Study in USA
The United States of America entered the 21st century as the world’s sole superpower after the fall of the Soviet Union in late 1991. The U.S. is a large federal republic located in North America between Canada to the north and Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Federalism is a critical feature of American government and politics. There are 50 states and one federal district, the District of Columbia or Washington, D.C., home of the nation’s capital. Two states to be admitted to the Union are separated geographically from the others: Alaska shares a border with Canada and surrounded by the Pacific and Arctic Oceans; and the state of Hawaii is composed of a group of islands in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The remaining 48 states, all contiguous, are often collectively called the Continental United States.
Additionally, the U.S. has several overseas territories, all located in the Caribbean Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. There are five main inhabited territories;
- Puerto Rico
- The U.S. Virgin Islands,
- Guam,
- The Northern Mariana Islands, and
- American Samoa
The official status of each territory and its relationship with the U.S. varies. In general, however, locals are U.S. citizens, with the exception of American Samoa (America Samoa remains the only place in the United States where U.S. citizenship is not granted at birth)– and may freely travel to and within the U.S. However, they do not vote in general presidential elections (unless they move to one of the states or Washington, D.C.) and have only nonvoting representation in Congress. All territories have their own territorial governments and exercise a certain degree of autonomy.
Why Study in USA
The United States of America (USA) is the number one and largest destination for international students. Every year more and more students choose the USA as the place they wanted to broaden their experience and continue their education. American universities are widely known for the quality of their teaching and research. The education system in USA is the most versatile and flexible according to academic and preferences. About 30 percent of all international students in the world are studying in the USA.
Why do so many international students choose U.S. colleges and universities?
- Academic Excellence: The US has one of the world’s finest education systems, with excellent programs across all disciplines. The universities and colleges offer a wide range of degrees and courses in all academic fields. An academic degree from US universities and colleges has a very positive reputation in the international job market. A US education dramatically enhances a student’s long-tern career goals and highly valued by employers worldwide.
- Academic Flexibility: The U.S. higher education system offers many course choices within a program and the opportunity to change majors or opt for multiple specializations as per their needs and interests. At the undergraduate level, students can choose different courses before they declare their choice for major at the end of second year. This gives students time and options to explore their interests. If students are undecided about the field of study it is absolutely alright, they can still apply stating that they are undecided about major. Even if, they are decided about major subject, they can still study another subject and complete a “double major”, i.e. a degree in two subjects within the normal four year of study. At the graduate level, i.e. master’s degree, they can customize their course according to coursework to fit academic goals, can make own timetable, and complete course credits at a comfortable pace within the stipulated time frame. Students always have the freedom to include ideas and opinions important to their area of academic interest.
- Cutting Edge Technology: US universities are world leaders in terms of technology and scientific techniques, and are committed to providing the same resources to students. Even if fields do not directly involve science or engineering, student will have opportunities to become skilled in using the latest technology to conduct research, as well as obtain and process information.
- Opportunity for Research, Teaching and Training: In the US, at the graduate level students gains valuable experience in research and teaching through various assistant-ship programs. These assistant-ship also help students finance their higher education in USA. These practical experience gained is extremely useful for future careers in teaching and research.
- Support Services for International Students:S. universities have support systems to help international students transition to the new environment. . Support is offered through the year from organizing orientation programs to assistance with academic writing and building resumes as students get ready to graduate. The mission of the international student office is to assist students, and there is often a wide range of student services that they provide. They can help answer questions student may have regarding their visa status, financial situation, housing, employment possibilities, health concerns and more. If you choose to complete your degree in the United States, this office often provides resume and employment assistance as graduation nears. The international student office will be an invaluable source of information and help for the transition into academic and cultural life in the United States.
- Career Opportunities: An international degree opens up a wide range of career prospects and a degree from reputed universities widens the scope even further. Due to the varied insight into different fields of study offered by universities of USA, it broadens the scope of the career path that the student chooses and it is known that international companies look for candidates that offer them with a different take or perspective on their products. They often look to hire employees who not only have multi-cultural language skills, but those who can also help communicate, negotiate and conduct business across different cultures. Your long-term career prospects can be enhanced by your experiences through the development of self-confidence, independence and cross-cultural skills – attributes which are in high demand with employers worldwide.
