Welcome Home
Each year, St. Mary’s University welcomes students from around the world — from Honduras to Saudi Arabia.
Our quality education prepares students for a meaningful career, and our supportive environment helps students to meet their personal and professional goals.
Situated in one of the largest, most diverse cities in the U.S., San Antonio offers access to exceptional internship and research opportunities. The city’s diverse economy includes business services, and biotechnology, energy and manufacturing sectors.
Undergraduate International Students
Step 1: Apply for undergraduate admission
Step 2: Send Evaluation of International Credential
International applicants who have attended a (non-U.S.) high school and/or college/university outside of the United States must send their transcript to a separate evaluation agency for a detailed, course-by-course evaluation and official translation of the credentials and the agency sends the evaluation to St. Mary’s University. The evaluation agency should be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Evaluations may cost an average of $170 USD.
Exception: International American schools approved by an American Accrediting Agency do not need to provide transcript evaluations. The transcript will be treated as a domestic transcript.
Please note: We do not accept non-evaluated international (non-U.S.) transcripts sent directly by applicants.
- SpanTran Educational Services, Inc. (undergraduate portal)
- They have created a custom application for St. Mary’s University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate.
This is not a comprehensive list. If you have questions about an agency not listed, please contact the Office of Admission.
Acceptable Evaluation Agencies
Step 3. Submit English Proficiency Scores
All undergraduate international applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency in one of the following ways:
- TOEFL iBT®Test: 80
- IELTS: 6.0
- Duolingo English Test: 105+
Students who earn a high school diploma, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, bachelor’s degree, or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university have fulfilled the English language requirement.
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon – Anglophone
- Canada (Except Quebec)
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
TOEFL/IELTS Exempt Countries
Application Deadline
All items should arrive to the Office of Admission by the following dates:
Academic Term Application Priority Deadline (if you are outside the U.S.) Application Priority Deadline (if you are inside the U.S.) Fall Semester (Aug. to Dec.) May 1 June 15 Spring Semester (Jan. to May) Oct. 1 Nov. 15 Summer Semester (begins late May/early June) Feb. 1 March 15 You will receive an admission decision within three to four weeks after submitting all of your application materials.
Contact
We are here to help you with the application and enrollment process. For those seeking a bachelor’s degree, contact uadm@stmarytx.edu, for those seeking a master’s or doctoral degree, contact graduate@stmarytx.edu, and for those seeking a law degree, visit the Law School website.
- SpanTran Educational Services, Inc. (undergraduate portal)
Graduate International Students
To receive consideration for admission, all graduate application documents listed below must be submitted in the requested manner on or before the posted deadline date for the academic term. Besides the requirements below, please check specific graduate program admission requirements.
Step 1: Apply for graduate admission
Step 2: Send Evaluation of International Credential
International applicants who have attended a (non-U.S.) college/university outside of the United States must send their transcript to a separate evaluation agency for a detailed, course-by-course evaluation and official translation of the credentials and the agency sends the evaluation to St. Mary’s University. The evaluation agency should be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
- SpanTran Educational Services, Inc. (graduate portal)
- They have created a custom application for St. Mary’s University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate.
This is not a comprehensive list. If you have questions about an agency not listed, please contact the Office of Admission.
Acceptable Evaluation Agencies
Step 3. Submit English Proficiency Scores
All graduate international applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency in one of the following ways:
- TOEFL iBT®Test: 80 (MBA program minimum 87)
- IELTS: 6.0 (MBA program minimum 6.5)
- Duolingo English Test: 105+
Scores must be current (no further back than six months of the student’s application).
Graduate students who score 6.0 on the IELTS exam or 80-82 on the internet-based TOEFL exam will be required to enroll in EN6301 Academic Writing for International Students during the first semester of attendance.
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon – Anglophone
- Canada (Except Quebec)
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
TOEFL/IELTS Exempt Countries
Application Deadline
All items should arrive to the Office of Admission by the following dates:
Academic Term Application Priority Deadline (if you are outside the U.S.) Application Priority Deadline (if you are inside the U.S.) Fall Semester (Aug. to Dec.) May 1 June 15 Spring Semester (Jan. to May) Oct. 1 Nov. 15 Summer Semester (begins late May/early June) Feb. 1 March 15 You will receive a decision letter after all documents are submitted, processed, and reviewed. Typically the review process with completed applications takes 7 to 14 business days.
Contact
We are here to help you with the application and enrollment process. For those seeking a bachelor’s degree, contact uadm@stmarytx.edu, for those seeking a master’s or doctoral degree, contact graduate@stmarytx.edu, and for those seeking a law degree, visit the Law School website.
- SpanTran Educational Services, Inc. (graduate portal)
Next Steps
Visa Requirements for International Students
If you are admitted to St. Mary’s and are not already in the U.S. with a visa that allows study, St. Mary’s can sponsor you as an F-1 visa student or a J-1 exchange visitor.
You will be asked to provide additional documentation as required by U.S. law to produce the appropriate forms (I-20 or DS-2019), which you will use to apply for a visa. Required documentation includes your basic biographical information, proof of financial ability (to cover your expenses and expenses for your spouse or children (if they are accompanying you) and proof of English ability.
Most students come to the United States to enroll in a full-time degree program on an F-1 student status. A Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for an F-1 student visa) is issued to students by St. Mary’s University for entry into the U.S. Dependents (spouse or children) of an F-1 visa holder can accompany the student on F-2 dependent visas. F-2s are not permitted to be employed in the United States, study full-time, or take classes toward a degree.
F-1 Student Status
Some students enter the U.S. in J-1 student status. The J-1 visa is administered by the Department of State and is used for a variety of educational purposes. The Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for a J-1 visa) may be issued to a student with a scholarship, either from a sponsoring organization or from St. Mary’s University. Dependents of a J-1 visa holder can accompany the student on a J-2 dependent visa. J-2s may study and may apply for permission to work in the U.S.
J-1 Student Status
U.S. Immigration Law requires students in F-1 and J-1 status to be enrolled full-time for the duration of their program of study. Additionally, students beginning their program during the summer session must be enrolled full-time.
- Undergraduate Students: Must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. Up to three credit hours may be from distance education courses from accredited institutions.
- Graduate Students: Must be enrolled for at least eight credits per semester. Up to three credit hours may be from distance education courses from accredited institutions.
- Law Students: Must be enrolled for at least 10 credits per semester. Up to three credit hours may be from distance education courses from accredited institutions.
- Summer sessions: Students beginning their program during the summer session must be enrolled full-time during that summer session. (Undergraduates: 12 credit hours; Graduate and Law Students: three credit hours.)
Health Insurance and Immunization Requirements
In the United States every person is responsible for paying his or her own health care. One visit to a doctor can easily cost U.S. $160-$250. Medicine is also expensive unless you have insurance that helps you pay for it. Insurance companies usually pay part or all of the cost of doctors, so they make health care less expensive for you if you get sick. This is why health insurance is so important in the U.S.
Medical insurance coverage is mandatory for the accompanying spouse and children of J-1 visa holders, under regulations of the Department of State. If you hold a J-1 visa, you must maintain health insurance with the required minimum coverage for all accompanying or subsequently arriving J-2 dependents. Failure to do so will result in the termination of your program.
Health Insurance for Dependents
For information on immunization requirements for international students, please visit the Student Health Center.
Immunization Requirements
Transferring to St. Mary’s University
If you plan to remain in the United States, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations permit a transfer of your immigration status to St. Mary’s University provided that you are in a valid F-1 status at the school you are currently attending. You must inform your current school of your intent to transfer to St. Mary’s University as soon as possible but no later than the last day of your final semester at your current school (For example, if spring is your last semester at your current school, then no later than the last day of the spring semester).
Your Form I-20 from St. Mary’s University cannot be issued until your current school has been notified and released your SEVIS record. Please talk to the international student advisor at your current school about the transfer process as soon as you decide you will transfer. For more information about the transfer process, please speak with an admissions representative.
Failure to complete the transfer process within 15 days of the program start date at St. Mary’s University results in a violation of immigration regulations. Furthermore, you may not work on campus until the transfer of your immigration record is processed. If you are out of status, discuss your options with your current international student advisor or with the Center for International Programs at St. Mary’s University.
Contact
International Student and Scholar Services
210-431-5091
isss@stmarytx.edu or cip@stmarytx.edu