Education and Professional Development Resources

In New York State, asylum seekers can go to any college or university. Check specific schools in other states regarding immigration status requirements for admission. If you are admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree, financial assistance may not be available to you before you are granted asylum. So financing your education can be an obstacle.

You need a high school diploma to apply for college. The good news is that you can get a high school equivalency (HSE) diploma by passing a TASC (former GED) test in NYS. Many non-profit and government organizations provide no-cost preparation courses for HSE/TASC, regardless of immigration status. Find preparation materials and programs here.

Each college and university has its own instructions about translation and evaluation of foreign high school documents. See, for example, CUNY's requirements here.

Not necessarily. If you apply to public universities like CUNY or SUNY you may be placed in academic English classes. Some private universities also offer ESL (English as a Second Language) programs for students who need them.

If you already have a higher education degree from your country, you do not have to get another degree in the U.S., considering the cost and time commitment. Many immigrants with college degrees still may choose to get a graduate degree in the United States, which may help them get better jobs or change careers. Employers are more interested in your specific skills and work experience rather than your college degrees. Consider getting help from specialized, no-cost programs like Upwardly Global to repackage and present your foreign degree(s) and skills for the local job market.

If you finished high school (grade school), you can apply for undergraduate programs (Associate's or Bachelor's degrees). To apply to graduate programs (Master's or Ph.D. degrees), you need at least a Bachelor's degree in a similar field of study. Some programs have more specific requirements for previous education. Some programs offer accelerated Master's programs, and some programs have combined Master's/Ph.D. programs. In addition to the variety in programs, there are many different types of colleges and universities. Some are private (smaller independent schools like Columbia University, NYU, Cooper Union, and many others) and others are public (larger government-supported systems like CUNY and SUNY).

Costs and benefits vary between programs. Some high-ranking and very competitive private universities offer generous scholarship packages (for permanent residents, refugees, and asylees) but those are not guaranteed. By contrast, public universities provide reasonable rates and financial aid for less competitive but solid programs.

Consider: Why do I need this degree? How will I pay for my living expenses while I am in school? Will I have the energy and time to complete the program? Do I qualify for any financial assistance?

There are many steps you can take to learn more about a college or university.

Ask people who study there; speak to admissions counselors (they are there to help potential students)

Ask your network (volunteers, ESL teachers, nonprofit organizations' staff)

Attend information sessions at different colleges and Universities

Read their graduation and jobs statistics reports online usually available on their website

U.S. higher education is generally expensive, especially for those without a permanent immigration status. Public universities offer in-state (cheaper) and out-of-state (higher) tuition rates. To get in-state rates, you need to prove you have lived in the state for at least one year and plan to stay here. At private universities, the tuition rates (higher than public universities) are the same for all. Financial assistance is available (e.g., private, state, and federal scholarships and grants) to cover tuition costs. There are many types of financial assistance, which can be based on your background, skills, income level, or immigration status. However, unfortunately, asylum seekers do not qualify for most of this assistance. Living expenses are usually not covered by scholarships and other aid. Some students who qualify (for example, asylees, not asylum seekers) take student loans. Asylum seekers have difficulty finding student loans on good terms since they do not qualify for federally-backed student loans.

Many students work both on campus, called work study, and off campus. Work study is a type of financial assistance so may not be available to asylum seekers. If you have employment authorization, you can work and choose classes that meet outside of your working hours, but depending on the course offerings and requirements of your program, this may not be possible.

All programs have online application processes. The application period is usually between August and February (for next September's start). You will need to submit your school or college diplomas (translated and evaluated), a personal statement, 2-3 recommendation letters, and test scores (TOEFL, GRE or GMAT). The requirements vary school to school and program to program within the same school. You can apply to several programs and schools.

Tips:

Check the school's website to find out their application requirements

Register for and attend free informational sessions for prospective students held in each college or university department (mostly online) every fall

Make an appointment with an admissions counselor

Collect all documents: Translate and evaluate all your school diplomas and transcripts

Identify people who know you well and can write recommendation letters

Get help with writing a personal statement

Find out if you need to take TOEFL and GRE/GMAT tests

Once admitted, you will receive information about financial assistance. You will need to speak to a financial assistance advisor at the school to understand the offer. U.S. higher education is costly compared to other countries. Asylum seekers do not qualify for most types of financial assistance such as student loans, state and federal grants, and scholarships. Some private colleges/universities may have packages of internal institutional grants and scholarships, and asylum seekers may be eligible (primarily for undergraduate programs).

If you are an asylee or have a permanent residency, you should apply for financial aid through FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Tip: asylum seekers can apply for several private grants and scholarships. See, for example, Immigrants Rising's List of Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships contains scholarships that don't require proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency: https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/list-of-scholarships-and-fellowships/

Other scholarship databases include: www.fastweb.com, www.finaid.com, https://www.profellow.com/, www.scholarships.com, myscholly.com/#scholly.

