Broaden your horizons by studying abroad

Studying abroad opens up your world to a wealth of opportunity. Expand your global network, increase your employability and experience things you never would have in your home country. Studying abroad could also open the door to immigration and even a second citizenship, if that’s an avenue you wish to explore.

With offices in South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda, we are ideally situated to help African students explore their global study options.

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How to study abroad

Student testimonials

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.

Why choose Sable International

Sable International has over 25 years of experience in immigration, visas and wealth. We help our clients in any aspect of internationalising themselves and studying abroad is no exception.

In 2021 Sable International joined with IE Abroad, a professional educational consultancy that assists students who wish to study overseas. Combining our expertise means that students get an exceptional service that helps them to achieve their career and study goals.

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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.

19. 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.

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