Send your child to school abroad. Free education for Russians abroad

You will need

- money to pay for education;
- a computer;
- access to the Internet;
- reference publications devoted to education abroad.

Instruction

Weigh your financial capacity to finance such training. The vast majority of scholarships are for students and scholars, and you will have to pay out of your own pocket for secondary education. Money will be needed not only to pay for the cost of education, but also for accommodation, which, most likely, will cost more than in Russia.

Select the type of training program. If the level of a foreign language is insufficient, you should start learning with language courses. Also decide on the length of study. For those who have never parted with their parents for a long time, leaving for another country for a whole year, a complete change of environment can be very stressful. For such a child, a short-term program, for example, summer courses, is suitable. If everything suits you and the child, the training can be extended.

Decide on the country where you want to send your child. If you are interested in English-language programs, pay attention not only to the USA and Great Britain, but also to countries less known for their traditions of education, such as Australia or Canada. Often there you can find very interesting programs at a lower price.

Find a specific training program. This can be done by contacting one of the specialized agencies or by finding a program on your own. This can be done with the help of specialized or on the websites of the educational institutions you are interested in. Also, specialized exhibitions dedicated to school education abroad are regularly held in large cities, where you can get a lot of useful information.
If yours has a cultural center in the country where you are going to send your child, contact them - they can also provide services for finding educational programs.

Enroll your child in the program of your choice and pay the required amount. It can be either full or partial cost of education. After payment, do not forget to ask for a confirmation document confirming the child's enrollment in an educational institution. Keep this document with you until the child leaves.

Take care of the necessary formalities. Register the child for a visa, if the child is flying without parents - one or with - issue a notary's permission to leave the child from one or both parents. If the departure for study coincides with the academic year, settle all the formalities in the Russian school - meet with the head teacher, discuss how the studies will be credited this year and how the quarter and annual grades will be set. If the child leaves to study abroad permanently, take the child's documents from the Russian school.

Tip 4: Rules for crossing the border of minors

It is great when adults and children have the opportunity to travel the world, visit relatives abroad or go to international resorts. If a minor family member is traveling with you across the border, you will need additional certificates and documents confirming your right to accompany the child or his right to travel independently.

What documents will be required for a minor traveling with adults

According to Article 6 of Federal Law No. 114 “On the Procedure for Departure from the Russian Federation and Entry into the Russian Federation”, entry and exit of citizens, regardless of age, are carried out in the presence of identity documents. Therefore, you need to issue a passport for the child in advance, since the passports of the parents, even if he is entered in them, are only a confirmation of kinship and the child is not allowed to leave on them. In the event that the child is included in the parents' passport, a photograph of the minor must also be pasted into it, regardless of how old he is.

In addition to their own passport, the child must also have a document confirming the relationship. If he goes on a trip with his parents, in addition to the entry in their passports, a birth certificate serves as a document confirming the relationship. When traveling with other adults - guardians, adoptive parents or caregivers - the child must have a certificate of guardianship. If the child's parents have different last names, a notarized copy of the marriage certificate is required.

When leaving the Russian Federation with only one of the parents, consent from the second parent for this trip is not required, but in many countries where you are, this consent may be required without fail. In the event that this consent cannot be obtained, you must have a document confirming this. Such documents include a certificate in form 25 issued by registry offices on the absence of a father, a death certificate of one of the parents, a certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs stating that it is impossible to determine the place of residence of the second parent.

If the child is not traveling with their parents or guardians, they will need official consent, which indicates the name of the accompanying person. Such consent must be obtained on behalf of each parent or guardian.

If the minor travels alone

In the event that a minor travels unaccompanied, he will need a passport, a copy of the birth certificate certified by a notary and the official consent of both parents, which must indicate the date of departure and the state where the child is sent. Often parents issue such consent, even if their child travels accompanied by adults, it is more convenient when he travels constantly. But it should be borne in mind that in this case, the responsibility for a minor citizen lies entirely with him.

