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• Location: Columbia, South Carolina, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1801,
• Number of students: about 35,000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

The University of South Carolina (USC) is South Carolina's leading university offering more than 350 higher education majors.

Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, the institution has been conducting educational activities of the highest quality for over 200 years. In addition to a variety of directions and academic programs, American university offers extensive opportunities for research and project work, establishing professional relationships at home and abroad, and developing individual talents and abilities.

Annually occupying leading positions in many national and international rankings, the University of South Carolina is the choice of thousands of local and foreign students. By creating an international student community, they are jointly preparing for a career, while simultaneously expanding their horizons and knowledge about other cultures and countries. The teaching staff includes teachers of different nationalities, which supports foreign students in the process of adaptation.

A variety of academic services, including the organization of internships, mentoring and tutoring, allows students to achieve their goals and expand the range of career opportunities. Comprehensive support from highly qualified teachers is available not only in scheduled classes, but also outside the classroom doors, so that each student receives individual attention.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What advice would you give to students aiming for top U.S. universities, with 3-4 years to prepare?

This period is perfect for assessing capabilities and exploring options of universities. Focus on achieving high grades and improving English proficiency. Strong English skills enhance your learning experience, and good grades can lead to scholarships or honors college admissions.

USC offers a wide range of additional support aimed at achieving academic excellence. Students can use the services of career, pedagogical and other specialized services to adapt the curriculum to their abilities, outline development in professional activities, find an internship or go to study abroad under an exchange program.

The university offers some programs in an online format, which makes it easier for those students who cannot attend a campus in the United States. Thanks to modern technologies and a variety of electronic resources, students receive the same knowledge and skills as university students studying on campus.

USC has 15 specialized schools and colleges in scientific fields:

• Arts, Sciences,
• Business
• Education, pedagogy,
• Engineering, Computer Engineering,
• Graduate School of Master's Studies,
• Hospitality, Retail, Sports Management,
• Information, Communications,
• Jurisprudence
• Medicine
• Music
• Nursing,
• Pharmacy
• Public Health,
• Social work,
• Honors College for Researchers.

USC has the highest qualifications in the research field, providing its students, national and international society with opportunities for discovery, innovation in various spheres of life. USC has a number of scientific institutes engaged in research in various areas:

• Rural education, development,
• Extreme semiconductor chips,
• Infectious diseases,
• Pure water
• Cardiovascular diseases.

The USC campus is an award-winning forest area with 7000+ trees. Green and urban spaces intertwine to form a vast area of more than 400 acres! – an environment for learning and living.

USC has 25 residences on the academic grounds, offering rooms of different price categories and capacity. First-year students of all majors are required to live on campus during their first academic year. They are housed in one of 18 buildings, each of which has prepared from 390 to 610 beds. The residences offer a variety of rooms, from apartment-type accommodation with shared bathrooms to single rooms in apartments with private facilities. Students of the second and subsequent courses can live in apartment—type residences - eight residential buildings with modern facilities, many common areas for recreation and self-study.

The Greek Village, consisting of 20 small houses, has also been built on the university's territory: students, united in communities, are accommodated in single or double rooms with shared facilities. This housing option is ideal for students who would like to make friends, work together in social activities, and earn scholarships.

If desired, students can use the help of USC staff to find suitable off-campus housing.

There are more than 35 food outlets in the studying areas, including permanent dining halls and cafes, vans with seasonal and festive menus. Many students who live on campus choose a meal plan that suits them, which includes a certain number of meals per semester, additional dollars for purchases in stores and cafeterias on campus.

Activity list: Bike trips, track-and-field athletics

Extracurricular activities at USC are divided into three main areas: sports, art, and individual interests. But the development opportunities are not limited to this, added with volunteer activities, active participation in city events, research and project work.

