PTE inspiration and advice

Studying in the United States is a dream for many international students, but with the price tag of a four-year degree hitting more than six figures, cost can be a significant barrier.

Whether it’s kickstarting your career with a degree from an internationally recognized university or becoming more specialized in your current field, there are lots of different financial aid options to help make your American dream a reality.

Who offers scholarships for international students studying in the US?

Based on merit, need, or specific talents, scholarships and grants are one of the most sought-after forms of financial aid. These financial awards cover part or all of the tuition fees and don’t require repayment.

Most students focus on university scholarships, but there are also government, private, and sector-specific options to explore, as well as work-study programs where students can offset fees by working on campus.

1. University scholarships

Many US universities offer scholarships specifically for international students, such as New York University or the California State University International Programs.

2. Government scholarships

The US government also provides funding for international students to study in the US through programs like the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program and the Fulbright Foreign Student Program which helps 4,000 students each year.

3. State scholarships

More rare than federal scholarships, there are some state-level programs such as the California State University International Programs that work across the 23 different institutions to offer scholarships for international students.

4. Private scholarships

Various organizations and foundations offer scholarships to international students, such as the AAUW International Fellowships, for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and the Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme, for academically outstanding students from a range of countries who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to study.

5. Sector-based scholarships

There’s a shortage of workers in key sectors like leisure, hospitality, and nursing in the US. If you’re planning to study an in-demand field, research sector-specific scholarships like the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program to find financial support.

How to find US scholarships for international students

With so many different financial aid and scholarship options available for international students wanting to study in America, it can be hard to know where to start.

A great first step is contacting the Financial Aid team at the universities you’re interested in, as well as searching online databases for relevant scholarship opportunities.

1. University financial aid offices

Almost every university in the US has a financial aid office. They’ll have many years' experience helping international students with funding options and be able to provide detailed information about available scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities specifically for international students.

2. Online scholarship databases

Don’t limit yourself to what’s available from your university. Online scholarship databases can help find more specific financial aid from a wide variety of sources.

Popular databases include:

• StudyPortals is one of the largest databases and brings together everything you need to know to explore your study options all in one place. They have dedicated scholarship portals for bachelors, masters and PHD study.

• International Education Financial Aid (IEFA): A resource for financial aid, college scholarships, and grant information for international students.

• The US Department of Labor has a scholarship search tool where you can filter by level of study.

• Scholarships.com: Offers a searchable database of scholarships for international students.

3. EducationUSA

EducationUSA is a US Department of State network with advice centers in more than 170 countries — check if there’s a center near you with their online search tool. From financial aid right through to the documents you’ll need for immigration, they offer advice and support with all aspects of studying in the US.

Which US universities offer the best financial aid for international students?

If you’re looking for universities with great support for international students, the East Coast is the place to start.

With the exception of a few institutions in California, the U.S. News “Best Value Schools” research found that institutions in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut gave the most generous support to international students.

Here are just a few of universities offering specific support for international students:

• New York University (NYU) Global Scholarships

• University of Maryland

• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

• Florida State University International Student Scholarships

• The University of California, Berkeley International Student Scholarships

Narrowing down your university search to institutions with a strong track record of supporting international students can help maximize your chance of receiving financial aid.

Applying for financial aid

The most important thing to remember when applying for financial aid is to allow plenty of time.

Researching the different options, writing applications, and waiting to hear back can be a long process, and many scholarships and grants have early deadlines.

You’ll also want enough time to tailor each application to the institution, as well as getting important documents translated and completing English proficiency tests, such as the Pearson Test of English (PTE) — the faster, fairer, simpler English test. The test only takes 2 hours with results typically in less than 2 days and is approved by most universities across the US.

The US has the largest number of nurses globally, and half of all the English-speaking nurses in the world work in the US.  

But faced with a national shortage that continues to grow, the US has been welcoming nurses from around the world to keep its healthcare system ticking.  

Higher salaries, good working conditions, and the ability to bring family have made it a top destination for international nurses looking for a new chapter.   

We explore what’s behind the nursing shortage and why more and more nurses are choosing to call the US home.  

Why is there a nursing shortage in the US?  

