Admission Requirements

The Admission Application Process:

  1. Submit a completed International Student Application for Admission form and application fee. Options:
    • A. Complete the on-line International Student Application for Admission form, along with the $20.00 application fee, payable through your credit card, or
    • B. If you are unable to supply a credit card number for the application fee, you may access the application form in PDF format. Download and print a hard copy of the application, complete the information and mail to BSU, along with the fee and required documents. (Address is on the form).
    • C. Write, call, or e-mail the International Program Center to request an application to be mailed to you.
  2. We require original transcripts or officially certified copies of original transcripts from all institutions previously attended, including all secondary/high schools, colleges, universities, or technical polytechnic schools you have attended or are currently attending. If the language of the records is not English, a certified translation must be included with the official transcript. The following documents are not necessary and you Do Not have to send them with your application: folders, plastic sleeves, copies of awards or extracurricular accomplishments, SAT, compact discs, etc.
  3. An official copy of your TOEFL scores if English is not your native language. This must be sent directly to Bemidji State from ETS. Minimum score of 500 (173 on Computer-Based Test, 61 on the Internet-Based Test) is required for undergraduates and 550 (213 on Computer Based Test, 80 on the Internet-Based Test) for graduate students. You may find a worldwide test availability list that indicates, by city, dates when seats are available for both the TOEFLŪ iBT and paper-based test at http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/tclists/BOTH_a.html. TOEFL test code for Bemidji State University: 6676. We also accept IELTS test scores. Minimum score of 5.50 is required for undergraduate students and 6.50 for graduate students. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. www.ielts.org
  4. A completed BSU Financial Statement verifying evidence of adequate funding to meet all of the expenses that will be sustained during the student’s proposed program of study. This form must include the required signatures, supporting bank statements, affirmation of support or official letters.
  5. Include letters of recommendations: Undergraduates - one from the principal or headmaster of the last school attended; Graduates - two from major professors at the institution you last attended or are currently attending except for Environmental Studies; they do not require letters. The Counseling Psychology Department requires three letters.
  6. Include a 300-500 word essay describing your academic background, type of program you are seeking and educational objectives at Bemidji State University. Graduate Students still have to write the above essay along with special letters. Counseling Psychology Department: A personal statement to the Psychology Department about what you will bring to the program along with what you hope to achieve from the graduate degree and a copy of your vita. Biology Department: A one-page letter of intent stating research interests and future career goals.

Academic Admission Criteria:
Undergraduate: must have graduated from a secondary/high school with a “C” average or better. Transfer students must have a “C” average or better from any post-secondary schools attended.
Graduate: the minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average for admission to graduate school is a 2.75 on a 4-point scale (A=4.0). All Graduate students are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The Counseling Psychology department requires a 3.0 GPA or at least 3.25 for the last 30 semester credits of graded course work and an undergraduate counseling skills course. If admitted, this course may be taken as a graduate level course during your first semester. Additional undergraduate coursework may be required by Psychology Department faculty.

Visa and Travel:
The I-20 is issued after the conditions of admission and financial stability have been met. The Form I-20 must be presented together with evidence of payment of the SEVIS fee, your passport and original records of financial support to the nearest American Consulate. It may be to your advantage to request a multiple entry visa which will allow more flexibility should you desire to visit other countries during your stay in the U.S. Students who will be transferring from another U.S. institution should consult with their present international student advisor as to the required transfer procedures.

Enrollment Requirements:
Once admitted, you will be sent an admitted student packet along with your I-20.
Upon delivery of this packet, you will need to:

  1. Pay SEVIS fee according to the instructions provided
  2. Apply for your student visa
  3. Return the arrival notification form
  4. Return residence hall and dining service contract form
  5. Return the immunization record form

Upon arrival you are required to:

  1. Attend the international student orientation program
  2. Purchase the mandatory health insurance
  3. Have a Mantoux Skin test (a test for tuberculosis)-which is administered by our student health service.
  4. Participate in the English language assessment

Application materials should be mailed to:
International Program Center
Deputy Hall 103, #13
1500 Birchmont Drive NE
Bemidji, MN 56601

Graduate Studies:http://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/graduate_studies/index.html


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We reserve the right to periodically update information without notice.
The information on this site should not be regarded as contractual in nature.
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