Admission requirements
Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered
international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.
- Applicants from non-English institutions must submit certified English translations
and evaluations of official university records, including demonstration of the equivalency
of a bachelor's degree.
Transcript evaluations must be submitted directly to Southern from one of the following
agencies:
- Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide a Certification of English
proficiency.
Unless an applicant is a native English speaker, s/he must have a minimum TOEFL score
of 100, or the TOEFL equivalent Duolingo English Test score. Scores are valid for
two years from the test date. Learn more at:
- Submit Declaration of Finances.
International students must have financial resources sufficient to support themselves
for the calendar year, in addition to an international-student deposit of $3,000 (USD).
Download Form
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- To be issued an I-20 Form, students must also provide a letter from financial sponsors
(including their name and address), as well as copies of bank statements for the last
three months showing the balance history for the student's account or the financial
sponsor's account.
Online programs
Since international students enrolling in programs offered completely online do not
travel to the United States, they are not required to obtain the Form I-20 or F-1
Student Visa, and they do not have to submit the Declaration of Finances. The degrees
that are available completely online are:
The following programs are not available
to international students
Since the following programs are offered only as summer intensives, the part-time
schedule does not meet student-visa requirements for international students:
On-campus programs
International students who will be coming to Southern's campus need some additional
information about travel documents and living on campus.
- Form I-20: After all qualifying documentation is received, Southern Adventist University issues
a letter of acceptance and the Form I-20. The letter and form must be presented to
the U.S. consular officer when applying for a student visa. Only students approved
by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for attendance at Southern may enroll.
- On campus: International students are encouraged to arrive on campus two weeks prior to the beginning
of classes. They should contact the international student adviser as soon as they
arrive. Graduate and Professional Studies must be notified if there is any change
in the arrival date after admission has been granted. Individuals with student visas
are required to be enrolled in a full course study (a minimum of nine graduate credit
hours) during the school year.
- Employment: International students with an F-1 Student Visa may work on campus, provided that
employment is available and provided that the student is enrolled in a full course
of study and is making progress to the completion of a degree. On-campus employment
is limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and 40 hours per week
during university vacation days.
- When you are ready to travel: International students should not leave their homeland until they have in their possession:
- An admission letter of acceptance from Southern Adventist University
- Form I-20 issued by Southern Adventist University
- A valid passport
- A valid F-1 Student Visa to travel to the United States
- Sufficient funds for the first year at Southern Adventist University
