International Students

Central Location and Endless Opportunities
New York City provides the perfect environment for students to grow in academic excellence and ethical awareness, two hallmarks of a Jesuit education at Fordham. Moreover, New York City is a perfect fit for international students. The City is the crossroads of American business, culture, and entertainment yet is influenced by communities of people from around the world; you will feel at home, no matter how far you have traveled to get here. You are welcome here!

Test-Optional Admission
Fordham University does not require SAT or ACT results from any first-year and transfer applicants applying from outside the United States and its territories, without regard to citizenship or secondary school curriculum. Those students wishing to share their standardized test results to be considered in our holistic review may self-report* their scores via the Common Application.

*Only admitted students who elected to send in standardized test results and choose to enroll at Fordham will be required to have their official scores sent by the testing agency.

Need-Based Aid
In addition to automatic consideration for merit scholarships, new first-year applicants who will study at Fordham on a non-immigrant visa may be eligible for partial need-based financial aid. To be considered in this need-aware application review process, students must demonstrate an ability to fund at least $35,000 USD per year. More information is provided below and on our FAQ page.

Talk to Undergraduate Admission
Take advantage of one of our many on-campus visitation opportunities and virtual information session offerings, or explore our Bronx and Manhattan undergraduate campuses on a virtual tour.

You may also reach out to your admission counselor, or chat with our ambassadors to learn about our current students’ experiences.

Watch a Webinar
To learn more about Fordham, watch a recorded international student regional webinar for students from:

You can also check out the recorded information sessions below.

Global Transition
Global Transition is a program to welcome undergraduate international students to Fordham and help with adjustment to the first days and weeks here. During Global Transition, new students will have the opportunity to meet and get to know other international students from all over the world, attend important and helpful information sessions, and engage in some fun events. Through Global Transition, you will also be able to ask fellow students the questions you may have about life at Fordham.

From Fordham News: First-Year International Students Arrive at Fordham

  • First-Year Applicants

    For Fall Term (August) Enrollment
    Early Action, Early Decision I: November 1
    Early Decision II, Regular Decision: January 3

    Non-immigrant visa applicants seeking financial aid must submit the CSS Profile by the following deadlines:
    Early Action and Early Decision I: November 1
    Early Decision II: January 3
    Regular Decision: January 15

    In order to complete the process of seeking financial aid, please email your CB FinAid ID to [email protected] by the posted deadlines. Fall term first-year international need-based financial aid applications without a CSS Profile on file by the above deadlines will be reviewed without consideration for financial aid.

    For Spring Term (January) Enrollment
    December 1

    International students who need to apply for a visa to attend Fordham should note that we cannot guarantee sufficient time for the visa process for applications completed after November 15.

    Applicants for spring term enrollment cannot apply for or receive need-based financial aid.

    Transfer Applicants

    Please review the deadlines, details, and instructions for international transfer students.

    • Common Application, including the essay and optional short answer response in the writing section, and the $75 application fee. 
    • Letter of Recommendation
      • Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to Fordham via the Common Application or [email protected] by the recommender. We do not accept letters of recommendation sent by the student.
    • Transcripts
      • Transcripts must be submitted directly to Fordham via the Common Application or [email protected] by the school or counselor. We do not accept transcripts sent by the student.
    • English Language Proficiency Test Results
      • International students whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency through English Language Proficiency test results. 
      • International students who are not submitting required TOEFL, IELTS, DET or PTE results must complete the English Language Proficiency Test Waiver Request Form linked within the online applicant portal after an application has been officially submitted.
      • Applicants who live in the New York City area can alternatively take Fordham’s ESL placement evaluation (FELT) at the Institute of American Language and Culture. Email [email protected] or call +1-212-636-6353 to make an appointment.
    • Fordham University Statement of Funding or CSS Profile 
      • Fordham University has a need-aware admission process for first-year applicants who plan to attend Fordham for the Fall term on a non-immigrant visa.
      • Applicants who plan to fully fund their study at Fordham are required to complete the Fordham University Statement of Funding. For eligible applicants, the form will be available in the applicant portal in red above the application checklist following submission of the application.
      • Applicants who plan to partially fund their study at Fordham and will apply for need-based financial aid are required to complete the CSS Profile and demonstrate an ability to pay (Expected Family Contribution) at least $35,000 USD per year.

    Please see our FAQ page if you have additional questions. 

    • SAT or ACT results (SAT code: 2259; ACT code: 2748)
    • Interviews
      • While not required for admission, Fordham will accept personal interviews for interested international applicants through our partners Duolingo, InitialView, and Vericant as a way to demonstrate personal qualities, language proficiency, and interest to the Fordham International Admission Committee. 
      • The Early Action / Early Decision I deadline for interviewing with our partners is November 15. The Regular Decision / Early Decision II deadline for interviewing is February 15.

  • Fordham University offers need-based aid awards to a limited number of first-year international students who apply for the fall semester. Spring and transfer international applicants are not eligible for need-based financial aid. Selection for awards will be based on academic and extracurricular achievement as well as a thoughtful assessment of demonstrated need. The application requirements for all first-year fall semester applicants to Fordham who plan to attend on a non-immigrant visa will include submission of either the Fordham Statement of Funding or the CSS Profile (see Application Requirements above for details).

    The Fordham application review for non-immigrant international applicants is a need aware process. Due to limited funding, not all who require aid will receive awards and the amount of required aid may impact the final admission decision.

    As funding for international students is limited, need-based aid awards will not cover the complete annual cost of attendance. The annual awards may range from a few thousand dollars up to the cost of a student’s first-year full tuition charges at maximum. As the student and family will be responsible for all annual indirect charges, to qualify, the CSS Profile Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) must demonstrate a minimum of $35,000. This figure includes estimates for room and board, textbooks, travel expenses, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses. Though you may pursue your application to Fordham with a lower EFC, please understand that the largest awards available do not reach the full cost of attendance.

    Only electronic submission of the official CSS Profile via the College Board is accepted for international student need-based financial aid consideration. The ISFAA or PDF copies of a CSS Profile can not be considered.  In order to complete the process of seeking financial aid, please email your CB FinAid ID to [email protected] by the CSS Profile deadline. As Fordham does not commit to meeting full demonstrated need, CSS Profile fee waivers are not offered.

    Need-based aid awards are offered at the same amount annually for up to four years provided the student meets minimum GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Any international need-based aid recipient who receives a green card or US citizenship during enrollment at Fordham will maintain a Fordham Tuition Award of equal value to their initial award for up to four years total.
     
    It is important to note that award totals will not be adjusted in subsequent years so students and families must plan their finances accordingly, expecting estimated annual cost of attendance increases of 3-5%. 

    In addition, Fordham will continue to offer partial merit scholarships up to $25,000 to international applicants who qualify for these competitive academic awards.

    Please see the International FAQs if you have additional questions.

  • If you require Fordham sponsorship for an F-1 student visa, you must submit a completed Application for Certificate of Eligibility (AFCOE), supporting financial/bank statements showing your ability to fund your study at Fordham and the data/photo page of your current passport. We encourage you to submit these documents at the time of your application. The documents can be emailed to [email protected].

    Enrolling students currently in F-1 visa status must have their SEVIS records transferred to Fordham University. Please complete the top portion of the F-1 Transfer Recommendation Form and have the remaining section completed by your current institution's Office of International Services.

Watch an Information Session