International Student Admissions

Friends University welcomes international students to our institution.  The experiences and cultures they bring continue to enhance all students’ learning throughout their journey at Friends University. We’re here to help you every step of the way to obtain all the necessary paperwork to work with the government entities required and necessary to complete the admissions requirements.

Before Applying for an F-1 Student Visa

A prospective F-1 visa student from outside the United States is required to pay a one-time fee to the United States Department of Homeland Security. This fee must be paid BEFORE applying for an F-1 visa at a United States embassy/consulate and/or before entering the United States. For more detailed information, please visit the International Student and Exchange Visitor Program site.

Obtaining an F-1 Student Visa

Once you have received your Form I-20 from Friends University, you will want to schedule an appointment at your local United States embassy/consulate office to obtain an F-1 Student Visa. Visa procedures vary from one embassy/consulate to another, so please contact your respective embassy/consulate office to determine what documentation you will need to bring with you to support your application.

If you encounter any problems obtaining your visa, please notify your undergraduate admissions representative or your graduate admissions representative, as well as your DSO/international advisor.

Transferring from Another SEVIS University

Students transferring from another SEVIS university within the United States must complete the Friends University admissions requirements for international students.  In addition, they need to secure a Transfer Request Form, which is completed by the previous university’s international student advisor. This form verifies that the student has the immigration status necessary to transfer. The transfer process is complete once the student enrolls in class and Friends University registers this enrollment in SEVIS. The student must also sign their new transfer I-20 no later than 15 days after the start of the program.

International Undergraduate Admission Requirements

An international student applications may be be completed online. The applicant should airmail or express mail ALL admissions requirements to the Friends University Admissions Office:

Friends University
Admissions Processing
2100 W. University
Wichita, KS  67213

1. Application for Admission and non-refundable application fee. Timeline for international students: 60/30/15 days 
   • 60 days - Application received prior to program start date.
   • 30 days – All admissions supporting documents to admit applicant to Friends University prior to program start date.
   • 15 days – Applicant arrives and sets a meeting with the International Student Advisor, Designated SEVIS Officer (DSO) prior to program start date. Admission deposit is due.
   • International students with an F1 visa who are already in the United States attending another institution may have a shorten timeline for application and documentation, however they do need to report to the International Student Advisor (DSO) at least 15 days prior to the program start date.
2. Financial Documents
   • Completed and signed Financial Pledge form.
   • Proof of sufficient financial support to cover the first year of school. Estimated cost of $23,000 includes: tuition, books, fees, housing, health insurance and personal expenses.
   • Deposit of $5,000 to be applied towards one year medical insurance, tuition and other deposits/fees.
   • The remaining balance of one semester tuition is due prior to enrollment and must be cleared through Student Account Services before enrolling in classes.
3. English Proficiency (note: reflects current catalog item merged into this header)
   • Official TOEFL score if student is applying from a non-English educational experience or ACT/SAT score for English-speaking educational experiences.
   • Native speakers of English from a country in which English is a national language will not be required to submit a TOEFL score.
   • Non-native speakers of English who have graduated from high school where the language of instruction is English will not be required to submit a TOEFL score. The Director of Admissions has the right to waive the TOEFL requirement for students presenting a grade of B or better in an introductory composition class from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
   • The following is a list of TOEFL (Internet based) score requirements. Please remember that an acceptable ACT/SAT score can be used to be fully admitted instead of a TOEFL score.
     • All other international students will need a internet based TOEFL score of 63 to be fully admitted.
     • An international student with a internet based TOEFL score between 52 and 62 will be provisionally admitted.
     • An international student with a internet based TOEFL score between 40 and 51 will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee and the International Student Advisor for consideration for Admission. Additional documentation of English proficiency may be requested.
     • An international student with a internet based TOEFL score below 39 will not be admitted to the University.
4. Education Documents
   • If secondary or post-secondary experience is non-United States, applicant must provide an official transcript to a NACES accredited service (www.naces.org) for evaluation. Secondary schools need U.S. equivalency, graduation date and GPA. Post-Secondary schools need U.S. equivalency, course-by-course evaluation, number of earned hours and CGPA. The official evaluation from a NACES accredited service must be sent directly to Friends University.
   • If secondary or post-secondary experience is in the United States, an official transcript from the institution must be sent directly to Friends University.
   • All international students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4 point scale to be admitted.
5. Government Documents (SEVIS)
   • SEVIS I-901 fee must be paid BEFORE applying for an F-1 visa at a United States embassy/consulate and/or before entering the United States. For more detailed information, please visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program at www.ice.gov/sevis.
   • After receipt of the letter of admission from Friends University, international students transferring from another United States school must complete and sign a Transfer Request Form. This form verifies that the student has the immigration status necessary to transfer.
   • Initial F1 Visa international students and transfer students must report to the International Student Advisor (DSO) within 15 days of the program start date.
6. Health Documents
   • Acquire Friends University sponsored health insurance.
   • Comply with the Friends University Health and Wellness office prevention and immunization requirements before living in on-campus housing or attending class.

International students wishing to take coursework at another institution, while studying at Friends University, may do so on a guest basis. To be a guest student, an international student must maintain full-time enrollment with Friends University and must maintain a full course of study. Authorization to be a guest student must be granted by the International Student Advisor (DSO).

International Graduate Admission Requirements

An international student application may be attained through the Friends University Graduate Admissions Office, completed online or downloaded. The applicant should airmail or express mail ALL admissions requirements to the Friends University Graduate Admissions Office:

Friends University
Graduate Admissions Office
2100 W. University
Wichita, KS  67213

1. Completed and signed application for graduate admissions.
2. U.S. $50 non-refundable application fee
   
   • Students who are already enrolled at Friends University at the undergraduate level and are moving to the graduate school will be assessed the regular $45 application fee.
3. A minimum score of 83 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the satisfactory completion of one year of study at another U.S. college or university.  This requirement can be waived by the program director for students from English-speaking countries.
4. A personal interview with a designated representative of Friends University.