Library and Information Science (MS)

Simmons welcomes applications from international students. Faculty, alumni, and students exemplify global involvement in our profession, and are active participants in associations such as IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations.

Our alumni populate all continents; our students hail from many countries: Armenia, Romania, and Sri Lanka, to name a few. Of special note is our Vietnamese initiative: students from this program have become the first professional librarians in Vietnam. In the summer of 2004, we offered an institute to train professionals from various U.S. embassies around the world.

English Language Proficiency

The faculty requires that all prospective students for whom English is not the first language achieve a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum of 6.5 in each section is required for the IELTS test. The minimum TOEFL score is 220 (computer-based), 557-560 (paper-based), or 83 (internet-based). No exemptions will be considered. The SLIS institutional code is 3761; the departmental code is 90.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Contact your nearest English language testing center or:

TOEFL(R) Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA
Telephone: 609-771-7100
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ets.org/toefl

Applicants living in the Boston area should contact:

TOEFL(R) Test Center
27-43 Wormwood Street
Boston, MA 02210 USA
Telephone: 617-345-8980

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Contact your nearest English language testing center or:

Find your nearest testing center and upcoming test dates on the IELTS website. Applicants living in the Boston area should contact:

ELS Language Centers/Boston-Newton
IELTS Administrator
777 Dedham Street
Miller Hall
Newton, MA 02459
Telephone: 857-389-2892
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.els.edu/english-programs/testing-test-preparation/ielts

Duolingo

Information about the Duolingo English Test can be found by visiting their website.

Visa Requirements and Full-Time Academic Status

Due to immigration stipulations, international students requiring a student visa to study in the U.S. must be enrolled full-time in an academic program. Additionally, if you are currently in the U.S. and have any visa other than an F-1, you must check with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding procedures for changing your visa status.

Interview Requirement

An interview with a SLIS representative is required for international applicants whose cumulative GPA is less than the equivalent of a US 3.0, for all dual degree applicants, as well as students applying to the doctoral program.

Application Deadlines

International applicants to the master's degree program are requested to apply for the term commencing in September only (exceptions can be made in special cases, please contact the Admission Office for more information); the priority application deadline is February 1 for those wanting priority consideration for merit aid awards. All materials must be received by the posted deadline. An I-20 will be issued if admitted and the Declaration of Finances (see below) has been submitted. Please allow ample time for the pace of international postal services, obtaining visa documents, arrival in the U.S., and transitioning to a new environment.

Application materials may be submitted to the following address. The Simmons mailing address is the same for the entire University. Please specify in the first line of the address whether you are applying for the master's or doctoral program.

SLIS Office of Admission
Simmons University
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
USA

Required Academic Records

Applicants are required to submit all post-secondary transcripts to be considered for admission (including schools where no degree or certificate was earned by the student). All transcripts need to be official (signed in original ink and stamped with a seal) academic records.

In order to ensure that all transcripts and applications are being evaluated accurately, we require non-US or Canadian transcripts to be evaluated by an organization that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) such as WES, The Evaluation Company, or IEE. Evaluations should include English translations and U.S. equivalencies of all transcripts are required for all transcripts from colleges and universities outside the United States and Canada. Notarized translations, as well as photocopies or facsimiles are not acceptable. Evaluations must be sent directly from the evaluation service (not from the applicant). In the U.S., academic records or mark sheets are called "transcripts" (this is the term used throughout this web site).

Study Abroad

Transcripts from study abroad programs which have been transferred into a U.S. institution (and the grades are not listed on the degree-granting transcript) should be provided to Simmons. These do not have to be evaluated by a NACES member; however, they should be translated into English if the classes are not listed on the degree-granting transcript.

Required Standardized Test Results

All applicants who do not have the US equivalent of a 3.0 cumulative GPA (undergraduate or graduate degree) must submit official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores, taken within the past five years. Copies of student score reports are not acceptable. The Simmons GRE code is 3761 (you must also choose either Library Science 4701 or Archival Science 4702). Further information about this exam can be obtained by contacting:

GRE, Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000
609-771-7670
www.gre.org

Applications from international students will be considered only after Simmons University has been notified directly by the appropriate testing service that the candidates have been certified as fully-proficient in English. The achievement of a satisfactory score on an English language proficiency test is not, in itself, a guarantee of admission, as the credential file is considered as a whole. The School does accept testimonials as a means of establishing English proficiency.

Applications cannot be reviewed without the receipt of these test scores. It is very important that applicants register for these exams well in advance of applying for admission.

