Purchase College’s student body includes citizens from various countries such as Korea, Japan, China, Turkey and Canada.  We welcome applications from international students who can add to the diversity of cultures currently represented on our campus.

Please follow all application instructions and observe all deadlines carefully. In cases where students fail to follow the instructions or to observe deadlines listed here, we cannot guarantee the application can be reviewed and the application may be withdrawn from consideration.

Step 1:  Complete the online undergraduate SUNY Application or Common Application or the online Graduate Application in English.  Include both permanent address in home country and temporary mailing addresses.  

Step 2: Complete and/or submit program application requirements as outlined for your chosen program here.

Step 3: Complete and submit all of the following information to:
             
Purchase College-Application Processing
279 Broadway, Albany, New York 12204-2755

We understand that some information may need to be submitted separately, but we encourage you to submit all of this information together in one package:

• Official Transcripts - Submit official transcripts, matriculation certificates, mark sheets and/or diplomas.  Original documents issued from the applicant’s home educational system must carry the official seal, stamp or signature of a school or government official.  Academic documents must be submitted in the original language and those which are not in English must be accompanied by an exactly worded and certified translation as well as an evaluation.  We require all foreign transcripts be evaluated by an educational credential evaluator such as: World Education Services (www.wes.org); Education International, Inc. (www.educationinternational.org); Evaluation Service, Inc. (www.evaluationservice.net) or University Language Services, Inc. (www.universitylanguage.com). American and Canadian transcripts must be sent directly from the Registrar’s Office of the school.  The submission of falsified documents will be considered grounds for rejection or reversal of an admission decision.
  
  
• TOEFL scores from Non-Native Speakers of English - Submit your official TOEFL Test Score Report.  (Purchase College’s ETS code is 2878).  The testing service will send an official report directly to the Purchase College mailing address below.  Students must take the TOEFL if their native language is NOT English, even if they have attended school in the U.S, except in cases where students meet the requirements for exemption as outlined below. 
  
  
  TOEFL Score Requirements:
  
  
  • Internet-Based Test (IBT) - 80 and above for unconditional admission
    
    
  • Paper-Based Test (PBT) - 550 and above for unconditional admission
    
    
  • Computer-Based Test (CBT) - 213 and above for unconditional admission
    
    

TOEFL Exemptions

Undergraduate Exemptions 

Undergraduate applicants may be exempted from the TOEFL requirement if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You have earned a diploma from an accredited United States High School or a degree from an accredited United States college or university where English is the principal language of instruction.
• You are a native citizen of Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (Except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, British Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, or the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland Wales).
• Proof of citizenship (passport, visa, birth certificate or permanent resident card) must be provided. Note: Permanent Residency alone does not qualify for an exemption. If you are not a citizen of one of the countries listed above, you cannot claim exception.
• You have completed college-level English Composition I and II with a grade of “B” or better and 30 transferable semester credits from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• Your education originates from countries in which the official language is English.
• You have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) www.ielts.org  overall band score of 6.5.
• You have achieved an SAT Verbal 550 score or higher.
• You have achieved an ACT Verbal 20 score or higher.
• You have obtained the following foreign high school diploma/test/scores:
  

Graduate Exemptions

Graduate and postgraduate applicants may be exempted from the TOEFL requirement if they meet either of the criteria above or:

• Have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (Course offerings should include English Composition I and II with grade of “C” or better).
   
  
  

• English Proficiency Report - Have an English Professor or Instructor complete the english proficiency report in English.
  
• Autobiographical Essay - All Visual and Performing Arts students must write an Autobiographical Essay in English.  Students should include information relevant to your admission application, not already given on other forms. Photocopies will not be accepted.
  
• Educational Data Form – Submit completed educational data form.
  
• Students currently in the U.S. - Students currently attending high school, university or a language institute in the U.S. must submit the International Transfer Form. This form should be sent, along with a photocopy of any I-20 forms, student's passport identification page, visa and I-94 U.S. arrival card, if applicable, if and when you are accepted to Purchase.

Send all required International Student Forms to:

Purchase College - Application Processing
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755 

Graduate Students:
Except where noted, all supplemental materials required to complete your graduate application must be sent directly to:

Purchase College - Application Processing
Attn: Graduate Programs
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

Applicants seeking an F-1 student visa:
Students who are accepted will receive an admission package.  However, should an F-1 student visa be required, you must then complete and submit the Foreign Student Financial Statement along with any required official bank letters verifying the information you provide.  All applicants seeking an F-1 student visa are required to demonstrate that U.S. $33,320 for undergraduate study or $35,090.00 for graduate study is available to pay for their education for the first year.  Provide all the information requested on the Foreign Student Financial Statement.  Carefully document the sources of financial support as requested in Part II.  These documents are also required if you are presently on B-2 visitor, J-I exchange-visitor or F-1 student visa.  If you have a sponsor, you must provide a bank statement that shows the actual amount in the account(s).  If you are receiving a scholarship from an outside source, you must submit original supporting documents.  All sponsors must sign the financial support form.  Purchase does not offer Federal Financial Aid to International Students.

I-20 and Visa Information:
You should not attempt to enter the U.S. for study at Purchase without an official letter of admission and appropriate visa documents (I-20 issued by Purchase College and visa stamp in passport) issued by Purchase College.  Admissions and visa documents cannot be transferred from one student to another, nor one college/university to another.  At least three days before visiting a U.S. consulate to apply for a student visa, you must pay a nonrefundable $200 U.S. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) fee to www.fmjfee.com. The SEVIS school code for Purchase College is NYC 214F 01222 000.  The issuance of the I-20 does not guarantee receiving the F-I student visa.  Requirements for the F-1 visa vary from country to country so be prepared to present the consulate officer the I-20, passport and supporting documents (i.e. financial documents, titles, fixed assets, SEVIS fee receipt) if they are requested.  The F-1 student visa allows you to study only at the college/university for which it was issued.  Under immigration regulations, you may enter the United States 30-days prior to the start indicated on the I-20.  If you are unable to attend Purchase and have been issued an I-20 you must return the form to the Office of Admissions.  Students cannot study in the U.S. on visitor’s visas.

Cost of Attendance - Click the link to see the Financial Services web page for annual tuition and fees.

Note: These programs may close prior to the deadline. Therefore, international students are advised to submit their applications by the recommended date listed above.

All applications must be received by the Application Processing Center in Albany on or prior to the date listed above. (Please leave sufficient time to ensure receipt and return of the additional forms.) Incomplete applications will be withdrawn and applications received past the deadline will be returned to the student.

For more information about the services available to International Students at Purchase College, visit the International Student Services portion of the website.

Office of Admissions
Purchase College
735 Anderson Hill Rd.
Purchase, NY 10577-1400
(914) 251-6300
Fax (914) 251-6314
admisweb@purchase.edu