Masters and scholarships abroad cheat sheet (United States)

1. 1Decide whether, why and whatThe reason, the degree type, the destination and the full cost. Every later choice depends on these.9 concepts

   1. 1Your study goalA one or two sentence statement of what the degree should change in your career, such as moving into research, gaining a specialism or working in another…
   2. 2Taught mastersA masters made mostly of courses and exams, with a project or short thesis at the end, usually one or two years long.
   3. 3Research mastersA masters built mostly around one supervised research project and thesis, sometimes with a few courses.
   4. 4PhDThree to six years of supervised research that ends with a thesis of original work.
   5. 5Total cost of studyTuition plus living costs for the whole programme, health cover, visa and application fees, tests, flights, a housing deposit and a buffer, in your home…
   6. 6Opportunity costWhat you give up by studying: usually one to several years of salary, experience and promotions at home.
   7. 7Return on investmentComparing the total cost and opportunity cost of a degree with what realistically changes afterwards: roles, pay and how long a loan takes to repay.
   8. 8Destination fitHow well a country's tuition, funding, language, work rules during and after study, and visa process suit your goal and budget.
   9. 9The family planAn agreement with the people funding or affected by your studies on the budget, who pays, the risks and the backup plan.

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2. 2Your 12 to 18 month planDates, budget and the parts of your profile you can still improve before you apply.8 concepts

   1. 1Intake and application cycleThe start date of a programme and the yearly rhythm of its applications, which usually close 6 to 12 months before the start.
   2. 2Backwards application planA dated list of tasks worked back from each deadline: tests, referees, statement drafts, documents and submission.
   3. 3Application budgetThe money needed before any offer: test fees, application fees, score reports, credential evaluation, attestation, couriers and translations.
   4. 4Application fee waiverA university's official waiver of its application fee, often offered to applicants from lower income countries, early applicants or people from particular…
   5. 5Profile auditAn honest review of your grades, relevant courses, projects, work, research, English level and referees against what your target programmes describe.
   6. 6Research experienceEvidence you can investigate a question: a research-style final year project, a reproduction of a published result, work as a research assistant or a summer…
   7. 7Predatory journalA publication that charges authors and publishes almost anything with little or no real peer review.
   8. 8Document lead timeHow long it takes to get a passport, official transcripts, degree certificates, attestation, translations and evaluations from the offices that issue them.

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3. 3Choose programmes and supervisorsHow to judge a programme beyond its ranking, and how to find and approach research groups for research degrees.10 concepts

   1. 1University rankingsTables that combine reputation surveys, citations, staff ratios and other measures into a rank, overall or by subject.
   2. 2Curriculum checkReading the compulsory and elective modules, project or thesis share, teaching staff and tracks of a programme in its official handbook.
   3. 3Research groupA professor with the students and researchers they supervise, working on related problems and publishing together.
   4. 4Supervisor fitHow well a potential supervisor's current research, availability, funding and style match your interests and needs.
   5. 5Supervisor emailA short, specific message to a potential supervisor naming a paper of theirs you read, how your background connects and one clear question.
   6. 6Advertised PhD positionA funded PhD project with a named supervisor and a closing date, common in Europe and often paid as an employment contract.
   7. 7Graduate outcomesWhere a programme's recent graduates work or study next, from official reports, career fairs and alumni profiles.
   8. 8Cost of livingRent, food, transport and other monthly costs in the university's city, from the university's own estimate and housing listings.
   9. 9Entry requirementsThe minimum degree, grades, background courses, English score and tests a programme lists, often with a page per country.
   10. 10Tiered shortlistSix to ten programmes split into ambitious, realistic and safer tiers, each with a written reason it fits.

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4. 4Funding and scholarshipsThe kinds of funding, how the big scholarships work, and the rules that come attached. Amounts and deadlines change every year, so confirm them on the funder's page.8 concepts

   1. 1Fully funded scholarshipAn award that covers tuition, living costs and usually travel, typically from a government or foundation, with strict eligibility and a yearly cycle.
   2. 2Partial scholarship and fee waiverA university award that reduces tuition by a fixed amount or percentage, often given with the offer or through a short extra form.
   3. 3AssistantshipPaid work for the university, teaching or research, that often includes a tuition waiver, common for PhD students and some research masters students.
   4. 4StipendA regular living allowance paid to a funded student, from a scholarship, assistantship or research grant.
   5. 5Education loanBorrowed money for tuition and living costs, from a bank at home or a lender abroad, with interest, possible collateral and a repayment schedule.
   6. 6Return commitmentA scholarship rule requiring you to return to your home country for a set period after the award, such as two years.
   7. 7Nominating agencyA national body in your home country that selects and nominates candidates for some scholarships, with its own earlier deadline.
   8. 8Fulbright Foreign Student ProgramA US government programme funding graduate study in the United States for students from more than 160 countries, run locally by Fulbright commissions or US…

