation have their pros and cons so this will need to be weighed up.
- Make sure that there is transport arranged when your child lands at the airport to transport them to their new digs.
- Sort out what they need to take with them and what can be acquired once they get to their destination country.
- You will also need to think about health insurance. As an international student, you will not have access to the health services of the country you are studying in and this is often a stipulation of your student visa.
How Sable International can assist you with your planning
All of this can be very overwhelming, especially if this is your child’s first time away from home. Our study abroad consultancy helps students from the moment they decide they want to study at an international institution, right up until they settle in their destination country.
Our study advisers will continue to assist them with all their pre-departure needs and questions. We will be on hand to make the transition as smooth as possible, including helping your child get settled in at their new university.
It’s not easy for parents to let their children leave the nest, especially when you have been their primary source of care for 18 years. But knowing that there will be a support system for your child by having someone to assist them in a new country can be a great relief for many parents.
Should your child be interested in studying abroad, you can join us at our free Global Citizenship and Residency Consultations in February and March. We will be visiting many locations around South Africa and you will have the opportunity to talk to one of our registered study advisers about your options.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us at sastudy@sableinternational.com or by calling +27 21 657 1543.
Our vision and mission
We believe in helping students explore all the options available for furthering their studies and acquiring a top-tier education.
We are proudly African and believe the best way to build local communities is through ensuring local students have access to the best education the world has to offer, so that they can bring those skills home.
- We provide unbiased information to our students about our institution partners.
- We value our partner institutions and see them as independent to our own mission.
- We see our students and institutions as part of our team and all strive for success together.
- We are disruptors in the market and do not follow trends.
- Our outlook is international, our empathy is local.
- We see education as the future.
Accredited members of ICEF
As the official, direct, in-country representative for our university partners, we continually train to ensure we are up to date with the correct procedures for each country and educational institute. We're proud to be accredited members of the ICEF, and confident in the exceptional service offered by all our study advisers.