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We recommend that all students interested in higher education in the U.S. start by attending one of our 5 Steps to Study in the U.S. information sessions offered online at the beginning of each month. You can find these (and other opportunities) in the events section.
Your first step towards graduate studies in the U.S. is to research programs in your field of interest that meet your academic and professional goals. Applications are usually submitted 8 to 10 months before you begin your studies. Below you will find more information on how to begin your search.
In the U.S. you can find both professional programs such as MBAs in business or LLMs for law, as well as programs focused more towards academia and research such as MA (Master of Arts), MS (Master of Science) or PhD (doctoral) programs. Some PhD programs incorporate master’s studies, allowing students who have completed a bachelor’s degree to go directly into programs leading to a PhD.
The first step is to find programs that meet your goals.
Some criteria you may want to consider are:
What career opportunities does the program offer?
Where do graduates of the program end up?
What research topics interest you and which professors or departments are working on these topics?
Are there any special facilities or resources you would like to be able to access?
Will you need funding to help pay for your studies?
Consider your answers to these questions and use program search engines such as the following to start making your list.
Another way to identify programs is to look into where the authors and researchers you have been most interested in during your undergraduate or master’s studies are working and/or evaluate whether your tutors, classmates or professors have professional contacts in the U.S. In addition, you can look into professional associations or societies in your field and see if they have a list of programs or universities that specialize in that field.
Once you have a list of programs that interest you, you can begin to explore each university or program’s website and find out about their resources, core curriculum requirements and electives, application requirements, prices and funding options.
Before beginning applications, it may be advisable to send a brief email to the faculty member whose research interests you most to introduce yourself, explaining your interest in his or her work and your intention to apply to the program.
For more resources and advice, feel free to contact us!
As you gather information on programs that interest you, it’s important to put together a budget of potential costs and funding sources for each program.
On each program’s website you can check the “total costs of attendance” or “net costs” and whether the program offers graduate funding, fellowships or assistantships that may reduce the cost of tuition and fees or even offer a small stipend to help with personal expenses. If you do not find this information online, you can always contact the Graduate Studies Director or Graduate Studies Coordinator to ask for it.
In addition to tuition costs, it’s important to take into account the cost of living which can vary greatly in different parts of the U.S.
Apart from graduate funding available through your university, there are also external scholarships available for Spanish students pursuing graduate studies. You can look into requirements, deadlines and more information on the following options:
To apply for admission to graduate programs, you generally have to present the following components:
A transcript translated into English of your most recent studies (bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees).
Statement of purpose: a written statement about your experience and goals.
CV
Letters of recommendation from 2 or more professors
Exams (exams that may be required include English language tests such as IELTS or TOEFL and standardized tests such as GRE and GMAT).
Some universities or programs may require additional documentation such as:
Scholarly publications or work samples
A research proposal
Additional letters of recommendation
Credential evaluation: some universities will ask for an external evaluation of your academic records
Application for graduate funding: some programs require an additional application for scholarships and fellowships
Artistic portfolio for artistic programs
An audition or video for music or performance programs
An interview
You will need to check each university’s website for their exact requirements. Feel free to contact us for more information, examples and advice on all of these materials.
You will apply for a visa after you have been admitted and have confirmed your attendance at a U.S. university. Your university will provide you with more information about the requirements and the type of visa to apply for.
There are two main types of visas you may receive for study in the US.
The J-1 is typically for short stays, exchanges and government-sponsored programs. If you receive external funding, you may need a J-1 visa.
The F-1 is the visa you will normally apply for if you are pursuing a degree program without additional funding from government organizations.
The first step, once you have confirmed your attendance at a university, is to receive the DS-2019 (for J-1 visas) or I-20 (for F-1 visas) form from your university. Once you have received this form, you can pay the visa fees and request an interview with the embassy in Madrid. You will need to make an appointment and go in person to Madrid for the interview. It is usually a short and simple interview, and once it is done, you will receive your visa within 2 weeks.
For more information, please contact us or visit the embassy website.
Key components to this final step include finding housing, making your travel arrangements, gathering pre-departure materials and documents for arrival, as well as reporting to your school and attending orientations.
Check your new institution’s website for additional pre-departure information that will be more specialized and have information about health insurance, average local temperatures throughout the year, local transportation options, housing, and more.
Attend Pre-Departure Orientation with us! In May or June of every year we offer a Pre-Departure Orientation where we cover everything you need to know about cultural differences, resources on campus, academic systems and expectations and housing. A consular representative from the U.S. Embassy will answer your questions about visas and a panel of students who have studied in the U.S. will answer questions on campus life. Sign up here to receive a notification when we schedule this session!
