Santa Clara University

Students without U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency

Santa Clara University defines an international applicant as someone who is a citizen or permanent resident outside the United States. If you fall within this category, the following additional items must be submitted to complete your freshman or transfer application:

• Course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts by an accredited evaluation agency. We recommend that you find an agency through the NACES website, www.naces.org. However, this requirement is waived for a school and/or college using one of the following types of curriculum: American, International Baccalaureate, or British.
• Proof of English Proficiency. TOEFL (PBT): 575, TOEFL (CBT): 230, iBT: 90, IELTS: 6.5, iTEP: 4.5, Pearson: 61, or SAT Critical Reading: 630.
• Certification of Finances. Please download and complete the College Board Certification of Finances Form (PDF), and submit it directly to the Undergraduate Admission Office. Alternatively, you may submit an offficial bank statement or letter reflecting your family's resources.
  

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents studying outside the U.S.

American citizens and permanent residents who have attended or are enrolled at a high school outside the United States may be required to submit a course-by-course evaluation by an accredited evaluation agency. Applicants exempt from submitting a course-by-course evaluation must have attended or be enrolled in one of the following types of curricula: American, International Baccalaureate, or British. 

All transfer students must obtain a course-by-course evaluation of the postsecondary institutions they are enrolled in or have attended.

If you are an international student planning to enroll at SCU, you and your family must assume the total cost of a Santa Clara education. Financial aid is not available to undergraduate international students.
Costs: 2011–12 Academic Year

Tuition	$39,048
Room and board	$11,997
Books, Transportation & Personal (estimated)	$4,752

Does SCU offer an orientation program for international students?
Yes. We offer a mandatory orientation program for all incoming international (F-1) students prior to your term of enrollment. For details about the orientation and to see photos from past orientations, visit International Student Services.

Does SCU offer an ESL program?
No, Santa Clara does not offer any ESL programs.

Can I attend a community college in the U.S. and transfer to SCU?
Yes. Santa Clara works with and enrolls students from 19 of the community colleges in California. We suggest you review the lists of required and recommended courses if you plan to transfer tp Santa Clara from a local community college. These lists are available in our transfer guides.

What are the advantages of attending a community college prior to applying to SCU?
If you wish to enroll in an ESL program, community colleges offer several programs to help you prepare for Santa Clara. SCU has transfer guides with 19 local community colleges to help you select courses that satisfy our Core Curriculum requirements.

Are there any scholarships or grants I can apply for?
Yes. Although SCU does not award financial aid to international students, there are various resources available to help with the cost of education. Below are some sites we recommend.

• International Education Finance Corporation
• eduPass
• International Education Financial Aid
• CollegeNET
• Peterson's
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators - Offers many scholarships and is specific to country
• International education financial aid - Contains financial aid information and provides a search for international scholarships
• The smart guide to studying in the USA - Includes scholarships and links to other pages about being an international student
• International Student Funding
• USIA Fulbright Program
• International Education Financial Aid
• Guide to General Financial Aid
• International Student Loan
• Organization of American States (OAS) - grants interest-free loans to students from Latin American and Caribbean countries at accredited universities in the U.S.

Does Santa Clara University offer merit scholarships?
Yes. Santa Clara currently awards merit scholarships.  Dean's Scholarships are available. For 2011-12, they range up to $16,000 per year.  Additional awards may include Jesuit Ignatian Award. For some scholarships, special consideration is given for exceptional ability or performing arts talent. These awards include Athletic, Theater Arts, Dance and Music.

Will my merit aid increase each year?
All Dean's Scholarship, merit awards are fixed amounts and are not indexed to changes in tuition, therefore they will not increase annually. You are required to maintain specific program eligibility requirements in order to retain your merit award.

SCU orientations for international students
Orientation dates change every quarter. Visit this site and mark your calendar—this orientation is mandatory.

Adjusting to life at SCU and in the U.S.
The adjustment process can be overwhelming. This page addresses topics you may have questions about, even questions you didn't know you had.

Exchange programs
For students interested in a direct-exchange program, this site can answer all your questions and help you make the most of your time at SCU.