The United States has emerged as a popular place for Nigerians to obtain a master’s degree as they continue to leave the country in quest of a good education and a better lifestyle overseas.
One strategy to improve one’s life in America is to acquire a master’s degree because an international degree is the easiest way to succeed or land a well-paying job.
This article serves to list the six crucial documents you need to fly to the US for a master’s degree, therefore it is crucial that anyone considering this knows all the prerequisites.
1. International passport
The Nigerian international passport is one of the first documents you need to have before beginning your master’s application overseas.
One of the first documents a prospective master’s student should have if they want to move to the US is a current foreign passport.
An identity card that identifies you as a citizen of your nation, the international passport functions similarly. You must provide it before you can be admitted, and you also need it to travel.
2. Academic transcript
Any person who intends to travel to the US to pursue a master’s degree must bring their first degree or transcript for their Higher National Diploma (HND) with them.
The transcript is a record of your academic accomplishment when you were pursuing your first degree or HND.
Any American university you apply to will request a copy of your transcript in order to evaluate your qualifications before granting you admission.
It’s also important to remember that these US universities require original copies of your transcript from the institutions that issued them. Your graduate program may occasionally send it straight to the institution offering admission.
3. Statement of purpose
In order to be considered for admission, many US universities ask that you provide justification. Your statement of purpose helps you address additional issues that your certificates and other documentation were unable to address.
If it is well-written and is clear and exact, it will help you be admitted for a master’s degree in the US.
The SOP gives the admissions committee a greater picture of your goals and credentials and enables them to predict whether you could be a good fit for the academic program you are pursuing.
4. Reference letters
Your reference letters are additional important records for your master’s degree admission in the US.
Except where expressly specified by the institution, Nigerian applicants for master’s admission must provide at least one reference letter.
In some situations, the institutions need that you provide recommendation letters from teachers or a direct supervisor who can attest to your eligibility for admission. These letters are crucial because without them, some universities may not admit applicants.
5. IELTS/TOEFL or any other English test
The universities in the US will demand that you demonstrate your ability to study in English without encountering any language hurdles if you are a Nigerian student looking to pursue a master’s degree there.
Nigerian students must pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to continue on to a master’s program in the US and other countries.
British Council, IDP, IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English all jointly own and manage the IELTS.
Over 11,500 universities, including those in the US, accept the TOEFL, according to Education Testing Services.
It should be noted, nevertheless, that many American universities have been exempting Nigerian students from taking English proficiency exams.
6. University certificate
Your university certificate is the final but not least document you must have when applying for admission to a master’s degree program in the US.
You must provide this at the time of application to several US colleges. Additionally, some colleges demand that you bring original copies of your degree certificate with you when you enroll.
