Short-term Study

Doing your "homework" is the best way to succeed in any educational program. Your relatively short time of study in the United States will be enhanced by careful planning and advance preparation. Twelve to 18 months prior to the date you wish to begin a program, define your goals and begin researching programs that will best meet them.

Choosing a Program

Begin your search by visiting your nearest EducationUSA advising center. There you will have access to a variety of reference materials about U.S. educational programs and institutions. You can also find information and the books listed in the 'Bibliography.'

Try to identify several programs of study that will meet your personal and professional requirements. Then, contact the organizations or institutions running the programs and request detailed information. Be sure to communicate your particular situation and any special needs you may have.

Compare the programs that interest you by considering:

• application deadlines;
• whether you meet the eligibility and admission requirements;
• accreditation of the program or institution;
• costs;
• whether the program includes or arranges for housing, or if it provides any assistance to students who are looking for a place to live;
• other services, such as social activities, provided by the organization running the program or by the host educational institution;
• how long the program has been in existence, typical participants, and, if applicable, what careers or jobs past participants have gained entry to after completing the program;
• if this is not an international exchange program, how experienced the program administrators are in dealing with participants from outside the United States;
• the location and local environment, including climate and availability of public transportation;
• the "small print": whether a deposit is required in advance, refund and cancellation policies, and any other obligations on both you and the organization running the program.

If you are considering studying at a college or university, you may also wish to consult the section on 'Undergraduate Study' or 'Graduate Study', which contain more information on factors to consider when choosing a U.S. college or university.

Accreditation

It is essential to make sure that any courses or short-term study or training programs you choose are properly accredited. Also check in advance with your home-country secondary school, university, ministry of education or labor, employer, or relevant professional association to determine whether your program of study will be recognized upon your return.

Read more about accreditation.

Costs

The cost of short-term study in the United States varies considerably. Costs are determined by the institution's tuition charges and other fees, as well as by the program type and length and by the materials you will be required to purchase in order to complete the program. Information about the costs of each program is available in program brochures, catalogs, and application materials, and sometimes on a program website.

You will also need to budget for the cost of traveling to and from the United States, as well as for living expenses such as room and board. In addition, you will need to have health insurance while in the United States. There may also be a charge in your country for applying for a U.S. student visa.

Funding

Funding from universities, scholarship organizations, or grant-giving bodies is difficult to obtain for short-term study in the United States. Much of this type of funding is given to degree-seeking students or to researchers.

Visas

Almost all types of short-term study in the United States require you to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, regardless of the length of the course or the type of program. The most common visa for international students is the F-1 student visa. If you are participating in an established educational exchange program, you may need to apply for the J-1 exchange visitor visa instead. Confirm with the staff at the institution running the program which type of visa you will need.

Read more about applying for your visa.

Exchange programs for high school students range in length from a few weeks to a semester or an academic year. This section contains information on the various high school exchange programs.

In the United States, the term "high school" describes the three or four years of education that precede college or university study. High school is equivalent to secondary school in many countries.

Exchange programs for high school students range in length from a few weeks to a semester or an academic year. Many include a "home stay" in which the student lives with a host family for the duration of the program. Students who participate in these exchanges are generally self-funded, and scholarships are rare. However, there are a few well-established international organizations, such as Rotary International, the American Field Service (AFS), and the Lions Club, that offer exchange programs that are partially or fully funded. If these organizations have a presence in your home country, contact them directly to see what programs are available.

Another option is to arrange for your own attendance at a U.S. high school. If you would like to do this, a good starting point is to contact the department of education for the state where you wish to study and request information on schools within that state or in a particular section of the state. EducationUSA advising centers are likely to have contact information for all the state departments of education. Information on private schools in the United States can also be found at EducationUSA centers or on the Internet.

Note that unless you plan to live with relatives or to be part of an organized program, you will be responsible for arranging your own accommodations in the United States. In addition, while public high schools are free to U.S. taxpayers, you will be required to pay tuition. Under current visa regulations, if you make your own arrangements to attend a U.S. high school, you must enter the United States on an F-1 visa, not a tourist visa. If you are attending a U.S. public high school, you must show proof of having paid the unsubsidized cost of your educational expenses before an F-1 visa will be issued. The maximum length of time that you can attend a U.S. public high school is one year. If you attend a private high school in the United States, however, there is no time limitation and no prepayment requirement.

English language proficiency is usually a requirement for any U.S. high school exchange program. You may be asked to present a letter of support or evaluation of your English language ability from a teacher or other qualified individual, or to go through an interview in English with a local representative of the exchange program.

