Study Options in the United States

In the United States, the term ”college” refers to a four-year undergraduate school where students earn Bachelors degrees. Colleges can be part of a university, which is a school offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Within either of these educational instutitions in the US, you can choose between three different opportunities to study.

1. Study Abroad – Here you take a few free-standing classes, and study at a school for one or two semesters. Not all the universities in the US have this kind of opportunity; it is best to contact the school to get more information. At some universities, you apply to the classes when you apply to the school, but for most universities, you choose your classes when you arrive to start your education.

2. Undergraduate – You study for a complete education which is normally three to four years long. Most undergraduate, or Bachelors degrees in the US require completion of 120 credits, amounting to 15 hours of credit each term for full-time students. Upon graduation from an undergraduate education program in the United States, students earn a Bachelors Degree.

3. Postgraduate – this type of degree is aimed at students who have already earned a Bachelors Degree. A Postgraduate or Masters degree allows you to pursue an in-depth study of a specific topic of your choice. Students who complete the postgraduate education earn a Masters Degree, which usually takes three to four semesters to finish.

It can take a long time for an international student to be accepted to a university or college in the USA. There is a lot of paper work to fill in and there are many choices to make. It is recommended for you to start planning early, at least a year before you want to study abroad in the United States.

USA Study Guide Home

Education in the United States:

USA Education System
USA Education Institutes
USA Course Types

Practicalities when you study in the United States:

USA Study Costs & Accommodation
USA Study & Work Permits

City Guides in the United States:

City Guide: Boston, Massachusetts
City Guide: New York City, New York
City Guide: Los Angeles, California
City Guide: San Francisco, California
City Guide: Chicago, Illinois
City Guide: Austin, Texas
City Guide: Miami, Florida

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