Masters degree - Postgraduate in English in New York 2025

Higher education in the direction of a master degree programs in New York opens the way for students to research activities, allowing the foreign students to obtain not only a Master's degree, but also the primary knowledge and skills necessary for further research and postgraduate studies (if desired). A master degree in New York universities is more deeply specialized than a bachelor's degree, so a master's degree allows students to become even more competitive when applying for a job.

Master degree in the USA is very popular among the international students. According to the data from CGS (Council of Graduate Schools), about 15% of Master students come from other countries to study in the prestigious universities of New York.

Duration of studying on Master program varies from 1 to 2 years. The education is more applied in nature, and the specialization of courses is narrower than at the bachelor's degree. Graduates of the Master's degree in America are highly qualified specialists who are fully ready to put their knowledge into practice.

Studying Master's degree in English in New York typically requires from $12,000 to $35,000 per year. The tuition fee depends on the chosen major. Other important factors are the prestige of educational institution and its location. The high cost of education in the USA is compensated by the presence of many grants, scholarships and other financial assistance programs for students.

There are two main types of financial help for the international students of Master programs in New York:

• Fellowship – a scholarship that covers the costs of tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and does not require any retaliatory actions on the part of the student (except for regular attendance of classes at the university);
• Assistantship is a scholarship that partially or completely covers the costs of tuition, accommodation, etc., and assumes that the student works off the money received in one way or another. Undergraduates receiving an Assistantship help their supervisor in conducting research, work in the international department on the university campus, teach undergraduate students.

The source of this kind of funding is usually the universities themselves. In addition to universities, scholarship programs and grants for studying are provided by various public and private foundations, commercial organizations. Among the foreign students, the Fulbright Program remains the most popular international program providing grants for master's degree studies in the United States.

The foreign students must provide the International Student Certification of Finances, which guarantees the availability of sufficient funds for studying. If an applicant needs financial assistance from the university, the relevant documents must be submitted to the admissions committee along with the main package of papers.

The main package of documents includes the following ones:

• International language certificate (TOEFL or IELTS)
• Bachelor’s degree and transcript with grades for admission to the master's course (the requirements for the average score vary from faculty to faculty).
• In case of enrolling on Master degree MBA in New York, the foreign student must provide one of the following certificates – GRE or GMAT.

Documents confirming certain merits of the applicant will not be superfluous: diplomas, certificates, diplomas, etc. Also it is necessary to provide motivation letter, where the applicant argues his desire to study at this university.

Sometimes the staff of the admissions committee invites applicants for an interview, which is conducted via Skype. The application is submitted online, but it is recommended to send copies of paper documents in advance.

• New York is a cosmopolitan city: it's open and expat-friendly, student-friendly, and easy for a foreigner to get to grips with;
• Dozens of museums, the Metropolitan Opera House and Museum, the New York City Opera House and dozens of other cultural and arts venues will keep you busy; the city is also the center of the film industry, and movies are often filmed here;
• The city has a modern and well-developed system of round-the-clock public transportation, which allows you to easily get to any part of the city both day and night;
• Thousands of cafes and restaurants with varied and colorful cuisine from all over the world will not leave anyone indifferent, everyone can find food for the body to nourish between meals for the mind;
• The city is friendly to cyclists and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts: in every public garden people do yoga or gymnastics at lunchtime and then hurry back to their workplaces;
• US university degrees and certificates are accepted everywhere in the world, and New York will be an additional marker of quality;
• The majority of university campuses are located in the old part of the city, amidst parks and squares, or in Manhattan;
• The city is home to the New York Public Library, one of the best and most beautiful libraries in the world.

Job Prospects  
Studying in the U.S. offers excellent opportunities for successful employment worldwide, particularly in the U.S. Master’s graduates earn $20,000–30,000 more annually compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Top-Level Reputation  
Universities in New York rank highly in all major international rankings, offering the best faculty, high-quality research, and both practical and theoretical training.

Combining Study and Work  
After the first year of study, master's students can participate in paid internships, which may lead to full-time employment and provide a basis for immigration to the U.S.

Quick Adaptation
With English as the official language, the global influence of American culture, and numerous personal growth opportunities, the adaptation period is almost seamless.

