International Students

Admissions Requirements for Students Who Reside Outside the United States

Students who are not United States citizens and are living outside the United States must apply for an F-1 Visa (student visa) at the American embassy in their home country. Students applying for an F-1 Visa must take a signed copy of their I-20 to the embassy. The I-20 will be sent to student's home country only after all of the required documents have been completed and submitted to College of the Mainland.

Please file the required documents at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester or session in which you intend to begin your studies. A student will not be considered for admissions until all required credentials have been received.

1. Application for Admission

The application must be completed online. The application can be found at www.applytexas.org.

2. Official Transcripts

Students applying to College of the Mainland must have completed high school in their home country (U.S. equivalent of 12 years of education) before applying for admission. Students need to submit all the official transcript(s) (or notarized copies) from all U.S. and foreign educational institutions attended at the high school and/or university/college level. We also need proof that you have had these transcripts evaluated by an accepted evaluation company from this list provided; transcripts not evaluated will not be accepted.

3. English Language Proficiency

COM requires all international students to submit an English language proficiency test score.

A student may be admitted into an academic program with a minimum score of:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

550 (Paper-based test)

213 (Computer-based test)

79 (Internet-based test)

TOEFL website: www.ets.org/toefl

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

IELTS Score - 6

IELTS Website: www.ielts.org

You may be exempt from the English language proficiency requirements due to one of the following:

• Attendance and graduation from a U.S. high school
• Successful completion of college-level English from an accredited U.S. college or university
• Successful completion of an intensive English program

4. Financial Documentation

The amount that is required as financial support for one year is $10,200 (U.S. currency). To show proof of this financial support, you are required to provide us with the following two documents:

1. Affidavit of Support (PDF)
2. Bank statements on official bank letterhead, no older than six months
   or
   A letter from a U.S. employer stating annual income may also be accepted (sponsor).

5. Application for an I-20

• International Student Application Form (I-20) (PDF)
• Initial I-20 Application Checklist (PDF)

The above International Student Application Form (I-20) must be completed and submitted. This application is to provide the student with an I-20 which will be needed when applying for an F-1 Visa at the U.S. embassy.

An I-20 form will be prepared by the Office of Admissions and Records only when all of the above documentation is submitted and on file.

6. SEVIS Transfer Release Form

Submit the following form only if you are transferring from another U.S. college or university:

• SEVIS Transfer Release Form (PDF)

For more information, read SEVIS Fee Instructions.