I just heard from my colleage that I can get a standard deduction on the tuition fee that I paid for my Masters. Is that true? Here's my case.

I paid for my spring'08 semester an amount of $9000 in Dec'07. Can I use this as any deduction? One more information, I've taken a student loan for about $20K from India and am right now repaying it. Is the payment for this also eligible for any deduction?

In 2008, when I filed my W-2, I just had $150 as salary (some part time work on campus). But I paid my tuition fee of $20K (all of my tuition) between June'07 to Dec'07 (Summer'07, Fall'07, Spring'08). Is there anyway I can claim any deduction?

If your total income for 2008 is $150, you do not have any income tax so there is no advantage of getting tuition fee deduction. Also if you are non-resident, then you do not get this deduction.

If you have student visa, then may be you will file non-resident tax return with Form 8843.