International students at Purchase College are a vibrant community of important contributors to the Arts and Sciences on campus. Nearly 10% of the student body either carries an international passport or hails from outside of the United States, and they bring their unique perspective, talents and experiences to enrich the classrooms and studios at Purchase. 

 Located in Westchester County, NY just a short train ride from New York City, Purchase attracts students from around the globe and offers a myriad of academic and co-curricular opportunities for students seeking to study outside of their home country. The many corporate headquarters, cultural organizations and biotech companies in our surrounding area offer academic internships that put our students on a path to success here and around the world. If you are accepted to the college, you will be joining a community of artists and scholars of exceptional talent, aptitude, and motivation.

However, there’s no need to take our word for it. Purchase was recently ranked as the following:

The Office for Global Education supports international students from their first interest in Purchase College through to application, enrollment, and arrival on campus.

Are you an International Student?

An international student is any applicant not holding US citizenship or Permanent Residency. But international students also come from different parts of the world, speak different languages, study in different schools, and have very different personal circumstances, which means that we will customize your application requirements to your specific circumstances.  

International students are required to submit a variety of documents as outlined below. Some  documents are required for academic review, and others for visa eligibility.

Applying as an International Student

Please review the steps below carefully and contact our International Admissions Advisor, Beatriz Martin-Ruiz, should you have any questions.

Step 1- Submit an application for admission to the College

Step 2- Once the application is processed, students will receive an email with access to the applicant portal. At this time we ask that you submit the International Supplemental Form, which allows us to customize your applicant checklist

Step 3- Mail official copies of your academic transcripts

  • International Credential Evaluation, or official transcripts from a US institution, sent to the admissions office directly from the school or agency. Transcripts submitted by the students are considered unofficial

Step 4- Upload other required documents to the applicant portal

Step 5- Submit proof of English Proficiency

Step 6- For accepted students only:  Submit Student Visa Funding Documents- only for Accepted International students who plan to obtain a Student Visa (F-1) . 

International Credential Evaluations

We require all foreign transcripts be evaluated by an educational credential evaluator. Our preferred credential evaluation agency is World Education Services and we will also accept evaluations from approved agencies that from the National Association of Credential Evaluating Service (NACES) . Evaluations must be course-by-course evaluations showing all coursework and grades received.   Applicants must pay all expenses incurred for this service.

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.

Official documents can be emailed to Admissions@purchase.edu or mailed to:

International Admissions
Purchase College, SUNY
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577

English Proficiency

Non-native English speaking students and any applicant whose undergraduate degrees is from a country where English is not the language of instruction are required to demonstrate English Language Proficiency.

English proficiency is demonstrated by providing evidence of meeting minimum test scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) ,  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  or Duolingo.  Applicants must submit the completed English Proficiency Report or by meeting the requirements for TOEFL/IELTS Exemption outlined below.

  • Submit your official TOEFL Test Score Report (Purchase College’s ETS code is 2878) and/or official IELTS score report. The testing service will send an official report directly to Purchase College.
  • Submit your completed English Proficiency Report. The English Proficiency Report may be waived for students eligible for a TOEFL/IELTS Exemption. Please have your school counselor fill out the TOEFL Waiver Request Form. However, Admissions still reserves the right to require the completed English Proficiency Report if it is deemed necessary to demonstrate proficiency.
    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
    IELTS Score Requirements
    • 6.5 Band Score
    Duolingo
    • 105 or better

Students who do not meet minimum TOEFL/IELTS score requirement are not eligible for admission.

All accepted students for whom English is a second language are required to take an English placement exam before their first semester begins at Purchase College and before advising and registration. See English Placement Policy for International Students for more information.