International Student Info. : School of Health Sciences : Simmons College

Simmons welcomes applications from international students. Students for whom English is not their first language are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score that demonstrates satisfactory proficiency. Simmons must receive test scores directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This test must have been taken within the past two years.

International students also must submit a Certificate of Finances Form that demonstrates proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses while enrolled at Simmons. An I-20 cannot be issued until the form is received. Please arrange with your bank, sponsor, or government to complete our Certification of Finances Form, which is available for download below or by request.

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. Carefully review the individual program descriptions in this catalog since not all programs are full time and a full-time course load is different for each 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.

Application Deadlines

International students may apply only to the fall (Sept.) semester (except for applicants to the Direct Entry Nursing and Professional D.P.T. programs, which begin in May and July, respectively). Review application deadline dates for programs in the School of Health Sciences. Deadline dates differ. Check the first page of the application for specific dates. These dates are when all materials must be received, not the postmark date. It is imperative that students who have or are studying abroad begin the application process at least six months prior to the deadline. Please allow ample time for the pace of international postal systems, obtaining visa documents, arrival in the U.S., and transitioning to a new environment. International students will not be allowed to enroll if they arrive after the official start of the term.

Required Academic Records

In the U.S. academic records or mark sheets are called "transcripts" (this is the term used throughout this Web site). All applicants who have studied abroad must submit official (signed in original ink and stamped with a seal) academic records for study completed at all universities (including schools where no degree or certificate was earned by the student). These documents should include end-of-year result sheets, national exam results, and a copy of degrees or certificates, both in the native language and English translations. Photocopies or facsimiles are not acceptable. Additionally, the academic records may need to be evaluated by an agency specified by the School of Health Sciences. Degrees earned abroad must be from an institution of higher learning which is officially recognized by the home country's Ministry of Education.

A "college" abroad usually means a secondary institution whereas in the U.S., a college is an institution providing higher education. A college can be part of a larger university or represent a singular institution such as Simmons College. Academic records from overseas colleges which are actually secondary schools (high schools in the U.S.) are not required as part of the application process. Courses taken at the secondary level do not fulfill the prerequisite requirements for application and admission to a graduate program. A baccalaureate in the U.S. is a first university degree. Many overseas systems award baccalaureates which represent the completion of secondary education or a year beyond.

Required Standardized Test Results

All applicants must submit official scores of the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), taken within the past five years where required(each SHS program has different standardized tes score requirements)Copies of student score reports are not acceptable. The SHS code is 3761. Further information about this exam can be obtained by directly contacting GRE; Educational Testing Service; P.O. Box 6000; Princeton, New Jersey; 08541-6000; telephone 609-771-7670 or http://www.gre.org/.

Students whose first language is not English (regardless of citizenship) must submit official scores of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), taken within the past two years. No other English proficiency exam is acceptable. The TOEFL requirement is based on native language not citizenship or the type of school a student attended. Applicants who have graduated from post-secondary institutions abroad (recognized by the Ministry of Education in the host country)in English-speaking countries only or bachelor's /master's programs at regionally accredited U.S. institutions do not need to submit TOEFL. The minimum acceptable score is 570 (Paper Test) or 230 (Computer Test) or 88 (Internet based). Copies of student score reports are not acceptable. Please be certain to take the TOEFL 2-3 months in advance of the deadline to assure that we receive an official score report on time.The SHS code is 3761. Further information about this exam can be obtained by directly contacting TOEFL; Educational Testing Service; P.O. Box 6151; Princeton, New Jersey; 08541-6151; telephone: 215-750-8050 or http://www.toefl.org/.

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

All non-U.S. citizens who will require a student visa for study in the U.S. must provide accurate and current (within six months prior to applying) evidence of ability to pay for the cost of a Simmons education. These costs are variable (but include fixed and living costs beyond tuition) and outlined on the Certification of Finances Form located in the application for admission. This form must be completed and returned directly to the SHS Office of Admission. If this form is not used, an original signed statement from the applicant's sponsor indicating a willingness to provide financial support and a statement from the sponsor's bank verifying the availability of sufficient funds must be received.

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 that 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. Applications cannot be reviewed without certification and documentation of financial resources. This information is required in order to process an I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa.

The School of Health Sciences offers limited merit awards or assistantships for teaching and/or research. These small awards are very competitive and are based on merit. Students must be enrolled full-time for consideration. Applicants should understand that stipends do not cover the entire cost of tuition, but the award is applied directly towards the student's tuition charges. All applicants are considered for merit awards and assistantships during the application review process; no separate application is required. Simmons College does not offer state or federal financial aid to non-U.S. citizens. Because Simmons College and SHS are unable to provide extensive funding to non-U.S. citizens, please carefully consider the ability to meet the financial obligations before submitting an application.

Please see the Supplemental Form for International Applicants for information about credential evaluation services and loan sources.

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 begins in mid January and ends in mid May. Additionally, there are summer sessions lasting from May to August. Most programs begin in the fall (September) semester.

Grading and Credit Hours

The School of Health Sciences at Simmons College awards letter grades for all completed courses: A=Excellent, B=Good, C=Fair, D=Poor, F=Fail, and P=Pass. Each letter grade is assigned a value: A=4.00, B=3.00, C=2.00, D=1.00, and F=0. Each course carries a certain number of credit hours, where usually, one credit is equal to one hour of classroom instruction. Graduate courses are usually worth three credits although some are worth four, two, or one. The total number of credit hours required to obtain a specific degree will determine the number of courses a student needs to complete the program.

Arrival at Simmons College

It is important that international students plan properly to arrive at the required time to commence their studies. Allow ample time for obtaining immigration documents, shipping personal items and adjustment due to time and climactic changes. Students will NOT be allowed to enroll in classes if they arrive after classes have officially started. It is imperative that students allow adequate time for moving, student orientation, and establishing contacts. Students who choose to live in campus housing are allowed to use those facilities during official school breaks in December/January and May through August.