Everyone has their own goals for traveling abroad: to relax, visit friends, get an education. It happens that it becomes necessary to send the child to another country alone.

You will need

Travel document, visa, notarized consent of the parents for the temporary departure of the child abroad, application form, medical insurance.

Instruction

Select the country to which you plan to send your child. States are divided into three categories for issuing visas: visa-free; issuance of visas in a short time and without difficulties; obtaining a visa requires a lot of time and additional documents. Each category can be found on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Without parents, children over the age of 5 years are allowed to travel abroad. When sending your child on a trip, please note that the childcare service is provided only on airplanes. In bus tours, sea trips and trains, such a bonus is not included in the duties of the staff.
Check with the airline for which you are purchasing a ticket, until the "baby sitter" service is available. In most cases, a person over 12 years of age will be given exactly as much attention as the rest of the passengers. At the request of parents, it is possible to pay for accompaniment for children under 17 years of age. Adolescents aged 16-18 have the right to travel abroad on their own.

The federal legislation of our country establishes a clear procedure for crossing borders by citizens, including those who have not reached the age of majority. In particular, Article 20 of Federal Law No. 114 states that “if a minor citizen of the Russian Federation leaves the Russian Federation unaccompanied, he must have, in addition to his passport, the notarized consent of the named persons to leave the minor citizen of the Russian Federation, indicating the period of departure and the state ( States) which (which) he intends to visit. It is enough to write out one permit, which will be valid from birth to the age of 16 and only for visiting those countries that are listed in this document.

Pay special attention to health insurance. It is desirable that the policy expires six months after returning from a trip. Calculate the amount of insurance so that it can cover not only treatment, but also transportation home. By paying for this document, you first of all save yourself from minor misunderstandings. Remember that we are talking about children, so do not skimp on safety.

As a trip, not a guest tour by invitation was chosen, but a tourist route? It also has its own nuances. Find out nutritional details. The team leader should be warned if there is an intolerance to any products. When taking medications, be sure to provide the child with the required amount, and also inform the team leader. Before you travel, ask if the medication you are taking is illegal to bring into your chosen country. It will not be superfluous to find out how safety is ensured during the entire trip. It is considered optimal if there is one adult for a group of babies of 6-7 people or teenagers of 10-12 people.

List of countries and modes of entry into their territory

Studying abroad can become a powerful springboard to a successful life, profitable international employment and good earnings.

Education received abroad is prestigious, of high quality and profitable: of course, the cost of programs and accommodation is quite high, but it pays off handsomely during employment, a foreign diploma from a prestigious university opens the door to the best international companies. The question remains - where to send the child to study abroad?

Where to send the child to study? Choice of country and study program.

At present, the vast majority of rating educational institutions are happy to accept foreigners, including students from Russia. If you prefer a truly prestigious education in an English-speaking country, pay attention to or. Educational standards are very high here, each educational institution is controlled and checked by government agencies, and the modern infrastructure and campus equipment is one of the best in the world. Also, high-quality education is provided by European countries - for example, and,. Here you can study several languages (for example, English and German), and the world's best profile programs, for example, technical universities in Germany or the famous Swiss hospitality schools, also serve as a significant advantage.

Statistics show that most often parents ask themselves, or. Be sure to take into account the difference between educational systems in Russia and abroad: even if your child was an excellent student in a Russian school, he will certainly need to deepen and update subject knowledge, not to mention a qualitative increase in the language level. Enrolling after the 9th grade, the student will be able to get a complete higher education already abroad, which will make it easier for him to get to the top universities. By choosing to study after grade 11, the student will be able to complete an effective university preparation program (usually they last only a year or two) and receive a prestigious higher education in the chosen country.

Language courses and camps: the best adaptation of a Russian student.

