When researching study options in the USA, international students focus on popular destinations like Boston, New York and California. We are proud to partner with institutions in these destinations, which provide a safe, nurturing home for our students to settle into life in the USA, make the most of their life and study experience in the country and succeed in the path they have chosen for themselves: Fisher College in Boston, University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York and Cal State Fullerton and Stan State in California.
But there is more to the USA than the major destinations and it pays off to research lesser known universities, which can provide a real alternative, often a cheaper and more supportive study environment for international students, while still allowing them to explore and keep all options open.
Today we want focus on a new partnership we launched at the end of Summer 2025: Tennessee Technical University and we want to put the state of Tennessee on the map for students exploring their options in the USA.
Where is Tennessee?
Tennessee is a landlocked state in the southeast of the USA. The Mississippi River is its border to the West and to the East the Appalachian Mountains with the Smoky Mountains National Park. Its name derives from the name of a Cherokee settlement on the Mississippi, Tanasqi.
Our partner Tennessee Tech is in Cookesville, just over an hour's drive to Nashville and an hour and a half's drive to Knoxville.
Students who choose to study at Tennessee Tech and love the Outdoors, can explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the East or take a cruise of the Mississippi to the West.
Spring and Autumn are pleasant, Summers are warm and humid and Winters are mild but can go down to freezing temperatures occasionally.
What is Tennessee famous for?
MUSIC! Tennessee is famous worldwide for its role in the creation and evolution of American popular music: blues, country, rock and roll, rockabilly, soul, bluegrass and gospel. Anybody interested in popular music will find so many reasons to delight at the influence Tennessee born and/or bred musicians have had on it.
In Memphis, Beale Street is considered the center of blues music from as early as 1909; Sun Records recorded the early music of rock and roll legends Elvis Prestley, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison among others; Stax Records became the most important label for soul music and contributed to the creation of the Memphis Soul (Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Carla Thomas and Otis Redding among a list too long to have here).
Nashville established itself as the recording capital of country music in the 1930s, thanks to a popular regular radio broadcast, The Grand Ole Opry and it is still today the powerhouse for this music genre.
Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Kelsea Ballerini, Morgan Wallen were all born in Tennessee and their musical journey was and is tied to Tennessee's creative environment. Bands the Kings of Leon and Paramore are also linked to Nashville.
Taylor Swift moved with her family to Nashville when she was 14 to break into the country scene and it was there that she was discovered and signed first music contract.
For students, exploring these cities provides both cultural connection and creative inspiration, all within a few hours of the Tennessee Tech campus: Nashville’s Broadway offers music at every corner, with small stages showcasing new voices and larger venues hosting major tours and legends; Memphis adds depth through its blues and soul heritage, while Knoxville continues to support rising artists through its independent music scene.
Why study at Tennessee Tech?
Tennessee Tech University offers a campus environment where academic rigor and personal connection coexist. Students come from all regions of Tennessee, the United States, and countries around the world. This diversity creates an atmosphere where international students blend naturally with local students, forming friendships through classes, group projects, cultural events, athletics and campus organizations.
The university is large enough to support strong academic programs and research opportunities, yet connected enough for students to feel recognized and supported. Whether students attend football games at Tucker Stadium, collaborate on engineering initiatives, or study at favorite campus locations like Broast or the library commons, shared experiences encourage community and belonging across cultures.
This setting helps students develop confidence and academic strength — qualities that support future success in graduate school and professional life.
Our partnership with Tennessee Tech means that students benefit from the support of Kings staff on campus. Our students can meet a Kings Student Success Advisor for one-to-one sessions on all sorts of support, from making the best choices for their study plan to finding medical care, choosing the best extracurricular activities or other important aspects of life in their new home away from home.
Our Success Advisors can also help students find their ideal major at their ideal school, so for students who aim to graduate from top universities in the USA, our advisors can ensure the students are choosing the right modules and are ticking all the boxes to become the best candidates to transfer to a high-ranking university.
Tennessee is home to prestigious Vanderbilt University, consistently ranked in the Top 20 Colleges Nationally (#17 in U.S. News 2026) and #7 for Best Value Schools. Vanderbilt's location in Nashville makes it easy for students based at Tennessee Tech to visit. Vanderbilt represents long-term possibility: students can begin their academic careers at Tennessee Tech, gain valuable experience and mentorship, and later apply to:
- graduate programs
- research opportunities
- professional schools
- fellowships
- or competitive career paths
not only at Vanderbilt, but also across top 50 and top 100 institutions nationwide. Tennessee Tech’s structured academic preparation gives students the foundation needed to pursue these future steps.
