USA

The United States is the leading study destination for students around the world for many good reasons. There are over 4,700 universities in the US delivering outstanding programs in virtually all fields. US universities are among the highest ranked in the world, a testimonial of academic excellence, research vigour and student satisfaction.

Students typically spend four years obtaining a bachelor's degree in the US. A master's degree will take another 2 to 3 years and a PhD 4 to 5 years. There are also 2 year colleges that offer Associate Degrees in various fields of study.

Students who choose to study in the US go through a liberal arts education system where their degree program is interdisciplinary, covering topics within the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Humanities - arts, literature, languages, music, theatre.

Social sciences - includes subjects such as psychology, sociology, economics, politics, history, business.

Natural sciences - includes subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth sciences.

A liberal arts degree prepares students for a range of careers because students gain a solid foundation in a range of subject areas. Since students are exposed to subjects they may not otherwise have encountered, a liberal arts education also enables students to make more informed decision when choosing their preferred career path.

When you begin your university degree in the US, you will have a choice of either going to the 4-year university of starting out a community college. If you go to a 4-year university directly, you can choose a large public university or a small private college. A large proportion of US private and public universities require SAT or ACT test scores for admission. Freshman intakes are usually in Fall (each year) with some universities also offering a Spring (January) intake.

The other option is to begin your degree at a community college. Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges are 2-year schools that offers the first 2 years of a bachelor's degree. Students can transfer their credits earned at community colleges to US universities to complete their remaining degree. Community colleges offer lower tuition cost, small class size and more personal attention to students. They are a good option for international students who are new to the US education system.