🇺🇸 United States · Study Abroad
How to study in United States as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Studying in the United States means applying directly to each university — there is no central admissions service. Admissions weigh transcripts, standardised tests, English proficiency and essays. Once admitted, an SEVP-certified school issues a Form I-20, which you use to apply for an F-1 student visa. EducationUSA (State Department) is the official advising network; Study in the States (DHS) is the authoritative guide to the I-20 and student-visa process.
- There is no central application system — you apply to each university separately, and deadlines and requirements vary by school and programme.
- Admissions typically consider academic records, standardised tests (SAT/ACT for undergraduate; GRE/GMAT for many graduate programmes), English tests (TOEFL/IELTS), essays and references.
- After admission the school issues a Form I-20; you then pay the SEVIS fee and apply for an F-1 (or M-1) student visa at a US embassy/consulate.
- US tuition varies widely between public and private institutions; budget early, and note that university funding and external scholarships can offset costs.
Official authorities
- EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State)
Official advising on choosing and applying to US universities.
- Study in the States (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Authoritative guide to the Form I-20 and F-1/M-1 student-visa process.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The White House — Official residence and office of the US President — executive orders, policy briefings, press releases
- U.S. Department of State — US passport and visa services, travel warnings, embassy information worldwide
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Federal tax filing, refund status, ITIN/EIN applications, and Free File program
- USCIS — Green card, H-1B and work visas, naturalization, immigration benefits, and case status