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5. 5English tests and the GREWhich tests to take, how scores work and how they reach universities. Check each programme's current requirements.9 concepts

   1. 1Test acceptanceThe list of English tests and minimum scores a programme, a scholarship or a visa route accepts.
   2. 2IELTS AcademicAn English test of listening, reading, writing and speaking scored in bands from 0 to 9, with a separate UKVI version for some UK routes.
   3. 3TOEFL iBTThe ETS academic English test.
   4. 4PTE AcademicA computer-based English test of about two hours from Pearson, with results typically in about two days.
   5. 5Duolingo English TestAn online English test taken at home, accepted by many universities for admission.
   6. 6English test waiverA university's decision not to require an English test, often because your previous degree was taught in English and documented by a letter.
   7. 7GRE General TestAn ETS test of verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing, lasting 1 hour 58 minutes as of 2026-09.
   8. 8Score validityHow long a test score is accepted: IELTS results are generally recommended for up to two years, TOEFL scores are usually accepted for two years and GRE scores…
   9. 9Official score reportScores sent directly by the test provider to a university, or verified online by the university, rather than a copy you upload.

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6. 6Documents, applications and offersThe documents that decide most applications, how to submit them, and how to read the offers that come back.10 concepts

   1. 1Statement of purposeAn essay of roughly one to two pages on what you want to study, what has prepared you and why this programme fits your plans.
   2. 2Programme-specific paragraphThe part of a statement rewritten for each programme: modules, researchers, facilities and structure that match your goal.
   3. 3Research proposalA few pages for research degree applications: a working title, the problem, related work and the gap, research questions, method, timeline and references.
   4. 4Academic CVA CV led by education, research experience, publications and projects, then teaching, awards, skills and languages, with no strict one-page limit.
   5. 5Letter of recommendationA letter from a professor or employer who knows your work, describing it specifically and comparing you with others they have taught or managed.
   6. 6Attestation and certified copiesOfficial confirmation that your transcripts and degree are genuine, from your university, education ministry or a higher education regulator, or certified…
   7. 7Credential evaluationAn assessment of how your foreign degree and grades compare with the host country's system, done by the university, a service such as WES or a body such as…
   8. 8Scholarship essayAnswers to a scholarship's own questions, often on leadership, networking, career plans and impact on your home country.
   9. 9Conditional and unconditional offersAn unconditional offer admits you outright; a conditional one depends on something still to come, such as final grades, an English score or documents.
   10. 10Admission interviewA video or in-person conversation with a professor or panel, common for PhDs, some masters and scholarships.

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7. 7Visa, money and pre-departureProof of funds, the visa for your destination, health cover, housing and the scams aimed at students. Figures are as of 2026-09; check the official page the week you apply.8 concepts

   1. 1Proof of fundsEvidence that you can pay tuition and living costs, in the form and for the period your visa route sets: bank statements, a blocked account, a loan letter or a…
   2. 2I-20 and F-1 visaThe I-20 is the school's form confirming your admission and funding; the F-1 is the student visa you apply for with it after paying the SEVIS fee and filing the…
   3. 3Visa interviewA conversation or credibility check where an officer tests whether you are a genuine student with a clear plan and funding.
   4. 4Student health coverThe health insurance or surcharge a visa or university requires, such as the UK Immigration Health Surcharge or Australian OSHC.
   5. 5Education agentA person or company that helps students apply, sometimes paid by universities, sometimes by students.
   6. 6Fake admission and scholarship lettersForged offers using real university names, or fake scholarships that ask for a processing fee.
   7. 7Housing scamA fake listing where someone takes a deposit for a room that does not exist or is not theirs to rent.
   8. 8Pre-departure folderOriginals and digital copies of your passport, visa, offer, funding, transcripts and insurance, plus money for the first weeks.

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8. 8Making the degree countWork rules, internships, networking, post-study options and the choice between staying and returning. Rules as of 2026-09.7 concepts

   1. 1Academic integrityYour university's rules on plagiarism, citation, collaboration and AI tools in assessed work.
   2. 2Student work limitsThe hours and kinds of work a student visa allows during term and breaks.
   3. 3Internships on a student visaThe conditions under which a student can take an internship, which may require it to be part of the programme or authorised in advance.
   4. 4NetworkingBuilding real relationships with classmates, professors and professionals through seminars, events and follow-up.
   5. 5Post-study workPermission to stay and work after graduating, such as the Graduate Route, OPT, the post-graduation work permit, the Temporary Graduate visa or a job seeker…
   6. 6OPT and STEM OPTOptional Practical Training allows up to 12 months of work in your field; graduates of eligible STEM degrees can apply for a 24-month extension.
   7. 7Student wellbeingYour mental and physical health, finances and support network while studying far from home.

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9. 9Glossary, A to ZEvery concept in the sheet and the smaller terms it uses, in one list.132 terms

Programmes, funding, SOPs, visas.