International Students

All international students (non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents) must have a valid F-1 Student Visa in order to enter the United States to study at Stanford during the Summer Quarter. Students are required to submit additional materials before an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status) can be prepared. These materials include:

All international students obtaining an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status) from Stanford are required to enroll in a minimum of 8 units, regardless of whether they are residential or commuter students. The Summer Session Office will monitor enrollment throughout the Summer Quarter to ensure compliance.

Students should not enter the United States on a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) or a WT visa waiver just prior to starting school if the intent is to go to school. Immigration law prohibits students from attending school on a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) or a WT visa waiver.

International students who are currently attending a U.S. educational institution to which they will be returning in the autumn might not require a Stanford-sponsored I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status). These students should contact the Summer Session Office for additional information.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials required for their I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status) as soon as they receive an acceptance from Stanford Summer Session. Some countries require more time than others to schedule appointments and process visa paperwork. I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status) forms are sent to students via Federal Express, so it's important to provide accurate mailing information as part of the online application. We cannot be responsible for delays in receiving visa documents or difficulties in scheduling Embassy appointments. 

International students must arrive on campus by June 23, 2012 to be in compliance with F-1 Student Visa requirements.

Stanford University requires students to submit TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Exam scores as part of the admission process for the Undergraduate & Graduate Summer Programs, and provides the following guidelines for students who have taken these tests. The minimum scores listed should help you to assess your readiness to spend a summer at Stanford. In some cases, the Program Director might arrange for a Skype interview with you.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

OR

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

OR

Cambridge Exams, as follows:

  • Minimum score of 60 on the Cambridge Advanced English Test
  • Certificate in Advanced English
  • Certificate of Proficiency in English

Students may not be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Exam scores if either the primary language of instruction at their university is English or the student is a native English speaker. During the application process, students will be able to explain their particular situation. Stanford Session Office reserves the right to request additional information for proof of fluency.