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International Undergraduate Student
Important Deadlines
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Applications must be submitted by the following deadlines:
- May 15 for Fall Semester
- October 15 for Spring Semester
- March 1 for Summer Term
Applications received after these dates may be considered for the following term.
Notification of Admission
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Applicants are reviewed for admission when all required final and official credentials have been received at the Office of Admissions. Successful candidates will promptly be issued a letter of acceptance and an I-20 form necessary for obtaining an F-1 student visa. A packet of information regarding orientation, the registration process, and other important information will follow directly in a separate mailing.
Freshmen & Transfer Students & Special Circumstances
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Freshmen
& Transfer Students
1.
Application Fee. A US$30 nonrefundable fee is required of all
applicants before the application can be processed. Checks must be made
payable to Montana State University. This fee cannot be waived, deferred
or refunded.
2. Application for Admission. Applicants must submit the International Undergraduate Application for
Admission (enclosed).
3. Evidence of Financial
Support. The International Student Financial Certificate is
found on the lower back page of the Application form. It guarantees the
required minimum funds per academic year, is mandatory for each student,
and must be signed by the student's sponsor. A bank statement is also
required.
4. English
Language Proficiency. A score of 525 (195 CBT, 71 iBT ) on the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS score 6 or completion of Level 6 at the
American Cultural Exchange Language Institute at MSU is required to
qualify for admission. Only official score/grade reports sent directly
from the language testing center will be accepted. Certificates of
completion with official grade reports and the instructor's recommendation
from alternative English as a Second Language programs may be considered.
Those students who are citizens of countries where English is the native
tongue need not submit proof of English language proficiency, unless
English is not the student's native language.
5. Academic Records. In order for the
MSU Office of Admissions to evaluate academic qualifications and placement
level:
FRESHMEN must submit official secondary transcripts
posting date of completion. Official transcripts (bearing the school seal
and signature) should be sent directly from the school to the University
and must include an English translation. Certified true copies of original
transcripts are acceptable. Any GCE A-level examination results must also
be submitted and will be considered for transfer credit.
TRANSFER STUDENTS must request official transcripts from
each international or U.S. post-secondary institution attended, directly
from the institution(s) to Montana State University.
Special Circumstances
If you are a non-degree
seeking student, a freshman foreign student graduating from a U.S. high
school, or permanent resident, please view the Application
Instructions for Special Circumstances.
Physical Examination & Medical Insurance
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Physical
Examination
All students entering
Montana State University are required to have a record of a recent
physical examination showing a physician-validated immunization record for
two measles, two mumps, two rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and skin testing
for tuberculosis.
The Physical Exam
and Health History Form must be on file at the MSU Student Health
Center before the student will be permitted to register for classes.
The physical examination is to be performed by a personal physician in the
student's home country (An English translation must be provided.) or in
the U.S. Examinations in the U.S. cost approximately $75. A
Health History Form will be sent to you upon receipt of your application.
 The
HEALTH HISTORY FORM is
available to download and print in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Medical
Insurance
All MSU students are
required to carry medical insurance and will be charged for the MSU
student group policy upon registration. (Students may receive a refund if,
prior to registration, they show proof of equal coverage from another
current policy.) The cost for insurance on the MSU student group policy is
approximately $1,404.00 per calendar year. Insurance for spouses and dependents
will cost at least $3,000.00 per year extra and can be purchased at MSU upon
registration. Coverage for Spring semester automatically continues through
the Summer session for insured students and dependents.
I-20 Form or DS-2019 Form & Visa Application
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I-20
Form or DS-2019 Form
Upon final acceptance for
admission to Montana State University, an I-20 form will be sent to the
applicant. The I-20 is necessary for obtaining an F-1 student visa or for
legal transfer from another institution in the U.S.. Exchange Visitor
Program participants need an DS-2019 form to obtain a J-1 visa. If, for any
reason, a student cannot attend during the term planned, the I-20 must be
returned with notification of a future enrollment date or notification
that the student will not be coming to MSU. For students who will enroll
in a later term, a new I-20 will be sent by MSU to the student upon final
acceptance to the new term.
Students must attend the school named on the certificate of eligibility
presented at the United States port of entry. Page three of the I-20
should be retained by the student for later endorsement by the MSU
Registrar and for future reentries into the U.S. For J-1 visa students the
pink sheet of form DS-2019 must be endorsed for reentry into the U.S.
Students who will leave the U.S. and return to MSU need to have the
endorsement of the MSU Registrar in order to show that they are students
in good standing and, therefore, permitted to continue their studies at
the University.
Students present their passport, Form I-20 ID or DS-2019
and entry permit (I-94 card) at the Office of International
Education upon arrival at Montana State University. Copies of documents
must be kept on file according to immigration regulations.
Visa Application
International students must
appear before a United States consulate in order to secure an F-1 student
visa. The following items must be presented: Form I-20 (certificate of
eligibility issued by Montana State University), a valid passport,
proof of sufficient financial support and proof of payment of SEVIS fee. Form I-20 is also used to obtain
F-2 visas for dependents and proof of marriage is necessary in order to
obtain a visa for the dependent spouse. Students are encouraged to apply
for a visa as early as possible.
Exchange Visitor Program participants entering the United States on the
J-1 visa should follow the above procedures, but must submit the Form DS-2019, issued by the sponsor, instead of the Form I-20.
Students with F-1 status who are transferring from an educational
institution in the United States should consult with the international
student adviser at their present school for instructions on the
Immigration Service's transfer process. This should be done as early as
possible to avoid any difficulties.
