Belmont welcomes prospective students from around the globe. An international student is based on citizenship. A student is considered international if they are not a U.S. citizen or if they do not have permanent resident status.
International Student Application Deadlines
| Semester | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | April 1 |
| Spring | October 1 |
First-Year International Student Application Checklist
Complete the entire Degree Seeking Application thoroughly and submit the non-refundable application fee of $50. You can apply using the following methods:
Belmont Online Application
Applicants who have not attended a U.S. or IB high school will need to submit a transcript evaluation.
High Schools Outside of the U.S.
A formal credential evaluation of your high school transcript is required for any student who has completed their education outside of the United States. Official evaluations must be course-by-course, contain a GPA (grade point average), and be sent directly from the evaluation company to Belmont. Only evaluations from an NACES accredited evaluation company will be accepted. For high school transcript evaluation, Belmont suggests using SpanTran, Josef Silny & Associates, World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
Click here to access our transcript evaluation guide for instructions and more information.
U.S. High Schools
Request that official transcripts be sent from the high school directly to the Office of Admissions. For a transcript to be official, it may not be marked "Issued to Student." Electronic copies are accepted from Parchment, Clearinghouse, Naviance or SCOIR (if your school participates).
Belmont is test optional. Students should select if they would like test scores to be considered when they fill out their application for admission. Should you choose to have your test scores considered, please request official ACT or SAT-1 score reports be sent directly to Belmont from the relevant testing agency. Belmont does not consider the Writing component from either the ACT or SAT and will consider the super-score for admission and scholarship purposes if calculated and provided by the standardized testing agency.
- Belmont's ACT code is 3946
- Belmont's SAT code is 1058
Provide the Counselor Recommendation to the appropriate person in your university counseling office and have them send the completed recommendation directly to Belmont. If your school does not have a school counselor, a teacher or administrator may complete the form.
While Belmont is test optional, Non U.S. Citizen applicants must satisfy one of these English language proficiency requirements before an admissions decision can be made:
- Minimum TOEFL iBT, including the Home Edition and Paper edition, score of 80 (equivalent TOEFL myBest scores are accepted) (Belmont’s TOEFL code is 1058); or
- Minimum IELTS academic score of 6.5 (including the IELTS Indicator); or
- Minimum SAT Reading Score of 29 or Writing and Language score of 550 (Belmont’s SAT code is 1058); or
- Minimum ACT English or Reading sub score of 23 (Belmont’s ACT code is 3946); or
- Minimum Duolingo English Test score of 115; or
- Minimum Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English score of C1 Advanced (180 overall) ; or
- Minimum Cambridge Certificate of English Proficiency score of C2 (180 overall) ; or
- Minimum English3 (E3) Proficiency Test score of 68; or
- Minimum Pearson (PTE) Academic Plus score of 58; or
- Minimum General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) score of C or 4 and above on the English language exam; or
- Minimum International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) score of 5 or higher on English A Language and Literature (SL/HL) or English Language B (SL/HL) (English ab initio is not accepted) ; or
- Minimum iTEP Academic score of 3.9; or
- 3 years of U.S. high school without ESL coursework; or
- 6 hours of English Composition coursework with a grade of 'C' or higher at an American college/university; or
- Have received a degree in the U.S. (bachelor's, master's, or PhD); or
- Citizenship with one of the following countries:
- Antigua
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbuda
- Barbados
- Belize
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada (except Quebec)
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United Kingdom – Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales
Transfer International Student Application Checklist
Complete the entire Degree Seeking Application thoroughly and submit the non-refundable application fee of $50. You can apply using the following methods:
Belmont Online Application
University-level Credits Completed Outside of the U.S.
All transfer applicants are required to submit transcript evaluations for all college/university coursework completed outside the U.S. Evaluations must be course-by-course, contain a GPA (grade point average) and from an NACES accredited evaluation company. Applicants who have earned less than 24 hours (approximately one year) of college credit are also required to submit course-by-course evaluations of their high school transcripts.
For more information, a list of suggested companies, and instructions, please click here to access our transcript evaluation guide.
University-level Credits Completed at a U.S. Institution
Please request an official copy of your transcript from every college or university you have previously attended. Applicants who have earned less than 24 hours (approximately one year) of college credit are also required to submit course-by-course evaluations of their high school transcripts (if a diploma was received from a foreign country) or a high school transcript from their U.S. high school.
Non U.S. Citizen applicants must satisfy one of these English language proficiency requirements before an admissions decision can be made:
- Minimum TOEFL IBT, including the Home Edition and Paper Edition, score of 80 (equivalent TOEFL myBest scores are accepted) (Belmont’s TOEFL code is 1058); or
- Minimum IELTS academic score of 6.5 (including the IELTS Indicator); or
- Minimum SAT Reading Score of 29; or
- Minimum ACT English sub score of 23; or
- Minimum Duo Lingo English Test score of 115; or
- Minimum Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English score of C1 Advanced (180 overall); or
- Minimum Cambridge Certificate of English Proficiency score of C2 (180 overall); or
- Minimum English3 (E3) Proficiency Test score of 68; or
- Minimum Pearson (PTE) Academic Plus score of 58; or
- Minimum General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) score of C or 4 and above on the English language exam; or
- Minimum International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) score of 5 or higher on English A Language and Literature (SL/HL) or English Language B (SL/HL) (English ab initio is not accepted); or
- Minimum iTEP Academic score of 3.9; or
- 3 years of U.S. high school without ESL coursework; or
- 6 hours of English Composition coursework with a grade of 'C' or higher at an American college/university; or
- Have received a degree in U.S. (bachelor's, master's, or PhD); or
- Citizenship with one of the following countries:
- Antigua
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbuda
- Barbados
- Belize
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada (except Quebec)
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United Kingdom – Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales
Other Important Information for International First-Year & Transfer Applicants
Student Visas, I-20’s & Immigration Paperwork
- If you need an F-1 or J-1 student visa to attend Belmont, please contactShauna Walsh, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholars Services. Once you are admitted and paid your deposit, she can help you with your immigration paperwork. She can also help you acclimate to the US and answer any questions about the international student experience at Belmont.
