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International Students

A Global Campus

Boasting a campus community where 24% of the student population is international, the University of Chicago embraces diversity of thought, opinion, and perspective in its pursuit of rigorous intellectual inquiry and discourse. Join fellow academically curious and talented students from across the globe. Choose from a wide variety of courses for high school and undergraduate students that blend interdisciplinary discourse, fearless inquiry, and a splash of fun!

UChicago students wait for an El train

 

People in my class came from at least four different countries. Thus, while I learned about science, I also learned about different cultures. Diversity also extended beyond ethnicity. We had different personalities, religions, ages, and background experiences, and the variety created a positive, nonjudgmental learning environment.
Isabella T., Contagion: Infections Agents & Diseases -

International Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can international students apply to the UChicago Summer Session?

Yes, international high school and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply to the UChicago Summer Session. Summer 2024 will offer both remote and residential courses. Students who apply for a residential course (e.g. Immersion, RIBS, or Stones & Bones) must apply by the March 5 deadline in order to be eligible for a student visa. Please view our guidelines on visas.

Visiting undergraduate international students who live outside of the US are only eligible for remote courses. UChicago Summer Session is unable to offer student visas to undergraduate students. Visiting undergraduates who already have a student visa are eligible for in-person or residential course offerings. Financial aid is not available for visiting undergraduate students.

Do you require English proficiency scores for international students?

Proficiency in English must be demonstrated in order to qualify for admission.
Multi-week applicants:
All multi-week courses are college-level courses taught in English. There is no ESL support, and from the first day of class, students are expected to dive into discussion and participate fully in small group work with peers from all around the world. Due to the demands of the courses we offer, fluency in academic English is required and must be demonstrated. 

Applicants who attend high school outside the U.S. must submit results from the Duolingo English Test (DET), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We strongly recommend a score of 104 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL, with subscores of 26 each. Minimum required scores on the IELTS (students must take the Academic test, not the General Training test) are an overall score of 7, with subscores of 7 each. The minimum acceptable score on the DET is 125.

Exemptions to the proficiency test requirement: 

1) Applicants who are natives of the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries where English is one of the official languages and the primary language of instruction in their schools has been English do not need to submit English proficiency test results; OR

2) The only other exemption to the English language proficiency requirement is for applicants who have studied full-time, for at least two full academic years, within the last five years at a high school or college in a country where English is one of the official languages. Students must submit transcripts that demonstrate that they meet the conditions for a waiver of the English language proficiency requirement. Students who have studied in English in other countries are not exempt from the English language proficiency requirement.

If students meet the above conditions for eligibility, they should submit a written request for a waiver of the requirement to summersession@uchicago.edu. They will receive a confirmation of their waiver eligibility and application instructions via email.

Enrichment applicants:
Applicants are invited to submit scores from any English proficiency examination they believe represents their English language ability. Applicants who choose to submit English proficiency scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Any applicant who provides self-reported scores may be required to submit official score reports if they are admitted and choose to enroll in the program. If an applicant feels as though mastery of the English language is already represented throughout the application, then they are not required to submit formal exam scores for this particular program. For the application, if you do not have any test scores to report, then please enter 555 for the section that requests Duolingo test scores and today’s date under "Test Scores" in order to submit the application.

Do you accept international transcripts as part of the application process?

Yes. If a student’s transcripts are not in English, they will need to provide an officially prepared English translation and submit that in addition to the original documentation. For Pre-College students, we require complete transcripts providing grades from Grade 9 up to the the student’s most recently completed academic quarter or semester. If a student is currently in 9th grade, a transcript with grades from 8th grade should also be included.

Do I need to convert my grade point average (GPA) to a 4.0 scale?

No, grades and grade point average should be kept in their original grading scale and format. 

Are there scholarships available for international students?

Aid varies based on need and program cost. Please see the Costs page for more information on financial aid and scholarships. 

Can I substitute SAT, AP or A-Level results for the English proficiency exam requirement?

No, students who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver must submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET to be considered for admission.

Residential Programs

How do I know if I need to request an I-20/DS-2019 (Student visa eligibility document)?

International students admitted to the Immersion, Research in the Biological Sciences, and Stones and Bones programs will need to request an I-20/DS-2019 to attend Summer Session in-person. Please see more information at the Office of International Affairs website.

International students who are selected for Enrichment Programs and Pre-College Connect do not need an I-20. Only a tourist visa is needed for these programs. More information will be provided to students who are selected for these programs.

Will I be required to get a student visa?

Yes, international students studying in-person at the University of Chicago will need an F-1 student visa. Students should view our guidelines on visas.

Do I still need to apply for a student visa if: I have a tourist visa and have entered the U.S. without a student visa before; I have an ESTA; or my country has an agreement/visa exchange policy with the U.S.?

Yes. Entering the United States to take credit classes under a tourist visa is a violation of visa status. If a student is found to be in violation of visa status it will make getting a visa in the future VERY difficult. For credit study is NOT allowed under the Visa Waiver Program or ESTA.

As a Canadian citizen, do I need to apply for a student visa?

Canadian citizens coming to the United States to study full-time should obtain an I-20 Certificate, but are not required to get a visa stamp in their passport.