The EducationUSA advising center near you may have a list or directory of high school exchange programs between your country and the United States. In addition, some useful organizations in the United States to contact are:

American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation (AIFS)
River Plaza
9 West Broad Street
Stamford, CT 06902-3788, USA
Telephone: 203-399-5000 or 800-727-2437; Fax: 203-399-5588
Web site: http://www.aifs.com

AYUSA International
455 Market Street, 17th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
Telephone: 888-552-9872; Fax: 415-986-4620
Web site: http://www.ayusa.org

EF Foundation for Foreign Study
EF Center Boston
One Education Street
Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
Telephone: 617-619-1000; Fax: 617-619-1001
Web site: http://www.effoundation.org

The Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI)
17 North Second Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174, USA
Telephone: 630-377-2272; Fax: 630-377-2307
Web site: http://www.cci-exchange.com

It is also a good idea to explore the World Wide Web, using various search engines, for the latest information on these and other high school exchange programs.

Work exchange programs vary widely in nature; for example, some programs allow you to accept any type of work that is offered, while others restrict you to working in a job related to your chosen career, or even to doing a specific job, such as being an au pair. Each program has different eligibility requirements, and you should check to see which programs best suit your particular situation and needs.

Work exchange programs do not operate between the United States and every country. Contact an EducationUSA advising center to find out if any programs are available to citizens of your country. Also use the Internet to search for information on work exchange programs.

These programs can be administered only by organizations that have been authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue the Certificate of Eligibility (Form IAP-66/DS-2019). This form allows work exchange program participants to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The J-1 visa allows the participant to work legally in the United States for a specified period of time. This type of J-1 visa should not be confused with another category of J-1 visa that is issued to students enrolled in degree or exchange programs at U.S. universities (see Booklets One and Two of this series for further information on degree-level study in the United States); you will not be able to study full-time while you are on a work exchange program. Further information on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and the Au Pair Program is available on the website http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges.

You should plan your participation in a work exchange program as far in advance as possible. Some work exchange programs require that you obtain an offer of employment in the United States before you apply to the program. Programs may have application deadlines, or they may require that you apply a certain number of weeks or months before you intend to leave for the United States. Ask the individual work exchange organization how long the whole process will take. Allow time to apply for and obtain your visa, and, if possible, do not purchase a plane ticket before you are informed that your visa application has been successful.

If you are interested in learning more about your particular profession in the United States, you might want to consider taking part in a professional exchange program. A number of programs operate between the United States and other countries that allow members of certain professions, most commonly teachers, to experience living and working at that profession in the other country. An example of such programs is the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program, which operates between the United States and more than 30 countries. Further information on this program is available on the World Wide Web at http://fulbright.state.gov/. Contact an EducationUSA advising center for information on this and other professional exchange programs available between your country and the United States.

If you are interested in learning a new skill or updating an existing one, consider a short-term program offered at a two-year community or junior college, a vocational or technical institution, or a private training center.

Ranging in length from several days to more than a year, these programs are designed to meet specific, practical training requirements, and are intended to prepare students for immediate employment. Hands-on learning activities are a major component of vocational and technical education. Common fields of study include data processing, computer programming, construction, automotive mechanics, drafting, and secretarial services.

Technical education requires students to learn concepts, theory, and design in addition to practical skills. These programs may be found not only at community and junior colleges, but also at some four-year colleges and universities.

Technical and vocational programs lead to certificates of completion or diplomas, not to university degrees. Before you apply to a technical or vocational training program, check to make sure that your training program and any certificate or diploma you might earn will be recognized upon return to your home country. Most of all, it is important to verify that the college you are considering holds the appropriate type of accreditation. Accreditation is the system of recognition and quality assurance of educational institutions and programs in the United States. Accreditation of technical and vocational schools is carried out by national bodies, such as the Career College Association, or by the relevant divisions of institutional accrediting bodies. Specialized accrediting bodies also exist for some vocational fields such as allied health areas.

Many EducationUSA advising centers have information on technical and vocational education programs. In addition, further resources can be found under "Related Links" and in the bibliography in the Students Reference section.

This section contains information on University Exchange Programs, Non-Degree or "Special Student" Study, Summer Session Study, Professional Short-Term Study, and Visiting Fellows and Scholars.

Would you like to study at a U.S. university, but you cannot commit to study for a full degree in the United States? University exchange programs, non-degree or "special student" study, and summer session study offer the opportunity to spend a summer, a semester, or an academic year at a university in the United States without enrolling in a degree program. This study might be part of your degree program in your home country, or you might take just a few courses at a U.S. university — at the undergraduate or graduate level — for your personal or professional enrichment.

