Master's studies in the USA

How to enroll in a Master's program in the USA

Admission to a Master's program in the USA involves long and laborious work with documents and information: educational institutions are interested in students who consciously approach the choice of academic programs and take their time researching. Documents are submitted online through the university website. There is no limitation to the number of submissions, but the registration fees must be paid every time.

General requirements usually include a Bachelor's degree in a similar scientific field and proof of language proficiency. The minimum GPA thresholds depend on the university and are, on average, 3.0 out of 4.0. For some specialties and universities, results of additional exams will be required, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for business schools, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for medical schools, or Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for law schools.

A Research Plan is usually needed for admission to doctoral studies, but some American universities also require it for Master's programs, especially in Natural Sciences. Most often, documents need to be translated into English and notarized. As a rule, copies of educational documents with translation into English are sent by mail to the admissions office of the selected university.

Once the application has been approved, the university can arrange an interview. This usually applies to universities with high competition. Only after receiving an official invitation from the university with the I-20 form, a candidate can apply for a visa.

List of documents

• Bachelor's degree ;
• Academic transcript (average GPA not less than 3.0);
• Letters of recommendation;
• Motivation letter;
• Additional entrance examinations (GRE/GMAT);
• Research project;
• TOEFL 78+ / IELTS 6.5+ certificate;
• CV.

Legalization and recognition of a diploma

When entering an American Master's program with a Bachelor's degree from another country, the candidate must legalize their diploma. This is required for the foreign document to have legal force within the national borders. The USA is on the list of 120 countries-participants in the 1961 Hague Convention, therefore, if your country is also a party the procedure for legalization is simplified and only requires authentication through an apostille. This means that a special sign is put on the original or a copy of the document.

Some universities require an additional evaluation procedure. It is needed for the recognition of foreign qualifications. Most institutions do this themselves, but some require a third-party equivalence certificate.

Deadlines for submission of documents

It is best to start collecting documents as early as possible: to start classes in September, the optimal window for application is before the end of March. Some programs set additional deadlines in December. Students who want to apply for a scholarship or a grantthe number of scholarships and grants is limited, early application increases the chances can aim for these deadlines. The deadline for each specific university needs to be clarified on its official website.

Popular Master's degree programs in the United States

Traditionally, the strongest programs in the United States are offered by business schools where one can get an MBA (Master of Business Administration) — it was in this country where this field of study had first appeared^[5]. Moreover, it is also one of the highest-paid specializations^[6]. American universities produce highly qualified specialists in the fields of computer and natural sciences, education, and health care. The most popular programs among applicants are:

• Business;
• Education;
• Health care;
• Engineering;
• Computer and Information Sciences;
• Public Administration and Social Services;
• Psychology;
• Social Sciences and History^[7].

Affordable programs in the USA

Best MBA programs in the USA

Working during a Master's degree in the United States

Master's students receive an F-1 visa. During the first academic year, it allows students to work only on-campus for no more than 20 hours per week, and no more than 40 during the holidays. While studying, they can work more if they manage to prove extraordinary circumstances that affect income. It is possible to work as a teaching assistant or in a laboratory, as a student assistant or library worker, or in any institution that is located on the campus. To get a job, students need to consult with a designated school official (DSO) and receive a certification letter from them and the employer, as well as prepare a resume and successfully pass an interview. To receive payment, employees need to be issued a Social Security Number (SSN^[12]). The expected salary varies greatly depending on the city, university, specific job and form of employment (from 7-10 USD to 20-30 USD per hour).

Graduate internships in the United States

During the second academic year, job opportunities become more varied, students get allowed to work off-campus. There are three main options:

• Curricular Practical Training — CPT;
• Additional Practical Training — OPT;
• STEM OPT extension^[13].

Curricular Practical Training — CPT

This is a mandatory part of the study program, for which students receive academic credits. The job description has to coincide with the specialty studied in the program^[14]. To obtain a work permit, students need to consult with an authorized representative of the university. The representative will give an I-20 form, which confirms that the student has been approved for the internship. The student also signs a cooperative agreement with the employer.

It is possible to work part-time and full-time. CPT can be paid or unpaid. The average CPT salary per hour in the country is about 39 USD^[15].

Important: If you have worked in the CPT program for a whole year, you will not be able to move to the OPT program^[16]. For more information on eligibility criteria and authorization, visit the US Department of Homeland Security website.

Optional Practical Training — OPT

Additional training must also be in line with the focus of the degree. There are two main types of programs, each can last up to one year:

• Pre-completion OPT — available for students from the second year of study. During the semester, they can work up to 20 hours a week, and when there are no classes — up to 40 hours.
• Post-completion OPT — available for graduates with a Master's degree.

Students can participate in the postgraduate program even if they had work experience during studies, however, the total time should not exceed one year. For example, if a student had worked for nine months during studies, after receiving a diploma, they would be able to work no more than three months^[17].

The process of joining the program is a little more complicated compared to the CPT. In addition to the I-20 form, candidates must also fill out the I-765 form (Application for Employment Authorization) and pay a 410 USD fee^[18]. The application is done at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is valid for a year. After successful registration, the student receives an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)^[16] and can start work immediately after successfully passing an interview. Average pay is 45 USD/hour^[19].

STEM OPT extension

A special case is STEM internship programs^[20]. This type of OPT is suitable only for undergraduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics. The program is enacted on special conditions and lasts for two additional years. In total, a student can work in the United States for three years. To participate, you will need:

• A university degree with a SEVP certificate (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)^[21] not lower than a Bachelor's degree;
• A new I-20 form;
• Work permit I-765.

You also need to already be working within the OPT program, make sure that the potential employer participates in the E-Verify program^[22], and complete the I-983 form — Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.

Scholarships and Grants in the US Master's Degree

Higher education in the US is paid-only. The ten most expensive universities in the world are located^[23] there. However, applicants for a Master's degree can receive a scholarship or grant from the state, a private organization, or the university itself.

Almost all educational institutions offer scholarships, but it is difficult to obtain full coverage of the costs of tuition, accommodation, flights, and study materials. The selection of candidates takes place on a competitive basis. Moreover, Master’s students are usually more likely to receive a grant than undergraduates. Universities are interested in attracting strong students with interesting research projects. Here are the most popular scholarship for international students:

• The International Fellowship is a fellowship program for women organized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The goal is to give women a chance to pursue a Master's degree in America in order to apply the knowledge they’d gained back at home. The payout is 18,000 USD. To receive a scholarship, applicants need to have a Bachelor's degree, a TOEFL 79+ / IELTS 6.5+ certificate, a study plan, work experience, and a grounded guarantee to return to their home country after completing the studies.

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