An international student (first time college student as well as transfer student) is one who will be attending Biola University on an F-1 student visa. U.S. citizens living abroad should follow the application guidelines for First-Time College Students or Transfer Students.

Please note that our International Admissions Counselor, Fitsum Mulat, serves as the counselor for all global students (Internationals and US Citizens living abroad). Please contact her for any inquires about applying to Biola University.

To apply to Biola as an international student, follow the steps below:

1. Complete and submit your official application for admission. Every advantage goes to the early applicant, and late applications are charged a non-refundable $55 application fee.

2. Submit a non-refundable $45 application fee.* If applying online, you may submit the fee by credit card. Otherwise, please send a check or money order made payable to Biola University, with the student's name indicated on the memo-line, to the address below:

   Office of Admissions
   Biola University
   13800 Biola Avenue
   La Mirada, CA 90639

   * Biola will accept the College Board fee waiver or appropriate letter verifying family financial hardship.

3. Submit an official transcript from each secondary and post-secondary school attended, current through the time of application. Transcripts must arrive with a certified English translation documenting your coursework, examinations taken, grades received, passing and maximum marks, and evidence of secondary school graduation. Transcripts will be considered official only when sent directly from the institution to Biola via the aforementioned address above.

4. Submit your scores from one of the following Standardized Tests:

   • SAT (Code 4017)
   • ACT (Code 0172)
   • If English is you second language – TOEFL or IELTS
     Please note that Transfer students who have earned a minimum of 15 transferable college units (completed after high school graduation) are not required to submit SAT or ACT score. However, if English is a second language, they may still be asked to take Biola's English Placement Exam (BEPE).

5. Submit a reference form from a member of the pastoral staff of your church that supports your Christian testimony. In addition, you have the option to submit a reference from a high school teacher, counselor, or a college instructor that attests to your academic ability. Both references should be provided by persons outside of your own family and be sent to the aforementioned address above.

6. Submit your completed affidavit of support.

• The student must be an evangelical believer in the Christian faith.
   
• The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent to that according to the grading system used by the country that a student is applying from. (Please Note that Biola does not have a translation or evaluation service, and students are required to submit records in English. If the school does not issue an English translation, the student is responsible to get an official translation done by a known agency. Please see the transfer student information below regarding transferring college units to Biola). 
   
• The student must have one of the following Standardized Tests:

1. Minimum SAT combined score of 920 (Critical Reading/Math score on the SAT. This does not include the Writing score)

2. Composite 19 score on the ACT
   Note: The average Critical Reading/Math SAT score for incoming freshmen at Biola is 1,104. The average Composite ACT score is 24.

3. 600 Paper / 100 iBT score on the TOEFL

4. IELTS–Band 6
   Note: Students with test scores below the requirement may enter most Biola degree programs if they meet all other requirements for admission. These students will be asked to take the Biola English Placement Exam (BEPE) prior to the starting date of classes, and may need additional language training prior to starting major courses.

• Financial ability to meet the cost of education at Biola University (Tuition, Room, Board, Health Insurance). Please refer to the current tuition and cost.

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Financing your education is certainly a large part of planning to enroll at Biola University. And international students are responsible to submit an affidavit of support and bank statement to show how they plan to pay for their education.  Biola offers select scholarship opportunities for those who qualify, although this cannot be guaranteed for every applicant. All materials must be received by the appropriate deadline date to qualify for any available scholarships or grants. Please see the link below for detailed information on undergraduate international financial aid options.

Financial Aid Information for International Students

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International students studying on an F-1 visa may submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) rather than the SAT or ACT. The necessary level of English proficiency for admission to Biola is demonstrated by a TOEFL score of at least 600 paper / 250 computer / 100 iBT.

Admission to Biola is based on the understanding that a student either already has a sufficient TOEFL score or is actively progressing toward this level of English proficiency. Applicants who do not have this score may still be admitted to Biola in one of two ways:

1. TOEFL scores between 500-599 paper / 173-249 computer / 64-99 iBT

   Students in this range are required to take the Biola English Placement Exam (BEPE). Students are assigned English courses in the [English Language Studies Program][9] (ELSP) based on their test results. Courses assigned may range from one semester part-time to three semesters full-time plus three semesters part-time of English as a Second Language (ESL).

2. TOEFL scores below 500 paper / 173 computer / 64 iBT

   Students in this range may still be admitted to Biola through the English Language Studies Program (ELSP). Contact ELSP for more information.

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International Student Transferring from a school within the United States

F-1 visa holders who desire to transfer to Biola (from another US high school, college, or university) must complete all requirements listed above, as well as:

• Submit copies of their I-20, passport with F-1 Visa pages, and I-94.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended in the United States.
• Submit a complete Transfer Authorization Form signed by the current school to verify that they are in status.
• In lieu of the TOEFL, students who are already in the United States and have completed College English courses may be asked  to take the BEPE (Biola English Placement Exam).
• International Students Transferring from a school Within 

International Student Transferring from a school outside of the United States

Students who desire to get transfer credit for college courses taken outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an independent Credential Evaluation Agency located in the United States, such as the American Education Research Corporation. A 2.5 GPA is required for international transfer students.

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To qualify for an application deadline, all materials must be received in the Admissions Office by the appropriate deadline date. If a student qualifies for a specific application deadline, they will be notified of admission by the corresponding notification date.

Applying for Fall Semester

Deadline Type	Apply By	Notified By
Early Action 1	Nov. 15	Jan. 15
Early Action 2	Jan. 15	Feb. 15
Regular	Mar. 1	Apr. 1

Note: Applications for the fall semester that are received after March 1 are considered late, charged a late fee of $55, and processed if space is available and time allows.

More Information on Early Action Deadlines

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