Study in Mexico: January 2009

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Study Expenses & Educational Aid

A student can avail of the following method as far as financial aid, expenses and grants in Mexico are concerned:

Loans:
If the student plans to apply for a loan, then they should fill out a Summer Supplement for Financial Aid. If all the loan money is used, then the parents of the concerned student may qualify to take the loan. All they need to do is fill out a form called the PLUS (Parental Loan for Undergraduate Students).

Scholarships:
The students can avail scholarships from the Office of International Programs. To do so, contact them directly and ask them how to apply for the scholarship program

Student Visa Details

There are certain procedures and requirements that a student needs to fulfill if he/she plans to study more than 6 months at a Mexican University or college must get a student visa before coming to Mexico. The application requirements are as follows:

Apply in person to the Mexican immigration office in their country/city
Submit the Letter of Acceptance from the school or university in which the student wishes to pursue further studies.
Submit 6 front-view and 5 profile photographs, 2"x2", with a white background
Certificate declaring the student is in good health
Consular visa fee of 29.00 US $ is required for some nationalities

Please note that any student enrolling for a course of duration six months (or less) can legally enter into Mexico with a tourist card, and does not necessarily need a visa.

PhD Programs

The following are the Doctorate Degree programs available for students in Mexico:

1. PhD in Philosophy: The Doctorate degree in Philosophy's main stress is in the fields of international, national and regional development. The duration of this course is three years though students can complete the same in less than three years as well.

A student must hold a Master's Degree, preferably in Philosophy before applying for a PhD in the same. During the first six months of the course, the students attend seminars, conferences and research. After the end of their first year, the performances of the students are analyzed based on their fieldwork.

2. PhD in Nursing Sciences: The PhD in Nursing Sciences is a unique research program for students whose main concentration is on the advanced clinical practices, the various research methodologies, and the administration of complex nursing services. This course is for those students who want to pursue a career in nursing.

A student must hold a Master's Degree, preferably in Nursing Sciences before applying for a PhD in Nursing Sciences.

3. PhD in Endodontics/Endodontology: The PhD in Endodontics/Endodontology main aim is to provide advanced study in the field of morphology, physiology and pathology of the dental grind of human beings. It is a highly helpful field of study for those students who want to pursue a career in the field of dentistry. It also imparts knowledge through research and lab sessions as to how to treat internal diseases and injuries to teeth, pulpal disease, etc.

A Student must hold a Master's Degree in Endodontics/Endodontology before applying for a PhD in Endodontics/ Endodontology.

4. PhD in Medicine: The PhD in Medicine program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in the field of medicine. It provides an exhaustive training in biomedical science as well as clinical sciences. Once the student completes the full course, the PhD and MD degrees are awarded at the same time. After completing the PhD in Medicine, a student can pursue different research related work and can even take up work related to investigation in the field of biomedical research.

5. PhD in Engineering (Civil): The PhD degree in Engineering is designed for those students who already have a Master's degree in the field of Engineering. The main areas of study in this course are:

Construction Engineering and Management
Environmental
Geotechnical
Hydraulics and Water Resources
Structures
Transportation

6. Ph.D in Art History: The Ph.D program in Art History stresses the study of visual art for the understanding of the intellectual and cultural history of humanity. It provides a base in both Western and non-Western art history in relation to liberal arts of edication. It consists of topics as vast as arts of pre and post contact cultures and cultures of North, Central and South America. The following are the fields of specialization in the Ph.D in Art History:

Meso American and South American Art and Achitecture
Ancient and Modern Native American Arts
Spanish Colonial Art and Architecture
Nineteenth and Twentieth century Latin American Arts

7. Ph.D in Chemistry: The Ph.D program in Chemistry emphasizes the development of a strong base in the fundamentals of Chemistry. There are well equipped research laboratories and teaching faculties who offer research and studies in the specialized areas. The student can choose from many of the specialized courses that are on offer. There are many faculties who are specialized in some of the major fields of chemistry like inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, biochemical and environmental chemistry. These faculties provide some excellent help as far as research and study is concerned.

