I have recently heard about the difference in curricula in UNIs abroad. I am from Bangalore University and don’t have a research writing background. What should I do to learn more about their teaching and assignment patterns?
Hey @Aakash_shandilya , I totally get where you’re coming from. I did my undergrad in India too and felt the exact same worry before moving abroad. The main difference I noticed is that unis abroad focus a lot more on independent research, critical thinking, and academic writing rather than just exams. Assignments are usually essays, case studies, or research papers instead of rote-based tests.
What helped me was starting small. I went through free resources on YouTube about “academic writing” and “Harvard referencing,” and also tried platforms like Coursera/edX for short courses on research methods. That gave me a rough idea of how to structure arguments, cite sources, and avoid plagiarism (which is taken very seriously abroad).
Once you’re there, most universities also run workshops for international students to adapt to their style. Seniors told me those are super helpful, so don’t skip them. Honestly, you don’t need to be perfect before you go; just being open to learning and practicing early will make it much easier to adjust.
hey @Aakash_shandilya Honestly, the academic style abroad is a bit different from what we’re used to. Most unis focus a lot on research-based assignments, essays, and proper referencing instead of rote learning. Group projects, presentations, and class participation also play a big role. The best way to get comfortable is to start practicing academic writing, maybe take a short online course on referencing (APA/Harvard), and read a few research papers to get the flow. Also, plagiarism rules are super strict, so learning how to cite sources properly is really important. Once you get used to that, it’s pretty manageable.
Hello @Aakash_shandilya
Thankyou so much for your question and putting it out here. The Universities in abroad follow a more research and academic writing based curriculum which consists of essays, case studies and assignments. There are certain aspects of literature review, research methodolgy and referencing that are required to be understood by the student before they take their first academic project. In order to learn more about the patterns, I would recommend you to attend the lecture modules where the professors share about the assignments and also provides you with the sample research thesis for you to go through and learn about it. I remember my University gave me tool kit and resources about academic writing and conducted in-person wokrshops to make us understand clearly to work upon it and was much helpful.
I can understand that you might it a bit tricky at first, though once you get through your first paper, you will be all good.
Hope it helps!
Yours thankfully,
Diksha
Since you don’t have a research-writing background, start by exploring online resources about university teaching styles abroad, such as course syllabi, sample assignments, and academic blogs. Platforms like Coursera, edX, or university YouTube channels can give insights into lectures, project work, and research-based assignments. You can also read sample academic papers, practice writing essays, and learn citation styles to get comfortable with research-focused learning. Connecting with current international students or alumni from your target universities can provide practical tips on coursework and expectations. I hope this will help !
That’s a really good question, and it’s something a lot of students from Indian universities face when planning to study abroad. In places like the US, Canada, the UK, or Germany, the teaching style is usually more research- and application-oriented compared to our exam-heavy system. Instead of just preparing for final exams, you’ll often get weekly assignments, essays, research papers, lab work, presentations, and group projects. Critical thinking and independent research carry a lot of weight, and plagiarism rules are taken very seriously.
Since you don’t have much research writing background, the best way to prepare is to start small: take a short online course on academic writing or research methods (Coursera, edX, or even YouTube have free resources). Try practicing writing short essays or summaries of topics you’re interested in, focusing on structure, citations, and analysis rather than just rote facts. Reading international journals or student blogs can also give you an idea of how arguments are built.
This early exposure will make the transition smoother when you face research-heavy coursework abroad.