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Roadmap · Career

Masters and scholarships abroad (East Asia)

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For CS and engineering students and graduates anywhere who are thinking about a masters or PhD abroad and want a plan instead of rumours from agents and group chats. By the end you have a clear reason and budget, a shortlist of programmes that fit, a funding plan, test scores, strong documents, a visa file built from official pages and a plan for your time there.

Curated by Tauseef Fayyaz8 stages, 61 topics~7 months at a few hours a week
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By the end, you will be able to

  • Decide between a taught masters, a research masters, a PhD or working first, with the full cost and a realistic return written down
  • Build a 12 to 18 month plan and a tiered shortlist of programmes chosen on curriculum, research fit, outcomes and total cost
  • Apply for the scholarships and assistantships that fit your profile and destination, and avoid funding and agent scams
  • Write a specific statement of purpose, an academic CV and, for research degrees, a short proposal, and secure strong recommendation letters
  • Prepare a visa file from official government pages and arrive knowing the work rules and post-study options where you study

The path

8 stages, in the order to learn them. Open one to start.

  1. 1Decide whether, why and whatBefore any shortlist or test booking, decide why you want to study abroad, which degree fits that reason and what it will really cost. This stage turns "everyone is going" into a decision you can explain to yourself, your family and an admissions committee.7 topics · ~2 weeks
    1. 1Your real reason for goingStart by writing two or three sentences about what you want the degree to change.
    2. 2Masters, PhD or working firstYou have three main options.
    3. 3Taught or research degreeA taught masters is mostly courses and exams, with a project or short thesis at the end.
    4. 4The full cost, not just tuitionTuition is only one line in your budget.
    5. 5Return on investment, honestlyReturn on investment asks a simple question: is what you get back worth what you put in?
    6. 6What your destination really offersEach country offers a different mix of cost, degree length and work rights.
    7. 7The family conversationFor many students, parents, a spouse or relatives are part of the decision, and they may lend or give money.
    7 in this stageOpen this stage
  2. 2Your 12 to 18 month planWork backwards from your intake to a dated plan, and use the months before you apply to strengthen the parts of your profile that committees and scholarship panels weigh most.7 topics · ~2 weeks
    1. 1Intakes and application cyclesAn intake is the point in the year when a programme starts.
    2. 2Planning backwards from the deadlineTake your earliest important deadline and count backwards from it.
    3. 3The cost of applyingApplying costs money before you pay any tuition.
    4. 4Auditing your profile honestlyA profile audit is an honest look at what an admissions committee will see.
    5. 5Getting research experienceFor research masters and PhDs, research experience matters more than almost anything else.
    6. 6Documents that take monthsSome documents depend on offices you do not control.
    7. 7One tracker for everythingKeep one table with a row for each programme and each scholarship.
    7 in this stageOpen this stage
  3. 3Choose programmes and supervisorsBuild a shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes chosen on what you will actually learn, who you will work with, where graduates end up and what it costs to live there. For research degrees, find the groups and supervisors whose work fits yours.9 topics · ~4 weeks
    1. 1Using rankings carefullyUniversity rankings mix several things into one number: reputation surveys, research citations (how often a university's papers are referenced), staff to…
    2. 2Reading a curriculumOpen the programme handbook or module list, not the marketing page.
    3. 3Finding research groupsFor a research degree, the research group matters more than the university.
    4. 4Where graduates end upThe best evidence of a programme's value is what its recent graduates do next.
    5. 5City and cost of livingThe same degree costs very different amounts in a capital city and in a smaller university town.
    6. 6Entry requirements and your gradesEvery programme lists its entry requirements.
    7. 7Contacting potential supervisorsFor research masters and PhDs where a supervisor must accept you, a short, specific supervisor email helps.
    8. 8Advertised PhD positionsIn much of Europe, and increasingly elsewhere, many PhDs are advertised positions.
    9. 9A tiered shortlistFinish this stage with a tiered shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes.
    9 in this stageOpen this stage
  4. 4Funding and scholarshipsWork out how the degree will be paid for: fully funded scholarships, assistantships, university awards, low tuition options, family money and loans. Apply for the funding that fits your profile and destination, on its own timeline, and avoid the traps.8 topics · ~4 weeks
    1. 1The kinds of fundingFunding comes in a few forms.
    2. 2Fully funded scholarships, realisticallyBig government scholarships fund a small share of applicants each year.
    3. 3Assistantships and funded research degreesAn assistantship pays you, and often covers tuition, in exchange for work.
    4. 4University scholarships and fee waiversMost universities offer their own scholarships for international students.
    5. 5Family money and education loansIf you pay for yourself, be precise about where the money comes from, because visa officers ask.
    6. 6MEXT in JapanThe Japanese government's MEXT scholarship funds international research students and graduate students.
