My consultant has given me an option to get enrolled in one of state funded university in Austria or finland for my master in strategic management. i am actually supporting my family and the only earning member. he told me that they will allow me to work (i.e. odd jobs) and i could earn enough to meet my expenditures over there and my family expenses over here in Karachi…
So the fishy part is i googled and authorities clearly states that you may not have a work permit as a student… there is not much information regarding odd jobs..
Yeah one more thing, he told me that accommodation will be provided by the university/college … this makes the offer too lucrative or sounds fishy at the same time…
i dont want to go there and then stuck.. not being able to send money to my family here will be a nightmare i coundnt afford to have as reality..
any suggestions? anybody in Germany or Finland or neither land, shares you experiences if you have one?
(one more clarification, my CV has already been selected by the university and they have offered me fully funded scholarship for msc)
I think that for a master's program, a fully funded scholarship would include a stipend of some sort to cover your living expenses as well. Depending on how much that allowance is, you could send money home out of that based on your lifestyle.
As for work permits for students, it depends on the country you are going to. Some countries do allow foreign workers to get work permits. Are you going to Austria, Finland, or thinking about some third country?
As far as I am aware and have met a few students on scholarship from Pakistan. I know they that the money they receive, was just barely enough to cover their living expenses. They do get a place to live. So that's fine.
But I am not sure anyone on such an scholarship would also be able to support their family. Unless of course, if you were allowed to do some odd jobs here and there. Even if unofficially, I would not recommend you to do that. Since if you get caught then it will be a bigger problem for you. And they have become very strict lately.
Now though, I am not aware of you particular scholarship. It may allow you to work legally, and it might be also paying more allowances for living expenses, etc
Without the details of scholarship its difficult to say something. I know that in my institute Masters students do get a confirmed residence for the whole duration whereas a PhD like me can only get it for 4 months at the start and then we have to find some private residence.
Normally the scholarship that you will get will be enough for you to stay and study here. Its impossible to fully support your family back home with that income. Scholarships are kept low (according to standard here) so that they don't come under income tax bracket. Because if you are getting money above a certain limit, you have to pay income tax.
I think your are overestimating these odd jobs. You are OK with being a cashier or grocery store clerk? Unless it is a jobon campus, I think you will be a bit shocked.