Multinational Environment  
The U.S. remains a "melting pot" of hundreds of cultures, beliefs, and nationalities, with New York at the forefront of this diversity. The popularity of international education in the U.S. allows students to meet people from various cultures, gain new experiences, form valuable academic and business connections, and make friends.

High cost
Higher education in the United States is one of the most expensive in the world. It is possible to get a scholarship, but it is not as easy as it seems. It is better to rely on your own funding. In New York, on average, it is about 30-60 thousand dollars a year, depending on the prestige, popularity and performance of the university, as well as the direction of training. In addition, the costs of daily life are significant - up to 1500-2000 dollars a month.

Elitism
Despite the fact that the USA is a country of equal opportunities, the system of higher education here is not a model of democracy and open-door policy. Universities apply strict selection of applicants, and the competition to the best universities for graduate programs can reach 10-20 people per place, so every detail is important - the quality of letters of recommendation and motivation, the topic of research, additional arguments and documentary evidence of the student's extraordinary and giftedness.

In order to enter a master's program in the United States, it is necessary to do a long and meticulous work with documents, useful information research and its analysis. In addition, it is a kind of test for suitability, as the system of higher education in the United States encourages students to make a conscious choice choosing a research topic without rush, to approach it as prepared as possible.

Documents are submitted through the electronic form on the official website. The number of applications is unlimited, but every time you need to pay a registration fee (non-refundable, the amount varies depending on the educational institution).

Applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree in a related major with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 and proof of sufficient English proficiency. Additional exams are also required for admission to programs in a number of majors:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE),
• Law School Admission Test for law schools (LSAT),
• Medical College Admission Test for medical schools (MCAT),
• Graduate Management Admission Test for business schools (GMAT).
• A number of New York universities also require applicants to Master's programs to submit a research plan, especially for science students.

The package of documents should be translated into English and notarized. Certified copies with translation should be sent to the admission office of the selected university by mail.

After preliminary approval of the application, the university may invite the student to a face-to-face or online interview. After that, the lucky applicants will receive an official invitation with an attached I-20 form. The applicant will not be able to apply for a visa without it.

A typical package of documents includes:

• Bachelor's degree;
• CV;
• Research Plan;
• Academic transcript with a grade point average of at least 30;
• Letters of recommendation and motivation;
• TOEFL 78+ / IELTS 6.5+ certificates;
• Certificates of additional major examinations.

To apply for a master's program in the U.S., students with a bachelor's degree from other jurisdictions are required to undergo the diploma legalization process. This ensures that a document issued abroad has legal validity in the country.

Some universities in New York require an additional evaluation process to confirm foreign qualifications. Some institutions handle this evaluation themselves, while others require applicants to provide a certificate of equivalency from a third-party, reputable evaluation agency.

It is best to start gathering documents for programs beginning in September as early as possible, ideally starting in March. For programs starting in December, it is recommended to complete the application process between April and June.

There is no unified system for submitting applications in the U.S., so it’s important to check the specific admission deadlines with the university’s admissions office or on the official university websites.

Traditionally, New York’s business schools are considered among the strongest in the U.S., offering the MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree — one of the most prestigious, highly paid, and expensive specializations in the world.

Other popular fields of study in New York include:

- History and social sciences;
- Education;
- Medicine and dentistry;
- Engineering;
- Computer and information technology;
- Public administration and municipal governance;
- Psychology;
- Sociology.

When choosing training programs, you should focus on your interests in science as well as your career prospects. U.S. universities offer two types of master's degrees:

Professional degree

It is a perfect solution for those who intend to focus on a specific topic or job, and to acquire as many applied skills as possible. Programs, lecture, seminar and laboratory schedules are rigidly structured and include core and optional modules. In the process of learning, students perform various written assignments, individual and group project work, and make presentations. Coursework, exams and tests are used for assessment, in some cases - diploma practical studies. Very often paid and free internships in large companies are an integral part of such programs.

The duration of professional master's programs varies from one to two years.

Typical examples of programs of this type are:

• Master of Engineering (MEng);
• Master of Systems Science;
• Master of Business;
• Master of Education, Communications, Fine Arts.

Academic Degree

Another example of a master's degree available in the United States would suit students with specialized academic interests, as most of time here is devoted to research rather than practice. Students potentially need to be prepared to manage their own time effectively and control the schedule - the program may not include mandatory face-to-face lectures and seminars. Instead, the student will be required to undertake an individual or collective research project under the supervision and participation of a supervisor.

