Los Angeles: A study destination like no other
Photo by Joel Mott on Unsplash

The city of Los Angeles is a study destination like no other.

Famed for its Mediterranean climate, sprawling beaches and high-profile neighbourhoods such as Hollywood and Beverly Hills, LA offers an abundance of adventure for international students.

There are many other reasons why it’s a favourite city for international students.

For one, it’s one of the US’s most multicultural cities – it’s diverse and vibrant, with immigrant-friendly laws. Its many immigrant communities, from Koreatown to Boyle Heights, comprise of people coming from 140 different countries, speaking roughly 86 different languages.

More than just a cosmopolitan haven of shopping, dining and entertainment, Los Angeles has also been labelled by Forbes as a “World centre of business, international trade and technology.”

Hence why international students choose to start their careers in tech companies, creative start-ups or multinational corporations straight after graduation.

For instance, LA is home to Fortune 500 businesses such as AECOM, CBRE Group, and Guess, but it’s also a hotbed for start-ups such as Zest AI, Spring Labs and ChowNow.

Companies like Snap, SpaceX, Hulu and Tinder also sprung from the creative landscape of LA, and many companies outside of LA are eyeing up and moving into Silicon Beach office space.

Offering an abundance of career opportunities in the companies mentioned above and more, it’s no surprise that international students are interested in making Los Angeles their next study destination.

Topping the list of institutions international students should study at is the California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

Source: CSUN

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, CSUN is one of California’s largest and most respected public universities.

Many international students fly thousands of miles to begin their CSUN journey with its Intensive English Programme (IEP).

This IEP is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic English language skills.

Students will be placed in one of the following levels according to their initial level of proficiency: Foundation for beginners, Academic for intermediate learners and University Bridge for advanced students.

By opting for the IEP programme, CSUN ensures that international students acquire the English-language and university-level learning skills needed for further educational success.

Once students complete this programme and meet the English language proficiency requirements, they can then enter their desired undergraduate or graduate programmes at CSUN, or a partnering university or college.

It’s worth highlighting that the TOEFL requirement is waived for students who apply for conditional admission to the university and complete the University Bridge level of the programme with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

IEP graduate Ali Alahmari from Saudi Arabia found the IEP programme impactful and resourceful.

“The IEP was a tremendous help as I pursued my education. After finishing, I went on to complete my graduate studies in the US and completed my Master’s,” he says.

By applying for this programme, students also get the opportunity to study subjects of interest and practise their English in areas such as American Films and Culture, TOEFL preparation, writing for the IEP newspaper and more.

They can even sign up for multiple classes and take from three to 12 hours of activity classes per week.

For Masashi Isozaki from Japan, the IEP programme taught him the skills he needed to accomplish his goals.

“Although I had no English ability before I came to the US, I successfully graduated from CSUN,” says Masashi.

Alternatively, pre-Bachelor international students can also choose the CSUN Student Success Pathway programme.

This programme provides the skills essential to university learning and 15 units of transferable academic credit to start your education at CSUN or another university.

Photo by Sherman Yang on Unsplash

The programme’s engaging and multidisciplinary curriculum includes credit courses such as Approaches to University Writing A and B; Language Matters; and Survey of the History of Latin America and Mathematics.

Whereas non-credit courses include: English for Math; Succeeding in the US Higher Education System; and Discourse & Communication.

Both the IEP programme and the Student Success Pathway programme are paired with potential Los Angeles field trips and engaging orientation sessions.

A campus built for students

Another reason international students love CSUN is for its campus which has it all.

On campus, students have access to an eco-friendly 138,000 square foot Student Recreation Center with classes for yoga, spin and boot camp, plus an Oasis Wellness Center, Oviatt Library and Student Health Center.

Plus, there’s the award-winning Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts on campus too, which has quickly become a cultural jewel of the greater LA region. Students get tickets to classical and popular music, dance, theatre, family and international events at a discounted rate.

Northridge is also known as a university town with many shops and restaurants within walking distance of campus.

And located just a short drive from the bright lights of Hollywood and Southern California’s world-famous beaches and many other popular attractions, studying here means being at the centre of everything.

So if you’re ready to elevate your potential with CSUN’s programmes and explore the creative and enigmatic culture of Los Angeles, then the time to start your studies with California State University, Northridge is now.

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