8. Ph.D in Latin American: This Ph.D degree in Latin American instills a broad based study and understanding in the field of humanities and social sciences in the students. This helps the student choose the particular field of study which interests them. The Doctorate course in Latin American is helpful for students who seek an opportunity in the field of Government service, teaching, business, travel and tourism or inter-American organizations. This course is aimed at small groups of students who specifically take up this course with their goals well defined and who want their careers to progress systematically because of this interdisciplinary doctorate

9. Ph.D in Optical Science and Engineering: This Doctorate degree offers courses relating to all aspects of optics, be it theoretical or experimental. The students who take up the Ph.D course in Optical Science and Engineering seek a career in science and industry. This is an ideal course for those students who have a background in electrical engineering and those who have an active interest in physics. An orientation towards optics is also required to successfully complete this course. This course aims to go beyond the problems of fundamental scientific interest and extends it into more applied areas as well.

10. Ph.D in Physics: The Ph.D in Physic's main course of study contains the study of atmospheric physics and astro physics. The students who choose to pursue a Ph.D in Physics get to work in various research areas irrespective of the specialization they choose. These might include areas like:
Cloud physics and thunderstorm studies
Lightning and atmospheric electricity
Clouds and Climate
Middle atmospheric photochemistry
Atmospheric radioactivity
The research study might also include the development of certain instruments
which are used in the experimental studies.

11. Ph.D in Rhetoric and Professional Communication: The Ph.D program in Rhetoric and Professional Communication is an inter-disciplinary program which aims to prepare the students for the research and teaching positions in various educational institutions including colleges anduniversities or various other training institutions. The main course of study under this program includes the use of language and technology effectively, instructional designing, editing and publishing. The areas which this course covers are the following:

Theory of rhetoric and communication
Applications of rhetoric and communication
Specialized area

Please note that the Ph.D course in Rhetoric and Professional Communication requires that a student have an advanced understanding in a foreign language, an internship in professional writing apart from a dissertation.

Master's Degree Programs

The following Postgraduate courses are available for students in Mexico:

1. Master of Arts in International Service: The MA degree in International Service programs provides the student with an opportunity to gain some theoretical as well as practical hands-on experience in different cultures. The program is specifically designed to prepare the students for careers in social service to different communities on national and international levels.

The students applying for a Master;s Degree in International Service must have completed their Bachelor's Degree before

The main area of the course includes the following:

Reflection on Service-Learning
Social and Cultural History of Jamaica or Mexico
Contemporary conditions of Jamaica or Mexico
Cultural Context through Language and Literature
Case Study in Addressing a Community Need
Research Methods and Thesis Writing
Structure and Management for Not-For-Profit Organizations
Global Governance and Citizenship
Development Studies
Project Management and Service Delivery or Managing in the Voluntary Sector
Thesis

2. Master of Education in Organizational Management: The post graduate degree of Education in Organizational Management course is designed for professionals, teachers or administrators. The program devises methods to enhance the performance of the teaching staff, administrators and other staff who work in public and private schools.

The program includes the following:

Leadership in Transition
Learning as a Strategy
Professional Development and Training Processes
Leveraging Technology
Research Strategies
Measurements and Evaluations
Fund Raising Seminars
Consultative Process Skills
Organizational Strategy and Design
Human Resources and Organizational Potential
Financial Management of Non-Profit Organizations
Project Seminar

3. Master of Education in International Education: The Master's degree in International Education stresses on the theory and practice and application of all the knowledge a student can apply in the professional field. This course is designed in such a way that the students grow critical thinking skills that are very much fundamental to learning.