If a child has never traveled abroad alone, a long stay without relatives and friends will become tangible stress for him. The best initial option, if you decide to give your child the opportunity to study abroad, will be. Where to send the child on vacation? The choice is only yours! Many language schools, universities and colleges organize seasonal language courses and camps, which, in addition to academic training, provide a large number of recreational, sports and leisure activities. Sending a child to the camp means giving him the opportunity to fully adapt to the cultural, educational and linguistic environment, communicate with his peers from other countries, significantly improve the level of the language, and, finally, have a pleasant and useful vacation. In addition to the most popular summer courses, there are seasonal travel opportunities during the autumn holidays, during the winter and Christmas period, in the spring months - you just have to choose the country and the school of residence.

Thus, if you have firmly decided to send your child to study abroad, first you should try to pick up a seasonal camp, then you can sign up for longer English courses, and only then, having decided on the host country and educational institutions, apply for the program or.

Requirements for applicants

For admission to universities, most often, not only a certificate of secondary education is required, but also a certificate of the completed preparatory program. There are several of them (IB, A-level, Foundation) - they expand, deepen and update the subject knowledge of the student, improve the skills of general and academic English. The student learns to work effectively independently, write essays and conduct research, take notes and find information, develop the skill of critical and analytical thinking. All these skills will be very useful in higher education, as foreign higher education provides for a huge amount of independent work, unlike Russian universities.

Get ready for the fact that studying abroad is quite expensive. The leaders in terms of cost are, of course, the United States and Great Britain. More affordable, but not inferior in quality, training programs can be found in other English-speaking countries - for example, in Australia and Canada. In addition to the cost of education itself, you will need to pay the cost of living (on campus, in apartments or in a host family). But here you can be sure that the child will get really comfortable and safe conditions for living and learning. The campuses of foreign institutions are excellently equipped, equipped with modern technology, student residences are newly renovated, with comfortable furniture, and a large number of cozy common areas. Studying at a school, university or college, a student gets the right to use the entire sports infrastructure, computer classes and laboratories, resources of extensive libraries, etc. Definitely worth the money.

Contact the professionals

Smapse specialists are ready to help you with any questions if you decide to send your child to study abroad. Together with you, we will select the country and educational institution, the most convenient and suitable program for studying, we will help with paperwork. We work directly with schools, so the process of approving a place on a course is faster, and the cost does not include work with intermediaries. Foreign education is prestigious and of high quality, and we will do everything so that you can see this for yourself.

In today's dynamic world, many things are changing and irrevocably a thing of the past. However, some values still remain a priority, despite the trends of the time and fashion, and a good education is one of them. For many years it has been considered the best solution for those who want to give their children a truly high-quality and promising education.

At the same time, teaching a child in Europe for foreigners, especially young ones, may not be the easiest. A new environment, a different language and program, a change of environment - all this, out of habit, can subject the student to serious stress. But there is a way to soften the process of transition and addiction if you are determined that your child should study abroad.

At what age can a child start studying in Europe?

There is no unequivocal answer to this question: some experts insist that a child's study abroad should be started as early as possible. Others say that it is better to transfer a student abroad no earlier than the children finish primary school in Russia.

This divergence of opinion is due to several factors - too early separation from parents (not every child may be ready for it), the need for guardianship and support. Another thing is if the whole family lives abroad, then the child can be safely sent to educational centers or institutions appropriate for their age.

Thus, the transition of the child to secondary school, that is, from the age of 10-12 years, can be considered the optimal time to start a child's education in Europe.

Secondary education abroad

In Europe, the system of secondary education is similar: foreign and Russian students are trained at several levels - primary school, middle and high school - after which they pass the final exam and receive an international certificate. As a rule, for citizens of the country, secondary education is mandatory, therefore, from the age of 5-6, children already begin the educational process.

Each country has its own educational program. Some countries offer for children, schoolchildren and adolescents not only national training courses, but also those created by other countries.

For example, in Switzerland, secondary education is received under the program Swiss Matura, American High School, British or A-level, French Baccalaureate, German Abitur, Italian Maturita. Also in European countries, an international mixed-type program is popular - International Baccalaureate.

