A diverse campus community enlarges the community’s world view and enriches classroom interaction. Valuing the contributions international students make to the campus community, the University has instituted scholarships for international students.
International Student Application Requirements
STEP 1 – Complete free online application
- Select the NDMU online application.
- First-year international undergraduate applicants must complete all application requirements by April 1 for the Fall semester. First-year international undergraduate students can only apply for the Fall semester.
- For current prices see our Current Tuition & Fees. Also, plan ahead for these potential expenses:
- Tuition and Board for the January Winterim term (if staying on campus)
- Textbooks (estimated cost per semester $500)
- Additional room and board for summer (if staying on campus)
- Tuition, fees, and books during summer session
- Travel expenses from your home country to the U.S.
- Travel expenses during vacation periods
- Medical expenses not covered by health insurance
- Cell phone/data plan
- Off-campus transportation
- Other personal expenses
STEP 2 – Submit all required documents
- Submit a course-by-course evaluation of transcripts for all high schools (please send grades with the coursework for the last four years of high school) and universities abroad performed by an NACES member provider. For evaluation services, view our transcript evaluation portal: transcript evaluation portal
- Submit an original, personal essay (500 words). Choose from one of the following prompts:
- Describe your hometown;
- Describe your educational experiences;
- Describe how a favorite teacher, counselor, or coach had a positive impact on you;
- Tell us about an extra-curricular activity that you listed on your application
- If English is not your native language, submit the official results/scores from one of the following proficiency tests. These testing scores must come directly from the testing site to Processing@ndm.edu
- Submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Scores should be sent directly to Notre Dame by January for fall admission. TOEFL Code = 5114
- TOEFL iBT score of 80 or greater
- IELTS score of 6.5 or greater
- DUOLINGO score of 125 or greater
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or greater (REQUIRED for all first-year applicants interested in Nursing)
- Proof of successful completion of an English composition course at a U.S.-accredited college or university (transfer students only)
Federal and state financial aid is not available to international students. However, limited institutional scholarships are available, as well as external scholarships and private/alternative student loans.
STEP 3 – Check your application status
Check your emails frequently to see if you received an acceptance email from the university.
STEP 4 – Commit to NDMU
Use the Personal URL (PURL) that you received with your acceptance package to submit your deposit and commit to NDMU.
STEP 5 – Follow the I-20 process
STEP 6 – Get the International F-1 Student Visa Stamp
International students must work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to obtain the international F-1 Student Visa Stamp which is needed to enter the United States.
- Student (or delegate) will have to complete the electronic I-901 form and pay the $350 SEVIS fee with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. An electronic form I-797 is then issued as a receipt proving the fee was paid (note: no paper receipt will be issued).
- Student completes the electronic DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application and prints out the confirmation for submission to the U.S. embassy/consulate. (Canadian citizens do not need an F-1 visa to study in the USA but must have a valid I-20 and proof of payment of the SEVIS fee.)
- Students then make an appointment with the closest U.S. embassy or consulate office for visa interview.
- After the embassy grants the visa stamp (it may take four or more days for processing), the student can make travel arrangements for arrival in the U.S. (no sooner than 30 days before the I-20 “beginning” date, and no later than that date).
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