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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

CIHS welcomes international students from all over the world! 

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CIHS has recently received permanent approval from its accrediting body, WSCUC, to offer all of its degree programs through the distance education online modality in 29 states and all countries overseas. That said, international students outside the United States are able to complete their desired CIHS program virtually and attend classes online from the comfort of their home in their country without having to physically come to the U.S. to attend CIHS. As a result, these students will save money on travel and living expenses in the U.S. In addition, they will have the option to enroll at CIHS as part-time students or full-time students and won't need to obtain an I-20 or an F-1 student visa to study in the U.S.A. 

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CIHS is also authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students and issue I-20 SEVIS forms to eligible international applicants seeking F-1 visa status who wish to take in-person classes on the CIHS campus.  This includes international students coming from outside the U.S. and those who are already in the U.S. attending other SEVP-approved schools but wish to transfer to CIHS. 

 

To be issued an I-20 by CIHS, international students must demonstrate English language proficiency and show that they or their sponsor(s) have sufficient financial funds (For details, see items 8 and 9 below) . 

 

Important Notes:

  • i-20 International Students enrolled under the F-1 visa status are not eligible for CIHS' tuition deferment plan. These students must pay their quarterly tuition in full at the time of registration for that quarter's classes.

  • All CIHS students pay tuition and other related fees per course each quarter they enroll in. 

  • Due to U.S. Federal Regulations, all F-1 visa students must attend CIHS full-time each quarter taking two full credit academic courses. One of these courses must be an on-campus class per quarter. In addition to that one on-campus class, they must also take an additional course which may be an online class. However, the F-1 visa requires at least one of the two courses per quarter to be a residential on-campus course.

  • Prior to applying to CIHS, international applicants are strongly advised to check with their program director about the availability of in-person classes for the degree program they wish to enroll in. 

  • CIHS is only able to accept and issue I-20s to M.A. and Ph.D. international applicants at this time.  However, B.A. applicants will be notified when CIHS is able to accept and issue I-20s for undergraduate international students. 

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INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PROCESS & HOW TO APPLY 


To start the international application process, the materials listed below must be submitted/uploaded to our online application portal at the time of your application submission. Please note that GRE is not required for admission into any of our programs. Prior to filling out the online application form, all applicants are strongly encouraged to review our Academics Page first to select one degree program they wish to study at CIHS. 

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Required International Admission Application Materials (Admission Checklist):

  • 1) A completed online application via www.cihs.edu/apply-online 
    Important note: Please use a functional email address when you submit your online application and check your email regularly. This way, we would be able to notify you if any additional documents are needed to complete your admissions file. 

  • 2) Non-refundable international admissions application fee ($100).

  • 3) Official undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts-with proof of degree completion-e-mailed directly from the issuing institution to CIHS at admissions@cihs.edu.  Official course syllabi may also be required for possible transfer of credit upon departmental approval and in compliance with CIHS' Transfer Credit Policy.  

    • If your transcripts and academic records are not in English, you must submit an official, notarized, word-for-word, literal translation for all academic records (transcripts and diplomas) along with the documents in the original language. Translations can be done in your home country by any bona fide translating agency.

    • Transcripts issued by foreign universities that don't follow the U.S. grading system must be sent to one of the following foreign credential evaluation agencies for a detailed course-by-course evaluation:

  • 4) Two letters of recommendation (for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants) and one letter of recommendation (for B.A. applicants) from individuals who can address your academic and/or professional qualifications. There are 2 ways to submit the letter(s) of recommendation: ​

  • 5) A personal essay in which you explain the reason (s) for seeking admission to CIHS. The essay should show evidence that you have read the CIHS website, understand CIHS’ statement of mission and goals, and have some knowledge of the field of study of the program for which you are applying. Explain how this program could add to your academic background and help you fulfill professional and/or personal goals. Suggested length of narrative: 1-2 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, Font Size 12.  Approximately 250-500 words. Applicants may exceed this limit if needed. 

  • 6) A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, if applicable.  (for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants ONLY). 

  • 7) A representative term paper or another sample of academic or professional writing or publication(s). (for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants ONLY). For tips on how to choose a writing sample, click here.

  • 8) English Proficiency. ​Students whose native language is not English must submit a satisfactory English test score in one of the following English proficiency tests:​

    • IELTS-Academic     6.5 or higher

    • TOEFL iBT               79 or higher (CIHS TOEFL School Code is D107)

    • Cambridge CEFR*   C1 Level or higher (*CEFR= The Common European Framework of Reference) 

    • Duolingo                105 or higher (As of Summer 2024, CIHS will start requiring 110 or higher)

    • PTE-Academic**   53 or higher (**PTE=Pearson Test of English)​
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Transcripts submitted by e-mail (preferred method) should be sent to:
admissions@cihs.edu

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Transcripts submitted by mail should be sent to:

California Institute for Human Science​

Admissions Office

701 Garden View Court

Encinitas, CA 92024

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  • 9) International applicants seeking an I-20 (for F-1 Student Visa Status) must also submit the following items:

    • A current bank statement, within the last 3 months, showing at least $44,890 USD or its foreign currency equivalent.  The bank statement must be official, on bank letterhead, and in the student's name or in the sponsor’s name. 

    • Affidavit of Support signed by the student and the sponsor. To download the form click on the Affidavit of Support Form.

    • Copy of the applicant's passport biographical (name) page.

    • Married applicants who wish to bring their dependents (spouse and children), must submit additional documents as stated in the above Affidavit of Support Form. 

    • Note: CIHS will only issue an I-20 after you have been accepted into a degree program as a full-time student, have met our English language requirement, and have shown adequate financial support as stated above. Once you receive your I-20 from CIHS, you need to pay the I-901 fee at www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html then apply for an F-1 student visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country.  To help you prepare for your F-1 student visa interview, we suggest you do a Google search on "how to prepare for an F-1 student visa interview".


What Happens After You Apply:

Once your online application is submitted, and your supporting documents have been received by the Admissions Office, your file will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee and an admission decision will be rendered.  This process usually takes a couple of weeks from the time we receive ALL your supporting documents, therefore, we strongly recommend that you don't delay sending us the required admission documents, otherwise, the processing of your application will be delayed.  Accepted students will be notified via email. 

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Accepted Students:

Once you have been officially accepted into a degree program at CIHS, our Registrar's Office will send you information on next steps including the CIHS Enrollment Agreement forms.  Once you complete and sign the Enrollment Agreement forms, our Registrar will provide you with your CIHS email address and CIHS student ID number.  In addition, information on how to select your first term classes under the guidance of your Program Director, how to to register for classes using the proper online registration form, how to pay your first term tuition fees, and how to access your online classes will also be provided via email.  Finally, our Dean of Student Success will send you information on our new student virtual orientation program. All new students are strongly encouraged to attend this important program prior to the start of their first academic term at CIHS. 

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