International Applicants

Approximately one in every six students at North Park Theological Seminary comes from outside the United States, and our whole community is enriched by the global diversity international students bring. The Office of Admission is here to help you in the application process and in the transition to life in the United States.

Application Requirements

In addition to completing the section in the Seminary Application entitled "International Students Only," students should refer to the Application Timeline and note the following requirements:

1. Affidavit of Financial Support

The United States government requires that international students be able to show evidence of sufficient financial resources that will allow a year of study in the United States. The evidence must be shown before permission to enter the country is granted. This means international students need to show personal or family resources or sponsorship from friends, churches, or scholarships that would permit them to pay for schooling and living expenses. (More than one sponsor is allowed for each student.) This evidence is recorded in an Affidavit of Financial Support. We will send you this affidavit once we have received your application, or you may download it here.

2. Test of English as a Foreign Language

All international students for whom English is not their primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their scores sent directly to North Park University from the testing agency. North Park's school code for the TOEFL is 1556.

The TOEFL is now administered in several formats. Please consult this table for the minimum score requirements for immediate admission to a seminary degree program. All students will be re-examined upon arrival in the United States by the director of North Park's English as a Second Language (ESL) program regardless of the original TOEFL scores.

TOEFL scores for immediate admission
Test type:	Paper	Computer	Internet
Minimum composite score:	600	250	100
Minimum Listening/Reading sub-score:	60	25	22
Minimum Speaking/Writing sub-score:	60	25	25

3. Transcripts

Students who have attended any post-secondary educational institution outside the United States and Canada must:

• have their original academic transcripts sent directly to us, and also
• have those transcripts evaluated by an agency that will provide us with an academic translation of the documents.

One such organization we highly recommend is Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE).

4. Additional Documents

• Copy of Passport
• Copy of visa & I-20 (if applicable)

5. Visa

Students are responsible for attaining their own visas once they have received the I-20. See further information about obtaining an F-1 visa.

Application Deadlines

	Fall terms	Spring terms
Currently outside the U.S.
— needing I-20 issuance	June 1	November 1
Currently inside the U.S.
— on an F-1 visa (at another school, transferring to North Park)		December 1
— on a B-1 or J-1 visa (needing change of status, see notes below)		October 1

• B-1 and J-1 visas may not expire more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes.
• Application must be submitted 30 days or more before B-1 or J-1 visa expires.
• Supporting documents for a change of status must be submitted 21 days or more before a B-1 or J-1 visa expires.