Education at the mentioned stage lasts until the age of 16, after which each child passes the final exam, thanks to which he receives (a certificate of secondary education). After that, a teenager can either continue his studies (from 16 to 18 years old) and then enter, or start his career path.

In Canada or the United States, secondary education can be continued in colleges where students already receive secondary specialized education - technical, humanitarian and others. Some colleges offer students higher education programs - a bachelor's degree. But to obtain a master's degree, the student must already go to the university.

Teaching a child in Europe and receiving secondary education abroad has a number of advantages:

The fastest way to learn a foreign language. There is no better way to learn a new language than immersion in its habitat. And the longer the period of stay abroad, the better the result will be. Children and teenagers are better at assimilating new information, therefore, their progress is shown quickly.
Adapting to another country is a useful life experience. Yes, at the initial stage it is not easy. However, under such conditions, foreign and Russian children, schoolchildren and adolescents significantly increase their independence, because they will learn to cope with some tasks from adult life without the help of their parents.
Study in a friendlier environment. Teachers of foreign schools do not criticize children for mistakes, but consider them an integral part of gaining experience and the educational process. In secondary schools abroad, teachers and students communicate on an equal footing. Every student knows that they can always turn to an adult for help and get support and useful advice. This format of training helps children learn to solve problems faster and more efficiently.
Students choose their own subjects to study. Abroad, schoolchildren have more freedom than in domestic institutions. Of course, there is a list of general education subjects that must be studied. However, the student can spend the remaining time on studying disciplines of interest to him, whether it be in-depth chemistry or theater lessons. Of course, no one will issue a certificate to schoolchildren just like that - to receive a document, you need to collect a fixed number of credits (study hours)
Creativity and sports are part of the curriculum. European education is aimed not only at intellectual development, but also comprehensively. Therefore, studies in secondary school will not be limited to the study of mathematics or English. For example, sports clubs in American or Canadian schools provide students with an excellent opportunity to play sports at a professional level. British educational institutions offer types of physical activity that have become real classics - fencing, rowing, cricket. Also, English schools respect debating clubs.
A secondary school abroad prepares students for admission to world universities. The foreign education system is designed in such a way that teaching a child in European educational institutions is the right way to enter the best universities in the world. Since in a few years of high school a foreign student will be able to master English or another language at a confident level, get used to the educational nuances, it will not be difficult for him to prepare as effectively as possible for the entrance exams and become a student at a prestigious university.

The process of applying to a school abroad

What must be done to become a student of any? The scheme is very similar in most institutions, and more detailed requirements can always be found on the official website of the school. The more prestigious the school and the higher its rating, the more difficult the admission process can be. Enrollment itself abroad is not as fast as it is with us - it can take several months and even years from the moment you apply to the school until the moment your child enters.

First, you choose several schools that you consider the most suitable for your child, and then send an application there (this is a package of documents, which will be discussed later) - it is advisable to do this at least six months before the start of the school year. As a rule, if the request was sent between January and February, then its consideration will take place from May to June. Potential students undergo a personal interview, take a test to determine the level of knowledge, after which, based on all the data collected, the selection committee forms a psychological portrait of the student and makes a decision on enrollment.

There is good news: if your application is refused in response, do not despair ahead of time - it is possible that there will be a shortage at school, and then those who for some reason did not pass initially will be enrolled.

Thus, we recommend starting preparation somewhere a year in advance: study the schools, look at the requirements for admission, if necessary, improve your knowledge (including the skill of proficiency in the necessary foreign language), pass the test and wait for a response letter.

Package of documents and tuition fees

Education of a child in Europe has different prices, which are formed taking into account various factors: the country, the rating of the educational institution itself, the type of school (public or private), the level of the teaching staff and the curriculum.

For studying in Europe, British educational institutions are most often chosen. Although studying here is recognized as one of the most expensive: for a year's education at a boarding school, the student's parents will need about £ 30-40,000, and a little less for daytime education - from £ 15 to £ 25,000.

