Study in Fort Lauderdale, The United States

About Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city in Broward County, in South Florida, between Miami and the Palm Beaches. Its beaches, canals and warm winters make it a popular place to learn English, and the university area in neighbouring Davie, a short drive west of downtown, is home to one of Florida's largest private universities.

Students choose Fort Lauderdale for intensive English in a beach city, for health sciences, law and business at Nova Southeastern University, and for the lower-cost route of starting a degree at a public college. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is in the city, and Miami International Airport (MIA) is also within reach.

Studying in Fort Lauderdale

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was founded in 1964 as Nova University of Advanced Technology and merged in 1994 with Southeastern University of Health Sciences. Its 314-acre main campus is in Davie/Fort Lauderdale. NSU describes itself as the largest private research university in Florida and has R1 status from the Carnegie Foundation. It has more than 22,000 students from over 115 countries, including 7,231 undergraduates, 9,117 graduate students and 4,482 students in professional programmes, and offers more than 130 degree programmes. It is one of three U.S. universities with both M.D. and D.O. medical colleges.

Broward College is a public college serving Broward County and South Florida, with students from more than 150 countries. Its main campus is in Davie, and its Willis Holcombe Center is on East Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Colleges like Broward often cover the first two years of a four-year degree before students transfer to a university.

For English, TALK International School of Languages (TALK Fort Lauderdale) is on South University Drive in Davie, next to NSU; its students have access to the university's library and food court and to a shuttle bus to NSU, and the school offers homestay accommodation. The Language Academy (TLA) is also listed in our directory. Tradfax International teaches English, Spanish and Portuguese online only and does not issue I-20 forms, so it is not a route to a student visa.

Teaching is in English. The U.S. academic year typically runs from September to May.

Student visa

Students who come for a degree or a full-time English course usually need an F student visa. After admission, the school's international student office issues a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes), which you present at a U.S. embassy or consulate. With that office's permission, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year. Rules are in flux: in September 2026 a federal court temporarily blocked a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have replaced "duration of status" with fixed admission periods for F and J students, and NSU notes that the rule may still take effect later. Check with your school's international office before you travel.

Cost of living for students

At Broward College, tuition and fees for out-of-state students, the category that covers students from abroad, are $373.00 per credit hour on campus, compared with $117.90 for Florida residents. NSU and the language schools publish their own prices. Public transport is relatively cheap: Broward County Transit charges $2 for a one-way ride and $70 for a 31-day adult pass, and college students can buy a 31-day college bus pass for $50 with a college photo ID or a class schedule and photo ID.

Getting around and daily life

Broward County Transit (BCT) runs the county's buses, including express routes, and passengers can transfer to Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran and the Tri-Rail commuter train, which makes day trips to Miami and Palm Beach County possible without a car. College bus passes are sold at several libraries, including the Alvin Sherman Library on the NSU campus.

The climate is warm all year. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport give an average of 68.3 °F (about 20 °C) in January and 83.8 °F (about 29 °C) in July, with average July highs of 90.0 °F (about 32 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Is Fort Lauderdale a good place to learn English?

It has several English schools, including TALK Fort Lauderdale next to Nova Southeastern University, and a warm climate all year. Choose a school that can issue a Form I-20 if you need a student visa; online-only schools such as Tradfax do not.

Which universities and colleges are in Fort Lauderdale?

Nova Southeastern University, a private research university founded in 1964, and Broward College, a public college with a campus in downtown Fort Lauderdale and its main campus in Davie.

How much does public transport cost for students?

Broward County Transit sells a 31-day college bus pass for $50; a single ride costs $2.

Can I work while studying in Fort Lauderdale?

F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, with permission from the international student office.