University Studies

The U.S. university system has three levels:

• Bachelor’s degree – 4 years.
• Master’s degree: two years.
• Doctoral studies take 4 to 6 years.

The study process at U.S. universities is flexible. Students plan their schedules themselves, and instead of hours of lectures they lead seminars and discussions. When applying, students choose a major and then add a minor. The latter may be a useful adjunct to the major. For example, major – engineering, minor – robotics. Or it can reflect the student’s personal interests: major in biology, minor in French literature. Both are natural for American universities.

Master’s and doctoral programs are taught in special graduate and professional schools. The former bring together several fields of study, and the latter are more specialized. They impart knowledge in specific fields: nursing, law, business, etc. The training process includes not only research and theory, but also regular practice and work on the topic of the dissertation. PhD graduates are most often awarded a PhD degree. For professional programs there are DBA, JD, MD, and so on.

It costs 20,000-50,000 USD/year to study in the States. Plus living expenses are about 10,000 USD/year more. Fortunately, many universities in the US award scholarships and grants to students. Some, like the Ivy League, cover up to 100% of tuition costs.

To be admitted to a U.S. university, an international applicant must have a high GPA, TOEFL or IELTS certification, pass the SAT/ACT, write a letter of motivation, and receive recommendations.