Switzerland is also popular among foreign and Russian students, despite the fact that the prices here are quite high: education in a boarding house is from 50 to 80 thousand Swiss francs, in a day school - 20,000–45,000 CHF.

A year of study in the United States will cost caring parents about 45-60 thousand dollars. Canadian high schools educate international students at rates ranging from 35,000 to 55,000 local dollars.

Higher schools in France, Germany (and there are many free higher education institutions), Italy, Austria and other countries are considered to be more budgetary countries for obtaining secondary education in Europe and abroad. Here, without much difficulty, you can find a good private school in the price range from 20 to 35 thousand euros for one academic year.

The indicated cost includes the passage of the curriculum, accommodation (if the school is a boarding school), meals, extracurricular programs (excursions, cultural events, evening events), as well as classes in sports and creative sections. An additional expense item is the purchase of air tickets, visas and insurance.

An approximate list of papers required by a foreign student to enter a secondary school abroad looks like this:

children's international passport, valid for at least a year in advance (in some educational institutions and for the entire period of study);
report card for the last year or certificate;
a letter of recommendation from a representative of the previous school (it is written by the class teacher or director);
test results that determine the level of language proficiency;
medical card with data on vaccinations;
statement of awards or diplomas received earlier.

It is better to check the exact list of required documents on the official website of the school.

We are ready to help you with the choice of a suitable school and give free advice on any issue!

The idea of teaching children abroad has been absorbing the minds of Russians for a good ten years now. It is considered prestigious. “My child is studying in England” - you must admit, it sounds very nice. A phrase uttered to the envy of friends and colleagues emphasizes a certain status. But is everything so clear? And how, realizing your own ambitions, do not forget about the interests of the child himself? This was told by the famous family psychologist of Vladivostok Oleg Yuryevich Sumarin.

In no country in the world is it customary to send young children to study abroad

It is worth noting that the problems that we will talk about relate primarily to school-age children.

Why did study abroad become popular? Well, of course, it's the media. The more publications about a wonderful life somewhere out there, the more people want to send their child abroad. When our child from Russia comes there, it turns out that he is an order of magnitude more intelligent and developed than his peers. Because our school education is much better, and this is a fact. From my point of view, this is commerce. Our children study there on a paid basis, and therefore the business is put on a grand scale. Quite often, children are sent at the age of 7-8 years, when the personality has not yet been formed.

An example from the practice of helping children, traumatized by training abroad and early separation from parents.

Boy 10-11 years old, studying in England

The mother of her son, a child of 10-11 years old, brings me to an appointment. The boy is inclined to be overweight, and this is also an indicator of psychological instability, because it is known that being overweight is often a way to protect a person who seizes any problem. Moreover, this boy behaves maturely beyond his years, despite his age, he argues and behaves like an adult responsible for his parents. It is also striking that he has signs of neurosis: twitches, obsessive movements, etc. The mother declares the following problem: her child behaves inappropriately at school. He pokes at classmates with scissors, periodically arranges some kind of tantrums, to the point that the question of expelling him from school is raised.

All the children over the age of 16 to whom I provided psychological assistance stated that they would not send their child abroad. These children, deprived of their parents and their native country, no longer know another way of existence.

I became interested, and I began to ask about the school. And it turns out that this child is studying in England. Moreover, he lives in a strange family that watches over him. They sent him away at the age of seven. When I found out about this, I was slightly shocked. Why? How can a loving mother send her child to another country? And my mother tells me that he himself decided so. Question: how can a seven-year-old child decide for himself where to study? And decide to leave your parents?

I start working with the boy and I understand that he is behaving asocially deliberately. Subconsciously, he has only one motivation: to be taken home. He attracts attention and does everything to return to his own family. He behaves like an adult, tired of the burden of problems. This child carries the problems of his father and mother into his life. Mom, who saw all this, bursts into tears. Of course, she understands that the life of the child is crippled and that she is doing the wrong thing by leaving him in a foreign country, but reassures herself that she wants a better future for her child. The worst thing is that the child tells his mother that if she is better, then he will go back. This child sacrifices himself, his life for the good of his mother. How can a child trust other people if his own mother betrays him?

