Admissions for International Students
Nichols College proudly offers a fulfilling education for students from around the world who want to study in the United States.
Nichols provides programs and services that support the unique academic needs of international students. All applicants are welcome to follow our standard application process and are encouraged to reach out to discuss available options and accommodations. The Office for International Engagement is available to assist prospective students and their families.
Why Study Abroad at Nichols College?
Our New England campus offers international students a supportive community that empowers success in academics, careers and beyond. We are located within an hour of three capital cities–Boston, Providence and Hartford–and are within two hours of the beaches of Cape Cod and Rhode Island, professional sports teams, cultural sites, and world-class mountains and trails for skiing, snowboarding, cycling and hiking. Our campus is connected to major air, train and bus transportation hubs.
Key Benefits for International Students:
- Dedicated international advisor
- Immigration services for visa guidance and federal regulations
- Immediate check-in and move-in upon arrival
- Transportation to banking and retail centers
Application Requirements for International Students
Regardless of your status, whether you’re a degree-seeking student at Nichols in Dudley, MA, studying abroad from another university or a bilateral exchange student, our Office for International Engagement can assist you on your journey to becoming a Bison. See below for information on your application, what to do once you’re accepted and how to settle in once you’re here.
Submit the following by June 25, 2026:
- Application
- Proof of English Proficiency (see English Language Proficiency Requirements)
- If seeking a degree, official secondary and (if applicable) post-secondary school transcript(s), translated and evaluated
- Declaration of Finances or Notarized Affidavit of Support
- Personal statement or essay
- One academic letter of recommendation
Submit the following by June 15 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester:
- Application
- Proof of English proficiency (see English Language Proficiency Requirements)
- Declaration of Finances or Notarized Affidavit of Support
- Nomination letter from home university sent to the Office for International Engagement and Coordinator of International Admissions
Submit the following by June 15 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester for semester-only students; submit the following by June 25 for degree-seeking students:
- Nomination letter from home university sent to the Office for International
- Declaration of Finances or Notarized Affidavit of Support
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that all international students maintain full-time status. This means 12-19 credits per term in an undergraduate program or six (6) credits in our graduate programs.
- Massachusetts State law requires that students enrolled at a minimum of 3/4 full-time enrollment participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.
- Letters of recommendation, essay, and transcripts must be submitted in English. You cannot apply for a student visa until you have been accepted. Before you can start that process, we will ask for documentation that states you are able to meet financial expenses.
- If you are admitted, a $1,000 tuition deposit will be required along with an affidavit of financial support with official certification from your bank and a color copy of the identification page of your passport. Your Nichols College I-20 cannot be issued without these items.
- This College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students in F-1 status.
Additional Information for International Students
Important information to make sure your application goes as smoothly as possible.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that all international students maintain full-time status. This means 12-19 credits per term in an undergraduate program or six (6) credits in our graduate programs.
Massachusetts State law requires that students enrolled at a minimum of 3/4 full-time enrollment participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.
Letters of recommendation, essay, and transcripts must be submitted in English. You cannot apply for a student visa until you have been accepted. Before you can start that process, we will ask for documentation that states you are able to meet financial expenses.
If you are admitted, a $1,000 tuition deposit will be required along with an affidavit of financial support with official certification from your bank and a color copy of the identification page of your passport. Your Nichols College I-20 cannot be issued without these items.
This College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students in F-1 status.
To demonstrate English proficiency, you must submit at least one of the following:
- Minimum TOEFL Score of 72 (ibt)
- Minimum IELTs Score of 6
- Minimum of 49 on the Pearson Academic PTE
- Minimum SAT Verbal/Critical Reading score of 350
- Minimum score of 95 on Duolingo ESL
- Minimum score of 14 on the ACT English and Reading sections
- Interview with a member of the Nichols Admissions Team
- Graduation from an accredited, English speaking, non-distance learning secondary school with a college preparatory curriculum
- Successful completion of an English Language Program
I-20 and F-1 Visas
Nichols College is approved by the US Government to accept international students for study at Nichols. Check out the US Government’s official Study in the States website for detailed information specifically for international students.
Canadian citizens are not required to apply for a visa to enter the US as an F-1, but must still pay the SEVIS Fee and present their I-20 at the US port of entry. However, if the visitor has “Landed Immigrant” status in Canada, a US Visa is required to enter the US.
Read the U.S. Department of State website for more information about the visa application process and Temporary Visitors to the U.S.
Since visa appointments are limited and visa processing times can be lengthy, make the appointment as early as possible. Consulates will generally accept appointments up to 120 days prior to the start of studies. There may be long waiting periods for appointments, especially May through August. However, consulates may give priority to F-1 student applicants, if requested.
When going to the visa interview, bring:
- Passport (valid at least six months into the future)
- Certificate of Eligibility I-20 (F-1)
- Proof of admission (or proof enrollment for current students)
- Evidence of financial support
- Visa application forms and fees
- SEVIS Fee Receipt (F-1)
- Students on OPT or STEM OPT must also bring an unexpired EAD card and a job offer letter or employment verification letter
Some consulates may require additional documentation, so check the consulate website for visa application instructions. Visa application forms and fees can be found on the consulate website.
