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International students apply for admission through the Admissions Office. The following items are needed before an application is considered. (Note: Original forms are required. Faxed copies will not be accepted.)
- A completed application form and recent “head and shoulders” photo (color or black and white)
- Two completed Character Reference Forms and a Pastor Reference Form
- A non-refundable application fee of $40
- A completed Medical Information Form
- A completed Immunization History Form (North Carolina State Health Department standards require that a completed immunization record be received by Southeastern.)
- International Evaluation of Transcripts (see below)
- A completed Church Recommendation Form
- Spouse’s Personal Statement (if married)
- A completed Southeastern Covenant
- International Student Application Packet
- Official English Language score report (score may not be older than two years)
- Undergraduate and Graduate minimum scores: 100 (DuoLingo) or 83 (TOEFL)
- Master of Arts (Research) minimum scores: 120 (DuoLingo) or 100 (TOEFL)
- Advanced Degree minimum scores: 120 (DuoLingo) or 100 (TOEFL)
In some cases, additional documents may be required. The Office can provide more details.
Application Deadlines
Completed applications for undergraduate programs may be considered up to 24 months early but should normally be received in the Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the semester or summer term in which the student expects to enroll. Late applications may require delayed enrollment. Students are not issued an I-20 form until their application has been approved.
Applications for the M.A. Ethics, Theology, and Culture or the Th.M. with Thesis programs must be submitted at least 90 days prior to matriculation for consideration by the appropriate committee.
Students planning to live in campus housing should note that space is limited. Students can apply for housing once they are approved for admission. Housing applications are processed by the Housing Office in the order they are received.
Admissions Process
International applications take approximately 45 days to process after all required items are received by the Admissions Office. The admissions procedure for international students requires additional information and processing time due to Seminary policies and the requirements of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Admissions Committee treats all material confidentially. If approved, the application file will remain valid for purposes of admission for two years from the date of approval. If matriculation is delayed beyond two years or if this application is not approved, a new updated application must be filed in order to reopen the admission process. Interested parties may contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sebts.edu with any questions about applications or about the admission process.
In order to qualify for admission to the undergraduate or graduate programs, international students are required to provide a minimum score of 100 (DuoLingo) or 83 (TOEFL). The required score for the Research MAs or advanced degrees is 120 (DuoLingo) or 100 (TOEFL). (The school code for TOEFL is 5620).
International applicants must also complete all the forms and documentation outlined in the International Student Admissions Packet in order to ensure their financial security while studying at SEBTS. This packet can be found on the Seminary website; it is also available from the Admissions Office. It must be completed, along with the other application requirements, before an application will be reviewed and before an I-20 will be issued.
International Student Requirements
Southeastern’s purpose in accepting international students is consistent with the stated mission of the institution: to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Southeastern’s priority in training international students is to equip ministers who will return to their country of origin (or in some cases, an international mission field), seeking to serve the church and further the Great Commission outside the United States. International students accept the conditions of their visa to enter the U.S. understanding that they will return to the country of origin upon completion of studies. Therefore, all international student applicants must state their commitment to return to their country of origin as a condition of acceptance and continued enrollment.
International Students are required to pay a deposit, which is designed to encourage and assist them in fulfilling their commitment to return to their country of origin. The deposit, due upon application, ensures that the applicant has reflected seriously on the commitment for enrolling at Southeastern and adhering to U.S. international student regulations. If the student complies with all signed commitments and school policies, the Personal Emergency Deposit will be fully returned upon graduation. Thus the deposit will assist the international student with the initial costs of returning to their country of origin. A request can be submitted for a return of the deposit one calendar year after courses have begun for the student.
The Personal Emergency Deposit requirement will be waived only if the President of Southeastern or the Provost/Dean of Faculty initiates and approves waiving this requirement. Waivers are rarely granted and only if doing so does not jeopardize adherence to federal regulations or institutional commitments.
International Evaluation of Transcripts
To ensure accurate assessment of international transcripts, an international transcript evaluation is required of all students who have studied outside of the United States.
All official transcripts from non-US educational institutions must be translated (as applicable) and sent directly to SpanTran or WES (or any participating NACES company) by the issuing institution. This is required before an admissions file will be considered complete.
Students can apply for an evaluation on the SpanTran or WES websites, and should request a Course-by-Course evaluation which reports accreditation and GPA.
New International Student Orientation
All international students attending the main campus or students who are entering under a new application are required to attend New International Student Orientation at the beginning of their first semester. Orientation information is delivered to accepted students one month prior to the beginning of the semester.
During orientation students will take care of class registration, parking decals, student identification cards, as well as having a photograph taken and remitting payment for tuition and fees.
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