The girl went to study in Switzerland at the age of 10

A girl of about seventeen comes to me. She was sent to study in Switzerland at the age of 10. Her younger sister, 12 years old, also studies there. The girl again has chronic loneliness, self-doubt, distrust of the world. She is absolutely reasonable and clearly aware of her problems. The girl realizes that she carries the problems of her father and mother into her life - their relationship problems, responsibility for their wrong decision to send her to study abroad when she was too young. What is happening to her? She does not see herself in the future, she does not have a basis from which she would start, and the reason for this is the early separation from her parents.

A very important point. All the children over the age of 16 to whom I provided psychological assistance stated that they would not send their child abroad. These children, deprived of their parents and their native country, no longer know another way of existence. They are products of a completely different social environment, other civilizational norms and rules. They are very closed, it is very difficult for them to talk about their problems. If here, at home, the child was a representative of a class with high social opportunities, then there he is out of context. There he becomes one of many, finds himself in a completely different social structure.

Children who have been sent to live and study abroad experience a sense of fear when they return to their homeland. Russia becomes a foreign and incomprehensible country for them. Such children are deprived of a sense of security in life.

Here, being with parents, the child has the opportunity to go somewhere, develop and strive for something, he can prove to the world that he, like his parents, is something. There, of course, he is deprived of it. I, like many psychologists, believe that there is a time for everything. It is better that the child reaches the age of majority, and then he can safely receive education abroad. He himself can decide how much and where to study, what to do after school.

What are the main issues related to this topic?

The problem of loneliness and self-doubt. This applies to almost all children sent abroad at an early age. They are characterized by isolation and nervousness, since they are psychologically unprepared and deprived of communication with their parents. We do not take phone or skype into account now. Mom should hug, stroke her child, cook him and pay attention. Only in this case the child will feel her presence and support.
Abroad, the child is left to himself, and against the background of a psychologically unstable state, children often try to solve the problem through the use of drugs. Any addiction is a search for a solution to an internal, deep problem.
The complexity of social adaptation abroad . This is due to the fact that children from wealthy families are most often sent abroad. Here, in Russia, their parents are people with a certain status, to which the child himself is accustomed. When sent abroad, his status level is lowered, which negatively affects his social achievements.
Most families who have decided to send their child to study abroad serious partnership problems. Because parents who love each other are always next to their child. Very often, the consequences of parental partner problems are taken on by children who are distant from the family, considering themselves guilty of the problems of their parents.
Children who have been sent to live and study abroad experience a sense of fear when they return to their homeland. Russia becomes a foreign and incomprehensible country for them. Such children are deprived of a sense of security in life. It does not matter where they subsequently live. It turns out that there, abroad, they are not quite their own. Such a child turns out to be at home among strangers, a stranger among his own.

Returning to whether this is good or bad, I can answer unequivocally: everything has its time. The Chinese are smart in this regard: they send their children after school, when they gain support under their feet, know who they are in this world, and calmly immerse themselves in a different environment. They don't have to prove anything to anyone. They can be independent and self-sufficient. And then on this basis in learning, children receive additional bonuses as a foreign language and broadening their horizons.

It is best to proceed in stages

First, preparation is needed: a child up to the 11th grade can travel abroad with his parents, go to language courses in other countries. There is a very important point here: such a child knows for sure that he will return home to his family and will not lose the support and protection that his native country and family give him. It retains its identity, its ancestral roots. And when the time comes, after graduating from school in Russia, a young man or girl can decide where to continue their education. This is an independent, balanced decision, the responsibility for which lies with the young man himself.

