International Admissions Process
Biola University has a strong evangelical Christian commitment and requires than an accepted applicant be an evangelical believer. However, Biola does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in the admission of students, employment and the educational programs or activities it conducts. The admissions process for international students can be found here
International Students must follow each of the steps below in order to be considered for admission.
1. General requirements for applying to either MACA or MASR: bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), evangelical Christian in adherence with Biola’s Doctrinal Statement.
2. Complete the international pre-application online at www.biola.edu/applyinternational. The pre-application must be approved by the graduate admissions office before you begin the official application.
3. The pre-application is comprised of your testimony, academic background, English proficiency (TOEFL), and financial resources. This process is free and helps us guide you through the special requirements for international students determined by U.S. law.
4. The pre-application should be completed and received by March 1 for the fall semester or August 1 for the spring semester. It is best to allot as much time as possible to complete the international application process as it can take some time for documents to be requested, and received. After your pre-application is approved, you can begin the official application.
5. In order for your application to be complete you must have the following items submitted to Biola’s Graduate Admissions Department by June 1: a completed application, $55 application fee, transcripts evaluated by WES (World Education Services) if the transcripts are not in English and/or not in the American Grading System, a character and a pastoral reference (MACA reference request /MASR reference request), and a copy of your passport.
6. If your requested transcripts are not in English and/or not in the North American Grading System, they do need U.S. grade equivalencies noted, so you must have them evaluated by the World Education Services (WES).Be sure to choose "course by course report." This process takes an average of 4-6 weeks and costs approximately US $300.
7. A minimum TOEFL (English proficiency) score of 100 IBT is required for admission. The TOEFL is only required if your native language is not English. It can also be waived if you completed junior high and high school in English
8. On campus students must prove that they are able to financially support 100% of tuition and room & board costs for two years. Distance students are required to prove the financial support of $3,500 per year (Tuition & Residency Costs). Download the Financial Affidavit of support. Please contact your Graduate Admissions counselor to verify the current amount.
9. An F-1 Student Visa is required for on-campus and distance students because of the summer residency stay at Biola. International Applicants who already have a visa and are living in the US must still go through the international process and have their pre-app evaluated by Graduate Admissions.
10. US Financial Aid does not extend to international students. However, new students are eligible for a 1-year, $1000 scholarship upon acceptence into either M.A. program. The scholarship application is available by the request of the student if they have been accepted into Christian Apologetics or Science and Religion programs.
If you have more questions about the application process, please contact Doug Atterbury, your Graduate Admissions Counselor at doug.e.atterbury@biola.edu or 800.652.4652.
Grants
The International Student Aid Grant is available to international students who have been accepted to Biola University. Eligibility is based on academic achievement and financial need. Amount is $800 per year for master's level education and $2000 per year for doctoral studies. There is no application necessary, however full financial sponsorship must be shown before you can be considered for this grant. The grant cannot be considered as part of your financial support documentation.
Employment Opportunities
International students on F-1 visas may work on campus but not off campus. Accompanying spouses in the U.S. are not permitted to work unless also full-time students. Do not plan on any other employment while in the United States. Biola has around 680 on-campus jobs, but it is not guaranteed that you will get a job on campus.
International Frequently Asked Questions