Once you have a scanned copy of your SEVIS number, most often you will be able to make an appointment at an American consulate.
Once we have a local address for you, we will send your original I-20 through the mail.
You will need the original I-20 at the visa interview at the consulate.
Check the consulate website to make sure you have all the documents they require for your visa application.
Pay the visa application fee and keep the receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Visa Application Process
Don’t see the answer to your question below? Reach out to our admissions team to learn more.
All non-immigrant visitors are required to have a valid visa (except Canadians) in their passport to be allowed entry into the U.S. For general information, see the U.S. Department of State website.
An appointment for a visa interview at a US embassy or consulate abroad may be required.
Visas cannot be issued inside the US unless you are eligible for a Change of Status.
Use the SEVIS number we send to you to get an appointment at the US Consulate in your country.
Check the current wait times for visa appointments and issuance in your city.
Pay the SEVIS Fee, if applicable.
Make a visa appointment and go to an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
The I-20 is a multi-purpose document issued by a US government-approved educational institution certifying that a student has been admitted to a full-time study program and that the student has demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the US The I-20 is officially titled the “Certificate of Eligibility” because it allows an individual to apply for an F-1 Student Visa at a US embassy or consulate abroad.
If you are a new student outside of the US, upon acceptance to Nichols College, you will provide proof of finances, fill out an I-20 request form when requested by Nichols International Admissions, provide a color copy of the picture page of your passport, and pay your Nichols College tuition deposit. Once the Nichols DSO (Designated School Official) has this information, we enter your name and biographic information into a US government database called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The SEVIS database processes your information for a unique number (SEVIS number) and I-20 document. The DSO prints and signs the I-20 and then delivers it to you by mail.
If you are a transfer student already in the United States, you will ask the DSO at your current school to process your “Transfer Out” request in SEVIS. Often they will have a form for you to fill out. You will need to show them our Nichols Acceptance Letter. You must plan to enroll in the next possible semester at Nichols in order to remain in compliance with the terms of your I-20.
SEVIS is the database and information system of the Student Exchange Visitor Program which holds all your official visa status information, authorizing you to study full time in the United States.
- Your valid passport
- A US I-20 from Nichols College
- An F-1 Visa from an American Consulate
Settling into Our Dudley, Massachusetts Campus
Nichols College provides a variety of services to help international students settle in:
- Immediate check-in and move-in
- Orientation with Familiarity Tour (for first-time arrivals)
- Banking appointments
- Shuttles to retail centers
- Baggage storage over summer break
Reach out directly to coordinate pick-up and drop-off services: contact us at international@nichols.edu or call 508-213-2480.
Travel and Arrival Information for International Students
Traveling to Nichols College is easy:
- Keep your plane ticket, signed I-20, and passport handy.
- Complete any declaration forms provided on the plane.
- Print your arrival document at the terminal kiosk.
- Present all documents to the border guard.
- Collect luggage at baggage claim.
- Keep documents ready for one more checkpoint.
- Exit into the terminal reception area.
- Look for the Nichols College representative with a Nichols College sign.
- Signed I-20 (all pages)
- Passport with F-1 Visa
- Nichols acceptance letter
- Proof of finances
- International Admissions or the Office for International Engagement (OIE) coordinates pick-up.
- Provide itinerary and F-1 Visa copy.
- Phone contact will be provided for flight delays.
- On-campus markets, shuttle service, and bedding delivery are available.
- Bring universal chargers and personal toiletries for the first few days.
- New England weather is unpredictable; dress in layers.
- Bring warm, water-resistant jackets and footwear.
- Remember to bring electronics chargers, bedding and toiletries.
Campus Housing for International Students
- Roommate Selection: Submit preferences via the online roommate match form at Orientation. Every effort will be made to honor requests.
- Room Furnishings: Single extra-long bed (36”x80”), mattress, closet/wardrobe, desk, chair, shades/blinds, shower curtain.
- Move-In Policy: F-1 Visa students may arrive up to 30 days before program start. Housing opens on official move-in day. Early arrivals may be arranged with advance planning.
- Campus Location: We are located in Dudley, Massachusetts, near the Rhode Island and Connecticut border. We are approximately one (1) hour from Boston and Providence, and three (3) hours from New York City, and within an hour of Worcester, MA and Hartford, CT.
- Nearby Stores:
- Our campus bookstore offers essentials
- Nichols “Bison” Shuttle offers free rides to local and regional stores.
The Office for International Engagement
The Office for International Engagement supports personal and professional growth through cultural immersion and experiential learning. The office is available to answer questions about inbound and outbound international learning opportunities. Contact us at international@nichols.edu or call 508-213-2480.
Looking to Enroll at Nichols College?
Reach out to our admissions office and take your first step toward studying at Nichols College.