The combination of an aging population and increased healthcare needs after Covid means that there aren’t enough nurses in the US to meet patient demand.  

Many experienced nurses are also retiring, with almost a quarter of Registered Nurses (RNs) having stepped down or planning to retire in the next five years, according to a 2022 national survey.  

There’s a shortage of nursing educators too; nursing schools had to turn away almost 66,0000 applicants in 2023 because they didn’t have enough teaching staff.  

The result is that hospitals and healthcare facilities are actively recruiting international nurses to fill critical gaps, offering a stable and secure career path for nurses willing to relocate to the US. 

How many nursing job openings are there in the US

There are almost 4.7 million registered nurses in the US.

That number is projected to grow by almost 10%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, who predict that there will be almost 200,000 vacancies for Registered Nurses each year between 2020 and 2030.  

Where do international nurses come from?  

The number of nurses relocating to the US has tripled since 1994, and around 8% of current Registered Nurses were educated outside of the US.   

The Philippines (29%) and Jamaica (29%) are the top countries Registered Nurses have relocated from, followed by India (19%).  

Quickly part of the team, almost 90% of international nurses say they feel accepted by patients and nursing colleagues.  

Why do nurses choose the US? 

For many international nurses, moving to the US means better professional and personal resources and different ways to specialize, train and focus their careers.  

Higher salaries 

The US is known for offering some of the highest rates of pay for nurses globally.  

On average, Registered Nurses earn just under $95,000 a year (c.$45 an hour), with the top 10% of nurses earning over $132,000 annually.  

The states with the highest mean annual salaries for nurses are California ($137,690) and New York ($106,620).   

Many US healthcare facilities also offer sign-on bonuses and retention bonuses. 

Better benefits 

The financial benefits of nursing in the US go beyond the salary. US employers provide comprehensive compensation packages that include healthcare coverage for nurses and their families, pensions, paid sick leave and vacation days.   

Over a quarter of employers also provide childcare, with 10% providing their nursing staff with help repaying student loans. 

Ability to bring family 

There’s a myth that moving to the US means leaving your family behind. But with nurses in such high demand, spouses and children under 21 are allowed to accompany nurses to the US — even on a H-1B Registered Nurse temporary visa.  

Those dependents on a H-4 visa are able to apply to work in the US, with the opportunity for the whole family to become US citizens if you progress to the employment-based EB-3 permanent residency visa, or “Green Card” as it’s better known. 

Flexibility with the nurse licensure compact 

Another advantage of working as a nurse in the US is the flexibility of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).  

From large urban hospitals in Dallas to rural clinics in North Dakota, this multistate license allows nurses to practice in any of the 42 jurisdictions, finding the setting that best suits their expertise, family, and lifestyle.  

Opportunities to specialize 

Whether it’s pediatric care, oncology, critical care, or advanced practice nursing, the US healthcare system provides many opportunities for nurses to specialize.  

Hospitals and healthcare institutions in the US often have training programs to help nurses achieve their specialization goals and gain hands-on experience with the most advanced medical technology and procedures.  

Being able to specialize in the areas that are of special interest not only boosts job satisfaction, but it also unlocks opportunities for higher pay and stepping up the career ladder. 

Career advancement and leadership roles 

For those interested in a leadership role, there are many different options within US nursing, such as Nurse Managers, Directors of Nursing, or Chief Nursing Officers.  

These positions not only come with higher salaries but also provide the opportunity to influence healthcare policies, mentor the next generation of nursing professionals, and improve patient care on a broader scale.  

Professional and personal opportunities

Relocating to the US offers nurses a whole host of professional and personal opportunities.  

In high demand, international nurses are valued by healthcare employers, with high wages, great benefits, and opportunities to take their nursing career in the direction that interests them most.  

Thinking of making the move? Take that first step with PTE Academic — the faster, fairer, simpler way to evidence your English skills.   

PTE Academic covers all four skills in just a single two-hour test, so test takers don’t need to worry about taking a separate speaking test with a human examiner. PTE Academic is a computer-based test and so test takers are judged purely on their English skills. Not their accent, their age, their outfit or their appearance.  

Accepted by the major US nursing bodies, find out more about how PTE can help you start your new chapter in the US.

