International Transfer Applicants
William & Mary welcomes applications from students with an international background. We feel that each international student adds a unique background and experience to our already diverse and eclectic student body.
For transfer purposes, our definition of an undergraduate "international transfer student" is anyone who:
- Is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and
- Has attended another college or university after graduating from high school.
If you've already earned a bachelor's degree (or equivalent degree), you cannot earn a second undergraduate degree from W&M.
Applying to W&M
Like other transfer students, international transfer students will apply using the Common App for transfer students. International transfer students who attend colleges or universities inside the United States may apply for fall or spring admission. International students attending schools outside of the United States, and who need an F-1 visa, are accepted only for the fall semester.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, and if your schooling during the past five years or more has been in a language other than English, you should take one of the following tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test
Transfer Credits
To be eligible for possible transfer credit, you will submit translated syllabi for each university-level course with your application for admission. You may be required to send your academic credentials to an international evaluation service for preliminary determination of transferable credit. Office of the University Registrar coordinates this and has details.
Alternative Email
Many 126.com and 163.com users have reported not receiving emails from William & Mary. If you have provided a 126.com or 163.com email address on your Common App, we encourage you to share an alternative email address with a different email provider. To update your email address, please use the email address that you provided on your Common App to send an email to ppcruz@wm.edu with your name, Common App ID and an alternative email address.
Once You’re Admitted
Expenses and Financial Aid
Generally speaking, William & Mary does not have scholarship or loan funds available to aid undergraduate students who are citizens of other countries. If you need an F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the U.S., you will receive an email from our online system iStart after you have been admitted to W&M and paid your deposit. You will use iStart to provide financial certification to study for the upcoming year. The Reves Center coordinates visa applications for foreign students.
Academics
Academics at W&M are the same for international transfer students as they are for any other transfer student. You will have to satisfy W&M's general education requirements. You may have transfer credit that can be used to satisfy some of these requirements.
