International Student Application Process

Here's a step-by-step guide for coming to Northland College from outside the United States. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the admissions department.

STEP ONE:

Apply for admission.

• Submit completed application form. Download a PDF here OR submit the Common Application
• Submit official proof of secondary school completion
• Submit official TOEFL score from ITS, SAT score from College Board directly, or an IELTS score*(http://www.ielts.org)
• Minimum TOEFL scores required:
  • Paper Based Scoring 525
  • Computer Based Scoring 193
  • Next Generation 69
• Minimum IELTS score required:
  • 6.0 minimum academic
• Submit official transcripts from any and all colleges attended.
  
  • Transcripts from Secondary or Post-secondary institutions that need to be translated should be sent to:
    Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
    P.O. Box 514070
    Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
    Email: eval@ece.org
    Website: http://www.ece.org
  • Then sent to Northland College Registrar's Office.

STEP TWO:

Submit Certification of Finances Form (PDF) and acceptable supporting financial documents to the Northland College Office of Admission.

Acceptable financial documents must show the following:

• Bank statement on bank letterhead, stamped and certified by bank in original stamp or seal with the equivalent in US Dollars
• Date on bank statement needs to be within three (3) months of application date

Note: International students (with the exception of Canadian students) will be required to pay their first semester of classes prior to the first day of class. Canadian students, please contact your Admission Counselor for more information.

Documents that are NOT accepted for admission:

• Photocopies or faxed documents are not accepted.
• Bank statements older than three months at the time of application. 
• Letters indicating enough funds are available without listing the actual amount available in the bank are not acceptable.

After we have received all of the above information, we will issue an admission decision.

STEP THREE:

Student visa (F-1 Visa) application process.

After you have been admitted, submitted financial documentation proving the ability to cover financial expenses, and paid $200 non-refundable enrollment deposit, we will send you an I-20 form.

• Submit $100 SEVIS I-901 fee prior to visa interview. Click here for information on how to submit the SEVIS I-901 fee (http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm). 
• Contact the United States embassy in your country to arrange a student visa interview. If you need information on your local embassy, click here (http://usembassy.state.gov/). 
• Take your I-20, your letter of admission, a copy of your financial aid application, and supporting financial documents, and receipt from I-901 with you to the embassy for your interview.
• The embassy will inform you of your visa eligibility and will make arrangements for the issuance of your visa.
• The visa application process can sometimes take several weeks. Please plan ahead.

STEP FOUR:

Plan for your arrival on campus.

• Notify the Northland Office of Admission when you receive your visa. We will inform you of arrival dates and help you with your travel plans. Do not purchase air tickets before contacting us.
• Make travel arrangements to arrive in Duluth, Minnesota. American Airlines serves Duluth through a connection in Chicago, Illinois, and Northwest Airlines serves Duluth through a connection in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Make arrangements for final bill payment and other personal financial arrangements. Contact the Office of Admission for details on wire transfer.
• Review these tips (http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa) on what to expect as a student in the U.S.
• As a service for new students, we will pick you up at the Duluth airport and bring you to campus.

Federal Regulations for International Students

Academic study in the United States by non-U.S. citizens is directly regulated by the federal government. These regulations can sometimes be confusing. For more information on federal regulations relating to foreign student visas, please go to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis).