International Application Instructions

Bristol Community College welcomes students from around the world, and we invite you to earn your associate degree here!  Bristol has so much to offer our learners – we have the resources to help you learn, grow and succeed. At Bristol we produce college graduates who thrive in their careers and help shape their communities.

If you are an eligible international applicant and you complete the following application procedures by the appropriate deadline, you are eligible for admission to a degree program at Bristol Community College. For certain selective programs such as health-related programs and culinary arts, additional procedures apply. Please refer to the college’s course catalog for additional information. 

1.  Submit a completed Bristol Admissions Application by the appropriate deadline: 

International applicants currently outside of the U.S. or those inside the U.S. on a visa category other than F-1 or J-1 must submit a completed admissions application by May 15 for the next fall semester (September-December), or by October 15 for the next spring semester (January-May). All supporting documents must be received by these dates in order to be considered complete. 

Applications received after the above-referenced date will be entered for the next available term of study. For example, an application for the Fall 2023 semester that is received on May 20, 2023, will be entered and reviewed for the Spring 2024 semester as it was received after the May 15, 2023 deadline.

International applicants currently within the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 Visa must submit completed admission applications by August 1 for the next fall semester, or by January 1 for the next spring semester. All supporting documents must be received by these dates in order to be considered complete. 

Applications received after the above-referenced date will be entered for the next available term of study.  For example, an application for the Fall 2023 semester that is received on August 15, 2023, will be entered and reviewed for the Spring 2024 semester as it was received after the August 1, 2023 deadline. 

2.  As part of your application, you will be required to:

• Submit official academic records.
  • An official secondary school transcript or diploma and national examination results, if applicable.
  • Transfer applicants must also submit official transcripts from all foreign universities or colleges attended.
  • All transcripts (secondary school and foreign college/university) must also be evaluated for equivalency to studies in the United States.  Please refer to the Foreign Credential Evaluation page for suggestions of agencies that can be contacted. 
    
    
• Demonstrate financial ability.

Bristol is required by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorities to carefully check the financial resources of each international student prior to issuing the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) form.

ESTIMATED FINANCIAL EXPENSES
Estimated expenses for an F-1 student U.S. Dollars (USD):

• Tuition & Fees (15 credits per semester) $ 12,854.00
• Room & Board $ 4,000.00
• Health Insurance $ 3,858.00
• Books & Supplies $ 2,000.00
• Transportation $ 1,250.00
• Miscellaneous $ 1,500.00
• TOTAL $ 25,462.00
  NOTE: Bristol does not provide financial sponsorship to students pursuing F1 visas.

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency:
  All international students applying to Bristol requiring an F-1 Student Visa whose primary language is not English will be required to show proof of English Language Proficiency via one of the following:
  • English Composition I (ENG 101) or equivalent from another regionally accredited U.S. college or university with a C- grade or higher
  • TOEFL Score (61 or higher on iBT version)
  • IELTS Score (6.0 or higher on IELTS Academic version) 
    
    

3.  Additional Criteria: 

If you are currently in the United States, you must produce a valid passport, visa and I-94 card.  Please note that you may obtain your I-94 electronically via United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB) (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home). 

Transfer Students: If you are currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college, university, or high school in the United States, or you are completing a period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training, you must notify your current school’s International Student Advisor of your intent to transfer by requesting their completion of the F1 Visa Transfer Verification Form, which is available within the admissions application.

Dependents: Applicants seeking to bring a spouse and/or children with them to the United States during their duration of study should complete and submit the F-1 Dependent Request Form directly to the Admissions Office (admissions@bristolcc.edu). 

4.  Admission:   

When an eligible international applicant completes all of the application procedures by the appropriate deadline, the Admissions Committee will review the application for admission and an admission decision will be released.

If admitted to Bristol, the student is required to submit a non-refundable $50.00 USD registration deposit. Once that deposit is received, the College will issue the student the Certificate of Eligibility form (I-20 form).

Per the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidelines, the Form I-20 will be sent directly to the nonimmigrant student, his or her dependents, or for minors, to the parent or guardian of the non-immigrant student. Requests to have Forms I-20 sent to another individual or party must come directly from the student to a Primary/Designated School Official (P/DSO) so that a P/DSO may submit such request to the SEVP Response Center. Please submit such a request with the admissions application to ensure timely outreach and response from SEVP.

Admission is granted for a specific semester of entrance and the I-20 form is only valid for that particular semester. The student must present the I-20 to his/her country’s embassy/consulate to obtain an F-1 visa. 

MAFSA & immigration status

In January 2024, the Department of Higher Education also launched the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). This form allows students who are not able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to their immigration status a way to apply for need-based state financial aid. These forms will be used by institutions to assess student eligibility for in-state tuition and non-need based financial aid (Student Application and Affidavit), as well as need-based state financial aid (MASFA). Get more information.

Contact our Financial Aid department for more information on MASFA at Bristol Community College.