University Exchange Programs
Many U.S. universities have formal links with universities outside the United States, and they have set up student exchange programs with these universities. Under such programs, U.S. students and students from another country trade places and experience living in each other's countries and studying at each other's universities. Usually, the courses studied count toward the student's degree program in his or her home country. Most of these programs run for either a semester or an academic year. The advantage of this arrangement is that students from outside the United States generally pay the amount of tuition charged by their home university rather than the tuition and fees of the U.S. university, which can be considerably higher.

Contact the office responsible for international programs and linkages at your institution to ask if your school has exchange agreements with any U.S. universities. If it does, find out how the exchange program operates and whether you are eligible to take part. Or, if you are applying to study at universities and colleges in your home country and know you would like to spend some time studying in the United States, find out whether they operate any U.S. exchange programs. Also, many U.S. universities list their exchange programs on their websites.

You may be able to apply for funding for an undergraduate exchange program from your home university or institute, even if study abroad is not a requirement for your program of study. Funding from U.S. institutions for short-term study of this kind is very limited. If you are not eligible to receive funding from your own school or from the U.S. institution, you might try to obtain funding from social, welfare, or community organizations like Rotary International; from multinational companies; or from local businesses.

If you have completed secondary school or an undergraduate degree or if you are in the process of studying toward an undergraduate or graduate degree, many U.S. universities will allow you to take degree-level courses without enrolling for a full degree program. Under this arrangement, you may be able to take classes in a specific department, in several departments throughout a university, or, possibly, at several universities in a local area.

Non-degree students who take degree-level classes may be called special students. Many universities impose a specific time limit on the number of semesters for which you can be registered as a non-degree or special student. For detailed information on how to choose and apply to U.S. universities, see Undergraduate Study or Graduate Study.

General information on the opportunities and requirements for special student study should be available in most universities' catalogs. For specific information and application procedures for schools and programs that interest you, contact university admissions offices directly as well as the individual departments concerned, explaining that you wish to do short-term, degree-level study as a special student.

Special students are usually, though not always, ineligible to receive university-sponsored financial assistance such as scholarships or assistantships. Funding may be available from independent foundations and organizations, such as Fulbright Commissions, that award scholarships for postgraduate study. Further information can be found at EducationUSA information and advising centers, your local university's study abroad office or career placement center, or public libraries that have funding directories such as Funding for United States Study and The Grants Register. See the Bibliography for a listing of these and other useful publications.

Summer Session Study

Some universities in the United States offer classes during the summer break between May and August. The school may offer one or two "summer sessions," and each session usually lasts between six and ten weeks.

Many universities open summer session classes to the outside public, and they sometimes make available on-campus dormitory accommodations. You may find that students who are enrolled in a degree program at the university also take classes during the summer in order to finish their degree faster than usual or to catch up on classes they missed or in which they want to improve their grades. This is a great way for you to experience living and studying at a university in the United States while improving your knowledge and skills in a specific subject area.
Universities and colleges may offer you the option to take classes for "credit" or to "audit" classes without earning credits.

If you take classes for credit, each subject you study will be worth a certain number of units or credits. You may choose to receive an official transcript at the end of the session, which will state the classes you took, how many credits they were worth, and what grades you achieved.

Some international students who attend summer sessions are able to use the credits they earn in the United States toward their degree completion at home; you should ask your department and university officials if they will allow you to do this before you enroll. Likewise, if at some point later in your studies you decide to enroll in a full degree program at a U.S. university, you may be able to use the credits earned during your summer session study as credit toward your degree program. This is decided on a case-by-case basis, and you will need to ask the university admissions office which courses they will recognize and how much credit they will grant.

If you choose to audit courses, you will attend the class meetings and usually will be expected to complete all assignments and examinations, but no grades or credits will be awarded at the end of the session. Audited classes usually cost less than regular classes. To avoid any potential misunderstandings, be sure to verify requirements and program costs for classes you wish to audit with the admissions office of the U.S. institution before enrolling.

Universities usually place certain restrictions on students attending summer session classes. For example, some will not accept students under 18 years of age or those who have not finished secondary school. However, a few universities may allow students who are in the final years of their high school studies to attend. Deadlines for enrolling are often one to two months in advance of the start date of the class. You should check directly with the school's summer session brochure or Web site for eligibility requirements and application procedures.

Many EducationUSA advising centers have information on summer session programs at U.S. universities and colleges. Also consult the listing of Related Links and the Bibliography for additional references.