We have all been there; it’s normal to be full of nerves before a test, with uncertainty of what to expect, and doubts about how you’re going to perform. 

However, whilst nerves and anticipation are an unavoidable part of the testing experience, there are ways to reduce this when preparing for your PTE test, so you can grow in confidence before test day and achieve your desired score.

At PTE, we are all about doing it worry-free!  

And to do it worry-free, you need to know what’s coming up and familiarise yourself with the PTE test.

Here are 4 ways you can start your PTE preparation and get the practice in, so you are confident for when test day comes. 

1. Familiarize yourself with the test and what’s expected:

A great way to prepare is to know all about what you can expect on test day. We have lots of resources available on our Preparation page. We'd recommend that you explore this section of our site and gather any top tips that you can from our range of free resources, also known as our A-Z of PTE. This includes a run-through of each question type as well as a video of what to expect on test day, which you can also watch below on this page!

Are you booking PTE for the first time? Do you know which of our PTE tests is right for you? No worries, we will guide you through the booking process.

PTE Core, our brand new general English test, is approved by the Canadian Government (IRCC) for all economic visa categories, including citizenship and permanent residency.  

Choosing the right English test for you is important. A core factor in your decision will be how the test meets the score requirements set by the IRCC.   

We have carried out comprehensive research to ensure that PTE Core correlates to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). You can take a closer look in our alignment report (PDF, 833KB).

However, there are many other things to consider when finding the best test for you. For example, how quickly you need to receive your results? Are you in a rush to take your test? Do you want your speaking skills to be assessed by a human examiner or not?  

So, to make it easier for you to decide which test is right for you, we have put together a handy summary of how PTE Core compares to IELTS General and CELPIP.  

Booking a test

PTE Core is the fastest way to prove your English language skills. Book quickly, up to 24 hours in advance. There are frequent test dates and 475+ test centers around the world.

Two new test centers opening in Chang Mai and Chon Buri

Bangkok, THAILAND, July 6 2022: Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, is meeting renewed demand from Thai students for English language testing for scholarships and international study visas with the opening of two new test centers in universities in Chang Mai and Chon Buri.

UK Honorary Consul of Chiang Mai, Mr. Ben Svasti Thomson MBE today officially opened the Pearson test center at the Payap University Language Enhancement Center (LEC) in Chang Mai.

Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visas (subclass 417 & subclass 462) 

Are you looking for a visa that provides an incredible opportunity for self-discovery, growth and learning? Travel to Australia and you'll meet new people, learn about a variety of cultures and develop new skills and interests. 

The Working Holiday and Work & Holiday visas allow people from 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) to have an extended holiday in Australia and work to help fund their trip (not accompanied by dependent children). 

As part of your visa application, you will need to provide proof of your English language skills. PTE Academic is accepted by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs for all visa categories, including Working Holiday Maker program visa applications. 

The cost of applying for either the Working Holiday visa or the Work and Holiday visa is AUD 650. If you choose to extend your visa (for up to a second or third year), you must pay another AUD 650 each time. Note: Extensions are available if you meet specific work requirements in regional Australia.

Learn more about the Working Holiday Maker Program and the visas:

• Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa 

• Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa 

If you're Malaysian, check here for more information on the Australian Work and Holiday Visa and the application for the Certificate of Good Conduct from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If you are in Thailand, please refer to the Department of Children and Youth for more information on the application process.

*Price as of publication in December 2024. Please check the Australian Government website for latest information.

Last updated 20 December 2024.

Would you like to live and work in the UK? You’re not alone. The number of people who apply to work in the UK rises year after year. But if you’re planning to move to the UK, you’ll need a visa. There are lots of different types of visas available – and one of the most popular is the Skilled Worker visa.

Let’s take a look at the details of who can apply, the English language requirements, and the test you have to take in order to show you have the right level of English for the Skilled Worker visa.

1. What are the latest UK work immigration trends?

Apart from a pandemic-related dip in 2020, immigration to the UK has been steadily rising for the last decade. In 2021, there were 239,987 work-related visas granted – a 110% increase on the previous year, and a 25% increase on 2019. 