Academic programs last a year, are flexible in their scheduling, and all of them are designed without exception for the possibility of further training in doctoral studies.

Examples of academic degrees:

• Master of Applied Science (MASc) in... (the name of the specific field of study follows);
• Master of Science (MSc);
• Master of Arts (MA).

The academic year in New York universities lasts 9 months and is typically divided into two semesters—fall (starting in August) and spring (from January to May). Additionally, some universities offer a short summer semester, which begins in May.

Throughout the year, students study core and elective modules.

One of the most notable differences from European universities is the specific grading model. While European universities award academic credits based on completed work, in the U.S., the primary criterion is the amount of time spent on lectures, seminars, practical work, and independent study. To successfully complete a master's program, students need between 30 and 64 credits.

In the U.S., students in professional degree programs are often may defend a project instead of a dissertation. Additionally, in some New York universities, students must pre-approve their research plan before starting work on the dissertation. Once the work is completed, it is first submitted for review, followed by a public defense.

Students must obtain an F-1 visa to study in the graduate program. During the first year of study, students may work on campus, but no more than 20 hours during the semester and no more than 40 hours during vacation periods. If there are extraordinary circumstances affecting income, more hours may be worked in consultation with the administration, but this is at the discretion of the university.

Openings for freshmen are available (subject to availability) as teaching assistants or lab assistants, library staff, and any other vacant positions in university departments or any organizations operating on campus.

For employment, students should consult with the Human Resources Specialist (DSO) and obtain a letter of certification from them. The same is required from the employer. The next step is to prepare a CV and go for an interview.

Average wages at NYU campuses range from $14 to $30-35/hour.

In the second year, employment opportunities become more numerous, and the main thing is that students get the opportunity to work outside the university campus. They have three options to choose from:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Often a required element of a program for which students receive credit. The work must be in the field of study of the program, and to obtain permission, the student must consult with a specialist at the university's academic department. They will receive an I-20 form, which serves as proof of authorization for the internship. In addition, an employment contract must be signed.

Work can be both full-time and part-time, paid and unpaid; in the first case, the average wage per hour in New York varies between $35 and $50.

It is important to remember that students who have completed a full year of practicum work are ineligible to take OPT.

• Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Its profile must also match the profile of the diploma. There are two major types of programs, the duration of each can be up to a calendar year:

• Pre-completion OPT

An option available to students from the second year onwards. During classes, a maximum of 20 hours per week can be worked and 40 hours per week during vacations.

• Post-complete OPT

Graduate-Master's Solution.

There is a common misconception that a student can choose either OPT or CPT, but not both together. This is not true: it is possible to participate in both the former and the latter program, but as long as the total time does not exceed a year. If the internship lasted for seven months, you will be able to work for five more months after graduation.

Becoming a participant in the program is more complicated: along with the I-20, you must also fill out a form I-765 (Request for Work Authorization), as well as pay an application fee of $410. The application must be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and will be valid for one year. If approved, the student will receive work authorization - all that remains is to interview and begin work.

• Advanced STEM OPT

Strictly speaking, is a type of OPT, designed for graduate students of STEM profile - studying science, technology, engineering or math. It has special conditions, the most important of which is duration; after completing OPT/CPT, students can work on STEM OPT for two more years.

To participate in the program, the following are required:

• Bachelor's degree with SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification;
• A current copy of I-20;
• I-765;
• I-983 - Plan of Study for students in the STEM OPT program.
• In addition, you must be a participant in the OPT program and verify that the prospective employer is an E-Verify participant.

Once the studies are completed, the F-1 visa allows the graduate to remain in the United States for additional two months. OPT participants retain the right to stay and the ability to work on an existing student visa until the completion of the internship (1 to 3 years).

After that it is necessary to apply for a work visa - most often it is H-1B. This document allows you to work in the U.S. for up to three years with a subsequent extension for another three years. You cannot submit such an application on your own: you need an employer accredited by the country's Citizenship and Immigration Services, who must fill out an application on Form I-129 no later than 180 days before the expiration date of the F1 visa or OPT internships (the latter significantly increases the chance of obtaining a visa with the right to work).

The requirements are fairly modest:

• Possession of an academic degree;
• a one-time registration fee of $460.
• During the period of validity of the work visa, master's students can obtain a green card, and subsequently citizenship of the United States.