To give a decent education to a child is, no matter how trite, one of the main duties of parents. It is on this that his career and the ability to provide himself with everything necessary in adulthood depend, not least, in the future. You need to think about the education of a child not when he is already finishing school and entering a university, but much earlier - when he just has to go to school. Many parents prefer to give foreign education, believing that it is better - more informative, more useful and easier to learn than domestic.

The choice of an educational institution depends on many factors, but the most important are the following:

state orientation (in which country do parents want their child to be educated);
the age of the child (choosing a university for a foreigner is much easier than choosing an elementary school);
living with parents in the chosen city or a full boarding house (in the latter case, there are much fewer options for schools, but still enough);
the cost of education (in different schools, even in the same city, the cost of education can vary significantly, and sometimes this is the determining criterion).

What is the best age to start studying abroad?

One of the most important questions. Where is the line when it is not too late for a child to learn, but not too early? Experts definitely do not recommend starting education in elementary school. Theoretically, this is possible, but in practice it is not the best option. And even the fact that in most countries of the world there are no grades in the first grade, since children are adapting to new conditions, does not affect this opinion: such adaptation is difficult even in their native country, and when it comes to teaching children abroad, more.

In addition, at an early age (6-8 years), not all children are ready to part with their parents for such a long time. They are not yet independent, they need guardianship and care. Therefore, psychologists are unanimous in their opinion that it is dangerous to start teaching children abroad at this age: this can lead to serious psychological trauma.

If the child lives in this country with parents

In this case, the question disappears by itself: as soon as he reaches the age when it is time to send him to kindergarten or elementary school, you should not put it off: let him get an education corresponding to his age.

In many countries there are not only gardens, but also nurseries. Should you send your children there? If both parents are Russian-speaking, this makes sense: the baby will get to know the culture of the country where he lives. If one of the parents is a native speaker of the local language and culture, it is not always necessary to send the child to a nursery.

The garden is a completely different matter. In general, ordinary kindergartens are designed for the following ages:

If the child lives in a boarding house

It is recommended to start teaching children abroad at the age of 10-15 years. At 10, the child is already quite independent, but at the same time, the speech apparatus is still able to adapt to new speech, so that the child will soon be able to communicate in a foreign language not only with a good vocabulary, but also without an accent.

On the other hand, at the age of 14-15, he is already more mature, received a good “native” education (at this age, 8th or even 9th grade is completed in Russia) and probably has experience of living separately from his parents - in a camp, on long trips with class. At this age, children are more sociable, they know how to build relationships, so it will be easier for them to join a new team.

Later, it will be difficult to enter a foreign school: countries where education is traditionally considered high-quality (England, Switzerland) do not accept foreign students in high school. It is only possible to transfer between schools, but it will not work here to start studying in the last grades: either get a certificate in Russia and immediately enter the university, or deal with this issue earlier, enter a secondary school, and then, if desired, transfer to another , more prestigious.

How to enter a foreign school?

The procedure for admission in each school is different, it is clearly formed and spelled out in the charter. Often it is also posted on the official website, which allows you to immediately weed out schools with too complex requirements.

The more prestigious the school, the more difficult it is to enter there. But prestige is not always associated with the quality of education - it can be competent advertising, the image of a status school of a closed type, living conditions, extracurricular activities. Therefore, you should not stop at one school - it is better to study several options and choose the best one.

Admission to schools abroad is not as fast as it is here - in August you brought the documents, and in September you are already studying. Here, candidates undergo a knowledge test, a personal interview, members of the selection committee make up a psychological portrait of the student. Based on the results of these events, a decision is made: entered or not. Typically, applications are accepted in January-February, and their consideration is in May-June. If a refusal came, do not be upset: perhaps there will be a shortage in the school, and therefore they will accept those who did not pass right away. Although, of course, it is better to consider several options at once.

That is, you need to prepare for admission at least a year in advance - find out the requirements, submit requests, “sip” knowledge. Then you have to complete the test (in some schools it can be taken remotely, but more often the student’s personal presence is still required) and wait for the result.

