International Students

Native English speakers are exempt from providing English Language Proficiency exam scores. Native speakers typically learn English as children, speak the language at home, and it is usually the native language in your country of origin (e.g. Australia, Jamaica, United Kingdom). We review native speaker exemption requests as part of your application.

*The Stanford Summer Session office reserves the right to request additional information and/or require language proficiency exam scores.

Students who have completed a year or more of full-time coursework at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction can qualify for an English language waiver. Courses must be academic in nature and not courses teaching English as a second language. The year of coursework must be completed by the December prior to attending Summer Session.

Undergraduate and Graduate applicants must have completed the year of coursework at a university or post-secondary institution. Post-secondary education is after grade 12 in the United States or equivalent international grade level.

High School Summer College applicants must have completed the year of coursework at a high school or secondary institution. Secondary education is grades 9 - 12 in the United States or equivalent international grade levels.

We review English language waiver requests as part of your application.

*The Stanford Summer Session office reserves the right to request additional information and/or require language proficiency exam scores.

To satisfy the English language language proficiency requirement, students must submit qualifying scores as part of the application process. Exam scores are valid for three years and must be valid as of the application deadline for each program.

The following score minimums are a strict program requirement. Exam scores below the minimum will not satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.

Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL)

• Minimum score of 100 for the iBT TOEFL

International English Language Testing System: Academic (IELTS: Academic)

• Minimum overall band score of 7.0

Cambridge Assessment English

• Minimum score of 180 on the Cambridge English Advanced, CEFR Level C1
• Minimum score of 200 on the Cambridge English Proficiency, CEFR Level C2

Duolingo

• Minimum score of 120

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA)

• Minimum score of 70

You may not require a new I-20 from Stanford. Applicants are able to describe their visa situation as part of their application and will be contacted directly if additional information is needed.

You are required to maintain enrollment in a minimum of 8 course units. The Stanford Summer Session office will monitor enrollment throughout the Summer Quarter to ensure compliance.

Requesting a Stanford-sponsored I-20

The first step in the process of attending Stanford for the summer is to apply. If offered admission, the next step is to complete an acceptance process. Once you have been assigned a Stanford ID number, you’ll submit a request to Stanford University’s Bechtel International Center to generate your I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status). This process includes submission of the following three documents:

• Current Passport Photocopy: A copy of the identification page(s) of your current and valid passport.
• Declaration of Finance: An online form completed in the Bechtel International Center secure portal
• Proof of Funding Document: A letter or statement from your financial institution or from your family’s financial institution, verifying that there are funds sufficient to cover the program’s full cost as stated on the Declaration of Finance. This document must be shown in U.S. dollars. We will also accept documents with the financial information listed in local currency, if necessary. It is recommended that you request two originals of this document: one to submit to Stanford and one to bring with you to your appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. When funding for the program comes from a source other than you (e.g. parent, company, or agency), you’ll be required to provide a short message from this source explaining that funds held in their name will be used to cover Stanford Summer Session program costs incurred by the applicant.

Once all acceptance items have been received and you have been assigned a Stanford ID number, Stanford University will generate your I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status).

After you receive your I-20, the following items must be completed by the student in order to obtain an F-1 Student Visa:

• Pay the SEVIS fee to the U.S. Government and obtain a receipt. Go to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) SEVIS I-901 website for information about the process, including details on how to pay the SEVIS fee online.
• Arrange an F-1 Visa appointment at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate after you have received an I-20 and paid the SEVIS fee. You should follow the guidelines of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for requesting an F-1 Student Visa. The appropriate visa application fee will be assessed at the time of the appointment. You should plan ahead and allow plenty of time for this process to occur. To attend Stanford Stanford Summer Session, you must arrive to campus on the first day of the program at the mandatory check-in.
• Present the following items at the visa Appointment:
  • Original I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status)
  • I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
  • Stanford University Stanford Summer Session Admission Letter (available online within the Stanford Summer Session applicant portal)
  • Original Proof of Funding Document
  • Valid Passport
  • 2 Passport-Size Photos

For assistance with general questions about student visas, you should consult the U.S. Department of State Visas website. There you will find helpful information about the F-1 Student Visa, including locations of U.S. Embassies and Consulates, timelines for scheduling interviews, details about visa processing, and more.

Please note that certain countries may be experiencing possible delays in visa processing.

Please allow ample time for this process as students are responsible for acquiring their visa before the start of the program.

Contact us if you have any questions relating to immigration or visa matters. F-1 students in initial status may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the “report date” listed on the I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status). On-campus housing is not available until the first day of the program.

You must present the following six documents:

• Original I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status)
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Stanford University's Stanford Summer Session Admission Letter (available online within the Stanford Summer Session applicant status page)
• Original Proof of Funding Document
• F-1 Visa (this is the visa stamp attached to your passport by the U.S. Embassy)
• Passport

You are required to verify your presence on campus within the first few days of the program. Detailed information about how to fulfill this requirement will be sent by email prior to arrival. 

You are required to present the following four documents as part of the verification process:

• I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (please print; this is retrievable online at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home)
• Passport