    7. 7GKS in Korea and CSC in ChinaThe Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) funds graduate study in Korea for international students.
    8. 8Singapore and Hong Kong research fundingSingapore and Hong Kong fund PhD students generously, through university research scholarships and government schemes.
    8 in this stageOpen this stage
  5. 5English tests and the GREFind out which tests your programmes and your visa accept, take the right one early with time for a retake, and decide whether the GRE is worth it for your list.7 topics · ~2 months
    1. 1Which English test to takeUniversities list the English tests they accept and the minimum scores, both overall and for each section.
    2. 2IELTS AcademicIELTS Academic tests four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
    3. 3TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBT is the academic English test from ETS, widely accepted in the United States and elsewhere.
    4. 4PTE Academic and the Duolingo English TestPTE Academic is a computer-based test of about two hours.
    5. 5English test waiversSome universities waive the English test if your previous degree was taught in English.
    6. 6The GRE, now optional in many programmesThe GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning (maths and data) and analytical writing.
    7. 7Booking, retakes and sending scoresBook your test two to four months before your first deadline, so you have time for one retake.
    7 in this stageOpen this stage
  6. 6Documents, applications and offersWrite the documents that decide most applications: a specific statement of purpose, an academic CV, strong recommendation letters and, for research degrees, a short proposal. Then submit early, handle interviews and compare offers calmly.9 topics · ~6 weeks
    1. 1A statement of purpose that is specificA statement of purpose is the essay that answers three questions.
    2. 2Tailoring for each programmeKeep one strong core for your statement of purpose: the story of your preparation and goals.
    3. 3A research proposal for PhD applicationsMany research degrees, especially in the UK, Europe and Australia, ask for a research proposal of a few pages.
    4. 4An academic CVAcademic CVs and industry resumes are different documents.
    5. 5Recommendation letters and how to askMost programmes need two or three letters of recommendation, also called reference letters.
    6. 6Transcripts, attestation and evaluationA transcript is the official list of your courses and grades.
    7. 7Scholarship essays and formsA scholarship essay answers different questions from a university application.
    8. 8Submitting early and carefullySubmit a few days before each deadline, not on the day.
    9. 9Interviews, offers and depositsSome programmes, most PhDs and many scholarships hold an admission interview with shortlisted applicants, usually by video.
    9 in this stageOpen this stage
  7. 7Visa, money and pre-departureTurn an offer into a visa and a safe arrival: prove your funds the way the rules require, prepare for the visa process, arrange health cover and housing, and avoid the scams that target students at exactly this point.6 topics · ~4 weeks
    1. 1Proof of fundsAlmost every student visa asks for proof of funds: evidence you can pay tuition and living costs.
    2. 2Student visas in Japan, Korea and ChinaIn Japan, your university usually applies for a Certificate of Eligibility on your behalf.
    3. 3Visa interviews and credibilitySome visa routes include a visa interview or a credibility check.
    4. 4Health cover and housingMost destinations require student health cover.
    5. 5Scams, fake agents and fake lettersStudents are targeted at every stage.
    6. 6Before you flyIn the final weeks, build a pre-departure folder.
    6 in this stageOpen this stage
  8. 8Making the degree countUse the degree well once you arrive: keep your grades and visa conditions safe, work within the rules, get internship and research experience, build a network, and decide calmly between staying and returning.8 topics · ~2 weeks
    1. 1The first weeksThe first weeks decide a lot.
    2. 2Grades, thesis and supervisorYour grades and thesis still matter after admission.
    3. 3Working within your visa rulesMost student visas allow limited part-time work during term and more during official breaks.
    4. 4Internships and research experienceInternships during or after the degree often lead to the first job, and research assistant work leads to PhDs.
    5. 5Building a networkMuch of the value of studying abroad is the people.
    6. 6Work during and after study in East AsiaIn Japan, students need permission to work part time.
    7. 7Returning home or stayingDecide with information, not guilt or pressure.
    8. 8Wellbeing and money abroadStudying abroad is demanding.
    8 in this stageOpen this stage

Build a project

A finished project proves more than a certificate.

  • Start with this onebeginner8 to 10 weeks · 1 or 2 students
    Masters Application and Scholarship Deadline Planner

    A tool you use for your own applications: deadlines with time zones, documents and referees in one place

    • Next.js or React
    • Node.js
    • PostgreSQL or SQLite
    • Prisma
    • Luxon or date-fns-tz for time zones
  • intermediate1 semester · 1 to 2 students
    Reproducing a Published Machine Learning Result with an Open Report

    The clearest evidence of research ability you can link on an academic CV or in an email to a supervisor

    • Python
    • PyTorch or scikit-learn
    • Jupyter or Google Colab
    • Weights and Biases or MLflow
    • Git and GitHub
  • intermediate10 to 12 weeks · 1 or 2 students
    Research Group Finder Built on Open Publication Data

    Solves your own supervisor search with open data, and shows data and ranking skills while you do it

    • Python
    • OpenAlex API
    • PostgreSQL or SQLite
    • FastAPI
    • React or Next.js

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