Nursing: BSN to MSN

The School of Nursing welcomes applications from international students for the BSN-MS program.

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 a degree-granting academic program. If accepted, F-1 visa holders must be enrolled full time in the DE program for the duration of the 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. International students requiring an F-1 visa cannot enroll in non-degree courses nor can they be admitted provisionally pending completion of admission requirements.

The Direct Entry Program in Advanced Nursing Practice is designed to prepare individuals with a baccalaureate degree but without nursing backgrounds for the advanced practice nursing role, with a focus on family nurse practitioner (FNP). The program begins each year in September and incorporates an innovative curriculum with clinical experiences especially designed for this group of students.

Students are eligible to take the nursing licensure examination (NCLEX) after completion of the pre-licensure segment of the program. Full time enrollment is required for the pre-licensure portion of the program. Students must pass the exam for the designation of R.N. (registered nurse) before beginning the graduate primary care clinical sequence. Clinical rotations will provide students the experience they need before beginning primary care.

Upon completion of the pre-RN licensure portion of the program, students will take the NCLEX exam. Upon earning the RN, students are required to work at least 8 hours per week for the duration of the program to gain valuable experience to bring to their advanced nursing courses. F-1 visa students will be able to work providing they have obtained the RN and completed and submitted required documents to the Simmons International advisor and the Massachusetts Board of Nursing. F-1 students will work with the International Student Advisor to apply for work authorization as required for the program.

The curriculum of the second portion of the program (post-licensure) is the same FNP curriculum as for people with R.N.s. Although the second portion of the program may be completed on a part-time basis, F-1 and J-1 visa holders must be enrolled full time to maintain their status.

In year two and year three of the program, two semesters require 8 credits hours of coursework. Full-time status in the School of Nursing is defined as enrollment in 9 credit hours each semester. However, during these two semesters, students will complete a clinical rotation. Eight hours of clinical experience is worth one course credit hour. Thus, students will be considered full time during these semesters.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded the M.S. degree but not a B.S.N. degree. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam offered by the professional credentialing organization.

Application Deadlines

It is imperative that students who have or are studying abroad begin the application process at least six months prior to the deadline. If residing abroad and the applicant earned a degree abroad, he/she must have completed all prerequisites before applying to the program. 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 website). 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 for each year of university study, national exam results, and a copy of degrees or certificates, both in the native language and English translations. Photocopies or facsimiles of mark sheets and exam results for the final year alone are not acceptable. Additionally, the academic records may need to be evaluated by an agency specified by the School of Nursing. Degrees earned abroad must be from an institution of higher learning which is officially recognized by the home country's Ministry of Education.

The School of Nursing may require an evaluation of an applicant's academic credentials from abroad. These evaluation reports do not replace the need for signed/sealed academic records. These reports are interpretations of a student's academic history and U.S. colleges and universities may accept all or partial information in these assessments.

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 University. 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

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 two years prior to the application deadline. No other English proficiency exam is acceptable. The TOEFL requirement is based on native language not citizenship.

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 applicants who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree 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 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 their website.

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 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. This form is available by calling the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605.

This form must be completed and returned directly to the Office of Admission. In addition, 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 ($).

It is very important for the applicant to inquire about the regulations in the home country concerning transfer of funds. Applicants may submit these forms during the application process or after being admitted to the program. Please keep in mind that the documents cannot be older than six months. This information is required in order to process an I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa.

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 Nursing at Simmons University 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 University

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.