BU Graduate School - International Students

International Students

We welcome international students to our community! Binghamton University values the diverse perspectives that international students bring to our campus.

Nearly 800 international graduate students from over 65 different countries are enrolled at Binghamton University. International student enrollments have been increasing steadily over the past ten years.

The Graduate School assists international students in a variety of ways, including a Graduate-level Writing Tasks and Skills online tutorial. We want our international students to succeed here.

Binghamton has a number of international student organizations that help international students adjust to their new culture while sharing their home culture. These organizations offer opportunities for social gatherings as well as providing new students with valuable help in finding housing, locating services, and understanding U.S. academic regulations.

In addition to fellow student support, Binghamton's Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides a wide range of services to international students, beginning with the visa process and continuing throughout post-graduate training programs. The ISSS staff is informed, experienced, and always available to assist international students. The ISSS website also contains a wealth of valuable information for prospective and enrolled international students.

ISSS also offers a range of client-centered programs and services to assist international students, including an International Spouse Program to help student spouses alleviate loneliness, and a Friendship Family Program to offer assistance with numerous aspects that new international students may face in adjusting to a new living experience.

Binghamton libraries' computers have software that lets students input characters or scripts from various languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Hebrew, into word processing documents, email, Internet search engines and database searches. This resource also makes it easier for international students to keep in touch with family and friends. The Main Library offers a session for graduate students to learn how to use the software.

Admission for International Students:

The admissions process for international students is the same as for domestic students except for two additional requirements:

1. International students are required to provide scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. More information on this exam can be found at our "Admissions" site (see above under Prospective Students). Note: This requirement is waived for international students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a U.S. institution, or for students who are citizens of countries where English is the first language (U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).
2. International students are required by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to provide proof of their ability to cover the costs of their education while in the United States. This verification is required before admission can be offered. The graduate application includes a form for this purpose. If this form is submitted at the time of application, an offer of admission can be made immediately upon the recommendation of admission from a graduate program. If this form has not been completed at the time the graduate program recommends admission, the applicant will receive a letter explaining that admission is recommended but cannot be offered until funding verification is made. When an international student receives funding from a graduate program, this funding can be applied to the total funds required for admission. (In some cases the funding offer is sufficient to meet the requirement; at other times, the applicant will be required to provide proof of additional personal funds beyond the funding offer.)

Educational Advising Services:

The Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Department of State supports a network of more than 450 educational advising centers around the world whose mission is to promote U.S. higher education to prospective international students. EducationUSA offers impartial, accurate information about the full range of accredited institutions of higher learning in the United States. EducationUSA advisors provide prospective students with information to identify the best option for their educational and professional interests, choosing a U.S. institution, identifying financial aid opportunities, understanding the admission process, and applying for a student visa. Some centers also can provide specialized services such as essay writing workshops, translation and document verification, and pre-departure preparation.

EducationUSA Advising Centers are located in U.S. Embassies and Consulates, Fulbright Commissions, bi-national centers, non-governmental organizations, libraries, and universities.

Funding for International Students:

Details about graduate student funding can be found at our site "Funding Your Graduate Education" (under Prospective Students above). Most sources of funding at Binghamton are available to international students; the exceptions are noted on the funding website. While graduate students can often work while they are students, there are specific regulations regarding the number of hours per week an international student can work while attending the university. See the Office of International Student & Scholar Services website for details on employment.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program is designed for newly admitted students who need more experience and instruction in English in order to do their best academic work.

Housing:

Currently on-campus housing is not available for graduate students. However, graduate students find off-campus housing very affordable and available. The University's Off-Campus College office can provide help in locating housing and housemates. Visit their website at: http://www.binghamton.edu/occ for more details.