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International Students

Applicants from abroad should submit their credentials at least 90 days in advance of matriculation. The applicant must also submit a Financial Guarantee Statement and a bank statement, no more than 60 days old, indicating financial resources available for meeting the financial obligations incurred while attending the University (i.e., evidence of funding source to fully finance the cost of education, housing and living expenses). Students who require an F-1 visa must be enrolled full-time (6 credits per semester) while studying at John Carroll University. Students in post-baccalaureate non-degree/certificate programs are not eligible for F-1 status. International students requiring an F-1 student visa must submit a scanned copy of their current passport’s photo page and, if in the United States already, a copy of their current visa sticker. If the student has another status (e.g. Permanent Resident or Non-Immigrant), a copy of the student's current Green Card or visa sticker must be included with the Admission application.

Official, original language transcripts must be accompanied by a certified English translation that evaluates the degree for equivalency to degrees awarded in the United States, and provides information to enable the interpretation of grades. The University recommends the use of The Evaluation Company (TEC), World Education Services (WES), or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE).

In addition to the normal admission requirements, all international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate the necessary level of proficiency in the English language by meeting at least one of the following criteria:

  • Earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree from a CHEA-recognized United States college or university.

  • Earned an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an international institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction. The language of instruction must be stated on the official transcript or verified as the only language of instruction.

  • Completed at least two full-time semesters of graded coursework from an accredited institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated start of enrollment. This coursework cannot include English language learning classes.

  • Provide official and admissible results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Scores must be within two years from the anticipated start of enrollment. Information on how to register to take the TOEFL can be found at www.toefl.org. Information on the IELTS exam can be found at www.ielts.org.

Citizens of TOEFL exempt countries are exempt from the above requirements.

International applicants must also indicate their permanent mailing address. This may not be a P.O. Box.

No notification of admission will be sent to an applicant, nor will an I-20 form be issued, until all these requirements have been met.

Upon acceptance to the University, the international student should contact the Center for Global Education at John Carroll University at 216-397-4320, or global@jcu.edu, or www.jcu.edu/global. The Center for Global Education will issue the I-20 and act as a general resource for international students.

International students who apply for appointments as graduate assistants must have lecturing competence in English. Such appointments may require students to have successfully completed at least two semesters of study in the United States.