The United States has one of the best higher education systems globally. With a wide range of opportunities, international students could get quality education, cultural enrichment, and professional development. Here's an overview of the US higher education system and what you can expect as an international student:
Our students remember their time at CEL for the friendships they built, the progress they made, and the moments that stayed with them long after.
My time at CEL was fantastic. Meeting people from all over the world was the highlight. Sharing cultures in the US was the best part, and my English improved even more.
South Korea
CEL offers lots of contents every week, with new material every day. This kept me engaged and interested in various subjects, helping me improve my English skills not just in writing and listening, but also in speaking during debates and discussions.
South Korea
I’m from Brazil and came to San Diego for a dream exchange. College of English Language was the best choice. Great teachers, supportive staff, and classes that keep you learning every day.
Brazil
Answers to common questions about our pathway programs, covering academic English, university preparation, admissions support, and study options.
Yes. CEL partners with more than 150 colleges and universities in North America. Some partners allow students to progress directly into academic programs without TOEFL. (Waivers depend on the institution.)
Yes. A CEL course certificate confirms your English level and study duration, which is valuable for employers and personal growth. For university admission, official exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge are required.
Employers value international experience, adaptability, and communication skills. By studying at a CEL language school in the USA or Canada, you gain more than English — you build global connections and skills that give you a career edge.
Yes. CEL is ideal for students who want the quality of a boutique school, small classes (average of 7, maximum of 12 students per class), and great locations in the USA and Canada.
Students choose CEL for our small class sizes (average of 7, maximum of 12 students), great residential accommodation options, and prime locations in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Every year, more than 50 nationalities study at CEL, creating a welcoming international community. Many students also choose CEL because of recommendations from friends.
CEL also offers seasonal promotions and discounts — check with us for current offers.
Send us a message and our team will help with course details, admissions, or anything else you’d like to know.
Stories and advice from our students, written to give you a real feel for studying with CEL.
The US education system follows a sequence of three broad stages, K-12 schooling through age 18, an undergraduate (bachelor's degree) stage of typically four years, and a graduate stage that includes master's and doctoral degrees. International students who plan to study in the United States usually enter at the undergraduate or graduate stage, often via a pathway program at a school like CEL that combines academic English with admissions support for partner colleges and universities.
US higher education begins after a student completes 12 years of K-12 schooling, then progresses through three credit-based degree levels. The undergraduate stage typically takes four years and produces a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS), although many students begin with a two-year Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) at a community college before transferring to a four-year university for the final two years of the bachelor's. The graduate stage adds a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), or specialised qualification such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA), typically over one to two years. Doctoral study, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), takes a further four to seven years. Across all stages, US universities measure progress in credit hours rather than yearly grades, and overall academic performance is reported as a Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 0 to 4.0 scale.
In American English, "college" and "university" overlap more than international students expect. A college often refers to a smaller institution that primarily offers undergraduate degrees, while a university is usually a larger institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and often houses several distinct colleges (for example a College of Engineering or a College of Liberal Arts inside the same university). Community colleges are a separate category, two-year institutions that grant associate degrees and prepare students to transfer into a four-year university. Importantly, "going to college" in American English is the everyday phrase for any undergraduate study, whether the institution is technically a college or a university.
Most international students applying to US universities are asked for an English-proficiency score such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), academic transcripts, a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) result for undergraduate admissions, plus letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Graduate applicants additionally face the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), depending on the field. CEL's pathway routes are designed to handle this stack of requirements as one structured journey, with academic English at CEL's San Diego campus and admissions guidance into partner schools. Students considering the four-year bachelor's route can review the four-year bachelor's route through CEL's pathway, those targeting a master's can explore the graduate pathway options, and the full CEL Pathway Program in the USA maps how the school's certificate, undergraduate, and graduate routes connect within the broader US system.