- As part of the immigration process, Ms. Walsh will collect your passport and financial documents (which may include scholarship information, affidavit of support, and official bank documents).
- Once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019, you must complete the visa process as quickly as possible to ensure a timely arrival to Belmont.
- Every semester, there is a mandatory International Student Orientation before the start of class to help welcome you to campus and connect you with fellow international students. Please contact Shauna Walsh for more information.
Student Visa Classifications
A new international student is a student who is interested in attending Belmont University who is not a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident of the United States. Students must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program at Belmont.
F-1 Student Classification: Most international students at Belmont University are here in this classification.To be eligible for F-1 status, you must be admitted to or enrolled in a full-time degree program, and demonstrate sufficient financial support for your program of study.
J-1Student Classification: The J-1 student category is an immigration option for students who are participating in a formal university exchange program.
Most of Belmont University's international students hold F-1 visa status.To be eligible for F-1 status, you must be admitted to or enrolled in a full-time degree program, and demonstrate sufficient financial support for your program of study. Before you apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your F-1 visa, you must first apply and be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved school. Belmont University is an SEVP approved school.
Once you are accepted and have been issued your I-20 form, this meanswe expect you to enroll in a specific program of study at Belmont and that we have created a record for you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The I-20 includes dates and information about your intended program of study. You can find your unique SEVIS ID in the upper-right corner of page 1 of your I-20.You will also need to pay aSEVIS feeand schedule the visa application appointment at the US consulate or embassy closest to where you currently reside.
Applying For the Visa
- CompleteForm DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Applicationfrom the DOS Consular Electronic Application Center
- Upload your photo to Form DS-160.Learn more about photo guidelines and how to upload your photo here.
- Pay the non-refundable visa application fee. Check with the consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid, orvisit the DOS website
- Print and bring the application to your visa interview with your letter of acceptance from Belmont University
Schedule An Interview
Schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate; however it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
What To take to Your Visa Interview
- Passport
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application: Form DS-160 confirmation page
- Application fee payment receipt
- Photo
- Form I-20 from Belmont University
- Other suggested items to bring: your transcripts or diplomas, test scores such as TOEFL or IELTS, source of funds for your education in the United States, your intent to depart the United States when your studies are complete
Attend Your Visa Interview
- During your visa interview a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa and which category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.
- Ink-free digital fingerprints will be taken at the interview.
- After your interview, you will be informed if further administrative processing is required.
- When the visa is approved, you will be informed when your passport with the visa will be ready for pick up or delivered to you by courier.
Entering The United States
A visa allows a foreign citizen to apply to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry to the United Sates. The Department Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at the port of entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the U.S. If you are allowed to enter the U.S., you will be given an I-94 visa stamp in your passport and you may proceed to your destination.
New Students
F-1 student visas may be issued up to 365 days in advance of your university start date.However, you will not be allowed to enter the U.S. in F-1 status earlier than 30days before your university start date.
Continuing Students
May renew their visas at any time as long as they have maintained status and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may enter the United States at any time before their classes start.
Exchange visitor (J-1) visasare nonimmigrant visas for individuals to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. Before you can apply for a J-1 visa you must be accepted into an exchange program through a designated sponsoring organization (seeDepartment of State (DOS) J-1 Visas Exchange Visitor Programfor details). These include Belmont University’s exchange partner universities.
Your DS-2019 indicates that we have invited you to study or perform scholarly activities and that we have created a record for you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The DS-2019 includes dates and information about your intended program of study or scholar activities. You can find your unique SEVIS ID number in the upper-right corner of your Form DS-2019. If all of the information on the form is correct, sign your name in the appropriate space on the form. You will then have to pay aSEVIS feeand schedule the visa application appointment at the US consulate or embassy closest to where you currently reside.
Applying For the Visa
- CompleteForm DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Applicationfrom the DOS Consular Electronic Application Center
- Upload your photo to Form DS-160.Learn more about photo guidelines and how to upload your photo here.
- Pay the non-refundable visa application fee. Check with the consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid, orvisit the DOS website
- Print and bring the application to your visa interview with your letter of acceptance from Belmont University
Schedule An Interview
Schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate; however it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
What To take to Your Visa Interview
- Passport
- Form DS-2019from Belmont University
- Form DS-160/confirmation page
- Application fee payment receipt
Attend Your Visa Interview
- During your visa interview a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa and which category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.
- Ink-free digital fingerprints will be taken at the interview.
- After your interview, you will be informed if further administrative processing is required.
- When the visa is approved, you will be informed when your passport with the visa will be ready for pick up or delivered to you by courier.
Entering The United States
A visa allows a foreign citizen to apply to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry to the United Sates. The Department Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at the port of entry have authority to permit or deny admission the U.S. If you are allowed to enter the U.S. you will be given an I-94 visa stamp in your passport and you may proceed to your destination.
New Students
There is no date limitation for applying for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. However, you will not be allowed to enter the U.S. in J-1 status earlier than 30 days before your university start date.
