Study PhD Programmes in Chicago, United States

Chicago at a glance

As an international student in Chicago, USA, you won’t feel a stranger, as you will experience the multicultural diversity in universities, as well as throughout the whole city. Study abroad in a city famous for its tasty cuisine, efficient transportation system and incredible night skyline. Large numbers of international students enrol in the local universities every year thanks to the affordable living costs, compared to other American cities as well as the friendly inhabitants and the rich cultural scene. Chicago, “The Windy City”, one of the most populated cities in the United States, is located in North Eastern Illinois, on the South Western side of Lake Michigan. Because of its great size, spending time around Lake Michigan during summer will make you feel like you are enjoying a nice time at the seaside.

2.7M

Population
1297 - 2500 USD/month

Living Costs
2

Universities

Studying

Studying in Chicago

In Chicago, you can specialise in any subject area you can think of, for any degree level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, research studies and professional degree study programmes. Some of the most popular disciplines you could study in Chicago include: law, medicine, public policy, social sciences, business, biological sciences, economics, journalism, engineering, communications, finance and more. A number of Master’s programmes specialise in: political science, philosophy, mathematics. Business schools in the city provide top executive MBAs that will greatly improve students’ career prospects.

You can apply for several distance-learning courses, taught either fully online or with regular on-campus meetings. Take a short course as an introduction to a subject that really interests you or in order to further specialise on a topic you want to be an expert in.

Higher education institutions in Chicago value international student’s opinions and freedom of expression and always organise fun special events. Universities include graduate and college students in research teams and they support research activities through dedicated projects and resources. Enrolled students have access to cutting-edge facilities, including libraries and sport areas and they are encouraged to get involved in academic and social student organisations.

Career

Career opportunities in Chicago

Having one of the most balanced and diversified economies in U.S., Chicago is the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and home to financial and futures exchanges, including the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (the "Merc"). Chicago is also one of the richest cities in the U.S. featuring 12 Fortune Global 500 companies and 17 Financial Times 500 companies. Other main branches of the city’s economy include: science and engineering, retailing, aerospace, manufacturing, food processing, publishing, medical services, and more. Other companies with local offices are: Boeing, Kraft Foods, McDonald’s, Motorola, United Airlines, General Electric.

Students also have numerous opportunities for internships with leading businesses in many fields.

Life

Chicago city life

Life in Chicago is all about the entertaining scene, walks in the parks and supporting some of the world famous sport teams. Take pictures of the Sears Tower, one of the most iconic buildings in Chicago.

Among museums and cultural institutes, you can visit: Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum of African American History, National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, the Museum of Photography.

You can watch a play at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Victory Gardens Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, Cadillac Palace.

Live music venues and clubs are part of Chicago’s cultural heritage; you can hear the famous Chicago blues, Chicago soul, jazz, and gospel. The Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Festival Ballet perform in various venues.

Enjoy lovely walks in the great Hyde Park, go to the beach, or admire some amazing outdoor public art.

Sports are an important part of Chicago, as the city is home to two major league baseball teams: the Chicago Cubs of the National League and the Chicago White Sox. Other popular sports teams are: the Chicago Bears for national football and the Chicago Bulls for basketball.

Try the Chicago-style hot dog and pizza, distinctly Chicago sandwiches, like the Italian beef sandwich. You can also enjoy many ethnic restaurant districts: the Mexican American neighbourhoods, Greektown, Little Italy, Chinatown and other.

International atmosphere in Chicago

Chicago was a favourite destination for immigrants from all over the world, and the situation has not changed. Ethnic communities from Ireland, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, countries from Asia and Mexico live in Chicago. The number of Hispanic or Latino population makes up almost 30 % of the total population. The high degree of internationality best shows in the variety of delicious cuisine – a great attraction for most Americans and international visitors alike. The friendly student environment will make you have trouble in keeping up with so many friends while studying abroad in Chicago.

Weather Chicago

Summers in Chicago are warm, sometimes hot and often humid, with average temperatures 25 °C (76 °F). Winters are cold and snowy, with high temperatures that are below freezing. The proximity to Lake Michigan makes downtown Chicago weather cool in early summer and mild in winter. Although Chicago is known as the Windy City, it is less windy than many other major American cities.

Universities in Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

Located in the heart of one of the world’s great cities, the University of Illinois at Chicago is a vital part of the educational, technological and cultural fabric of the region. As Chicago’s only public research university with 30,000 students, 15 colleges, a hospital and a health sciences system, UIC provides you access to excellence and opportunity.

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National Louis University

A lot has changed in the past 130 years, but the mission of NLU remains the same: to provide a superior education that makes a difference. We serve more than 8,000 students at seven locations in Illinois and Florida. We work hard to improve schools and businesses through community partnerships and applied research.

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