The English proficiency test requirement can be waived for international students who qualify under the following categories:

• You are a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean.
• You earned your prior college or university degree in the U.S.A., in one of the countries listed above in section 1, or at a college or university where the official language of instruction is English.
• You are currently enrolled as a full-time student in a degree-granting program in the U.S.A. or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above in section 1 and will have completed at least two academic years of college/university work before beginning your studies at Boston College.

If accepted, and after meeting the financial certification requirements, you will be issued an I-20 form, which certifies to the U.S. government that you are eligible for F-1 Visa Student Status. The I-20 form certifies that you have met our admissions requirements, have been accepted for a full course of study, and have demonstrated that you have sufficient funds to study and live in the United States. I-20 forms are uploaded to your admissions portal no more than 90 days prior to the start of your term of entry. These forms are uploaded only after you have been accepted, have confirmed your intention to enroll, and have submitted financial certification.

Unfortunately, Boston College does not provide graduate student housing. Lay international students must find an apartment or place to live for themselves, though we provide as much support in this process as possible.

There are select possibilities for international priests to find housing through the Archdiocese of Boston. More instructions will be given after admission.

Boston College has partnerships with a couple of local convents for religious sisters. We are able to nominate a few sisters per year for this housing.

International applicants are asked to submit the following additional requirements:

• Two brief supplemental essays: These essays cannot be written or edited by anyone but the applicant themself in English. This requirement is waived for applicants from select countries and who are applying to select degree programs. Please follow the prompts in your application.
  
• Video Essay: Within the online application you will find a “Video Essay” section, in which you will be prompted to give a 90 second verbal response to a random question. Once you are given the prompt, you will have 60 seconds to prepare your response. You will have 2 attempts to answer the question; this portion of the application requires a web-camera to complete. If you experience any difficulties, please contact our office. This requirement is waived for applicants from select countries and who are applying to select degree programs.
• English Language Exam: All applicants for whom English is not their native language must also provide test score results from one of two tests:
  • TOEFL: An acceptable TOEFL score is 85 or above on the internet-based test. When taking the exam, include CSTM’s institutional code—3971—so that your scores may be sent directly to the school.
  • IELTS: An acceptable IELTS score is 7.5 (band score) or above on the paper- or internet-based test. Results can be sent to the Clough School of Theology and Ministry directly.
    
  • If you feel that you may be eligible for an English Language waiver, please see the FAQ "Can the English proficiency test requirement be waived?"

International Applicant Info

An acceptable TOEFL score is 85 or above on the internet-based test. When taking the exam, please include CSTM’s institutional code (3971) so that your scores may be sent directly to the school. An acceptable IELTS score is 7.5 (band score) or above on the paper- or internet-based test. Results can be sent to the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry directly.

Take your acceptance letter, I-20 form, bank statement or financial certification, and passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, preferably in your country of citizenship, to obtain your student (F-1) visa. Be prepared to explain to the embassy or consulate officials how your U.S. education will relate to your future in your home country. Once you have your F-1 visa, you will not be admitted to the United States until a date that is 30 days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as given on your I-20 form. Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States.

Higher education in the United States is expensive. However, CSTM is proud to award tuition grants, as well as graduate and research assistantship opportunities, to international students, depending on availability, to help ease their financial burden. For consideration, students must be enrolled in a degree seeking program, and should exhibit an exemplary academic record and personal potential. Students should be aware that, even if receiving a tuition grant, they still must obtain support to pay for their living expenses. Unfortunately, federal loans are not available to those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

All international students must show that they have sufficient funds or resources to pay for their tuition and living expenses during the course of their studies, whether support comes in the form of scholarships, grants, or support from a religious order or a personal bank account. Applicants do not need to supply evidence of sufficient resources with their applications. Once accepted, the admissions office will send a form where one can document resources.