International Students

International Students Criteria

Admission of international students is based on two factors: meeting the academic criteria for admissions and English language proficiency. Although the guarantee of sufficient financial resources to meet the cost of attendance is essential to maintaining one’s respective status; it does not solely determine admissions into Hunter College. For purposes of admission, an international student is defined as an applicant who currently holds a student (F-1) or Exchange visitor (J-1) visa or seeks to change such an immigration status upon enrollment. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires documentation of financial support before approving the issuance of a F-1 or J-1 Exchange Visitor status within the United States (if the admitted student is within the United States) and the State Department reviews financial status and substantial home ties of the applicant before issuing a visa, if the admitted student is overseas. Academic credentials from non-U.S. institutions are evaluated by the Office of Graduate Admissions in order to establish U.S. baccalaureate degree equivalency. Applicants need not submit third party equivalencies; however, they must submit official English translations of academic records written in languages other than English. The evaluation is conducted in accordance with minimum criteria set by the Hunter College Senate, and it takes place before the completed application is referred to the departmental admissions committee.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate a firm command of the English language by scoring a minimum of 550 (WBT) 213(CBT) 80 (IBT) or higher (for specific graduate programs) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 6.5 on the ILTS or 58 on the PTE. No conditional admission is offered whereby a student may come to the college and spend a semester or year learning English.

Applicants are responsible for the payment of all tuition and fees at the time of registration. Hunter College does not provide financial assistance to international students; they must be in a position to finance tuition, fees, room and board, insurance, books and incidental expenses. The estimated cost is $42,615 for graduate level students and is subject to change. Hunter College does not make housing arrangements for students; it is essential that students be prepared to make their own housing arrangements, preferably before pre-departure or upon arrival. 

International Students Office

Rooms 1109/1133 Hunter East Building
(212) 772-4864
E-mail: intlss@hunter.cuny.edu
Website: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/studentservices/is

The International Students Office (ISO) provides vital immigration-related information to international students, including F-1 and J-1 Exchange Visitor status or visa holders, including Fulbright students sponsored by the Institute of International Education; other students with questions about their statuses to assist them in learning advocacy and status maintenance skills. The ISO also advises faculty/staff on matters of F-1/J-1 employment eligibility, etc. The ISO refers all undergraduate international students to Academic Advising Services and graduate international students to their respective departments for educational planning for timely graduation from Hunter College.

The ISO is an important source of informa­tion regarding immigration matters, such as the requirements for compliance with the Student Exchange and Visitors Information System (SEVIS) and the US Department of State. The ISO offers opportunities for off campus cross cultural engagement. The ISO issues SEVIS I-20/DS2019 forms to all newly admitted inter­national students. It is also a strong liaison between the students and various offices within and off campus to help make the students’ transition to Hunter College easier. It also provides individualized advising and holds small group discussions throughout the academic year on top­ics of interest, such as employment options, immigration law, tax issues, and adaptation to both the United States (U.S.) educational systems and to the U.S.

For more information, visit the International Students Office’s on line tutorial: http://packages.kognito.com/cuny/hunter/Builds/001/