It is noteworthy that the solvency of parents is not always the determining factor for the commission. Even when they are ready to pay for education for several years in advance, if the child does not fit the level of knowledge, most likely they will not be accepted.

Documents required for admission to a foreign school

The exact list of documents is specified in the administration of the selected educational institution. The list often looks like this:

a child's international passport with a validity period of at least one year (some schools require that the validity period correspond to the entire period of study);
certificate or report card for the last academic year;
letter of recommendation from the class teacher or school administration;
a letter of recommendation from a teacher of a foreign language (if the language in which the training will take place was studied) or a profile subject (if the school is specialized - with a mathematical, physical, IT bias);
language proficiency test results;
diplomas and awards received in the last 2 or 3 years;
vaccination card.

All documents must be translated into a foreign language and notarized. Typically, the deadline for submitting documents is short, so they should be prepared in advance.

Do I need to learn a language before traveling?

Of course, knowing the language of instruction is an undeniable advantage. Imagine yourself in the place of a child who finds himself in an unfamiliar place where everyone speaks an unfamiliar language. Of course, in a few months he will begin to understand something and even speak, but time will be irretrievably lost. Therefore, having decided on the school or at least the country of study, it is necessary to start learning a foreign language. However, if we talk about multilingual countries, then here it is necessary to decide on the school, since different languages are used here in different regions.

Multilingual countries of Europe

At the same time, it is important to remember that language teaching should not be carried out according to the national school curriculum and not in courses by graduates of Moscow State University, but, ideally, in private classes with a native speaker - he will be able to give not only theory, but also practice, which is so often lacking . After all, living in another country, the child will have to use not only literary, but also spoken language, which sometimes differs significantly.

Language camps will also be useful - this is a great option for the summer holidays: the child is in business, and the program in the camps is often interesting.

You should not expect that the child will know the language at 100% or at least 80%. But the base that he will receive, for example, for a year of study, will be enough to adapt and at first understand at least something. Being in another country for the first time, understanding 10-20% of what they say to you is already an excellent result.

You should not choose a school in which there are many Russian-speaking children. At first glance, this seems to be a good solution, because:

the child will have someone to communicate with;
he will not forget his native language;
he won't feel lonely.

Actually this is a big mistake. Communicating in his native language, he will not have such a powerful incentive to learn a foreign language, and therefore master the school curriculum. Here it is worth remembering why children choose to study abroad.

How much does it cost to study at a school abroad?

It depends on the country, on the popularity of the school, on the form of ownership (state general education, state specialized or private). State, of course, cheaper. Private ones are more expensive.

Prices for studying abroad

To these figures it is worth adding the cost of a one-time fee (in many schools it is mandatory and changes from year to year), travel with the school and the sports club, as well as just accommodation.

Is it possible to study abroad for free?

Surprisingly, there is such a possibility! In some countries, there are special programs under which grants (scholarships) are paid to potential foreign students. So the country stimulates the influx of foreigners who are likely to continue further education in it, and later - will work and pay taxes.

It is worth noting that often the competition in such programs is great. But perhaps it is your child who will succeed in achieving his goal.

Free education programs

Name	The country	Description	What does it cover	What does not cover
HMC Projects	United Kingdom	The program is aimed at residents of Central and Eastern Europe. 65 scholarships are awarded annually.	Education, accommodation, meals, travel with the school. Additional financial assistance – 700 euros	Flights, school entrance fee, pocket money
FLEX	USA	Provides the right to free education in the United States, but the school is chosen at the discretion of the organizers of the program	Flight, training, homestay. Additional Financial Assistance - $125 per month.	Pocket expenses.
UWC	USA, Canada, Italy, UK, Norway, India, Holland, China	International program - every year different educational institutions allocate places.	Two years of study, flight, accommodation.	Pocket expenses

Teaching children abroad is a great opportunity. This is the right decision that will help in the further development of the child as an individual and as an international specialist. The only thing left is to choose where to get an education.

Portal for the student. Self-training