International Students

International Study

People have come from all over the world to study at our university. Prospective international students commonly seek answers on the following topics.

Class Schedule:	Most classes are held evenings or on weekends.
Enrollment:	Approximately 40 international students among the 1,750 student total.
Financial Aid:	Available only to US citizens, permanent residents and students from specific US Territories.
Scholarships:	Some scholarships are available to international students through the Asian Pacific Institute (download application).
Health Insurance:	Admitted students must present proof of health insurance before they will be permitted to register for courses.
Housing:	JFKU does not have campus housing or a housing office. Students commute to one or more of our four campuses.
Transportation:	All campuses are accessible by public transportation.
Athletic Activities:	None. However, living in the Bay Area offers many opportunities for those who wish to participate in a sport independently.

Basic Admission Requirements:

Undergraduate Programs: Equivalent of the first two years of a US bachelor's degree. Graduate Programs: Equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from a recognized postsecondary-level academic institution.

Application Requirements:

1. Application. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) require that the name on your application match exactly with the name on your passport.

2. Nonrefundable application fee of $55 (US dollars).

3. Official academic records: original documents issued by an institution bearing the actual signature of the registrar and the institution's seal:

Must be sent directly to the Admissions Office in unopened, official envelopes from each academic institution attended after secondary school.
Must show dates of enrollment, all subjects or courses, credits or hours, and grades in each subject and rank.
Photocopies are acceptable only if each copy is signed by an academic official who certifies that it is an exact copy of the original document, and bears the university seal and title of the authorizing official.
Must be certified and sent to the Admissions Office from an official of the school or from an official of the Ministry of Education in the applicant's home country.
Certified translated copies, if not in English.

4. Official credential evaluation service report:

Required for applicants to a bachelor's degree program and the law school.
It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for the evaluation and to pay the fee.
Course-by-course report designating upper and lower division units required for bachelor's degree applicants.
Must be sent directly from the evaluation service to the Admissions Office.
May be requested of graduate applicants to determine if the foreign degree is US bachelor's degree equivalent.

5. TOEFL scores:

Required for applicants from countries in which English is not the official language.
Minimum scores are 550/paper test, 213/computer test or 80/internet test, and 600/paper, 250/computer or 100/internet for Museum Studies applicants.
Paper test-takers must take the TOEFL test that includes the TWE.
Official report must be sent from the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
School code is 4365, Department 00.
If the test was taken more than two years ago it must be retaken. ETS keeps the scores for only 24 months.

6. An original certification of finances copy for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS):

Must indicate that students have adequate funds to meet the expenses of living in the US and studying at John F. Kennedy University.
Needed for the international student advisor's verification.
Returned to student for use at the consulate office when applying for visa.

If admitted, applicants will be sent a letter of admission and documents needed for F-1 status. F-1 status students may enter the country no earlier than 30 days prior to the start date on the I-20 document.

Questions? We would love to talk with you. Call, e-mail, write or stop by at your convenience.

Contact Susan Sermeno

ssermeno@jfku.edu