USA Studying

Study-abroad programs range from basic language and culture courses to college-level classes, which can often be taken for credit. In order to choose a program that best fits your needs, research as much as you can before making your decision—determine costs and duration, as well as what kind of students participate in the program and what sort of accommodations are provided.

Visa Information. All foreign students must have a visa to study in the US. Travelers must also provide proof of intent to leave, like a return plane ticket or an I-94 card. Foreign students who want to study in the US must apply for either an M-1 visa (non-academic or vocational studies) or an F-1 visa (for full-time students enrolled in a program to study or conduct research at an accredited US college or university). See www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/studying.html for further information. To get a visa or study permit, apply at a US embassy or consulate in your home country. If English is not your native language, you will probably want to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered in many countries. The international students office at the institution you will be attending can give you specifics. Contact TOEFL/TSE Publications, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ, 08541, USA (☎877-863-3546, outside the US ☎609-921-9000; www.toefl.org). US visa extensions are sometimes attainable with a completed I-539 form; call the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (BCIS) forms request line (☎800-375-5283) or get it online at www.ucis.gov/files/form/i-539.pdf. See http://travel.state.gov/visa for more info. Security measures have made the visa application process more rigorous and lengthier. Apply well in advance of your travel date. The process may seem complex, but you must take the proper steps or risk deportation.

In programs that have large groups of students who speak the same language, there is a trade-off. You may feel more comfortable in the community, but you will not have the same opportunity to practice a foreign language or befriend other international students. For accommodations, dorm life provides a better opportunity to mingle with fellow students, but there is less of a chance to experience the local scene. If you live with a family, there is the potential to build lifelong friendships with natives and to experience day-to-day life in more depth, but conditions may vary greatly from family to family.

Universities

Most university-level study abroad programs in the US are conducted in English, with many offering classes for English learners and beginner- and lower-level language courses. Those relatively fluent ...more

Language Schools

Language schools can be independently run international or local organizations or divisions of foreign universities. They rarely offer college credit, but are a good alternative to university study if ...more