There are many postgraduate courses in the USA for Nigerian students. These courses offer students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in a particular subject area. If you’re looking for excellent postgraduate courses in the USA that Nigerian students can take advantage of, you’ve come to the right place.
Many Nigerian students dream of pursuing their postgraduate studies in the USA. The atmosphere is not only conducive to learning; it promotes top-quality education with state-of-the-art learning facilities and outstanding faculties. The contemporary course curriculum is designed to help students find their roots in the evolving world. These postgraduate courses in the USA are available for Nigerian students to study.
Table of Contents
- 1 Postgraduate Courses in US Universities
- 1.1 Postgraduate diploma in management in the USA
- 1.2 What are the Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Courses in the USA?
- 1.3 What are the Requirements for Postgraduate Courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
- 1.4 What are the Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduate Courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
- 1.5 Why pursue postgraduate Courses in the USA as a Nigerian Student?
- 1.6 Types of postgraduate programs in the US
- 1.7 What are the Popular Postgraduate courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
- 1.8 Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.8.1 What are the requirements to do a master’s degree in the USA?
- 1.8.2 Is Waec accepted in the USA?
- 1.8.3 How many years of visa does the US give for a Master’s degree?
- 1.8.4 How much does it cost for a Nigerian to study in the USA?
- 1.8.5 How long it takes to get a student visa to the USA from Nigeria?
- 1.9 Conclusion
Postgraduate Courses in US Universities
If you have completed your undergraduate studies in Nigeria or elsewhere, you can take a postgraduate program in the USA to further your education. However, with more than 3000 universities delivering postgraduate programs, you may be stuck while trying to choose the most suitable one for you. Hence, it is necessary to research some universities, courses available, locations, and other factors before deciding. You can consider more than five universities in this regard before selecting the best.
Postgraduate diploma in management in the USA
Some Nigerian students in the USA who wish to migrate to a different field of study may require a postgraduate diploma. This could result from wanting to switch careers after discovering they studied the wrong undergraduate course. Whatever the case, the following courses are studied at a postgraduate diploma level in the USA:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
- Postgraduate Diploma in Banking and Finance
- Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource
- Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing
- Postgraduate Diploma in Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Microbiology
- Postgraduate Diploma in International Hotel and Tourism Management
- Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business Practices
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies
- Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Workplace Safety
What are the Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Courses in the USA?
Studying postgraduate courses in the USA for Nigerian students does not come cheap. However, the cost of each program depends on the program itself and the university offering it. You should budget around $20,000 to $45,000 for your prospective course. This could be less or more; you should also know that public universities cost less than private ones.
If you are studying on a budget, you can apply to study at the following universities: Marshall University, the University of Maryland, California State University Northridge, Depaul University, and Tulane University.
What are the Requirements for Postgraduate Courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
While the universities in the USA may have their specific conditions for postgraduate admission, there are general requirements you must meet to qualify you. These conditions are listed as follows:
- Completed application form
- English proficiency test score; that is, TOEFL or IELTS
- Standardized test scores, including GRE or GMAT
- A personal statement listing professional and personal goals, academic interests, and related knowledge
- Academic transcript
- Resume
- Recommendation letters
- Application fee
What are the Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduate Courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
You must meet the basic eligibility requirements to gain admission to an American university. These requirements are explained on their websites. So, you need to check their websites to know if you have met them and how to do so if you do not. Besides, the following are the essential eligibility criteria to study postgraduate courses in the USA:
- You must possess a minimum of 16 years of formal education, from primary to secondary and undergraduate. However, some lesser schools may accept a three-year diploma program with a solid academic and leadership backup. It would be best also to have or postgraduate diploma certificate to qualify. If you apply directly through an undergraduate program, you must have a strong GPA score to qualify.
- If you graduated from an NCAA Division One Institution with a minimum of 3.0 GPA, you could qualify for some universities as long as you meet a minimum of 15 years benchmark. You will not have to study a pre-master course to be eligible.
- Proof of work experience in line with your prospective course may be relevant in some universities.
- You must submit an official transcript from your undergraduate university or college if you opt for an MBA.
- You must show proof of standardized or English language proficiency tests like the GRE/GMAT or IELTS/TOEFL.
