UK students have access to many short-term study abroad opportunities in the USA. The US-UK Fulbright Commission provides summer programmes for secondary school and undergraduate students.
Studying abroad in the USA can have many benefits, such as:
- Getting a taste for US higher education
- Supporting your application for further, long-term US education
Fulbright programmes
- Sutton Trust US Programme, a pre-university programme for secondary school students
- Study of the US Institutes (SUSIs), summer programmes for undergraduate students
- Fulbright All Disciplines Award, a scholarship available for postgraduate research projects
University students
If you are a current undergraduate, your home university will likely have study abroad agreements with one or more US institutions. These study abroad programmes can last for an academic term or year and might allow you to:
- Pay reduced UK tuition fees for your time abroad
- Receive UK tuition and maintenance loans
External scholarships and grants for university exchanges to the USA are offered by:
- BAAS
- BUTEX
- UK government (different processes for students from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
- Study USA programme - funded year abroad exchange years for university students at Northern Irish universities
Postgraduate study abroad programmes are rare. It is more common to find external funding for research projects that require your presence in another country. Common sources of funding for short-term postgraduate academic work in the US include:
Internships, summer work and secondary school exchanges
The US Department of State J-1 Visa Visitor Exchange programme website lists full details for the following exchange opportunities:
- Au pairing
- Internships
- For current or recently graduated university students only
- Secondary school exchanges
- Summer camp work
- Summer work and travel
- For full-time university students only
There are also a number of summer programmes for high school students. Details of these opportunities can sometimes be found on directories including: