The  faculty, staff, and students of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School consider it a real privilege to have International Students on our campus. There is much that you have to offer us and we hope that you will benefit richly from your experience here.

    We realize, however, that you will have to make significant adjustments to a new environment. You may face a different culture and language. You may also need to adjust to different institutional structures and classroom instructional styles. In order to make the transition as smooth as possible and insure that you have a positive experience at Trinity, please read and follow these instructions carefully. They are extremely important to you.

    We want to help in every way possible.  Please contact the International Students Office if you need further explanation or details. Tel. 847-317-4063. Fax 847-317-4066. Email: evangeme@tiu.edu. Website: www.tiu.edu/intstudents.

Application Instructions top

1. REGULAR APPLICATION

     Please follow the application procedures for the Regular Application that are the same for all applicants.

2. APPLICATION FEE

     A check or money order for $25.00 (payable to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) must be included with   your application. (We no longer require the preliminary application fee.). We will not process your application unless we receive this fee.

3. APPLICATION DEADLINE

     Your completed application must be received in our office at least ninety days before the beginning of the term in which you hope to enroll. If you apply later than this, we may process your application for a later Term. (Note: We are on the Semester system. You may apply to begin studies in the first or second semester of each year).
 

    Off-campus housing is very expensive and involves getting your own car -- unfortunately, there is no public transportation near the campus. The school takes no responsibility to find you housing off campus. We will help as much as we can by showing you listings of what may be available.

8. SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION - In some countries, acceptance in a school automatically implies a scholarship. This is not true at Trinity and in most schools in America. Acceptance only means that you are admitted to study on the basis of your academic qualifications. It is up to you to find the financial resources to support yourself and the dependents who accompany you. After you have been here for one year, you are qualified to apply for a small International Student grant. Details are available each year at the time of application.

U.S. Government Regulations

1. VISA INFORMATION - In order to issue the I-20 form that allows you to apply for an F-1 student visa, the U.S. government requires the school to have official documents certifying that you have enough money to finance yourself and the dependents who come with you for the first full year of study (two terms).

    The Certification of Finances form (COF) that is included in this packet must be correctly completed, notarized and be less than six months old. Please note that if you are using your personal funds, a bank official's signature on the COF or a bank statement showing that you have the stated funds is required. Money from parents, relatives, or friends listed on the COF must be certified by a bank official or their bank statement. If the documents represent foreign currency, they must show the equivalent in U.S. dollars.

    If an institution like a church or mission organization is supplying funds, no bank statement is needed. We require instead a letter from the organization stating the exact amount of money in U.S. dollars that they are guaranteeing for your support. This letter must be on the letterhead of the organization and signed by the director or other official.  NOTE: If you expect to attend classes beginning in the Fall semester, ALL financial documents must be received by JULY 1. If you expect to attend classes in the Spring semester, ALL documents must be received by NOVEMBER 1. If the documents are received AFTER those dates it would be practically impossible to guarantee that the I-20 would get to your country in time for you to schedule an appointment at the consulate and to make arrangements for arrival in time for orientation. Also, many consulates are requiring more time for the processing of visas. Please check with your embassy as to their requirements

    When you receive the I-20 from Trinity, read it carefully. Be sure to notice #5. The beginning and completion dates of your program are very important. You must enter the program not later than the date stipulated and you are required to leave the country 60 days after the completion date or get an extension.

    Next, you should take the I-20 form and your passport to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and apply for an F-1 student visa. In addition to your I-20 form, the consular official may ask for proof of English proficiency and/or verification of financial support.
 

All off-campus employment is illegal except with special permission from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This includes exchange of goods and services. For instance, babysitting or other work in exchange for living quarters is prohibited.