Athletic achievements annually strengthen the university's position in national rankings. Students participate in club, inter- and intra-university sports, not only defending the honor of the institution in competitions, but also deserving personal awards and scholarships. Intercollegiate sports include 21 directions: football, hockey, baseball and others. There are also less professional sections for maintaining physical fitness: basketball, ping-pong, swimming; at this level, teams compete within the university, earning points for scholarships and other privileges.

Hiking trips, mountain bike rides, camping and other outdoor activities are organized for lovers of physical activity. Under the guidance of guides, students explore the natural beauty of the state, gain valuable skills, and enjoy student life off campus.

Art at USC is represented in a variety of directions: from dancing, acting to music, visual arts. Creative classes are held in specialized studios equipped with all the necessary materials for the development of student talents. Outstanding students regularly take part in campus events, whether it's a holiday concert, a charity event, a work exhibition, or a themed party.

Interest clubs occupy an important place in the life of every student, because students find like-minded people, pay attention to things that are really important to them.:

• American Sign Language,
• Fishing,
• Art therapy,
• Astronomy,
• Literature,
• Book Fair,
• Journalism,
• The Christian Community,
• Cooking,
• Needlework, knitting,
• Video and board games,
• The UN Model,
• Motorcycles, cars,
• Mountaineering,
• Ceramics.

• More than 200 years of educational activity,
• A diverse student community with representatives from over 100 countries,
• The best institution in the country for first-year students (according to US News and World Report),
• More than 350 specializations with the possibility of adapting to the student's goals,
• Qualification R1 — "Very high research activity",
• The leader in the field of medical sciences among the state universities,
• No. 1 in international business programs in the US News and World Report ranking for 25 consecutive years,
• One of the top five universities in terms of the quality of sports science teaching.

The main campus is in the city of Columbia and occupies more than 359 acres of territory. Many buildings are included in the National Register and are unique monuments of architecture and history. Every year, funds are invested in the re-equipment, repair and construction. The university infrastructure is well developed:

• Administrative buildings;
• Academic buildings;
• Educational Classrooms;
• Libraries;
• Scientific-research laboratories;
• Computer classrooms;
• Fitness centers;
• Sports grounds and facilities;
• 24 hostels;
• Canteen, restaurants, cafes;
• Medical office;
• Shops, offices of postal services and a bank.

The academic year consists of several semesters:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-May.

During the summer months, some higher education programs continue. Classes are organized on weekdays, and rest is on weekends, national and international holidays, and during seasonal vacations.

An approximate list of additional expenses includes:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Accommodation, meal plan and other housing services,
• Contributions to student activities, payment for some extracurricular activities,
• Personal educational materials,
• External exams,
• Personal expenses.

Many admission steps are available online, giving international students maximum flexibility. Applicants need to fill out the online form and submit documents, pay the application fees; After that, the admissions officers appoint the date of the interview, entrance exams, and then give the necessary information about the arrival and start of training.

USC's extensive alumni network is represented by 300,000 + professionals in various fields who have built careers in the United States and other countries.

Foreign applicants wishing to enroll in higher education programs must provide:

• Personal documents: passport, medical insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Academic certificates from the previous place of study: diploma of secondary education/bachelor's degree/master's degree — depending on the level of education the candidate enters,
• Official transcripts from all places of study,
• Language exam results: TOEFL (from 77), IELTS (from 6.5), PTE Academic (from 53), Duolingo (from 115) or university-recognized equivalent,
• An essay about your experience, achievements, and interests.

Some specializations and educational levels may require research experience and letters of recommendation.

Students can apply for financial support, scholarships based on academic and extracurricular achievements, or in the case of a difficult financial situation. USC offers an extensive range of scholarships for residents, international students:

• Faculty scholarships awarded based on special achievements in the study of specialized disciplines,
• Scholarships for international students: Stamps Scholars, McNair Scholars, Horseshoe Scholars and others based on outstanding achievements,
• Scholarships from teachers and researchers.

Students have access to grants, loans, and the FAFSA Educational Project that support all students. To reduce the cost of education, students can participate in a work project on campus, performing household and academic tasks for employees.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision