FAQs for International Undergraduate Students
Below are answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) from international students who want to earn an undergraduate degree at the 91制片厂. Thomas.
The questions are grouped into four categories:
- Available Undergraduate Programs
- Undergraduate Admissions Process
- Tuition and Financial Aid
- After Enrollment: Life at St. Thomas
This information is specifically for students who are (or will be) applying for an F-1 non-immigrant student visa. If you are seeking a J-1 exchange visitor visa, please visit our J-1 visa page.
All students who are studying on a visa (F, J, L, M, H4, etc.) are considered international students.
If your question is not listed, please contact International Undergraduate Admissions.
Undergraduate Programs for International Students
Absolutely! We welcome applicants from all over the world. See the Application Information for International Undergraduate Students.
The 91制片厂. Thomas offers more than 150 undergraduate majors and minors across a wide range of academic areas, including business, engineering, health sciences, liberal arts, and more.
To explore the full list of programs, visit our Undergraduate Program Finder, where you can search by interest area, degree type, or academic department. This tool will help you find the program that best fits your goals and interests.
No. The 91制片厂. Thomas does not currently offer fully online undergraduate degree programs. To earn a bachelor's degree from St. Thomas, you must be able to study in person on our campus in Minnesota, United States.
If you are interested in studying at St. Thomas as an international student, you will need to apply for an F-1 student visa and plan to live in the U.S. during your studies.
Yes! Learn more about our international graduate admissions requirements.
How to Apply as an International Undergraduate Student
There are five steps to apply as an international undergraduate student:
- Complete an online application
- Send us your transcript(s)
- Provide proof of English proficiency
- Submit optional materials such as a personal statement or letter of recommendation
- Review scholarships and I-20 total cost
More information regarding these steps, read more about Undergraduate Application Information for International Students.
To attend St. Thomas as an international undergraduate student, you start by submitting your online application, which includes:
- The completed application
- Official academic transcript(s)
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
Get more details about the Application Process for International Undergraduate Students.
After you have been admitted to St. Thomas, then you will need to obtain a visa from the US government. That visa/immigration documentation process will require information such as:
- St. Thomas admission letter and I-20
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Appropriate identification and immigration documentation
Review How to Obtain Your F-1 Visa to see the current list of documents you will need for the visa process.
The 91制片厂. Thomas also requires all admitted students to provide Proof of Health Insurance and Immunization Documents.
There are no fees for an undergraduate application at St. Thomas.
Please to see the current status of your application.
We require transcripts from all high schools, colleges and universities that you've attended—both in the United States and abroad. If the transcript includes a grading scale, please make sure that's included as well.
Sometimes, there is a specific type of transcript or additional secondary credentials St. Thomas needs depending on the country or curriculum. To see what secondary credentials you will need to submit, see our Full List of Secondary Credentials by Country/Curriculum.
In general, international students will provide transcripts based on whether they are applying as a first-year or transfer student:
- For international first-year students, unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application phase. However, official transcripts are required upon arrival at St. Thomas.
- For international transfer students, official transcripts are required during the application process to allow for proper evaluation of your transfer credits.
Transcripts can be emailed to international@stthomas.edu and also uploaded in the undergraduate application portal as part of the application submission process.
St. Thomas policy requires international students to prove a minimum level of English proficiency for university-level studies.
Native English speakers from the following countries are exempted from this requirement: English-speaking Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Commonwealth Caribbean Countries.
Applicants from other countries must submit a qualifying test score (e.g., TOEFL).
Get more details about English Language Proficiency for international undergraduate students..
Your visa requirements will be based on your U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country, which you can find on the .
Read about Student Visa and Immigration Support from our Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
Contact the Office of International Students and Scholars on topics like immigration, the student visa process, housing, employment, and life as a St. Thomas undergraduate student.
You are required to have health insurance while you attend St. Thomas. You will either need to apply for or waive health insurance through St. Thomas. If you waive health insurance from St. Thomas, you must have comparable health insurance coverage.
Learn more about health insurance options for international students.
Our international admissions team is here to support you through every step of the application process. We have dedicated admissions counselors who specialize in working with international undergraduate students.
You can connect with our international undergraduate admissions counselors to ask questions, get help with your application, or learn more about studying at St. Thomas.
Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid for International Students
Information about the estimated cost of attendance. including tuition costs after merit-based scholarships, can be found on the Merit-Based Scholarships for International Students page.
While we do provide information on private loan options, St. Thomas' merit-based scholarships for international students are the way we reduce tuition costs. , a U.S. Department of State network of international student advising centers, has additional as well.
For any questions or concerns, please contact International Undergraduate Admissions.
The 91制片厂. Thomas offers merit-based scholarships for international students. These are automatically awarded at the time of admission and based on the application materials. We offer merit-based scholarships from 10-70% off tuition and the average scholarship award is 50-60%. Students do not have to apply separately for our merit-based scholarship.
Some additional scholarships are available to international undergraduate students, each with their own requirements. Our Scholarships page has a filterable list to show what is available to international undergraduate students.
Campus Life and Support for International Undergraduate Students
The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) provides comprehensive immigration and support services to international students and scholars while supporting them in pursuit of their educational, personal and professional goals.
Orientation for new international students is before classes begin, at the end of August. Check out the schedule of events for orientation.
There are many opportunities for students to get involved at St. Thomas. We have over 140 student clubs and organizations, countless club sports and intramurals, and more. Explore all the ways you can get involved with Student Life on campus.
St. Thomas has multiple events and programs specifically for international students. A few of those include:
- Friendship Family Program – This program matches international students with local Twin Cities families. Founded on the belief that we should learn from each other, the program provides cultural experiences for community members and helps international students experience true Minnesotan/U.S. culture in American families.
- Global Tommies Program – This helps both international and domestic students at St. Thomas to help build friendships that bridge cultures and to give them a chance to experience others' perspectives.
- International Student Ambassadors Program – Comprised of current student leaders, these students utilize their skills and knowledge to connect with prospective students, act as a resource for new students, and represent the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) on campus.
We change up events every year based on what students are interested in attending (e.g., boba and coffee events, spa day, ice castles, etc.). For more information, you can contact OISS.
St. Thomas requires all first- and second-year undergraduate students to live on campus.
Learn more about Residence Life at St. Thomas and our On-Campus Living Requirement.
Yes, there are job opportunities available for international students both on- and off- campus. International students with F-1 visas can only work on-campus their first year. Starting their second year, eligible international students can participate in the Curriculum Practical Training (CPT), working off-campus in the field of their major Learn more about employment opportunities and eligibilty requirements:
The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) has a packing list with recommendations on what to take with you while studying at St. Thomas. For more information about what to bring and not to bring, check out the U.S. Welcome Guide for international students.