Employers and universities want to understand your educational background. Besides translating into English, you may need to evaluate your degree or diploma to compare it to the U.S. system of degrees, grades, and credits. Not every employer requires an evaluation, but most government employers need it. Most colleges and universities require it, too, for admission. There are specialized agencies that are qualified to conduct degree evaluation. Please check your employer or university’s website for the list of approved foreign degree evaluation agencies that they accept. Not all employers and universities accept the same agencies. See, for example, here: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/employment/foreigneducation.pdf or here: https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-assets/admissions/undergraduate/downloads/Outside-Evaluation-Services.pdf.

While most jobs do not require certificates or licenses, you need a professional license to practice certain professions in the U.S. Foreign professional licenses are usually not accepted. You may need to complete courses, pass exams, or go back to college to apply for a license. For example, there are specific requirements to practice medicine, architecture, dentistry, and 50 other professions in New York. You will need a permanent immigration status to pursue any of the licenses (asylum granted or a green card). Read about requirements for licensed professions here: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/. In addition, there are another 35 occupations such as security guards, barbers, and notaries that require licenses in New York State: https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/.

See more information on licensing for immigrants in the following guides: Upwardly Global Professional Licensing Guides and WES Advisor E-guides.

Many programs in New York offer short-term high-demand skills training and certificates. Many are no-cost or low-cost, but most require at least employment authorization to apply. Here are some of the programs: Cooper Union Retraining Program For Immigrant Engineers, Per Scholas: Tuition-Free IT Training and Computer Job Training, The MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT), CityTech Free Training, Medical Assisting Training for English Language Learners, Manhattan EOC Career Training, Kingsborough College Design Works & HealthPath Career Training, SUNY Queens Educational Opportunity Center, SoHarlem Sewing and Garment Design, LaGuardia Continuing Education, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, and Nontraditional Employment for Women. UpwardlyGlobal also offers access to some professional certificate programs to their clients at no cost. CUNY curates an Upskilling online list of free courses in business, technology and healthcare administration.

There are many no-cost English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for different levels across New York City. Local branches of public libraries can help you locate the closest program. You can also search for various programs by your zip code in the HITE database. Here are some of the free ESL programs in Manhattan, for example : Riverside Language Program offers beginners to intermediate levels, and ESU Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center (ARNIC) offers intermediate to higher intermediate classes.

Cooper Union Retraining Program for Immigrant Engineers (RPIE): RPIE is a FREE professional development opportunity that supports immigrant, refugee, and asylee engineers as they build a competitive portfolio to equip them for the professional workforce and the career they want.

RPIE has also announced a new Tech Intensive. The program is a six-month track within the program RPIE program specifically designed to prepare engineers for in-demand technology sector jobs regardless of previous tech experience. Apply here!

“CUNY Upskilling is a curated list of no-cost virtual trainings that will help you get the latest professional skills and knowledge to discover your strengths, give yourself a leg up in your job search and help you shine to prospective employers. In addition, if you are recently unemployed or dislocated, our New York State Department of Labor partnership with Coursera can help you land on your feet.”

Find more information here.

Courses include:

Business & Marketing: Financial Markets, Project Management, Business Writing, Marketing in a Digital World, Facebook Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Use Mailchimp to Build an E-mail Marketing Campaign, The Art of Negotiation, Understanding User Needs, Supply Chain OperationsData Science: Data Science Specialization, Machine Learning, Tools for Data Science, Customer Analytics

Healthcare: Medical Neuroscience, The Business of HealthCare Specialization, Healthcare Organization Operations, Health Informatics, Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

Professional Skills: Influencing People, The Science of Well-Being, Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills, How to Manage a Remote Team, Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects, Developing An Entrepreneurial Mindset: First Step Towards Success

Technology: AI for Everyone, Programming Foundations with JavaScript, HTML and CSS, Introduction to HTML5, Python for Everybody, Cybersecurity, Google IT Support Professional Certificate, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing, Motors and Motor Control Circuits, Generative Design for Additive Manufacturing, Introduction to iOS App Development, Principles of Game Design, Introduction to Game Development

Immigrants who were doctors or nurses in their countries can re-license in the U.S. Each state in the U.S. have specific government guidelines for these licensed professions.

Information for New York State can be found under the Office of the Professions.

Career Pathways for Immigrant Medical Professions from the World Education Services.

New York Licensing Guides for Immigrant Physicians from Upwardly Global.

The NYC Welcome Back Center at LaGuardia Community College is an information and resource center for internationally trained nurses.

Flatiron School: Flatiron offers free trial lessons that can help you explore what career paths may be right for you! After attending a free lesson, the school offers a variety of courses and provides career support at a lower cost than many other organizations. Scholarships and interest-free financing options are available.

Data Science for All (DS4A)/Empowerment: A virtual data analytics training and jobs program, made available for free to qualifying students and professionals from underrepresented communities, providing new pathways to economic opportunity in the world’s fastest-growing industries.

The CyberNYC Fellowship Full Scholarship Program: Attend the Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Bootcamp and graduate ready to jumpstart a career in Cybersecurity–at no cost to you.

V School: V School offers a wide range is tech courses, from coding to web development to UX/UI design. Full and partial scholarships are available.

PerScholas: Apply to Per Scholas today! Learn more about the tuition-free training we offer and apply to IT courses that will help launch your career in tech.

Coding Resource: For those interested in coding here is a recommended resource on Instagram.