Higher education in Houston, Texas 2024

Houston is as diverse as any other major city. The foreign students will easily fit into the local multicultural community thanks to the huge number of international students who come all the time. One of the reasons for this influx is the oil and gas industry: many large companies are based in downtown or on the west side of Houston in an area known as the Energy Corridor. Many Britons, Europeans, Australians and Scandinavians live, study and work here.

The metropolitan area, which consists of 9 counties, has dozens of state-approved boarding schools and approximately 200 private schools. Houston offers a full range of educational opportunities for all ages — from kindergartens and preschools to community colleges and highly ranked universities.

More than 40 two-year community colleges and four-year universities are open in the Houston area, including the prestigious Rice University, the University of Houston and nearby Texas A&M University in College Station. Houston colleges and universities annually teach about 430,000 and graduate more than 100,000 students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are 50 trade, professional and business schools in the region specializing in law, healthcare, technological processes and other disciplines - they teach another 20,000 students.

The higher education system in Houston is divided into three stages: bachelor's, master's and postgraduate studies. Overcoming the initial stage, the foreign student becomes the owner of a full higher education. After receiving a bachelor's degree, a graduate in the United States of America can apply for a well-paid job in the chosen specialization.

A master's degree involves an in-depth study of the specialty. Also, within this stage, the student can change the chosen direction of education.

A postgraduate diploma allows a graduate to teach at higher educational institutions and conduct full-fledged research activities.

The foreign students can apply to a higher education institution for a bachelor's degree in Houston immediately after graduation. The applicant must provide a certificate of full secondary education. Moreover, it can be obtained not only in the United States, but also in other countries. The studying period is 4 years. At the same time, in most cases, the student does not need to immediately choose a certain specialization. He can do it after two years of studying.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What firstly should be considered when choosing a university? Subjects, employer value, percentage of employment in the first year after graduation?

It depends on the student - everyone determines the most important criteria for himself. I would advise you to take several rankings and compare them with each other, plus take into account the cost of the course, the location of the university and its scale, the percentage of graduates' employment. See where graduates continue their studies or where they go to work.

The Master's degree is the second stage in the higher education system in Houston. After successfully passing it, the student receives a master's degree.

The studying period is 2 years. The educational process itself is structured according to the type of bachelor's degree. At the same time, the level of complexity of the disciplines is much higher. To get a master's degree, a student needs to write and defend a thesis. The studying at this stage involves two types of programs:

• Master's degree in the chosen specialization in the professional field;
• Academic master's degree, involving the subsequent conduct of research activities - this option is suitable for students planning further studies in graduate school.

A prerequisite for admission to the master's program is the presence of a bachelor's degree. The coincidence of the chosen specializations at the first and second educational levels is an optional requirement. They may well differ.

Foreign students planning to enrol in a master's degree can provide a diploma of graduation from a higher educational institution in their state.

The learning process is paid. The cost of educational programs varies depending on the ranking of the higher educational institution. On average, hits level corresponds to a bachelor's degree. At the same time, the opportunity to receive funding while conducting active scientific activity is quite large.

Postgraduate study (doctorate) is the final educational stage. It is chosen by students who are determined to develop in the scientific and teaching field.

The studying period is 4-6 years. After completing the educational process, the student receives a PhD degree (this is the general approved name of the direction) or a Doctor of Sciences – ScD. This status corresponds to the status of a candidate of sciences in our country.

Some universities provide students with the opportunity to enrol in postgraduate studies immediately after completing the first stage of study – bachelor's degree. In this case, the student receives the master's status automatically.

The cost of educational services varies depending on the ranking of the university. On average, a year of study at a prestigious private or public higher education institution will cost about 40 000 – 45 000 dollars. Lesser–known universities provide an opportunity to get an education at a more affordable cost - up to $ 20,000.

International students should add to the declared amount the payment for accommodation, meals and other basic expenses.

For those who are looking for a more profitable way to gain knowledge in the framework of a future profession, there are programs in American community colleges. These educational institutions allow you to get a so-called secondary special education in two academic years. After graduation, the student has the opportunity to enroll immediately in the third year of the university with sufficient academic performance. A year of study at a community college costs about $7,000 - $10,000.

In general, all admission commissions in Houston will require the following documents from the foreign students:

• Application for admission to the university (written or electronic)
• Motivation letter (“Why exactly am I worthy to study at this university?”)
• A receipt for payment of the registration fee (usually $ 90– $ 150)
• A school certificate or a report card with grades from a native university, if you have already completed part of the studying course
• A certificate of English proficiency - TOEFL or IELTS
• Sometimes requires SAT or ACT results (exams that high school graduates take in America)
• Translation of a bachelor's degree + an application with grades (if you are going to a master's course)
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, curators, rector, employers, etc. – the more and more diverse, the better.

All documents must be translated into English and notarized.