Application, Admission, and Visas

Eligibility

NIAHD's Pre-College Program in American History is open to International students who will have completed at least 10th grade by the time the summer program begins.  

Students are not required to have a background in American history to apply; however, they must be able to demonstrate a high level of English language comprehension.

English Language Requirement

NIAHD's Pre-College Program in American History is conducted entirely in English and requires high-level English speaking, reading, and writing abilities. 

If English is not your native language, you will be required to show proof of your English fluency during the application process.  Non-native English speakers will need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores taken after April 1, 2024. 

Minimum Test Score Requirements 

SAT and ACT scores cannot be submitted in place of either the TOEFL or IELTS.

In addition to test scores, non-native English speakers must also submit a letter of recommendation from their English-language teacher, in addition to the letter of recommendation submitted by their history teacher. 

Immigration and Visas

International students accepted into the program will need to apply for and acquire an F-1 visa to enter the United States and the Pre-College Program in American History. This is a long process that can take several months to complete, so the sooner you can get started the better! 

NIAHD and the W&M Reves Center for International Studies will guide students in the process of acquiring the appropriate travel documents, however, NIAHD will not process any I-20 requests until we have received full payment of the Pre-College Program.

Admission Process

NIAHD will communicate all admissions decisions via email. International email servers that block U.S. email addresses may prevent a student from viewing correspondence from NIAHD. If you do not receive a confirmation message after submitting your application, please email [[pre-college,NIAHD]] and request an update.

If you receive an offer of acceptance, you will be asked to respond to the offer within 14 calendar days. Students who accept their offer of admission will receive a second email within 5 days providing important details pertaining to immigration, registration, and payment deadlines. Once a student accepts admission to the Pre-College Program, NIAHD will expect full payment to be made via Flywire as soon as possible. NIAHD will not process any immigration paperwork until we have received full payment.

Important: Admission to the National Institute of American History & Democracy's Pre-College Program in American History does not imply or guarantee admission to the undergraduate program at William & Mary.

International Student Fee 

In addition to the standard tuition for all students, International Students will be charged an International Student Fee of $300 for administrative paperwork and travel to and from Richmond International Airport, Newport News International Airport, and/or the Williamsburg train station.  

How to Apply