Select top ranked U.S. academic institutions are developing innovative new credentials and programs to support global professionals looking to accelerate their careers.
Graduate Certificates are short-term opportunities—as little as 8 months—to study on campus in the U.S. and gain exposure to key business practices or deepen your knowledge in an area of your choice. These programs are perfect for those with a personal plan to tackle new challenges and take their careers to a new level—without the long-term commitment of a full degree program.
“Is a Graduate Certificate in the U.S. right for me?”
The flexibility of Graduate Certificates is highly valuable to international students looking to pursue higher education in the U.S. If you are a busy professional, you may not have the time or resources available to pursue a full degree—but you still want to get ahead in your career. Certificates allow you to immerse yourself in American business culture and build your professional network with other international students, faculty and alumni—without the long-term investment. If you only need to develop your knowledge in targeted disciplines, you may be able to select just the courses that are right for you. U.S. institutions often do not require GMAT or GRE scores for admission into a Graduate Certificate—removing barriers to education and career advancement
Whatever your reason, a Graduate Certificate can provide a flexible path to advance your knowledge.
“What if I decide to pursue a full graduate degree?”
At select institutions, credits earned through a Graduate Certificate program can be applied to a full master’s degree if you decide that further education is the right choice for you. Depending on your professional interests, this may include a full-time Masters in Business Administration, a degree in Human Resources, Entrepreneurship, Innovation or Supply Chain Management.
“I have always wanted to work in U.S.—would a Graduate Certificate allow me do that?”
At some institutions, students who successfully complete a Graduate Certificate may be able to apply to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months through Optional Practical Training (OPT). Although OPT does not promise that you will be offered a job, it does give you the visa permission required to work in the U.S. for up to one year. U.S. work experience has proven highly valuable in job markets across the world and has given many alumni the extra boost that they needed to get ahead in their career.