Here are 10
Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa
English Proficiency & Admission with Conditions
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English
Language Proficiency
In order to succeed academically at the university level, students must have
a good mastery of English language skills. Proficiency in English for study
at the undergraduate level may be demonstrated by a 525/195 CBT or 71 iBT or better
score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), with an IELTS
score of 6, or completion of Level 6 at the Language Institute on the MSU
campus. Alternative courses undertaken at recognized ESL programs may be
considered. TOEFL scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing
Services (ETS) to the MSU Office of Admissions. Official score reports can
be ordered by writing to: TOEFL Score Reports, P.O. Box 6153, Princeton, NJ
08541-6153 USA or via the website at http://www.toefl.org.
Arrangements to take the TOEFL can be made by writing to: Educational
Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA (http://www.toefl.org). Allow
sufficient time for test registration procedures (about one month) and score
results (one additional month). Entering the Montana State University school
code (4488) on the test form will ensure that an official score report is
sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
To take the IELTS, a program jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL
Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP Education Australia:
IELTS Australia, please go to: http://www.ielts.org. Students taking the
IELTS will need to take the following address along with them on their test
date in order to write it on the test form and have the score results sent
directly to the Office of Admissions: MSU International Admissions, 400
Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA. Please allow approximately two weeks
from the test date for the score to arrive at MSU.
Admission
with Conditions
Students who do not have the
required TOEFL score for full admission to MSU, but are academically
qualified, may be considered for "admission with conditions."
Any student who wishes to be admitted with conditions should submit a
letter with the application that explains: 1) his/her level of English
proficiency, 2) the reason that a TOEFL score is not available or that the
score is lower than 525, and 3) indicates a willingness to take an English
Placement Test (EPT) at the on-campus Language Institute upon arrival at
MSU and to take any required ESL classes, if any part of the EPT is not
passed.
Students must understand that, depending on the results of the EPT, a
student may be 1) granted full admission, 2) required to take part-time
ESL courses while beginning one or more academic courses, or 3) required
to take full-time ESL courses until the required level of English
proficiency is reached or the student scores 525/195 CBT on the TOEFL.
Financial Capability & Fees
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Financial
Capability
All students with
non-immigrant visas must provide certification of financial support for
the time period that they will be enrolled at Montana State University.
Admission cannot be considered until the International Student Financial
Certificate on the Application form is signed by the student's sponsor
along with a bank statement. The Financial Certificate guarantees that the
required minimum funds, in U.S. dollars, will be available to the student
during the academic year. Applicants must also plan to meet expenses for
subsequent years of study.
Financial assistance to international undergraduate students is not
generally available. Students are eligible to compete for small
departmental scholarships based on need and academic performance. Entering
freshmen may apply for the extremely competitive MSU Presidential
Scholarship (20 awarded annually to superior students, mandatory personal
interview). The deadline for this academic scholarship is in early January
for the following fall semester. Contact: University Honors Program, 108
Quad D, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA, for an application and details.
Successful applicants will need approximately $12,000 at the beginning of
each semester for registration and payment of fees, room and board
payments, insurance, and book purchases. Married students who plan to
bring their spouse and children should plan on additional yearly expenses
of $8,000 for a spouse and $5,000 per child.
Holders of the F-1 student visa may work at jobs on campus providing their
employment does not displace a U.S. citizen. This work generally pays
minimum wage and is limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in
session (40 hours during vacation periods). Employment of this type is not
guaranteed. F-2 visa holders (spouses) may not
work under any circumstances. Off-campus employment is limited to
practical training in a position that relates closely to the student's
program of study. Practical training cannot start until after the first
nine months of an academic program and many regulations apply. For
clarification of employment regulations, contact the Foreign Student
Adviser upon arrival.
New Int'l Undergraduate Student Scholarships
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All international
undergraduate applicants will automatically
be considered for new student scholarships valued between US$500 and
US$4,000. Documents required in the international undergraduate
application will determine eligibility, and no separate scholarship
application is required.
These scholarships are available only to new students during their first
year of study at MSU and are non-renewable. Selection is based on previous
academic achievement, test scores, potential for success at MSU, and
overall fit with the institution and its academic programs. Scholarships
will be available until all are awarded; therefore, students are
encouraged to submit their MSU application early.
Contact Information
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MSU on the Web at: http://www.montana.edu/
American Cultural Exchange
Language Institute
1106 S. 6th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715 USA
(406) 585-9832, fax: (406) 585-9838, e-mail: ielimsu@aol.com
Family Housing (On-campus
houses and apartments)
1502 Garfield, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA,
(406) 994-3730, e-mail: fgho@montana.edu
Graduate Admissions
108 Montana Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4145, e-mail: gradstudy@montana.edu
International Programs
(Foreign Student Adviser)
400 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-4031, fax: (406) 994-1619,
e-mail: international@montana.edu
New Student Services
(International Representative)
120 Hamilton Hall, P.O. Box 172190, Bozeman, MT 59717-2190
(406) 994-2452, US toll-free 888-MSU-CATS
fax: (406) 994-1923
e-mail: sreisch@montana.edu
Residence Life and Food
Services (Residence halls)
31 Hedges Complex, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-2661, fax: (406) 994-1918
e-mail: housing@montana.edu
(Faxed housing contracts are not accepted.)
College of Agriculture
202 Linfield Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-3681, e-mail: agweb@montana.edu
College of Arts and Architecture
217 Cheever Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4405, e-mail: caa@montana.edu
College of Business
412 Reid Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4681, e-mail: business@montana.edu
Office of Student Services - College of Business
338 Reid Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4681
College of Education, Health
and Human Development
250 Reid Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4731, e-mail: lbaker@montana.edu
College of Engineering
212 Roberts Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-2272,
see website for individual department e-mail addresses
College of Letters and
Science
2-205 Wilson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-4288, e-mail: arnold@montana.edu
College of Nursing
101 Sherrick Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
(406) 994-3783, e-mail: phanson@montana.edu
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