A master's in America

Want to do a master’s degree in the US after your bachelor? Finding a suitable American university requires good preparation. Enrollment at an American university differs substantially from enrollment at a Dutch university. You should keep in mind that it takes a lot of time, effort and money to complete your enrollment at an American university. It is wise to start preparing at least one year before you want to leave for the US. On this page you can read more about the types of master’s programs you can find in the US and how to successfully complete the application process in five steps.

What does the degree program look like?

The US higher education system has two graduate degrees: the master’s degree and the PhD degree. To be admitted to a graduate program, you need at least a US bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree from another country. A master’s degree, unlike a bachelor’s degree, is specialized in nature. There are about 1,500 institutions in the US that offer the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in a wide variety of fields. A master’s degree in the US takes at least one year, but usually longer. Depending on the program, you should expect a duration of one and a half to three years.

Types of master’s programs

There are different types of master’s programs in the US. For example, a distinction is made between master’s programs that serve as preparation for practicing a profession – the professional master’s – and the more general training programs, the academic master’s. You compile your own study program by choosing subjects (courses) and working groups (seminars) within your field of study and within related fields of study, but it can also happen that your entire study program is already fixed. An American master’s degree is comparable to a Dutch master’s degree.

Vocational master’s

Vocational master’s programs lead to degrees where specialization is incorporated into the name. Vocational programs prepare students to practice a particular profession. Vocational programs are almost never concluded with a thesis. Most courses are concluded with an exam or other aptitude test. The requirements vary by institution and field of study.

Examples of professional master’s programs include:

Master of Architecture (MArch)
Master of Business Administration (MBA/Executive MBA)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Public Administration and Public Policy (MPA/MPP)
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Master of Social Work (MSW)

Some professional master’s programs, such as the MBA and the MEd, last one year. Other programs take two years.

Academic master’s programs

In many cases, academic master’s programs serve as preparation for further study (e.g., a PhD) or as preparation for teaching. These academic programs lead to the title of Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS). Academic master’s programs usually last two years and are completed with a thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you can apply for a master’s, or you can start directly with a PhD program in the US. Unlike in the Netherlands, in the US it is not always necessary to obtain a separate master’s degree before starting a PhD program. You can also apply directly to a PhD program. The first two years of a PhD program are similar to a master’s program. If you already hold a master’s degree in the field in which you want to pursue a PhD, you may be partially exempt from taking courses. Read more about starting a PhD.

Medicine

In the United States, the structure of medical school is different than in the Netherlands. American students cannot start medical studies directly after high school. As a future medical student, you must first complete a four-year pre-med program at a college or university. After earning a bachelor’s degree in pre-med, students enter medical school. This program takes four years and culminates in an MD (Medical Doctor) degree. After that, students gain three to seven years of practical experience during hospital (research) internships.

Law

US law schools are structured differently from those in the Netherlands. American law students follow a four-year pre-law programme in the undergraduate phase. Only after the undergraduate phase do students enter Law School. This programme lasts three years and concludes with a JD (Juris Doctor) degree, which is similar to the Dutch Meester in de Rechten title. After that, Americans take an American State Bar Examination. Only after passing this exam is one finished with legal education. Many international students pursue an LLM program in the US.

MBA/Business Administration

An MSc is a usually one-year specialization program in, for example, accounting, finance, marketing, international business, or economics. These are generally designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree or other training in economics or management. An MBA program is a graduate-level professional training program that serves as preparation for an executive position in business. Most MBA programs require several years of work experience, but it is not always necessary to have a prior degree in economics.

How to go about it?

Before you begin your application, it is important to think carefully about why you want to study in the US and what you want to achieve through your studies. Finding a suitable American university requires good preparation. Enrollment at an American university differs substantially from enrollment at a Dutch university. You should take into account that it takes a lot of time, effort and money to complete your enrollment at an American university. It is wise to start preparing at least a year before you want to leave.

Step 1

Explore your possibilities

18 to 12 months before the start of your studies

Once you have decided that you want to pursue a master’s or PhD program in the US, you’ll proceed to the next step: finding a suitable university. This is an intensive, fun and often surprising process. With nearly 1,500 institutions, there are many different options. In addition, there are great differences between universities. Doing good research certainly takes time, but it will pay off in the end.

Financing your studies

12 months before the start of your studies

Think about your budget and funding options early on. It is tempting to focus on admission first, but if you wait until after your admission to find funding, in most cases you will be too late to successfully arrange it. Realize that there are strict cut-off dates for applying for financial aid, often before you are certain of your admission.

Prepare your application

12 months before the start of your studies

It takes at least a year to successfully complete your application to a US university. Have you shortlisted universities? Then make a list of deadlines for each university and what is required for your application, such as what admission tests you need to take, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Based on this, set up a schedule to turn in each of these materials on time.

Submit your application

9 to 7 months before the start of your studies

Naturally, all parts of the application must be received by the university before the closing date. Each institution has its own closing dates. The deadlines are generally between November and April prior to the academic year in which your studies begin. Check with the institution what the exact deadlines are and, based on your shortlist, plan your application and financial aid application deadlines for each institution.

Fulbright scholarships

There are a few Dutch and many American independent sponsors and semi-governmental organizations where you can apply for financial aid for graduate-level study. Do you want to attend an American university in the fall of a master’s, non-degree program or research at the graduate level? If so, a Fulbright scholarship may be for you! The scholarship is currently $35,000. The deadline to apply for a Fulbright scholarship is mid-January for students who want to start a graduate program in the US the following fall. Note that you often apply for the scholarship before you have final notification of your admission.

Pre-departure preparations

3 to 4 months before the start of your studies

Will you be leaving for the US? The university will be able to offer you more information about the follow-up procedure and what other documents you will need. What you need varies from institution to institution. Most universities have mandatory orientation days for new international students prior to the academic year. In addition to applying for your student visa, you will need to arrange a number of things before departure. For example, it is important to have good insurance in the US.