International Student Information

You are considered an international student if you do not have U.S. citizenship, dual-U.S. citizenship, or have permanent residency.

1. U.S. Visa, Financial, and Identity Documentation Requirements
2. Applying to a Summer Pre-College Program
3. Residence Life
4. Student Life

1. U.S. Visa, Financial, and Identity Documentation Requirements

You will need an F-1 student visa to participate in our Pre-College Studio Programs.

Note: The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires all F-1 student visa applicants to pay a one-time fee before applying for a visa. Visit U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to read current fees and visa application requirements.

Financial Documentation

If you are accepted to one of our studio programs, you must send us financial documentation:

• An original copy of a bank document, translated into English by a qualified official of the bank. The document must be issued no sooner than June 6, 2013. Funds must be liquid (real estate and other property will not be accepted), and show sufficient funds in U.S. Dollars to cover the cost of the program. Please use the table below for individual program amounts.

• A letter of sponsorship. If your official bank letter represents finances of someone other than you, you must also send a letter of sponsorship, signed and dated by your financial sponsor.

Identification Documents

As an international applicant, you must submit:

• A photocopy of your passport
• An International Student Contact Form

Please consult the studio program pages for additional general application requirements.

2. Applying to a Summer Pre-College Program

Deadline: International students must submit all application materials by May 24, 2013.

Acting Studio, Creative Writers Studio, Musical Theatre Studio, Filmmakers Studio, Stage Design, and  Television and Film Production Studio are all available to international students. Read about the Studio Programs. You may apply to two programs if you wish. If you apply to two programs, you must send us all required application materials for both programs.

Note: International students are not eligible for Pre-College Credit Programs, the Summer Journalism Institute, or the Summer Institute for Political Communication, Advocacy and Leadership.

Application Materials

Letter of Recommendation: A teacher or guidance counselor should write your letter of recommendation. A drama coach or vocal instructor, or a community or professional theater director may write a letter of recommendation for you if you apply to Acting Studio or Musical Theatre Studio.

Theatrical Résumé: This is a list of your stage experience: roles, training, and education. It should also include your physical description, vocal range, and contact information. A theatrical résumé is required of Acting Studio and Musical Theatre Studio applicants.

Television & Film Non-DVD Samples: If you do not have a DVD sample of your work, please submit the first 5–10 pages of a script or a written synopsis of an idea you have for a film or a television show. Script or DVD samples are required of TV Studio Writing and Production and Filmmakers Studio applicants.

TOEFL & IELTS scores: If your native language is not English, you must provide proof of your proficiency in the English language. Please submit your scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System. A TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or 80 (Internet based) or an IELTS core of 7 and above is preferred.

If you are an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, or if you attend an English immersion school, you are not required to send TOEFL or IELTS scores. However, we require a letter of English proficiency from an instructor or a guidance counselor.

Please consult the studio program pages for additional general application requirements.

3. Residence Life

All international students must stay in the College’s residence halls. Summer 2013 pre-college students will stay in the Paramount Center Residence Hall, in four- or six-person suites. The residence hall has 24-hour building security.

You may move into the residence hall on July 6, 2013. You must move out of the residence hall by 12:00 noon on Sunday, August 11, 2013.

Professional staff and student staff members live in the residence hall, explain College policies, refer students to College services and offices, respond to emergency situations, sponsor after-program activities, and provide general support services to residents. Support services include mediation of interpersonal conflicts, responding to emergencies, enforcement of College policies, and assisting students in general during their stay.

Curfew: Two curfews will be enforced.

• Building curfew: Students must be inside the residence hall no later than 10:00 pm.
• Room curfew: Students must be in their rooms by midnight.

Room assignments: A month before the program begins, you will receive your room assignment, along with your class schedule and other information, such as class locations. Roommates are assigned based on completed roommate questionnaires.

4. Student Life

Rules & Policies
Each pre-college student receives a Student Handbook. You will be expected to follow Emerson College’s rules and all policies explained in the handbook. Special Note: Drinking age in the United States is 21 years old. Smoking is prohibited in all Emerson College-owned or -leased buildings.

Leaving Campus
Residential students may leave campus during non-program hours if they sign out with another residential student. The sign-out policy is explained in the student handbook. If you plan to sleep off campus, your parents must submit a completed and signed Parental Permission form. The five-week programs are intensive. We strongly suggest that you miss no more than one class, and that you limit off-campus overnight visits to weekend and non-program hours.

Activities
Evening activities are offered frequently. Activities will be scheduled by our professional staff and may include activities based on information pre-college students provide to us in an activity questionnaire. Often students participate in such activities as an author reading, a museum visit, or attendance at a play.

Health Insurance & Immunizations

All international students must be covered by a health insurance plan, provided by a United States-based insurance company. Proof of insurance is required.

Please visit Emerson College’s Immunization page. You will need to provide proof that you have received all immunizations listed for undergraduates, as well as three doses of Polio immunization.

Tuberculosis Skin Test

You must be tested for tuberculosis no earlier than three months prior to the start of the program if you are from a country not listed below:

Albania, America Samoa, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, United States Virgin Islands

If you have other questions, please email Al Ragone at alfonso_ragone@emerson.edu or call 617-824-8278.