International Applicants

The following information is required of all international applicants:

  • A complete international student application.
  • An official general evaluation to U.S. standards of secondary/high school record completed through an acceptable credential evaluating agency, such as Spantran - MWCC Pathway (offers discounted services), Center for Educational Documentation (CED) or World Education Services (WES). Additional agencies may be found at www.naces.org. Evaluation must show equivalent to a regionally accredited U.S. high school diploma.
  • For applicants who intend to transfer prior completed college-level course work completed at a foreign institution: official course-by-course evaluations to U.S. standards of all college/university coursework, indicating grades earned with the official explanation of grading system along with translated description of the course. The evaluation must be completed through an acceptable credential evaluating agency, such as Spantran - MWCC Pathway (offers discounted services), Center for Educational Documentation (CED) or World Education Services (WES)  Additional agencies may be found at www.naces.org.
  • Completed Affidavit of Support and Financial Statement with accompanying evidence. Forms are available at the MWCC Admissions Office or on the college's website. All parties providing funding for the applicant must complete a copy of the affidavit and provide bank statements dated within six (6) months of the application submission. Affidavits must be signed by the party providing funding as well as an official from the holding bank. Employment options for international students are minimal and are not intended to replace initial source of funding. Unauthorized employment will result in the immediate termination of student status.
  • Transfer applicants currently enrolled at another U.S. college or university must submit a completed “I-20 Transfer Request Form” signed by your current college/university and by your current international student officer (DSO) and have an official transcript of all completed coursework sent to MWCC Records Office for review.
  • Copy of passport, any visa currently held and any I-20 if currently studying at another institution.
  • Proof of minimum English proficiency. Students originating from a country where English is not a primary language must show proof of minimum English proficiency. Acceptable proof includes passing scores on a TOEFL or IELTS test. Students who are already in the United States may take a placement exam with MWCC to determine eligibility to enter. More details can be found below in the Proof of Minimum English Proficiency section.

Student Visas

The issuance of certificates for student visas [INS Form I-20 A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students] will not be given until all of the above items have been received and the applicant has been accepted to the college.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please complete all items required in a typed format or legible handwriting; make sure the name on your application matches the names on your transcripts and all immigration documents; and provide all required documentation before the deadline.

Overseas applicants may apply for their F1 visa at their local U.S. embassy when they receive their acceptance letter and form I-20. MWCC cannot assist with the visa application process beyond providing the application with the necessary documentation. The issuance of the visa is at the discretion of the embassy staff. Students denied their visa may attempt to apply again at a future date. International students may not enter the United States earlier than 30 days prior to the start of their classes.

Transfer applicants must provide their MWCC acceptance letter to their DSO at their current school so that their I-20 can be released to MWCC and updated for new enrollment. Transfer students may only study primarily at the institution listed on their I-20. Once the I-20 is transferred, they may register for classes with the MWCC international student advisor. 

Application Deadlines for International Applicants

May 15 for the fall (September) semester or November 1 for the spring (January) semester. Late applicants may be considered at the discretion of the Vice President for Enrollment Management. Students interested in entrance after established deadlines should contact the Admissions Office at 978-630-9447 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu

Proof of Minimum English Proficiency

All international applicants from countries where the primary language is not English are required to submit proof of proficiency in the English language. Acceptable proof includes:

  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based exam, or a minimum score of 173 on the computer-based exam, or a minimum score of 61 on the internet-based exam completed within two years of the application deadline. For more information on TOEFL testing, contact the TOEFL Educational Testing Service. OR
  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with a minimum score of 5.0 completed within two years of the application deadline. For more information on IELTS testing, contact the International English Language Testing System. OR
  • Completion of a college-level English Composition course at a United States college or university with a grade of "C" or better. OR
  • Satisfactory Accuplacer scores.

Affidavit of Support and Financial Statement

Applicants must prove they have sufficient funds to study for one year with a reasonable expectation that the funding will continue for the full course of study. The information requested on the Affidavit of Support and Financial Statement is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and by U.S. consulates to ensure the financial stability of persons admitted to the U.S. as students. You should not plan on supplementing your financial support with employment because there are very strict limitations on the employment of international students in the U.S. The financial statement must be accompanied by supporting evidence, such as original copies of notarized bank statements in the applicant’s name; a scholarship award letter from a foundation, agency, or government; a notarized letter from an individual sponsor indicating the intention to provide support for the specified amount, which must be accompanied by a bank statement showing the ability to do so. We recommend that you retain duplicate copies of the financial statement and supporting evidence to facilitate your dealings with the U.S. consulate and/or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service).

Employment opportunities for international students are minimal and not intended to replace funding from personal savings or 3rd parties. If you experience any disruption in finances while studying at MWCC, immediately inform your DSO to discuss options. Loss of funding is not a valid reason to request reinstatement for a termination for failure to enroll in classes. Unauthorized employment will result in an immediate termination of student status.

SEVIS Fee

The SEVIS fee is required of all foreign nationals who come to the United States for the purpose of pursuing a full course of study in institutions such as colleges, universities, and language training programs. The fee is payable one time for each single educational program in which an F-1 or F-3 student participates, extending from the time the student is granted F-1 or F-3 status to the time the student falls out of status, changes status, or departs the U.S. for an extended period of time. For more information, please visit the SEVIS I-901 Fee Processing Website.