International Graduate Student Admission
Simmons University Welcomes You
Simmons welcomes international students in need of an F-1 visa for most graduate programs at Simmons (see the F-1 Visa Eligibility section for more details). Our campus community includes students from more than 30 countries. As an international student, you will be supported by faculty, staff, and students.
Tuition and Funding Sources for International Graduate Students
- Costs vary by program. See Tuition and Fees for Graduate Programs for details.
- You are not eligible for need-based grants or US federal loans.
- You may be eligible for scholarships, which are awarded based on merit.
- Simmons does not provide full-tuition scholarships for master’s programs, except for a select number of PhD awards.
- Scholarships are not guaranteed, and, if granted, only partially cover the cost of tuition.
Application Procedure and Requirements for Graduate Programs
Before applying, review the general application requirements below. Refer to How to Apply for additional details about your intended program’s application. For some programs, you may need to submit additional materials, such as licensure verification or writing samples.
All programs require:
- Complete application form
- Personal statement
- Current resume/CV
- Letters of recommendation
- Official university transcripts from all institutions attended, whether or not a degree was earned.
- Note: If you have international transcripts, they must be evaluated by a NACES-accredited evaluator (see the Transcript Requirements section for additional details).
- An English Proficiency Exam, if applicable (see the Standardized Test Requirements section for additional details).
Note: In the United States, academic records or mark sheets are called transcripts. This is the term used throughout this website.
You do not need to submit academic records from secondary schools (high schools in the US) for your graduate application. Courses taken at the secondary level do not meet prerequisite requirements for graduate programs.
In the US, a baccalaureate refers to a first university degree. However, in many countries, a baccalaureate signifies the completion of secondary education or one additional year of study.
If you earned a degree abroad, you must submit a credential evaluation with your official transcript (marks sheet) in the original language. If the evaluation service confirms they received an official transcript, you do not need to submit a separate one.
Your evaluation must include grades (marks) for each course, not just final exam results or a copy of your degree. Additionally, your educational documents should clearly show the degree awarded and the date it was earned.
Your post-secondary institution must be recognized by the Ministry of Education in its country.
All transcript evaluations must be in English and include US equivalencies, including a course-by-course evaluation with grades. The evaluation also should include a copy of your official transcript.
If you have earned a graduate degree from a US Institution (master’s degree or PhD), you may not need to submit all of these requirements. To confirm what you need, please reach out to [email protected].
Please note: ALL evaluation documents must come from an approved or NACES-approved service provider, including a course-by-course evaluation for Simmons to accept them.
Credential Evaluation Agencies
Examples of approved credential evaluation agencies include:
- AACRO International Education Services
- Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute
- Academic Evaluation Services
- Center for Applied Research, Evaluation and Education, Inc
- Center for Educational Documentation
- CGFNS International
- Credential Evaluation World
- Education Credential Evaluation
- Education Evaluators International
- Education Perspectives
- Educational Records Evaluation Services
- Evaluation Services
- Foreign Academic Credential Services
- Foreign Credential Service of America
- Foundation for International Services
- Global Credential Evaluators
- Globe Language Services
- International Academic Credential Evaluators
- International Consultants of Delaware
- International Education Evaluations
- North American Educational Group
- International Education Research Foundation
- Josef Silny- International Credential Evaluation Institute
- Spantran the Evaluation Company
- Validential
- World Education Services (WES)
- Scholaro
If English is not your first language, you must submit official English language test scores taken within two years of the application deadline. Accepted tests include the TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, Pearson Test of English, and IELTS.
- Other English proficiency exams may be considered on a case-by-case basis. This requirement is based on first language, not citizenship.
- You do not need to submit an English proficiency exam if you graduated from an institution where English was the language of instruction, or you earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited US institution. If you are unsure whether you qualify for a waiver, contact the admission office.
- You must submit official scores. We do not accept copies of your score reports.
Minimum Recommended Scores
When fulfilling the English Language Proficiency exam requirement, you must meet the following minimum requirements. Please plan well in advance of the application deadline, as official scores can take several weeks to arrive.
- The TOEFL code is 3761. The minimum recommended score range for the TOEFL iBT (internet-based) is at least 100-105.
- The minimum recommended score range for the IELTS is highly recommended to be at least 7.0.
- The minimum recommended score for the Duolingo exam is highly recommended to be at least 115.
If you have concerns about meeting these scores, contact the respective admission office. If your scores are below the recommended range, you are still encouraged to apply. Your application will be assessed based on a holistic review.
The School of Library and Information Science — through our partnership with Yonsei University — may have different requirements. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Planning Ahead
While you are not required to submit financial documentation for admission consideration, it’s important to plan ahead.
If you are admitted to the program, you will need to complete and submit the International Student Supplement Form (ISSF) electronically within the admitted student portal. We cannot send registration information to you nor issue the I-20 student visa application until you have uploaded your ISSF 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. We ask that you apply to the program only if you are reasonably sure you can meet the financial obligations.
F-1 Visa Eligibility
If you are an international student applying to graduate certificate programs such as the stand-alone Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), the stand-alone Certificate in Sports Nutrition (CSN), and the post-master’s Library and Information Science certificates, you are not eligible for an F-1 visa.
If you are looking to enroll in an online program, you must contact the respective admission office to determine eligibility.
Licensing and Certification Restrictions
If you are enrolling in a combination master’s degree and certificate program, you should be eligible to apply for an F-1 visa. Contact [email protected] for more information.
BCBA® Examination and Certification
- If you reside outside of Canada, Australia, or the UK, and begin your master’s in behavior analysis after January 2021, you will not be eligible to sit for the BCBA® exam and gain certification. For more information, please review BACB.com.
- Starting on January 1, 2022, BCBA® examinations will only be offered in English.
Experiential Learning Requirement and Curricular Practical Training/Optional Practical Training
- All students enrolled in the MS/EdS in Behavior Analysis program must fulfill an Experiential Learning coursework requirement (i.e., Practicum), which takes place in semesters 4 and 5. To do so, you must be employed in a behavior analytic role, working a minimum of 20 hours per month, for a total of 90 hours across the two Practicum courses. Due to this requirement, as an international student, you must apply for and receive Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Authorization from the advisor at the Center for Global Education at Simmons University.
- Please note that the number of CPT Authorized hours you must complete for Practicum courses will not affect your eligibility to apply for post-graduation Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization.
Questions on CPT? Reach out to [email protected] for more eligibility information.
Questions? We are here to help!
The Center for Global Education
The Center for Global Education (CGE) supports F-1 international students with immigration and compliance questions and helps them adjust academically and socially to life in the US after being admitted to a graduate program. We understand that coming to live in a new country or even a new city can be challenging! The CGE staff is always available to advise you on any questions or concerns you have about coming to the US, Boston, or Simmons.
More information and resources from the CGE are available on the International Student Services page.
Office of Graduate Admission
Before admission, please contact the Graduate Admission team via email with any questions. They can assist you with all admission-related inquiries, including those about Curricular Practical Training (CPT).