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International students must undertake full-time study as a condition of their student visa. All international students in the United States, whether at university or just attending language school, must have an F-1 student visa . Apart from that, there is also what is known as the J-1 visa, which is a visa for student exchanges, both academic and cultural; and M-1 visas for people taking non-academic lectures or courses in the United States.
Before obtaining a student visa, a SEVIS – generated document , namely the I-20, must be issued by an institution in the United States as proof of the student’s acceptance. SEVIS ( The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System ) is online data on all international students released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Other supporting documents are academic proof, financial evidence, TOEFL™/IELTS® birth certificate, family card and payment of visa fee of USD 160 via a bank appointed by the American Embassy and SEVIS fee of USD 350 paid online . Visa registration itself can be done 120 days before intake (school entry date). However, new students are permitted to enter the United States starting 30 days before intake . Upon arrival in the United States, students must report themselves to the International Office on their campus, so that the school can immediately complete the SEVIS system. Failure to report can result in the student visa being revoked.
International students studying in the United States must have health insurance for the duration of their studies. This is also required by the school so that every student who goes to the United States has insurance coverage to guarantee their health, because the cost of treatment in the United States is known to be very expensive. Therefore, the school issued a policy to combine insurance costs with tuition fees , so that every student who goes is guaranteed to have health insurance for the duration of their studies. Insurance costs included in the tuition fee range from USD 600 – USD 1,500 per year .
There are many accommodation options available for international students in the United States, ranging from accommodation within universities, renting an apartment or house, and the option to live with a local family called a homestay.
For dormitories provided by the university, reservations must be made as soon as possible approximately two (2) or three (3) months in advance. For students who arrive early, they can stay in hotels, motels, or YMCA youth hostels, and international houses .
Accommodation costs in the United States range from USD 800 – USD 3,000 per month .
The regulations set by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are very strict. Work permits are determined by the type of student visa. There are 3 types of visas: F-1, M-1, and J-1. F-1 and J-1 visa holders can work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week while studying and can work up to 40 hours during holidays. M-1 visa holders are not permitted to work.
First year students can only work on campus, for example as staff in bookstores, libraries, canteens and other places on campus. Students can work off campus, but the work must be part of a college program, for example an internship or work placement. In the first year of study, USCIS can also give F-1 visa holders permission to take Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) for one (1) year. If you study in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM), then you can get a work permit ranging from 1 to 3 years.
After the first year, students can apply to USCIS for permission to work off campus.
Graduate Students can work in more academically focused fields, such as teaching assistants or professors, or research assistants for research and projects. To be able to work in this field, students must have a high level of English language skills. The advantage of working in this field is that this work experience can add experience and added value, especially if the student wants to continue their education to the Doctorate level or wants to pursue a career in the academic field.
According to data in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 2012, the United States has a total of 4,726 private and public higher education institutions covering two (2) year and four (4) year education. After obtaining a high school diploma , students can continue their studies to obtain a Bachelor’s degree for four (4) years. Students are expected to determine their major of interest no later than their second year. The term used for first year students is freshmen , in the second year it becomes sophomore , then junior in the third year and senior in the final year. Colleges and universities offer various majors from undergraduate to doctoral levels. This type of institution is run and owned by state or local governments. Usually these government schools use the word ” State ” or use regional names, such as the University of Washington. Community Colleges offer the first two (2) years of undergraduate education (equivalent to the first two (2) years at a University). Many international students choose this type of institution because of its intensive English or ESL programs and special services such as free tutoring .
Tuition fees at leading universities are around USD 20,000 – USD 55,000 per year ; whereas at community colleges the fees are cheaper, around USD 8. 500 – USD10,000 per year .
Government schools offer more affordable fees compared to private schools; and community colleges present the lowest cost option among other government schools.
At a glance are some examples of the differences between a Community College and a University:
| Community College- Tuition ranges from USD 6,500 – USD 10,000 – Teaching staff are professors. – Easier application process (no SAT). – Adequate facilities. – Must transfer to a university to obtain a bachelor’s degree. – and others. | University- Tuition fees range between USD 20,000 – USD 55,000. – Teaching staff for the first two (2) years are usually teaching assistants. – More competitive application process (SAT often required). – Facilities far above average. – Prestigious. – No need to transfer to another school to get a bachelor’s degree. – and others. |
Classes in the United States usually start in August or September and last until May or June. Most institutions offer two (2) terms per year (semester system), but there are also those that have three (3) terms ( trimester ) or four (4) terms , namely quarterly (quarter system).
The credit calculation system in the United States is very common, where each course consists of several credits , generally three (3) to five (5) credits. Full-time undergraduate programs at universities generally consist of 12 to 15 credit hours for four (4) or five (5) courses per semester. Meanwhile, for the Full time Postgraduate program , the minimum is nine (9) credit hours per semester.
2. Professional Postgraduate Program ( Graduate Degree )
After completing a Bachelor’s Degree , students can continue to a Master’s program which has an average duration of two (2) years. Often students can be accepted into a Master’s program in a particular major if they earn a Bachelor’s degree in a related major. However, many exceptions are made for students who wish to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
Furthermore, students can complete a PhD degree which lasts approximately three (3) to six (6) years depending on the major studied, the student’s abilities and the thesis chosen. A thesis is an in-depth research assignment and is required as a graduation assignment; Sometimes to graduate from a Master’s Degree a thesis is required. Especially for law, medicine and dentistry majors.
Tuition fees for a Professional Postgraduate Degree ( Graduate Degree ) average USD 22,000 – USD 60,000 per year .