The
United States of America is super-sized in more ways than one. It’s the world’s
fourth largest country by total area, third largest by population, has the
largest national economy, highest average wage, spends more on higher education
than any other nation, and exercises a global superpower influence across the
fields of trade, military, politics and culture.
It’s also a superpower
when it comes to higher education. US universities dominate
international rankings tables, and include many of the world’s most famous
institutions. Think Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Yale, Caltech – and so many more. This combines with
the nation’s cultural attractions to make the US the number one choice for
international students, at all study levels.
According
to the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), around 15% of all
graduate-level students in the US are international. The most popular subject
area for international graduate students is engineering, which accounts for
more than a quarter (27%) of international graduate enrollments. Next is
business (17%), followed by programs relating to physical and Earth sciences,
mathematics or computer sciences (20% combined).
Top 10 US
Universities
Based on the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15
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World rank
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Location
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1
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Cambridge, Massachusetts
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4
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Cambridge, Massachusetts
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7
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Stanford, California
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8
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Pasadena, California
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9
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Princeton, New Jersey
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10
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New Haven, Connecticut
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11
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Chicago, Illinois
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13
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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14=
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New York City, New York
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14=
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Top places to study in the US
The
considerable size of the US means there’s something to suit every student’s
taste, whether you’re into fast-paced big city life or leisurely sojourns in
unspoiled wilderness; sunning yourself on the beach or the sun-glare from snowy
mountains. Add cultural diversity to this mix and it’s no wonder that the US
boasts more entries than any other nation in the QS Best Student Cities, an index of the globe’s top
urban study locations.
Among
the brightest of the US’s bright lights is New York City, sometimes referred to as the
“Capital of the World” and undoubtedly one of the planet’s most recognizable
skylines. Known worldwide for its cultural influence, financial power and
legendary arts, music and fashion scenes, the “Big Apple” promises enough
museums, theaters, architecture, venues, parks and cuisines to deliver new
experiences every single day of your degree. The city’s higher education
providers are also globally renowned, including Ivy League member Columbia
University and the equally well-known New York University, both ranked within
the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15.
Moving
into the neighboring state of Massachusetts, college-town Cambridge, close to Boston, boasts an even stronger concentration of
world-leading institutions. Cambridge (named after its UK counterpart) is the
home of both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard
University, which occupy the top two spots in the latest edition of the QS
World University Rankings. The Boston area in general is well known for its
student community, sophisticated arts, politics and cultural scenes, and of
course for the beautiful natural colors that characterize the New England group
of states, particularly during the fall.
On
the opposite side of the US’s huge territory, California’s San Francisco Bay Area is another prominent
international hub for higher education – and for research and development more
generally, as the site of the famous Silicon Valley high-tech innovation
cluster. Perhaps a little more laidback than the “city that never sleeps”, San
Francisco and the wider Bay Area offer an intriguing combination of coastal
lifestyle and cutting-edge development, with start-up dynamism overlaying
earlier eras of “flower power” and liberal activism.
As
a state, California is known for its strong public
university system, and the heart of this system is here in the Bay Area, which
is home to both the highly distinguished UC Berkeley and the graduate-focused UC San Francisco. The area’s highest-ranked
institution, however, is the private Stanford University, which places within the
global top 10.
Other
US cities which enjoy particularly high prestige both culturally and in the
higher education world include Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and of course the federal capital Washington DC. But there are plenty more
fantastic locations in which to study in the US – browse the options by state here.
Applying for graduate study in the US
Graduate-level
entry requirements for most US universities specify completion of a bachelor’s
degree or equivalent from an internationally recognized institution. Additional
documents you may be asked to provide include: letters of recommendation, a
research statement (for PhD applicants) and scores from standardized
examinations such as the GRE, GMAT and/or English proficiency tests.
While
some institutions hold rolling admissions and accept applications on an ongoing
basis, most colleges offer an early deadline (usually December to January) and
a regular deadline (usually March to April). You can apply to as many US
universities as you like, but most students opt for no more than a carefully chosen
six. You’ll need to pay an application fee, usually between $50 and $100,
though online applications can be cheaper or even free. Further fees include
the non-immigrant visa application fee (currently $160) and a registration fee
for SEVIS, the student database and tracking system ($200).
International
students will need to obtain an F-1 non-immigrant visa. For this, you will need
to have secured a place at an SEVP-approved university, prove that you have
sufficient funds for the course duration, and confirm that you intend to leave
the US after completing your studies. Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not
need visas to study in the US, but will still need to obtain an I-20
Certificate of Eligibility form and pay for SEVIS registration.
The cost of graduate study in the US
Tuition
fees in the US vary widely from institution to institution, but overall are
among the highest in the world. Private universities usually have one set fee
for both local and international students, while at public universities
in-state students generally pay less than out-of-state and international
students. As institutions set their own fees, it’s best to check their websites
for specific figures. Note that professional programs such as MBAs, JDs, LLMs
and MDs will be more expensive than other master’s or PhD programs.
The
cost of living in the US can also vary considerably, due to the socioeconomic
differences inevitable in a country so large and diverse. Suburban and rural
areas in the South and Midwest generally have the lowest cost of living, with
big cities carrying considerably higher expenses regardless of geographical
location. To give an example, Cornell University’s Law School outlines a budget
for those enrolling in 2014/15 which includes US$11,250 per year for room and
board, $1,100 for books and supplies, $2,433 for health insurance, and $5,000
for travel and personal expenses.
US scholarships and financial aid
The
good news is that a large percentage of students in the US receive some form of
financial aid. This is either need- or merit-based, with the former based on an
assessment of students’ finances and the latter considering academic
achievements and/or athletic talent. For a selection of US scholarships for
international students, visit this article. Six major US universities are
entirely “need-blind”, meaning they have pledged to offer
sufficient financial assistance to support all students (both domestic and
international) who meet the high academic standards needed for entry. These are
Amherst, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, MIT and Harvard.
In
general, private US universities offer more opportunities for financial
assistance which are open to international students; the latter are not
eligible for most of the aid schemes provided by the US federal government.
However, NYU’s Perez and Liakaris are keen to emphasize that there are lots of
options for international postgraduate students seeking financial support.
“Some graduate schools provide scholarships that are specific to international
students. Some offer assistantships that help offset the cost of tuition while
providing some practical experience in a field of interest. Some universities,
such as NYU, also offer Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which allows
students with F-1 visas to participate in paid, off-campus internships.”
Further
options include fellowships (a form of merit-based scholarship), and
scholarships offered via the Fulbright Program, run by the US Department of
State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Students may also seek work
on campus for extra income, while many PhD students receive a tuition waiver
and some form of annual stipend. Perez and Liakaris also recommend finding out
if your chosen institution offers a flexible payment plan, which would allow
you to pay your tuition balance in more wallet-friendly monthly installments.
Written by Hasna Haidar
