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STUDENTS LOOK TO U.S. AND CANADA
It is the dream of many students to have the opportunity to study in another country. The destination of choice for those who are most ambitious is the United States or Canada. Approximately 550,000 students from other countries are studying in the U.S. of which around 4,000 come from Peru. More than 130,000 students from other countries come to Canada to study each year.
In order to achieve their dream, these students have to overcome some big hurdles. They have to show that they have the academic preparation, an adequate level of English and substantial financial backing. For a reference point see the requirements for international students for admission to the University of Michigan below.
For those who wish to study in the U.S., the Fulbright Commission here in Lima can provide substantial assistance. The Commission has an excellent library filled with information. Included are university catalogues, information on the exams required and how to prepare for them, books on U.S. culture, and financial aid available to students wishing to study in the U.S. In addition, there is a bookstore where exam preparation volumes for some of the required exams are available at reasonable prices.
The Commission also offers seminars on studying in the U.S., courses on exam preparation, and speakers on various topics. A translation service offers students a low cost way to translate their academic records from Spanish into Englisha requirement from most U.S. and Canadian universities for students from Peru.
With thousands of universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada, students may have difficulty in choosing the best place for them to attend. The Commission can provide significant assistance in helping the student make the best choice, the one that will best serve his or her educational needs.
The busy commission also manages exchange programs for U.S. and Peruvian faculty and U.S. students coming to Peru to study.
You may locate the Fulbright Commission in Lima at Juan Romero Hidalgo 444, San Borja or contact them by telephone at 475-3083, by fax at 475-3086 or at the web-site at www.fulbrightperu.info. For information on studying in Canada, check out the web-site of each individual university regarding requirements for students from other countries.
ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
 If you are student from Peru and you want to attend the University of Michigan, these are the requirements you must meet.
“Admission to U-M is very competitive. Almost 71% of entering freshmen are from the top 5% of their high school classes. They challenge themselves and each other while enjoying the countless opportunities to learn. Our review of each application is holistic and comprehensive. Grades and test scores are very important, but we also consider many other factors such as your national system of education, the type of institution you attended, the quality of your achievement, and the suitability of preparation for your proposed program of studies. We also consider your level of English language proficiency. If you have had an irregular academic background or have been out of school for three or more years and feel that you would be successful at U-M, please submit a detailed description of your specific qualifications.
 Finances
Study in a different country always requires careful financial planning. For students who plan to enter the U.S. on an F-1 student visa or a J-1 exchange visitor visa (student category), financial planning is very important. Certificates of eligibility for visas cannot be issued until you have proven your ability to provide full financial support. To obtain a certificate of eligibility, you must provide the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with official documents showing your source of funds. “
Estimated Costs at the University
Tuition and Fees
$27,601
Living Expenses
$11,073
Total per academic year (September-May)
$38,674
(Living expenses include room, board, books, local transportation, mandatory $643 health insurance fee, and miscellaneous expenses.)
The Value of International Education
"There is a flickering spark in us all which, if struck at just the right age...can light the rest of our lives, elevating our ideals, deepening our tolerance and sharpening our appetite for knowledge about the rest of the world. Educational and cultural exchanges...provide a perfect opportunity for this precious spark to grow, making us more sensitive and wiser international citizens through our careers."
 President Ronald Reagan, 1982
"There is a flickering spark in us all which, if struck at just the right age... can light the rest of our lives, elevating our ideals, deepening our tolerance and sharpening our appetite for knowledge about the rest of the world. Educational and cultural exchanges...provide a perfect opportunity for this precious spark to grow, making us more sensitive and wiser international citizens through our careers."
International Students in the U.S. The Facts
International students contribute approximately $13.5 billion dollars to the U.S. economy, through their expenditure on tuition and living expenses. Department of Commerce data describe U.S higher education as the country's fifth largest service sector export, as these students bring money into the national economy and provide revenue to their host states for living expenses, including room/board, books and supplies, transportation, health insurance, support for accompanying family members, and other miscellaneous items. Open Doors 2006 reports that 63% of all international students receive the majority of their funds from family and personal sources, and, when other sources of funding from their home countries, including assistance from their home country governments or universities, are added in, a total of more than 68% of all international student funding comes from sources outside of the United States.
The Most Popular Fields of Study
Business and Management (18% of total), Engineering (16%) and Physical and Life Sciences (9%), followed closely by Social Sciences (8%) and Mathematics and Computer Sciences (8%).
India is the leading place of origin for international students with 76,503 students in the U.S. in 2005/06 (a decrease of 5% from the previous year), followed by #2 China (62,582, up less than 1%), #3 Korea (58,847, up 10%), #4 Japan (38,712, down 8%), #5 Canada (28,202, up less than 1%), #6 Taiwan (27,876, up 8%), #7 Mexico (13,931, up 7%), #8 Turkey (11,622, down 7%), #9 Germany (8,829, up 2%), #10 Thailand (8,765, up 2%).
University of Southern California hosts the largest number of international students. For the fifth year in a row, the University of Southern California is the leading host institution (6,881). Columbia University hosts the second highest number of foreign students (5,575). Other campuses in the top 10 are: Purdue University (5,540), New York University (5,502) University of Texas at Austin (5,395), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (4,904), University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (4,649), Boston University (4,542), Ohio State University (4,476), and SUNY- Buffalo (4,072).
California remains the leading host state for international students (75,385, up less than 1%), followed by New York (64,283, up 4%), Texas (46,869, down 1%), Massachusetts (28,007, up less than 1%), and Florida (26, 058, down less than 1%), followed by Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.
Approximately 279,500 "Fulbrighters," 105,400 from the United States and 174,100 from other countries, have participated in the Program since its inception over fifty years ago. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 6,000 new grants annually.
Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.
Binational commissions and foundations abroad (such as the one in Peru) propose the annual country programs, which establish the numbers and categories of grants based on requests from local institutions. In a country without a commission or foundation, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy develops and supervises the Fulbright Program. Currently, 50 commissions are active, 48 of which are funded jointly by the United States and respective governments. Each commission or foundation has a board, which is composed of an equal number of Americans and citizens of the participating nation.
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