Required Financial Documentation

You are not required to submit financial documentation before you are considered for admission to the program. Once you are admitted to the program, we will send you a Declaration of Finances form. We cannot send registration information to you, nor issue the I-20 student visa application, until you have sent us the Declaration of Finances form indicating the source of funds you will use to meet your living and tuition expenses.

Please arrange with your bank, sponsor, and/or government to send an official statement indicating that you have sufficient funds in a bank for these educational expenses and/or that your tuition and expenses will be paid by your sponsor(s) or government. Please email or mail the documents, with signatures, to the address below. We ask that you apply to the program only if you are reasonably sure you will be able to meet the financial obligations.

Simmons SLIS
Office of Admission
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
USA
[email protected]

All documents must be signed in original ink, written in English, and funds must be shown in U.S. dollars ($). Certain countries limit the amount of money which may be sent abroad. Thus, it is very important for the applicant to inquire about the regulations in the home country concerning transfer of funds. This information is required in order to process an I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa.

Financial Assistance

International students are eligible for merit based scholarships which are awarded to the top 20-25% of new students entering in the fall (September) and spring (January) semesters. International students may also apply for the Dean's Fellowships which are our most prestigious awards. International students are not eligible for need-based grants or federal loans.

There is minimal funding available for doctoral students.

International students with student visas may be able to work in the libraries of Simmons University, but may not count these earnings as income to pay for tuition and expenses. Students with a student visa may not work off campus.

Academic Year

For each academic semester, students receive grades for each subject (course) taken. The first (fall) semester generally begins in early September and ends in mid December. The second (spring) semester generally begins at the end of January and ends in mid May. A third term (summer) is generally held from June to August.

*Only Master's students are eligible for Scholarships, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for federal loans and most private loans. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents may qualify for some private loans (contact Student Financial Services for more information).

Can I submit electronic transcripts?

Yes! We accept both electronic and mailed transcripts. Regardless of format, these documents need to be submitted to our office directly from your institution. If your institution is able to securely email their transcripts, they can be sent via email;or through a service such as Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or National Student Clearinghouse.

If my supporting documents must be mailed, what address should I use?

Please be sure to specify the SLIS Admission Office in the address:

SLIS Office of Admission
Simmons University
300 the Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
USA

Can I submit my online application before all of my required materials are received?

Yes, and we encourage it! Once you submit your application, you will be able to log in to the self-service center to check the status of your application and to see if your materials have been received. Prior to submitting your application you cannot check your status online.

What should I do if my recommenders did not receive an email requesting a letter?

First, suggest your recommender check her/his spam folder. Since the notifications come from an automated system the messages often end up in spam. Not there? Contact us and we can resend the notification. You can also resend invitations from your self-service center.

How quickly are my application materials processed?

Once you submit your application, we will look for any previously received materials to attach to your application. It usually takes 3-5 business days, especially during peak application times, for our office to process and attach materials. We'll mark the materials as received by the date they arrived in our office, not the date we add them to your application.

If an interview is required or recommended for the program I’m applying to, do I need to complete the interview prior to the deadline?

No. Our interviews are conducted by faculty and program directors. They typically have limited availability, so we only require your other supporting materials prior to deadlines and if your interview is scheduled after a deadline, you’ll still be considered "complete" by that date.

Will I be notified when my application is complete?

Yes, you will receive an email once your application is complete and under review.

How long will a decision take after my application is complete?

We begin reviewing spring applications in October, and fall applications in January. Once we begin reviewing applications, you will receive a decision within 3-4 weeks from your completion date.

Will my decision letter be emailed or mailed?

Your decision letter(s) will be released through your application portal. You will receive an email notice that your application status has been updated to 'Decision Released,' and you will be prompted to log into your application portal to view your decision.

Can I take classes before I apply?

Yes, we have a pre-matriculated option each fall and spring semester. Anyone with a completed bachelor’s degree and at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA is eligible to apply to take up to two courses prior to starting the degree program. Course options are based on space availability in classes and we typically announce the classes in August for the fall semester (September start) and December for the spring semester (January start). Please contact our office for more information.

Do I need to submit the FAFSA and Student Information Form by the priority deadline?

No. Students interested in applying for federal financial aid, which is awarded in the form of loans, may do so at any point by submitting the FAFSA and the Simmons University Student Information Form to the Simmons University Office of Student Financial Services. Contact their office via email or at 617-521-2001.

Upon acceptance, eligible applicants receive automatic consideration for merit-based scholarships. Most merit-based scholarships are awarded based on the overall strength of an application for admission, and no separate application is required.