The program includes the following:

First Year

Technology in Education
Research Methods
Innovative Practices in Education
Theories in Curriculum Design
Adolescent Psychology in a Cross-cultural setting
Intercultural Communication

Second Year

Strategies for Change in International Schools
Leadership in International Schools
Language Diversity in Education
Clinical Experience
Reflective Seminar
Final Research Project

4. Master of Business Administration: The main program of study for the MBA program is as follows;

Managing in the Evolving Workplace
Business Research Methods
Business Research Seminar - I
Marketing and Customer Value Management
E-Commerce and Evolving Business Practices
Entrepreneurial Endeavors
Business Research Seminar - II
Financial Reporting and Analysis
Managing Information Systems
Human Resources in Transition
Accounting from a Manager's Perspective
Business Research Seminar - III
Managerial Finance and Decision Making
Operations and Logistics Management
Managing in the Global Business Environment
Business Policy and Strategy

5. Master of Arts in International Relations: After a student has completed his Master of Arts in International Relations, he/she is qualified to work in the field of consulting, commerce, journalism or even Foreign Service. It prepares a student to enter the global marketplace.

6. MA in Counseling Psychology: This program has been developed in such a way that the student gets to learn about Liberation Society Psychology (la psicologia social de la liberacion), which was initiated by Salvadorian Jesuit Ignacio Martin-Baro. The main aim of this program is to train and develop the critical consciousness and the development of social clinical skills.

The students are trained and addressed on the following:

Family Relationships
Couple Conflict
Child and adolescent behavioral and emotional problems
Addictions and Substance Abuse
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual Abuse Recovery
Anger Management
Separation and Divorce
Parent Education and Skill Development
Personal Growth and Life Transitions
Depression and Anxiety
Women's and Men's issues
Premarital Counseling
Body Image/ Self Esteem
Loss and Grief Issues

Internship Programs

The following are the Internship Programs available for students in Mexico:

1. Internships in Health Outreach, Oaxaca: The main focus of this internship program is to develop a healthy work and cultural immersion which further aids in tremendous growth experiences for all the students participating in the program.

The students enrolling for the health internship get a chance to work on real projects to get some real hands-on experience. They also get to work with the local health care providers and community members during the internship program.

The candidates must have a basic medical training (first aid), intermediate Spanish skills and a desire to explore, before they apply for this internship program.

There are various travel types available under this internship program, which are as follows:

Archaeology
Hiking
Student Tours
Backpacking
Homestay
Tours
Bird watching
Eco Tours
Ecology
Mountaineering
Nature Tours
Overland Tours
Tours
Volunteering

The various intern types available are:

Biomedical Sciences
Health Sciences
Medicine
Nursing
Occupational, Environment and Health
Pharmaceuticals
Social Work
Women's Studies

2. Intern in Latin America: To serve as an intern in Latin America, a student must fulfill the following criteria:

He/she must be atleast 16 years old by September 1st of the year in which they decide to volunteer service
Have completed two years of high-school level Spanish, or the equivalent
Adhere to the standards of conduct and community behavior
Fulfill fundraising and training requirements
Receive required immunizations

The intern types available are as follows:

Agricultural Sciences
Animal Sciences
Archaeology
Business Administration and Management
Counseling
Development
Education
Environmental Management
Field Study
Interdisciplinary
Occupational, Environment and Health
Tourism

3. Human Rights Internship/ Volunteering in Cuernavaca, Mexico: The intern types available for the Human Rights Internship course are as follows:

Law
Social Work

4. Adventure/ Eco Travel internship: This internship is great for those who wish to improve their Spanish skills and the Mexican culture. The applicant must have a working knowledge of English and Spanish, both. They should be physically fit as well.

The travel types available for this intern are as follows:

Bird watching
Cycling (Mountain)
Eco Tours
Ecology
Environmental Studies
Hiking
Kayaking (River)
Kayaking (Sea)
Language Immersion
Nature Tours
Snorkeling
Surfing
Tours

The intern types available are:

Ecology
Environmental Management
Hotel/ Restaurant/ Hospitality
Spanish
Sustainable Development
Tourism
Zoology and Wildlife Sciences

Education System

The education system of Mexico consists of three levels - primary, secondary and higher education. The basic education of Mexico accounts for more than 80 percent of the total number of students receiving studies. The Federal, State and local governments provide more than 90 percent of basic education while private schools provide about 7 percent.

According to the legal framework which was adopted in 1993 under a new federalism charges the Federal Government with the task of determining the study plans for the elementary and the lower secondary school.

