The basic steps for applying abroad

--Identifying country, universities and the course of your interest.

--Request universities for Application forms

--Taking various required tests.

--Arranging and preparing Essays and recommendation letters

--Completing and Sending Application forms along with required documents

--Reporting various test scores to the universities

Application Requirements

Once you start receiving application forms and material, go through the material in detail and check the application deadline, minimum scores required in the standardized tests, recommendation letters needed and other such information.

Tabulate all these requirements and compare them with your objectives and group the universities under three categories:

Schools that seem to match your requirements.
Schools that are not suited to your needs.
Schools that do not completely fit in any of the above two categories.
Eliminate schools in Group 2 and check out in detail again the universities in Group 3. You can try and focus on departments that you would most like to attend and the school rankings in that field and any special facilities that the school may offer you in that field. Try and make a list of schools on basis of fresh and more specific criteria like:

Objectives of the program and kind of methodology as well as approach
Admission / Entrance requirements
Availability of assistantships and funds in the field of your choice
Research facilities
Location Profile of students enrolled
Narrow down your list to about 6-8 universities to whom you intend to apply.
Once you have decided on the universities to apply to, you have to start filling up the application forms. The forms will ask for your personal details, academic record, official transcripts, various essays, personal achievements, extra curricular activities and recommendation letters.

Objective Criteria

--Best program curriculum, length of program, choice of courses
--Best funding offer or best program with respect to costs
--Cost of living
--Strength of related departments/program
--Subjective Criteria
--Overall reputation of university/department/program
--Location-region, safety of neighborhood
--Climate
--Social life
--Facilities available
--Accommodation & housing