International Students
International Students

All international students wishing to apply to Carnegie Mellon must complete the preliminary application before their application for admission will be accepted.

It is important to note that international students are not eligible for financial aid. (Financial aid and payment plan programs are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.) International students must assume the total cost of their education and provide proof of adequate funding.

This page contains useful information for international students. Check out the links below for more information about various topics.

International students
Student Activities
Admission decisions
Transfer Students
Costs
Payment
Travel
Important Dates
Office of Student Affairs: Foreign Student Information
Intercultural Communication Center




International students: Approximately 20 percent of Carnegie Mellon's graduate and undergraduate student body is international. The undergraduate international population is approximately 450 students. Carnegie Mellon's Office of International Education helps international students with their social and academic transition to the U.S. and Carnegie Mellon, and informs them of their immigration rights and responsibilities. In addition to other programs, the office organizes a mandatory orientation program for international students, which begins one day prior to the first-year student orientation. The day's activities include:
  • a session on cross-cultural adjustment
  • a presentation on immigration
  • discussions on banking, social security, health services, health insurance and campus security
  • a session on the United States educational system



Student Activities: There are over 130 student organizations and activities on campus. Some of these organizations might be of particular interest to you such as Association for India's Development (AID), Hong Kong Students' Association, SPIC MACAY (The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), and the Taiwanese Students Association. For more information about all student organizations and activities on campus, check out the Student Activities Web site.



Note: If you plan to apply to Carnegie Mellon as a freshman or transfer student, you should follow the procedures outlined in our application booklet, but also pay close attention to the following details.



Admission decisions: To be considered for admission to Carnegie Mellon, you must submit official secondary school transcripts (along with an English translation, if appropriate) and official standardized test scores. If you are preparing for the International Baccalaureate or the General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-level examinations, please send your expected exam results. In addition, we'll ask you to submit an essay and information about your extracurricular activities. (See our application for admission for more details.)



Required testing: To be considered for admission as a freshman, you must take the following tests: SAT Reasoning Test or ACT(with Writing component), two SAT Subject Tests (as outlined in our application materials); and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). To be considered for the fall of 2006, you should take all required tests by January 2006 If the SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests or ACT Tests are not offered in your country, we'll take this into consideration when we review your application for admission. Please note that we do not accept GCE "O" level examinations for placement. See box below for more information.



Admission guidelines for transfer students: If you're currently attending a university or have attended one in the past, and you're interested in transferring to Carnegie Mellon, you must submit the following: TOEFL or IELTS score; high school transcript; college transcript(s), including copies of all course descriptions; scores of standardized tests taken for admission to college; and a completed Carnegie Mellon application for admission. Upon admission to Carnegie Mellon, we'll let you know where you stand academically (and whether or not you'll get credit for the classes you've already taken).



Educational costs: As an international student who plans to enroll at Carnegie Mellon, you must assume the total cost of your educational expenses. (For the 2004-2005 school year, the total cost is $44,190 which includes student health insurance but not travel expenses). Please note that financial aid and payment plan programs are not available to international students.

Cost of 2004-05 Academic Year (international student)


Tuition $30,650
Fees 576
Room and Board 8,554
Books and Supplies (Est.) 910
Personal/Miscellaneous (Est.) 1,280
Health Insurance 2,220
Transportation (Est.) variable

Total

$44,190



Payment guidelines: Make your financial arrangements with Carnegie Mellon by July 1. University and United States officials who issue your visa require certification of your ability to meet financial obligations. You will want to obtain several original copies of this proof of funding in order to be able to present them as needed to different officials. If you're offered admission, you must pay the enrollment deposit of $500 before you can receive a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or IAP-66) to secure your entry visa.



Travel planning for the future: Carnegie Mellon's academic year typically begins in late August, so please plan travel accordingly.




Application deadline Notification Dates
Early decision applications Early decision notification
Early Decision I: November 15
(November 1 for CFA - other than drama)
December 15
Early Decision II: December 15
(not available for Fine Arts applicants)
January 15
Regular decision applications Regular decision notification
January 1
(December 1 for CFA)
March 15 - April 15
Transfer applications for spring Transfer notification for spring
November 1 December 15
Transfer applications for fall Transfer notification for fall
March 15
(January 1 for CFA)
June
(April 15 for CFA)

General Info Pre-Application


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