Study USA

British Council works in partnership with over 140 institutions across the United States of America.

From East coast to West coast, opportunities are spread across many states - giving students the chance to experience the huge cultural and geographical diversity of the US.

Study USA is funded by the Department for the Economy.

The scholarship funding package (worth approximately £50,000) includes:

• Tuition fees paid by the participating US colleges and universities
• Term-time accommodation on campus
• A full meal plan
• A generous text book allowance
• One return flight to the US
• A £1000 bursary paid directly to all students
• Elective classes – materials and fees up to a maximum of $500 per academic year

Participant finance:

• US student visa costs
• Travel and health insurance
• Commitment fee: £200: Students who are successful at interview will be required to pay a £200 Commitment Fee to secure their place on the programme. The £200 Commitment Fee will be payable by students within seven calendar days of being notified of the outcome of the interview and offered a place on the programme.

Should a student fail to pay the Commitment Fee within seven calendar days, their place on the programme will be revoked and offered to a candidate on the reserve list. In the event of withdrawal, the Commitment Fee is non-refundable (except in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the British Council). The £200 Commitment Fee will be repaid to the student along with their £1000 bursary at the start of the second semester in the USA.

• The British Council is committed to eliminating any barriers to inclusion and seeks to make reasonable adjustments to overcome any aspect that could prevent your full involvement.  We welcome any information that will allow us to support you throughout recruitment and participation.
• Students must be in full-time education at a further education college or university in Northern Ireland.
• If you are studying at a Northern Irish institution and are classified as having Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland or Great Britain residency for tuition fee purposes then you are eligible for the programme. Students classified as having International or EU (excluding ROI) residency are not eligible for Study USA.
• Students from Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Union Theological College and Stranmillis University College may apply during their Level 2 year of study, for participation in the programme the following year. QUB Medical and Dental students must also obtain permission to participate from their School.
• Students from St Mary’s University College on the three-year BA programme should apply in Year 2.  Students on the four-year BEd programme can apply in Year 2 OR Year 3.  
• Students studying a full-time HND or Foundation Degree course at a further education college in Northern Ireland should apply in their first year. 
• Students attending a further education college studying a full-time undergraduate degree should apply in their second year.
• Applicants attending a further education college studying a full-time undergraduate degree course may apply by the further education deadline.
• Students must have a first-year average of at least 57%. In the event of a large number of applications, only those with a first-year minimum average result of 60% or higher will be short-listed. The exact minimum percentage will be determined by British Council as desirable criteria based on the number of applications received.
• Participation in the programme requires you to have passed all your exams/modules in your current year of study and have no coursework/exams outstanding by the end of June 2025 - this will be verified with your local institution. Where your NI institution is providing you with the opportunity to avail of a ‘FIRST SIT’ re-sit, these situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The ‘FIRST SIT’ re-sit and results, will need to be accommodated within the Study USA timeline which differs for each US college. 
• Participation in the programme is conditional on satisfying your university/college's requirements for participation.
• Students must be permitted by their university/college to participate on the programme, particularly if this will be used as an alternative to an industrial placement.   
• Students who have previously participated in a higher education student mobility programme lasting 4 weeks or longer, funded by a Northern Ireland Government Department, are not eligible to apply for the Study USA programme (e.g. Language Assistants, Washington Ireland Program). 

Students attending the following higher education and further education institutions can apply for the programme:

• Queen’s University Belfast
• Ulster University
• Union Theological College
• Stranmillis University College
• St Mary’s University College 
• Belfast Metropolitan College
• Northern Regional College
• North West Regional College
• South Eastern Regional College
• Southern Regional College
• South West College

You will be studying 40% of subjects related to your home degree, 40% of business related subjects from the list below and 20% elective classes from all that is on offer at your US college.

• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
• Communications
• Public Speaking
• Finance
• Economics
• Marketing and PR
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Foreign Languages