International Students

Additional Requirements for International Students

North Park University's School of Nursing welcomes international applicants to the School of Nursing. However there are additional admission requirements for international students.

English Fluency

International students must demonstrate adequate fluency in English by providing official scores of a standardized language test (such as ToEFL).

F-1 Student Visa

The following documents are necessary for processing an I-20 form to obtain a student visa:

• Transfer Verification Form (completed and returned to us)
• Financial Resources Statement (indicating ability to pay for school and living expenses)
• Clear copy of passport photo page
• Clear copy of student visa page
• Home country contact information

Foreign students must adhere to all federal requirements while a student at North Park University, including maintaining minimum course loads and not working in an off-campus job. Because of these restrictions, there are some important details to emphasize:

• The MS in Nursing program at North Park University is a part-time, evening program. This means students might not be able to register for enough credits during each semester in order to maintain visa status.
• The classes are offered in various sequences through three campuses, which are located some distance apart. In order to take the minimum number of credits required each semester, students will have to travel to more than one campus to attend classes.
• Many students would like the opportunity to work in the health care field while taking classes. This is not currently an option for foreign students in the MS nursing programs.
• The MS program does not currently offer the opportunity to complete Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

For assistance with these requirements, please contact the International Student Office directly at (773) 244-5571.

Transcripts from Non-US Schools

Applicants who have completed college coursework outside of the U.S. are required to have their official transcripts evaluated by one of the following transcript evaluation services:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Applicants should contact either of these organizations directly and request to have their transcript evaluation processed (course-by-course format) and an official report sent to North Park University.This process can often take much longer than expected, so it is best to start early. If you have had your materials evaluated by another service, including CGFNS, you will still need the official course-by-course report from either WES or ECE also.

Please do not send original foreign transcript or credential documents directly to North Park University.