International FAQs

How do I know if my application is complete and ready for review?

Your application to Fordham will be considered complete and ready for review when we have received your Common Application and all supplementary documents, including high school transcripts and letter of recommendation. Additional credentials or translation requirements that may be requested by the Office of Admission will appear in your applicant portal as they are needed, so please make sure to check your applicant portal throughout the process or reach out to [email protected] to verify the status of your application. If your application is complete, there should be no red “X”s next to items in your checklist.

What does it mean for Fordham to require “3 full years of courses and grades in addition to current year of study” for my transcript?

In the US system, secondary education lasts four years unlike many other global education systems. As part of our commitment to holistic review, Fordham requires equivalent courses and grades from applicants around the world and thus requires students from different global education systems to submit transcripts and/or external examination results from earlier years of study. Some common examples include, but are not limited to:
- Mexico: Year 9 + Bachillerato
- Brazil: Year 8 of Ensino Fundamental + Ensino Médio
- China: Year 9 + High School
- Colombia: Year 8 + Bachillerato
- France: Troisième + Baccalauréat (Seconde/Première/Terminale)
- Germany: Realschule 9-12 or Gymnasium 10-13 + Abitur
- Ireland: Junior Cycle Certificate + Transition Year (if applicable) + Senior Cycle
- India: Grades from Year 9-11 + Grade 10 and 12 Official National Board Examination or the State Board Examinations
- Jamaica: CSECs + CAPE Unit 1 and 2
- UK: GCSE results + Predicted A-Levels
- Vietnam: Year 9 + High School
- IB results: MYP Years 9-10 + IBDP Years 1 and 2
If you have any questions about what would be required from your unique educational background, please reach out to [email protected].

Do I have to submit external examination results to Fordham?

If your educational system requires external examinations in order to advance to further levels of study, you are required to submit official external examination results as part of your transcript requirement. Some common examples include, but are not limited to:
- Caribbean: CXCs or CSECs + CAPE Unit 1 and 2
- UK: GCSE Results + A-Levels
If I am a United States citizen or permanent resident, but I live abroad, do I apply to Fordham University as an international student?
All applicants to Fordham University use the Common Application. There is not a separate application for international students or Americans living abroad.

If I attend a United States High School, but do not have United States citizenship or permanent residency, how should I apply to Fordham University?
All applicants to Fordham University use the Common Application. There is not a separate application for international students. Fordham University will be able to determine your international student status through your answers to the application questions.

If I have begun university-level study at another institution, can I choose to apply to Fordham University as a first-year and not transfer any credits?
No. If you have already begun university-level coursework, you will apply to Fordham University as a transfer applicant. This is the case even if you do not think any of your current courses will transfer. A World Education Services (WES) evaluation or your college/university transcript is also required for consideration of transfer credit.
Who is eligible for international student need-based financial aid?
New first-year applicants for the fall semester who will study at Fordham on a non-immigrant visa and who demonstrate student/family ability to pay at least $50,000 per year in the CSS Profile Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).

Does Fordham offer full cost of attendance scholarships to international students?
There are varied financial awards available. However, need-based aid awards do not cover the full cost of attendance at Fordham.

What types of need-based awards are available?
Fordham offers need-based institutional grants. Loans and work-study positions are not offered as part of a financial aid package. View more information about employment opportunities with an F-1 student visa.

Are merit awards also available?
All complete applications for admission are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Merit award notifications are included within the online admission letter. Fordham’s merit scholarships range from $10,000 - $25,000 per year for highly qualified first-year international applicants.

How and when do I apply for our competitive need-based scholarships for international students?
1. Select “Yes” when asked if you are applying for financial aid on the Fordham University Member Questions of the Common Application.
2. Submit the CSS Profile (school code: 2259) and any supporting documents by the deadlines for your chosen admission plan:
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.

Can I apply for financial aid after I am offered admission or enrolled at Fordham?
No, all international applicants seeking need-based financial aid must indicate their interest in the Common Application and submit the CSS Profile at the time of application.

I live abroad but have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Am I qualified for these awards?
Eligible non-citizens and U.S./dual U.S. citizens living abroad who wish to be considered for financial aid will complete the domestic student aid application process and are thus not eligible for our international student merit or need-based scholarships.

Are international transfer students eligible to receive need-based financial aid?
Transfer students are not eligible to apply for need-based aid.

