While fees may be higher than in many countries, a plethora of funding sources exists for graduate students studying in the USA. The admissions office of the institution in which an international student wishes to enrol is the best place to start a search for financial assistance. This can be in the form of a grant, loan, scholarship, teaching/research assistantship, tuition waiver, or work-study.

In contrast to undergraduate education, where admission and financial awards are controlled at the institutional level, US graduate education is quite tightly controlled at the departmental level. Funding for certain fields tends to be more heavily subsidised than for others. For example, a student of physics, chemistry, or biology may find institutional funding more readily available than a student of humanities, the social sciences, or education.

Scholarships and Awards

Don't give up, dig about everywhere and anywhere and write lots and lots of letters – the worst thing people can say is 'No'.

There are also independent foundations and scholarship organisations that provide funding for British students studying in the US. Many of these awards will also pay for living and travel expenses. For example, The US-UK Fulbright Commission grants between six and ten graduate awards in any discipline at the US institution of the UK student's choice. The award covers tuition fees, health insurance, and living expenses for the first year of study only.

Funding directories, such as Peterson's Grants for Graduate and Postdoctoral Study (1998) and the annually published The Grants Register (Palgrave Macmillan), show that there are hundreds of independent awards available, so doing as much research as possible is a key factor in getting funding.

Personal Loans

Many personal loan schemes are also available from both US and UK sources such as banks and loan services. Loan amounts and repayment options vary depending on the field, level, and length of study. Several banks in Britain offer loans for study to existing customers, though most banks do not have a special student loan scheme for those wishing to study in the US. A second option for any student with residence in the EU is a Career Development Loan. These loans are for students who are following a professional course, and intend on working in the EU upon completion.

The availability of US-based loans for non-US citizens is limited. In almost all cases, US-based loan programs require non-US citizens to have a creditworthy US citizen or permanent resident to act as a co-borrower. However, a few universities have arrangements with lenders that do not require a co-signer so students should investigate.

Paid Employment

Additionally, international students may work for up to 20 hours per week on campus when classes are in session, and full-time during university holidays. International students are also eligible for up to one calendar year of Optional Practical Training (OPT), provided that the position is directly related to the students' field of study and commensurate with their educational level. OPT may be applied for after nine months of full-time study and it allows a student the opportunity to gain professional experience with an American firm while earning. At the same time, it puts an attractive capstone to the graduate experience.