Discover global opportunities in USA

Always fancied living the American dream? Now is your opportunity as a student going on exchange: the great American experience is about so many things - bluegrass and beaches, snow-covered peaks and redwood forests, restaurant-loving cities and big open skies. The USA is situated in North America, and is home to the world’s third-largest population, with over 318 million people. It is a melting pot of cultures from around the world and plays a dominant role in the world's cultural landscape. Swansea University is lucky to be partnered with so many unique universities across the States, from New York in the East, to California in the West.

Swansea University is currently partnered with:

• Appalachian State University
• California State University
• Colorado State University (CSU) at Fort Collins
• Florida State University
• Iowa State University
• Louisiana State University
• Montana State University 
• New Mexico State University
• Northern Arizona University
• Ohio University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• San Francisco State University (SFSU)
• Texas A&M University
• The State University of New York at Albany
• The University of Oklahoma

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• The University of Kansas at Lawrence
• The University of Maryland at Baltimore County
• University at Buffalo, University of New York
• University of Central Oklahoma
• University of Houston Texas
• University of North Carolina (UNCW)
• University of South Carolina
• University of Southern Mississippi
• University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK)
• University of Texas Austin
• University of Utah
• University of Wyoming
• Washington State University

ACADEMIC YEAR: Typically runs August/September to May

VISAS: You will need a visa to study in the USA. Most students will need to apply for a J1 visa - your host university will issue you with a DS2019 once you have provided sufficient financial evidence (more information below). A small number of students will need to apply for an F1 visa - this is when your host university has issued you with an I-20.
To apply for a visa, you will need to pay a SEVIS fee of approx $220 plus an application fee of approx $185. In addition, you should factor in the cost of attending a visa interview at the US Embassy (typically in London). More information is available on the US Embassy website: https://uk.usembassy.gov/applying-f-1-j-1-visa/ 

HEALTH INSURANCE: You will need to purchase compulsory health cover from your host university. You cannot use Swansea University's travel cover as a substitute for this. The cost of insurance will vary between universities.

Financial Evidence required to get a visa

As part of your application to a US university, you will need to prove that you can support yourself financially to receive the documents required for your visa. Each university has a different amount that you will need to prove you have access to depending on the cost of living at that location, e.g the financial guarantee is higher for San Francisco State University than that of The University of Oklahoma as living costs in San Francisco are higher. Approximate amounts are included on each partner page. 

You will need proof that the money exists and that you are allowed to use it if the money is not held in your name. You can typically use the following as evidence, although some universities will not accept student loan certificates as evidence: 

• Student loan certificate- maintenance loan portion
• Current bank statements
• Signed bank letter saying you have £x funds available
• Bank statements or bank letter of someone willing to support you along with a letter from your supporter confirming you can access those funds

You cannot use the following: 

• A screenshot of your account
• Stocks and shares certificates or equity release mortgage certificates
• Payslips
• Your overdraft