International Students

This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

In addition to the admissions procedures indicated all applicants, international students who seek to enter the United States to pursue a degree program at NBTS must:

Submit transcripts of undergraduate degree programs in English; *
Secure letters of recommendation written in English;
Prepare a statement of purpose written in English;
Demonstrate proficiency in English (see English Proficiency Policy, below);
Apply to the US Government for an F-1 nonimmigrant student entry visa;
Remain a full-time student for the entire course of the student’s degree program. **

*The Admissions Committee requires that all transcripts that originate from an institution outside the United States or Canada be sent to a professional transcript service for a course-by-course evaluation. For any other questions involving international student admission please contact the International Coordinator at FinancialAid@nbts.edu.

**There are some exceptions to this full-time status. Speak to the International Coordinator or the Academic Dean’s office for details.

English Proficiency

To ensure success in our degree programs, the Seminary requires that students for whom English is a second language must have their English skills evaluated prior to full matriculation in its degree programs. This evaluation will determine whether additional language studies are needed to achieve the proficiency levels described below. This policy does not apply to students who have graduated from a four-year college or university where the instruction was in English.

There are several paths to full matriculation into the Seminary’s degree programs:

1) Required Scores for Full-Time Admission into NBTS degree programs:

Required testing scores:
- TOFEL PBT of at least 550 [NBTS’ TOFEL code is 8937]
- TOFEL iBT of at least 80
- TOFEL CBT of at least 214
- IELTS of at least 6.0

2) Required Scores for a one semester allowance to take NBTS courses and ESL courses through the Rutgers PALS (ESL) program. Students will enroll in 6 credits of NBTS courses and 6 credits of PALS course work:

- TOFEL PBT of at least 500 [NBTS’ TOFEL code is 8937]
- TOFEL iBT of at least 61
- TOFEL CBT of at least 173
- IELTS of at least 5.5

The student must pass the PALS program with a grade of B+ or better by the beginning of the next semester or be dismissed from the seminary.

3) Students may be provisionally admitted to the Seminary based on their prior academic record. Before matriculating at the Seminary, students will enroll in the Rutgers PALS (ESL). In this case, the Rutgers PALS program will issue the I-20 visa. Students will continue in the PALS program until they have achieved proficiency at the highest level of PALS in all categories. Students enrolled in PALS can audit one course at the Seminary each semester, at no charge, to enhance their English listening and conversational skills.

Students who have completed, or are enrolled in, an accredited ESL program other than PALS, may submit detailed information concerning the program with their NBTS application. The Admissions Committee will evaluate the program, and where warranted, grant it the same standing as the Rutgers PALS program. Where not warranted, students will be required to be evaluated through PALS for English proficiency.

F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Visas

F-1 Non-Immigrant Student Visas

Once the Admissions Committee approves an application from an international student, the International Student Coordinator sends information on how to obtain Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Nonimmigrant Status. Prospective students use the form and supporting documentation to apply for an F-1 visa. The US Government makes all visa decisions according to its regulations:

F-1 applicants must document in advance that they (and/or their financial sponsors) have sufficient funds available to cover tuition, fees, textbooks, and living expenses for the entire course of study at the Seminary in order for an I-20 to be issued.This is documented through the International Student Financial Statement form obtained from the International Coordinator after admission into an NBTS program.

Once students enter the US in F-1 status, regulations require that they maintain full-time study at NBTS. The Seminary defines full-time as 12+ academic credits per semester.

More information regarding how to obtain an F-1 student visa to study in the United States can be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s website Study in the States.

For more information contact Rachel Sefcik, the Financial Aid & International Coordinator at FinancialAid@nbts.edu.