Of these 239,987 visas, 63% were Skilled Worker visas. This type of visa saw the largest growth from 2019 at an increase of 33%. That means that, of all the people moving to the UK to work, the majority of them (almost two thirds, in fact) apply for the Skilled Worker visa. 

India, the Philippines, Nigeria, the United States and Pakistan were the top five countries of origin for people who were granted Skilled Worker visas in 2021. 

2. What is the UK Skilled Worker visa?

The UK Skilled Worker visa is a visa that allows you to come to the UK and work for an approved company. You can live in the UK for up to five years before you need to renew your visa. You can apply for the visa up to three months from your starting date of work, and you should receive a decision in around three weeks if you’re outside the UK. The visa application fee is between £610 and £1,408, depending on your personal circumstances. 

If you work in healthcare – for example as a doctor or a nurse – you can apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, which is cheaper to apply for, and doesn’t require you to pay an annual immigration health surcharge. 

3. What kinds of workers can apply?

An extensive number of careers and professions are covered by the Skilled Worker visa, from architects to bakers, and hairdressers to chefs. You can see if your profession is eligible by checking the full list of occupations. 

In order to meet the requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to make sure not only that your job is eligible for the visa, but also that your employer has been approved by the Home Office. 

You also need to ensure that you’ll be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing in the UK. You’ll be expected to earn:

• £25,600 per year

• £10.10 per hour

• the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Whichever of these three options is the highest, that’s the information you’ll use for your visa form. 

However, if your job is on the list of Skilled Worker visa shortage occupations, you will only have to be paid 80% of the job’s usual going rate. 

4. What are the English requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

In order to apply for the Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to show that you have recently passed a secure English language test at the right level to be able to live and work in the UK. There is a list of countries that are exempt, but everyone else will need to show that they speak English to at least a B1 level on the CEFR scale. It’s a key requirement when it comes to a successful visa application! 

The only exemption is if you have a qualification at degree level in English (either a Bachelors, Masters or PhD); if you have a degree, you don’t need to sit an English test. 

5. What is PTE Academic UKVI?

PTE Academic UKVI is an English test which is approved by the UK Home Office for visa applications. It tests you on all four language skills: writing, speaking, reading, and listening. 

To sit the test, you will attend an official test center, where you will take PTE Academic UKVI on a computer. The entire test is computer-based, and takes around two hours. After sitting the test, you will typically receive your results within 48 hours. 

6. How can you get the score you need in PTE Academic UKVI?

In order to meet the requirements of the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to score a minimum of 43 on your PTE Academic UKVI test. The best way to make sure you get the score you need is to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the test: 

Get to know the test format

It’s really important to get to know the test format very well before you sit PTE Academic UKVI. The test content is exactly the same as PTE Academic. The test is split into three sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening. There are 20 different types of questions across the three different sections. Each question type follows a specific structure. It’s important to learn about the different question types. You will need to use specific techniques for each question to make sure you get the highest possible score.  

Learn how the questions are scored

In the test, different questions are scored in different ways. On some questions, you’ll be marked on whether you’ve given a correct answer. But in others, your score will be affected by how closely you followed the instructions (i.e. did you go over the word limit) and the quality of your response, which is affected by things like pronunciation and oral fluency. You can find out how we score each question in our test format guide.

Study with official preparation materials

There are lots of different preparation materials for PTE Academic UKVI. You will be able to prepare using Scored Practice Tests which will allow you to sit a mock test and see what score you would receive. This will tell you what questions and skills you need to work on.

There’s also the Official Guide to PTE Academic, a textbook which offers an in-depth guide to the test and gives you detailed advice on the techniques and strategies you will need to get the right score. The PTE Academic Question Bank has over 300 questions for you to practice with. Explore our preparation materials in our preparation guide.

Take a preparation course

Lots of people prepare for PTE Academic UKVI on their own, but others find it helpful to do a preparation course. You could also do the six hour online speaking course run by Pearson partner Macquarie University. Or, look for a preparation course near you.

With the right preparation, you’ll be sure to get the score you need to apply for your UK Skilled Worker visa and achieve your dream of living and working in the UK!

