Study in USA - Colleges, Courses, Eligibility, Cost & Visa Details
Find out about universities, courses, admission, fees, visa requirements, work permit, cost of living etc. in USA.
About Normally, universities in the USA offer a range of graduate programmes, including doctoral programmes. Universities are usually larger than colleges in terms of sizes and opportunities. Study in USA is the most sought after for international students as USA has some of the World's Top Universities. USA houses 3800 higher education institutes, 42 of which ranked in the top 100 universities in the world in 2008. The United States has more institutions of higher learning than any other country in the world. Most American colleges and universities offer top-notch education programs with highly qualified teaching staff. The research at many of these universities is cutting-edge and often published in journals worldwide. Since the USA is such a large country with vast resources, almost every field of study is available in the country. This country has the highest international student population coming for education here. This is because of its world class universities, institutions, state-of-the-art facilities and up-to-date technologies. Universities: American International College American International College Green River Community College American International College National University, California Irish American University Devry University Hamline University Seattle Central Community College University of Hartford University of California Riverside The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Northern Michigan University Foothill College De Anza College Thomas College, Waterville, Maine Berkley College, New York Kansas State University, Kansas Montana State University, Billings Lincoln University, California Florida International University, Miam Golden Gate University Webber International University, Florida Florida Coastal School of Law North American College, Houston, Texas Kent State University University of Bridgeport Scholarships for international students To meet the expenses and the tuition costs, you may apply for scholarships or financial aid. Many international students opt for education loans, which should be repaid to the banks along with an interest rate fixed by the banks. Many US universities do allocate specific grants for international students to support their tuition and living costs. Besides providing the common funding options, a few universities provide ‘need-blind’ admissions for students with high merits, but who have few resources to support their education. Information about funding or scholarship is available at each university website. You can also check our scholarships page for more details. Some of the popular scholarships that you can apply for are Fullbright foreign student programme Aga Khan foundation international scholarship programme ETS TOEFL scholarships British Council IELTS scholarship award for Indian students FAQs: What are the popular courses in the USA? STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects are popular among international as well as domestic students in the USA. However, Psychology, Business Administration, Education, Economics and Political Science are some other popular courses in the education hub. What is the application process for USA? Compared to other countries, admission procedures in US universities are very competitive for international students. Universities and colleges have their own criteria in selection of their students. Most of them prefer the students to apply to them at least before one year. What are the Visa application requirements? Before applying for the visa, the student needs to be accepted by the institution. After the institution accepts the candidate, they will provide the necessary approval documentation which is required to apply for the visa. Visa application requirements include: Have a residence abroad, with no immediate intention of abandoning that residence Intend to depart from the United States upon completion of the course of study Possess sufficient funds to pursue the proposed course of study. What are the housing options available? Accommodation is very important as it is significant for your successful studies in USA. In USA you are provided with two options- campus and off campus housing. Universities provide dormitories with necessary facilities. Or else you can easily a rent house off campus. How much does USA education cost? The tuition fee is not same for different universities. It varies widely with courses. A brief idea is shown in the following table: University Type Average Tuition Fees (annual in U.S. Dollars) Private Institutions (High Cost) $ 25,000 Private Institutions (Low Cost) $ 15,000 State Institutions (High Cost) $ 20,000 State Institutions (Low Cost) $ 10,000 What are the living expenses in USA? The approximate annual living expense in USA is about $10,000. It includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. The expenses vary depending on the lifestyles. The main expenses can be split up as: Rent $ 400 per month (you can live alone with that amount in a place like Auburn or share an apartment with 6 people in NY) Groceries $ 100 per month Utilities $ 100 per month Phone $ 100 per month Sundry $ 200 per month What are the major scholarships for international students in USA? There are a number of scholarships for outstanding international students in the US. Some of the major and widely-known scholarships are: Fulbright Program: This program provides opportunities to graduates and young professionals from their native country to study, conduct research or teach their native language in the US. Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship: It is awarded to outstanding candidates who want to undertake postgraduate study in selected fields like Education, Human Resource Management, Public Health and Communication, among others. The scholarship covers the entire tuition fee and living expenses in the country. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to applicants from developing countries with professional experience. The scholarship is also awarded to Japanese citizens who are mid-aged working professionals. Joint Japan scholarship covers tuition fee, monthly stipend, round trip flight fare and travel allowance. What are the work-during-study opportunities? International students are allowed to work 20 hours a week. The minimum wage is between $7 and $8. What is the difference between a scholarship and financial aid? A scholarship is a financial award based on merit: excellent academic performance, or perhaps community service or leadership. Financial aid is a grant based on the student’s financial need, as documented by, family income, assets and other factors. There are also sports scholarships, awarded for recognized athletic ability. All types of scholarships and financial aid are extremely competitive and require outstanding academic records. What do I need to obtain the U.S. Student Visa (F-1)? The first thing you need in order to apply for a student visa is the Form I-20 (Student Visa Eligibility Form). This form will be issued to you by the college or university that accepts you for admission. You will not be eligible for a visa unless you have the completed I-20 form filled out by the university you will attend. Receiving an I-20 form does not guarantee that you will receive a student visa. After you have received the Form I-20, you must take it to the Consular Section at the American Embassy, along with the following items: valid passport proof of financial support standardized test scores and marksheets a completed, non-immigrant visa application form and photo a student questionnaire form What documents are needed to apply to a university? Most universities require school transcripts in English, proof of graduation, passport copy, financial statements and other documents. University Study will help you with all the needed documents. Read the full article