Study in the USA

Why study in the USA?

Premium quality of education

Some of the most prestigious universities in the world are in the United States. The majority of the world’s finest universities, such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton and Yale, are based here. A US degree makes you a highly sought-after candidate for desirable jobs, and alongside the quality of the programmes themselves, the degree you earn helps you build a sound career path.

A wide choice of courses

US universities are known for their diversity and distinctiveness. Among the leading study-abroad destinations, the USA stands out for the wide variety of programmes and courses its universities offer. American universities also differ from other higher education systems in the flexibility of their curriculum and educational system.

Work opportunities after graduation

International students can stay in the US after graduating for practical training and employment. Under Optional Practical Training (OPT), you get a 12-month extension of your visa during which you can look for paid work. If you study science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), an extension of up to 24 months is available.

The US education system

Once you have completed Class 12, you are eligible to enrol in US colleges and universities. There are approximately 4,500 accredited higher education institutions in the United States, offering a very wide range of programmes for international students.

Undergraduate (bachelor’s) degrees

A bachelor’s degree in the US is a full-time, four-year undergraduate programme.

Undergraduate schools are for students who have finished high school and want to attend a college or university. They offer either a two-year degree (an associate degree) or a four-year degree (a bachelor’s degree) in a particular field of study, known as the major. Most four-year schools will admit you even if you have not yet chosen your major, but every student must choose (or “declare”) a major by their second year. Students who complete an associate degree can continue at a four-year school and eventually complete a bachelor’s degree.

Associate degrees

An associate degree takes two years to earn and is similar to a diploma awarded by community colleges in the United States; the old site described it as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. For review: an associate degree is generally treated as equal to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, not a full one — please confirm the wording.

Graduate (master’s) degrees

Most MS, MA and MBA degrees in the United States last two years, which makes the USA an excellent choice for postgraduate study.

A graduate programme is usually a division of a university or college. To gain admission you will normally need to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Some programmes require specific tests: the LSAT for law school, the GRE or GMAT for business school, and the MCAT for medical school.

A master’s degree typically takes one to two years. The MBA (Master of Business Administration), an extremely popular programme, takes about two years, while some others, such as journalism, take only one year.

Most of a master’s programme is spent in classroom study, and you will also need to write a long research paper (a “master’s thesis”) or complete a “master’s project”.

Doctoral (PhD) degrees

A doctorate is also a graduate degree and may take five to eight years to complete. Many graduate schools treat a master’s degree as the first step towards a PhD, while at others you can prepare directly for a doctorate without earning a master’s first. A PhD takes three years or more; for international students it can take as long as five or six years.

For the first two years, most doctoral candidates attend classes and seminars. At least one more year is spent on first-hand research and on writing a thesis or dissertation, which must contain views, designs or research that have not been published before.

A doctoral dissertation discusses and summarises the current scholarship on a given topic. Most US universities that award doctorates also require candidates to:

• have a reading knowledge of two foreign languages;
• spend a required length of time “in residence”;
• pass a qualifying examination that officially admits them to the PhD programme; and
• pass an oral examination on the same topic as the dissertation.

Popular universities

• University of Connecticut, Connecticut
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
• Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• George Washington University, Washington D.C.
• University of California, Riverside, California
• Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
• Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Scholarships

Scholarships, financial aid and fee waivers for international students in the USA are awarded on merit or need. If you have strong academics, good scores in standardised exams and extra-curricular achievements, you could be eligible for a scholarship or other financial assistance.

Scholarships available include:

• Fulbright Scholarship
• Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) Program
• International Fellowship Program (IFP)
• The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
• Dumbarton Oaks (Trustees for Harvard University)

Education and living costs

US universities are either public or private. As an international student you pay non-resident tuition at public universities, which is still less expensive than private universities. Fees vary from university to university:

Course fees and living expenses also differ for undergraduate, postgraduate and further studies, and by the stream you choose. For example, the average total cost per year in a science stream is around £14,730 for an undergraduate and £14,800 for a postgraduate.

Student visa

As an Indian student, you will need a US student visa from the US Embassy or Consulate near you. US visa posts in India are located in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

The type of visa you receive depends on the purpose of your visit. For academic study you will need an F-class student visa, which covers full-time degree programmes at undergraduate or graduate level.

Documents for your visa interview

Do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your appointment time, and bring the following documents with you:

• Valid passport and all previously issued passports
• A recent passport-size photograph with a white background (50 mm x 50 mm)
• DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
• HDFC visa application fee receipts
• VFS appointment letter
• SEVIS fee receipt and Form I-20

The US credit system

Public and private universities in the United States follow a credit system: you earn credits for each course you complete and apply them towards your programme. This flexible credit system makes studying in the USA easier.

US education measures academic achievement with a grade point average (GPA). A GPA of 4.0 is equivalent to an A, and 0.0 is equivalent to an F. The minimum GPA required varies from programme to programme.