Why Study in Australia
The federal government has no jurisdiction or authority over the recognition of educational institutions, members of the academic professions, programs or curricula, or degrees or other qualifications. Nearly all U.S. post secondary institutions are licensed, or chartered, by a state or municipal government to operate under the ownership of either a government (if public) or a private corporation (if independent), and may be for-profit or not-profit enterprises. Religious institutions are considered independent, or private. Quality assurance is achieved via the system of voluntary accreditation by specific accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and meet the standards for membership in the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Accreditation is a self-regulating process of quality control engaged in by the U.S. post secondary education community to ensure minimum standards of academic capability, administrative competence, and to promote mutual recognition of qualifications within the system. Six (6) regional accreditation associations set minimum standards for institutions chartered in the states of their respective jurisdictions. In addition, there are recognized accrediting agencies for specialized institutions and programs. While all recognized and accredited institutions are licensed or chartered by state governments, states vary greatly in the degree of supervision and quality control that they exercise, and there is relatively limited reciprocity of recognition across state borders. Accreditation by recognized agencies, therefore, remains the primary means of ensuring academic and institutional quality and the mutual acceptance of credits and qualifications across and outside the United States.
Art & Humanities
Business
Computing & Information Technology
Engineering
Health & Medicine
Tourism
The United States is one of the prime destinations for students. To help those aspiring students the US government and US universities offer various merit based scholarship programs and funding opportunities to support their studies and cost of living. They offer hundreds of scholarship, bursaries and additional financial supports to students from several countries. US government run two highly recognized and honored scholarship programs namely Fulbright Scholarship, Humphrey Fellowship Program.
The Fulbright Program is full scholarships in USA for international students who want to pursue a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarships can also be awarded for non-degree postgraduate studies. The grant covers tuition fee, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.
The Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries throughout the world. Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or private sector. The fellowships are full grants covering all related expenses.
Likewise, universities, colleges and other international institutions also offer various scholarship programs for qualified and needy students. Similarly, graduate level students gains valuable experience in research and teaching through various assistant ship programs. These assistant ships also help students finance their higher education in USA. These practical experience gained is extremely useful for future careers in teaching and research.
The United States higher education system is not subsidized by the federal government which is why tuition fees remain notoriously high in the United States, even for American citizens. Costs of undergraduate and graduate degrees in America vary wildly between institutions and courses. The average tuition fee for undergraduate level ranges from US$5,000.00 per year to US$34,740.00 per year. At some universities, the figure might even soar above $50,000.00 per year. The average tuition fee for post graduate level ranges from US$ 5,000.00 per year to US$40,000.00 per year. And tuition fee for Doctoral degree ranges from US$ 28,000.00 per year to US$ 55,000 per year, but most doctoral degrees are 100% funded through research/teaching assistant ships, research aid and bursaries.
The living expenses generally include accommodation costs, room, and boarding, food, travel, books and supplies, weather appropriate clothing, communication expenses, personal expenses, incidentals and entertainment expenses as well. Considering various expenses and living costs, a single student budget in the US comes between US$ 10,000 and US$ 25,000 per academic year (indicative) depending on the city.
After completion of degree, student can apply Optional Practical Training (OPT) for 12 months, during this period student are allow to work full time. Similarly, student can apply H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupation), on the following conditions;
- a U.S employer to sponsor the applicant
- a correlation between the job duties and applicant’s education and work experience.
In addition to the above requirements, it is also necessary to obtain an approval of a Labor Condition Attestation (LCA) from the Department of Labor prior to filing the H-1B petition with the Immigration & Naturalisation Service. A LCA is required to ensure that foreign workers are not exploited by U.S. employers and are paid the same salaries and obtain the same benefits as their American counterparts.
The H-1B is granted for an initial period of 3 years and can be extended for an additional 3 years, but cannot be extended beyond 6 years. Spouses and minor children automatically obtain H-4 visas, which entitle them to accompany the applicant to the U.S. and to attend school, but not work, in the U.S.
