International Applicants

Please complete an online application as the first step to starting your application process. 

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

In addition to the program specific application requirements, international applicants are required to submit the following documents:

1) Educational Records (with application)

Applicants must submit the following documents for all of the academic institutions attended:

• Official transcripts in the original language
• Translations if original documents are in a language other than English
• Official degree conferral certificate is required if the transcript does not list the name of the degree and the conferral date

How to get the Official Transcript Evaluation:

In order to evaluate your transcript, we need to know how it corresponds to a bachelor's degree from a US accredited university. Here are some places you can get your transcript evaluated:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. 
PO Box 514070 
Milwaukee WI 53203-3470 
tel: 414-289-3400 
fax: 414-289-3411 
http://www.ece.org/

Foundation for International Services 
21540 30th Drive SE, Suite 320 
Bothell, WA 98021 
tel: 425-487-2245 
fax: 425-487-1989 
http://www.fis-web.com/

Josef Silny & Associates 
7101 SW 102 Avenue 
Miami, FL 33173 
tel: 305-273-1616 
fax: 305-273-1338 
http://www.jsilny.com/

World Education Services 
P.O. Box 745 
Old Chelsea Station 
New York, NY 10113-0745 
tel: 212-966-6311 
fax: 212-739-6100 
toll-free: 800-937-3895 
http://wes.org/

2) English Language Proficiency (with application)

International applicants must submit a valid TOEFL or IELTS score, unless they qualify for one of the exceptions below.

Minimum TOEFL: 90 iBT                 Institution code: 4675

Minimum IELTS: 7                            Institution code: N/A

3) Exceptions to the TOEFL requirement

Applicants may waive the language test requirement for one of the following reasons:

• Completed an undergraduate or a graduate degree in a country where the medium of instruction is English
• Completed a minimum of 60 transferable credit hours at a US university
• Completed four consecutive years of study at a US high school

Upon Acceptance

Upon acceptance into the Graduate Creative Writing program, international applicants must submit proof of funding to cover the cost of attendance for the first academic year of the prorgram. You must have an I-20 in order to apply for the F-1 visa.

After submitting your deposit to Saint Mary's College, you will be given access to the Center for International Programs (CIP) Portal, where you can upload all of the required documents for the I-20:

• Copy of current, valid passport
• Completed Certificate of Finances
• Financial documents
  • Bank statement or letter from the bank
  • Scholarship information, if applicable
  • Educational loan information, if applicable

A copy of the current Certificate of Finances form for the 2022-2023 academic year is provided below to give prospective international students a detailed sense of the financial commitment for the program.

Further Questions

The Center for International Programs (CIP) is ready to assist international students with questions about study abroad, international student visas, insurance coverage, International Club membership, Global Living and Learning Community placement and much more. 

The Center is the home for international students at Saint Mary's and is the first stop that international students make on campus. CIP staff assists students with a variety of needs including immigration and visa advisement, academic advisement, and adjustment to campus life. The CIP provides an interactive orientation program, academic counseling, tutorial services, and social and intercultural communication programs. As home for the SMC International Club, the Center is the place to gather and meet students from a number of countries.

For further information, please visit the CIP webpage or call 925-631-4352. CIP is located on the first floor of Dante Hall.