The school age of 6-14 years, which is mandatory covers primary and lower secondary education. Elementary school comprises of grades one through six while lower secondary education is taught in three levels, from the first to third grade. There are two kinds of schools in Mexico - private and public. Wealthy families prefer to send their children to these private schools as they have plenty of funding for books and other materials. On the other hand, children of poor families attend the public school.

As far as higher education in Mexico is concerned, there are four options, namely:

Universities (4 year colleges and Universities, called licenciatura)
Technical Institutes (3 year programs in engineering and Management)
Teacher training colleges which offers bachelor's degrees in the fields of education
Technological Universities, which offer programs to prepare the students for Higher University Technicians.

Level / Grade, Age (Years old)

Pre-School, Nursery School
Kindergarten, 5-6; beginning of "basic" education (educación básica).

Primaria (Primary School)

1st Grade, 6-7
2nd Grade, 7-8
3rd Grade, 8-9
4th Grade, 9-10
5th Grade, 10-11
6th Grade, 11-12

Secundaria (Middle school)

First grade, 12-13
Second grade, 13-14
Third grade, 14-15

Bachillerato or Preparatoria (Secondary school)

First grade, 15-16; beginning of "middle higher" education (educación media superior).
Second grade, 16-17
Third grade, 17-18

University; beginning of "higher" education (educación superior)

Four or five years leading to a Licenciatura (Bachelor's degree)

Postgraduate

Two to three years leading to a Maestría (Master's Degree)
Three or more years after the completion of a Doctorado (Master's degree, leading to a Doctor of Philosophy.

The Mexican education system is based on the French and Spanish form of education.

Bachelor Programs

The following Gradate Programs are available for a student to choose from, in Mexico:

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts in English
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Bachelor of Science in Human Services
Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies
Bachelor of Arts in History
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Culture
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
Bachelor of Science in Communication
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Administration
Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Radiology

College Admission Procedure

The admission procedures for students in Mexico require that the students applying for a student's visa must have completed their higher-education in that particular field of study.

For example, students who are keen on pursuing medicine from a University in Mexico are generally required to have completed their higher school education in biology or pre-medicine track.

Mexican schools, colleges and educational institutions abide by the federal policy and nationalized curriculum. The grading scale in Mexico is basically is mainly between 1 and 10, and faculty members give examinations about 5 times each year. The test generally covers the national curriculum.

The selection procedure for admission to Colleges, universities and at other various institutions of higher education varies greatly, depending on the admission to their programs. Entrance examinations and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) are taken into account while selecting students for admission to a particular program of study.

The students must get a minimum prescribed score in the University entrance examinations and the Grade Point Averages (GPAs). Applicants who have written University exams should also arrange for their results. These need to be presented for the admission.

Students are also admitted with a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score, but these students must satisfy additional literacy requirements within their first three terms of being admitted in the College or University.

Top Universities

Studying in Mexico can be a very rewarding experience, if the student has all the information and facts about the place beforehand. It is not only about academic studies, its much more than that. It is also about making new friends, learning new cultures and the rich history as well as discovering some new ones.

Mexico has got a vast number of institutions - both colleges and universities, when it comes to education. No matter what the chosen field of interest of the student is, the institutions in Mexico appeals to everyone. Some educational institutions which have always been preferred by the students are the National Autonomous University of Mexico or the National Polytechnic Institute and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Study. Not only these, there are plenty more universities and colleges which a student can choose from depending on the field of study.

Mexico is a beautiful country but its beauty lies not only in its gorgeous landscapes or the captivating culture, it is a country which has got a rich history and some marvelous architecture which makes it a preferred destination of students all over the world when it comes to higher education. Home to Teotihuacán, or "city of the Gods" which was built 2000 years ago, the students get to see and feel the height of its power while visiting the number of Pyramids of Sun and Moon and the citadel with the Temple of Quetzalcoati.

Here is a list of some of the top Universities in Mexico. These are some of the best Universities of Mexico. They are ranked according to the resources available and various other factors. These are recognized as quality institutions of higher education all over Mexico.

Study in Mexico