Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Help for students applying for overseas studies

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Dec. 30. This is the time of the year when a large number of students are busy applying to overseas universities for pursuing their higher studies.

The sheer logistics or obtaining applications, filling them up and sending them along with the required certificates to a number of universities in different countries can be mind-boggling.

TNT India, an Indian subsidiary of TPG NV, a global mail, express and logistics company, has come out with ``TNT Scholar Pak'', an express delivery service for students applying overseas.

Applications and testimonials sent through "Scholar Pak" will reach universities in Europe within two working days and those in the U.S., Canada and Australia within two or four working days, the company says. The critical factor that enables faster and accurate delivery of consignments is that they are delivered directly to the university while other service providers deliver them to PO Box numbers and this in turn will be routed through the local post office network and delivery will take longer.

TNT relies on the extensive database of university addresses across the U.S., Europe and other preferred student destinations for its service. This means, the applications reach the admission officers faster.

TNT also provides students with an information handbook on universities, travel and baggage information, a checklist of important documents required and tips on foreign exchange along with its service.

For example, students are reminded that they have to arrange for the completed applications, a bank draft for fee, the Statement of Purpose or SOP, transcripts, degree certificates for the course already passed, qualifying examination scores such as GRE, a work experience certificate where applicable and signatures in the documents at appropriate places.

There are also a list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers to them. Students are informed they can take the entire amount of tuition fee as traveller's cheques or DD favouring themselves or the university.

The only document required for release of tuition fees and living expenses is the admission letter.

For release of foreign exchange, they have to provide the Basic Travel Quota Form, A-2 form, and their airline ticket with a confirmed date of departure and the visa entry on their passports. All foreign exchange dealers will provide the required forms.

Students are also informed that their passports will be endorsed for traveller's cheques and cash but no endorsement is needed for drafts. Passport endorsement is not required if the parents are remitting the funds for the second year of a student already studying overseas.

Students can avail themselves of the service by logging onto www.tnt.com and check rates in an easy process. They can track online the movement of their applications and use the Proof of Delivery service to make sure the forms have reached the university. They also get the American Express booklet, ``Tips on Foreign Travel''.

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