Note that summer schools and institutes offer another way to study in the United States during the summer months. While summer sessions at U.S. universities offer degree-level courses, summer schools and similar programs offer a broad range of courses structured for personal enrichment and professional development. Such programs can be found at certain English language centers, as well as at institutes offering classes in cooking, diving, fashion, music, the arts, and other topics.

Professional Short-Term Study

A number of public, and many private, training institutions in the United States offer short-term, intensive training programs designed for professionals; some are even specifically designed to meet the needs of professionals from outside the United States. Institutions that offer such programs include departments within U.S. universities and colleges, as well as public and private training organizations. These programs do not lead to a degree, but they do provide you with professional knowledge and help to improve your professional skills, and many award a certificate to show that you have completed the program.

Professional short-term programs last between a few days and an academic year, and meet daily for six to eight hours. They are practical and experiential in orientation, with an emphasis on case studies and activities outside the classroom. The program might include hands-on work experience, site visits, opportunities to network with U.S. counterparts, and application of theory to your own professional situation.

Professional short-term training is expensive but cost-effective. For example, the number of classroom hours in a one-week, short-term training program is approximately equal to the number of classroom hours in a 14-week course that meets for a few hours per week. Also, individuals in short-term training programs are away from work and home for a shorter period of time than if they were enrolled in a traditional academic program. Because of the short duration and the relatively high cost of these programs, it is extremely important to identify the program that best meets your specific educational needs and circumstances and your professional training objectives. Primary factors to consider include:

Area of Interest and Specialization: Short-term training programs are available in a wide range of areas. What is your particular interest and, within that, what is your area of specialization?

English Language Level: Although trainers try to communicate clearly and simply, to participate effectively in an intensive training program you will need to be proficient in English. If you have limited English skills, there are a few programs that are also available in other widely spoken languages such as Arabic, French, or Spanish.

Sponsorship/Financial Resources: What level of sponsorship is available from your employer or other sources? This will affect which programs are open to you.

Length of Training Required: How long can you be away from your home country? How long you are likely to need training for?

Career Goals: Consider what type of work you would like to be doing in the future; this may help to define the type of training that is most suitable.

New Skills Needed: Consider the goals of the training and any new responsibilities you will be expected to assume when you return to your job at home. Then, look carefully at the course information to see whether it will meet these needs. Also look closely to see whom the course is intended for. Some programs provide specific training geared toward learning a particular skill, while others cover broad topics such as management techniques. Some courses are designed for experienced professionals, while others are oriented toward beginners. Will you have to share your expertise on your return? If so, you might consider programs that include training and presentation skills, as this will maximize the benefit of the program to both you and your employer.

Once you have identified programs that meet your circumstances and needs, you should look at each one and ask these questions:

• How many hours per day of instruction are provided?
• What are the academic/professional backgrounds of the trainers?
• What facilities and resources are used for training?
• What kinds of support, services, and activities are provided beyond the training itself?
• What is the typical background of trainees?
• Is the program U.S. or internationally oriented?
• How flexible is the curriculum?
• How does equipment used in the training compare with what is available at home?
• What follow-up support is available?

Because of the range of organizations that offer training and the variety of programs offered, finding information about professional training programs often requires more research than for other types of short-term study. The nearest EducationUSA center may have information on short-term professional training programs in the United States. Other possible sources of information and advice include your employer, professional associations, home country government agencies, or U.S. training institutions, universities, and colleges. Contact the Office of International Programming, Office of Continuing Education, or similar office at individual colleges or universities. Searches on the Web may help identify appropriate training organizations and programs. As appropriate, you also can contact suppliers of computer or technical equipment for your field, teaching/research hospitals, or, for public service fields, U.S. government organizations and offices.

Visiting Fellows and Scholars

Opportunities exist at many U.S. universities for those who already hold a doctoral degree who wish to pursue further research. Universities also may allow visiting fellows to audit graduate-level courses (that is, take courses without receiving a grade or any credit for them), while having use of all academic facilities for personal researchwebsite. For specific information and application procedures, prospective fellows should contact the university admissions office and the appropriate department directly.  General requirements for visiting fellows can be found in a university's catalog or on its website.

Visiting fellows are expected to be self-funded or to have financial assistance from an outside source. Funding directories are available for reference at EducationUSA advising centers. See the bibliography in the Students Reference Section for more details. In addition, the sections on Graduate Study or Specialized Professional Study contain more detailed information on opportunities for visiting scholars at U.S. universities and institutes.

Distance Learning

Highly disciplined students who desire a United States degree without leaving their home country for long periods of time are not disqualified from a U.S. education. Learn more about Distance Learning.