Are international transfer students eligible to receive merit scholarships?
As an international transfer applicant, Fordham will consider you for partial merit scholarships up to $25,000, provided you qualify for these competitive academic awards. No additional application is necessary.

Can financial aid awards be increased in future years?
Initial awards will not be adjusted for future years of study. All awards are offered at the same amount annually for up to four years provided the student meets minimum GPA and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Students and families must budget their finances accordingly, expecting estimated annual cost of attendance increases of 3-5%.

Is Fordham’s admission review for international students need-blind?
No, Fordham is need-aware for international application review. The amount of demonstrated need may impact the final admission decision.

How many international students receive financial aid?
Approximately 5% of international students who apply for financial aid are selected for awards.

Are CSS Profile fee waivers offered?
As Fordham does not commit to meeting full demonstrated need and requires a substantial minimum EFC to qualify for aid, CSS Profile fee waivers are not offered.

If I become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident during my Fordham enrollment, will my financial aid award be impacted?
Any international need-based aid recipient who receives U.S. citizenship or a green card during enrollment at Fordham will maintain a Fordham Tuition Award of equal value to their initial award for up to four years total.
Does Fordham University recognize the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
Fordham University does recognize the academic challenge of the International Baccalaureate program. Fordham University issues college credit for some International Baccalaureate Higher Level exam scores of 5, 6, or 7. Fordham’s IB credit policy is at the link here under the section titled “Do advanced placement or international baccalaureate credits transfer?’’. Please instruct the International Baccalaureate Organization to send your results directly to the Fordham University Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Does Fordham University offer credit for international leaving exams/maturity certificates?
Fordham University will consider some international leaving exams/maturity certificates for college credit, depending on the exam, subjects, and specific results. Please email [email protected] with specific questions.
Is Fordham SAT/ACT test-optional for international applicants?
SAT/ACT results are not required to complete an application for undergraduate admission and does not affect the student’s eligibility for admission, scholarships, or honors programs. This test-optional policy is for all first-year and transfer applicants applying from outside the United States and its territories, without regard to citizenship or secondary school curriculum.

If I have taken the SAT/ACT, may I still choose to submit my results?
Yes, applicants who wish to share their standardized test results for consideration by our admission committee in our holistic review may do so (SAT code: 2259; ACT code: 2748).

If I choose to submit SAT/ACT results, can they be self-reported?
Yes, applicants may self-report their results via the Common Application or through their applicant portal. Admitted students who choose to attend Fordham will be required to send official score reports directly from the testing agency prior to enrollment.

How do I indicate my intention of applying without standardized test (SAT/ACT) scores?
Students may select the test-optional admission review via their answers in the Fordham-specific Questions section of their Common Application.

Is SAT/ACT score submission required for financial aid scholarship consideration?
SAT/ACT score submission is not required for consideration.

Where can I learn more about admission and testing requirements?
For more information about admission requirements and admitted student data, please review our How to Apply, Testing Policy, and Class Profile pages.

If I choose not to submit SAT/ACT results, are English language proficiency exam scores required?
The test-optional policy does not extend to English language proficiency testing. All non-native English speaking international applicants to Fordham with less than four years of recent all-English instruction are required to submit proficiency exam scores. More information can be found below.
Do I need to submit English Language Proficiency exam results to Fordham?
If you are non-native English speaker with less than 4 years of recent all-English instruction, you must submit English Language Proficiency results as part of your application. Fordham accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Pearson results.

If I have at least four years of all-English instruction but am a non-native English speaker, how do I fulfill my English Language Proficiency requirement in my checklist?
You will be required to fill out the English Language Proficiency Test Waiver Request Form linked within your online applicant portal after your application has been officially submitted. Through the form, you can share more about your education in an English medium environment, the curriculum you are completing, and other test scores you may plan to submit.

Does Fordham waive the English language proficiency exam requirement if I meet a minimum SAT/ACT score or take IB English SL/HL, Cambridge, or other English courses?
Fordham is not a test-flexible school, and thus requires all non-native English speakers with less than four years of recent English instruction to submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or PTE results as part of their application. If you have at least four years of all English instruction, the English Language Proficiency Waiver Request form is available in your Fordham applicant portal.

Can I still be offered admission to Fordham if I don’t meet the minimum required English language proficiency exam scores?
English Language Proficiency does impact our admission decision. Students who do not achieve the minimum score requirements may be eligible for admission to the Via Fordham program.

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