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Understanding the US education system
What you need to know about student life in the US
The American college experience is unlike any other. Home to world-class universities and unique specialist institutions, there is a broad range of study options for undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world.
Academic Year
The vast majority of universities and colleges usually operate between August to December and January to April. There are also a variety of summer school studies that are offered between May and August.
Depending on the university, undergraduate degrees can take either three or four years to complete. Master’s programs usually take between one and two years.
Doctoral degrees or PhD programs take a bit longer than in other countries, usually four to seven years. Doctoral degrees typically have several phases including classes, qualifying exams, and the doctoral candidacy when students focus on their dissertation.
Teaching and learning style
Universities in the US place great importance on diversity, which means classes are made up of students of different ages, religions, and nationalities. This provides a stimulating and rich learning environment that encourages cross-cultural understanding and networking.
Because the American education system focuses on practical learning that encourages creative, independent thought and debate, it’s a favorite destination to study.
Your teachers will aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of a topic rather than just teaching by rote learning (memorizing through repetition). There’s an expectation that you will develop your own thinking and share your thoughts with the class. There’s an emphasis on learning and thinking skills, not just marks and completing exams.
Classes at university are a combination of lectures and tutorials. A lecture could be attended by up to 200 students from different courses within the area. Tutorials are much smaller, with generally only about 30 students. In tutorials, you’ll discuss the material raised in lectures with each other and the lecturer.
Professors are very accessible and students can talk to them in person and visit them in their office to discuss any issues they may have.
Education costs
There’s a great variance in tuition fees for international students across the different states and programs. Tuition will be the most expensive component of your educational costs. The price of tuition can range from US$10,000 to US$55,000 a year.
School | Indicative tuition fees (US$) |
English language studies | $700 to $2000 per month |
Community colleges | $6000 to $20,000 per year |
Undergraduate bachelor degree | $20,000 to $40,000 per year |
Graduate programs | $20,000 to $30,000 per year (An MBA degree can cost significantly more, as can professional programs such as law, medicine, dentistry, some design programs, etc.) |
Doctoral degree | $28,000 to $55,000 per year (Most doctoral degrees are 100% funded through research/teaching assistantships, research aid, and bursaries.) |
You will need to pay tuition fees before you begin your studies. There could also be additional costs such as specific course materials and access to institution facilities.
Scholarships
Some American universities and schools offer scholarships and awards to international students who achieve exceptional results. The amount and type of award varies from one university or college to another. It’s important to know that competition for scholarships is very fierce.