The Chevening scholarship is a route to studying in the UK for people all over the world. It offers the brightest and best the opportunity to study for a Master’s at a British university. Since 1983, Chevening has helped over 50,000 professionals pursue their studies and become leaders within their communities and sectors.  

Chevening scholar Olivia Rondonuwu grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia. Her background was in journalism and she dreamed of studying social policy in the UK. But her path to becoming an international Master’s student wasn’t a straightforward one.  

The importance of determination 

Olivia knew several successful people working in journalism who’d been awarded Chevening scholarships. As a journalist, she’d interviewed high profile people who were alumni of LSE. Her ambition was to become one of the female leaders in the Indonesian media, focusing on Indonesian social policy.  

“I had been thinking about the scholarship for ten years,” she says. “My dream was to study social policy at the London School of Economics, but of course, I couldn’t afford it.”  

Competition for the scholarships is fierce, as Olivia discovered the first time she applied to the Chevening scholarship. She got to the interview stage, but she wasn’t successful. Then she applied again - and this time, she didn’t reach the interview stage.  

However, Olivia wasn’t deterred from pursuing her dream of studying in the UK - and on her third application for the Chevening scholarship, her persistence paid off. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “It didn’t seem real until I got on the plane to London. It had been such a long process - I was so happy to finally be going to study in the UK.”  

Studying at the London School of Economics  

So how was Olivia’s first day in London? “It was horrible,” she laughs. “The weather was awful, and my bus got stuck in a traffic jam. In Indonesia, if you’re in a traffic jam, you can just get off the bus and jump on a motorbike taxi – but in London, you can’t do that! And at lunchtime, it seemed like the only option was cold sandwiches – British people love bread!” 

As Olivia started the MSc in Social Policy and Development, doubts started creeping in. Had moving to London to study been the right choice for her after all?  

Imposter syndrome affects a lot of students who are studying at top universities. At times, they can feel that they don’t belong there. And Olivia felt that, as an older student, she was at a disadvantage, compared to other students who’d gone straight into the Master’s from their undergraduate degree. “I was thirty six,” she explains, “so I was older than a lot of the other students. I felt that I was too old to be there.”  

Luckily, it didn’t take Olivia long to shake off these doubts. As the course went on, she was able to recognise the value of her experience as a journalist, and gain in confidence and self-belief.  

“You have to look inside yourself,” she explains, “and find the confidence to say, I’m a future leader.” And of course, she’d been waiting for so long to study at LSE -  meaning that she really appreciated every moment, and was able to make the most of this amazing opportunity.  

A personal transformation and a new network 

Once Olivia got over her imposter syndrome, she found herself gaining more and more confidence, thanks in part to the academic culture at LSE and the focus on critical thinking. “It was quite different from Indonesian academic culture,” Olivia explains.  

“Here, you are encouraged to think more critically about your opinion on a topic.” She found that building her critical thinking skills helped with her self-belief. “Once you have the confidence in yourself, it helps you to dare to be different,” she says.  

The other thing that Olivia loved about her Chevening experience was meeting other students from all over the world. “I was amazed by how international the group was - there were students from Latin America, from Afghanistan,” she says. “It was very competitive, but very international.”  

Studying in the melting pot of a London university was a fantastic way to build a global, professional network. 

Advice for other international students 

Before Olivia travelled to London, she was given lots of advice by the UK embassy in Jakarta. “They warned us about the weather,” she says. “They even recommended getting a special lamp in case we suffered from seasonal affective disorder!”  

But when Olivia is asked what her words of advice were for other international students, her answer is perhaps surprising. “Be brave and embrace it, the bad and the good,” she says. “Enjoy every minute. Yeah, some days the weather will be grey, but enjoy it! It’s all part of the experience of studying in the UK. So enjoy every minute - learning, networking, living in London.”  

Though she will admit – she still doesn’t like sandwiches for lunch!  

Learn more 

In order to study at a UK university and apply for a UK student visa, you’ll need to prove your level of English. PTE Academic is a fast, reliable, computer-based test that is accepted by 99% of UK universities and the UK Home Office as proof of your English language skills. You’ll typically receive your scores in just two days - so you won’t have a long wait for your results, and can get on with the application process!  

Learn more about how PTE Academic can help you study in the UK.