Why pursue postgraduate Courses in the USA as a Nigerian Student?
Several reasons attract Nigerian students to study postgraduate courses in the USA. First, the popularity of the US courses endeared them to students from different countries globally. Since US universities focus on developing skills and helping students overcome the challenging world, more of them will keep choosing the USA as their study destination. Other reasons to study a postgraduate course in the USA include the following:
- Well-structured and contemporary curriculum: The modernized US university curriculums are well-structured to ensure they solve real-life problems. The courses involve hands-on training to prepare the students for their careers.
- Vibrant environment: US universities have vibrant campuses with extra-curricular activities that help the students enjoy life outside the classrooms.
- Comprehensive academic prospects: Postgraduate degrees from a US university are hotcakes in the job market. Employers recognize them and place better emphasis on them when giving jobs. Additionally, the quality of teaching and research opportunities, transferable skills, and international reputation make these courses sought after.
- World-class status: Many US postgraduate courses rank among the top 50 on world ranking platforms, including QS World University Ranking and Times Higher Education.
- International outlook: With its multiculturalism outlook, US universities help students mingle with people of diverse backgrounds, which allows their mindsets and fosters their social skills.
- Industry experience: Students are exposed to seminars and workshops with industry experts, teaching them practical skills. They will also get to network and meet people that will be instrumental to their career growth.
Check out this guide on how to study in the USA as a Nigerian student
Types of postgraduate programs in the US
To acquire a postgraduate degree certificate, you must have completed an undergraduate program in a reputable university. In the USA, the postgraduate degree programs are divided into three subdivisions, and they are:
Professional Master’s Degree: These terminal programs prepare students for immediate employment. It is fast and offers the necessary knowledge and skills to occupy an immediate job.
Academic Master’s Degree: As against the professional masters, the academic master’s prepares the students for additional learning; that is, students can go for their doctoral degree once they obtain an academic master’s degree certificate. Generally, it does not extend beyond three years to complete this program.
Doctoral degrees: These are the most advanced degree – the highest degree level you can attain. It takes four to eight years to complete the coursework and the dissertation.
Click here for the checklist of the items to travel to the USA as a Nigerian student
What are the Popular Postgraduate courses in the USA for Nigerian Students?
You can study various courses in the USA at the postgraduate level. The most popular of them are in the fields/faculties below:
- Agriculture and related fields
- Aviation
- Engineering
- Humanities
- Business Management
- Sales, Marketing, and Retailing
- Social Sciences
- Therapeutic Personal Care
- Economics
- Computer Science and IT
- Mass Communication and Mass Media
- Medicine and Life Sciences
- Architecture, Building, and Planning
- Art
- International Culture, Literature, and Foreign Languages
- Music, Dance, and Theatre
- Hotel Management and Hospitality
- Education and Teaching
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to do a master’s degree in the USA?
The primary prerequisite to studying for a master’s degree in the USA is completing an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, you may also need to take entrance exams like the GMAT or GRE.
Is Waec accepted in the USA?
Many universities in the USA approve WAEC as one of the requirements for an undergraduate program. In addition, some institutions are accepting NECO for the same purpose.
How many years of visa does the US give for a Master’s degree?
Suppose you are applying for a master’s degree course in the USA, you need an H-1B visa, which is granted for three years. It is a postgraduate work visa and can be extended for another three years. However, it cannot be extended beyond six years. Besides, your employer has to initiate the visa process, not you.
How much does it cost for a Nigerian to study in the USA?
To study in the USA, you should budget between $6,000 and $55,000 yearly. Here is a breakdown of the cost for each level:
- Community colleges – $6,000 to $20,000
- Bachelor’s degree – $20,000 to $40,000
- Master’s degree – $20,000 to $45,000
- Doctoral degree – $28,000 – $55,000
How long it takes to get a student visa to the USA from Nigeria?
For a student visa, you should apply at least three months before your university degree program commences. After that, you can expect to wait about four to five days for the officials’ decision.
Conclusion
There are several options to study postgraduate courses in the USA as a Nigerian student. This is an avenue to obtain a standardized education in a convenient environment. Whereas it may cost you so much to see this dream become a reality, the reward is unquantifiable. Check out Best Courses to Study in the USA for Nigerian Students.