Undergraduate Admission

Fall International Timeline

Now that you've submitted your Enrollment Deposit, here's what to expect.

Create your ECnet Account

Once you have submitted your enrollment deposit, you’ll receive an email inviting you to sign up for an ECnet account. Please do so as soon as possible.

Forgot your ECnet password? If you've misplaced your ECnet password, you can reset it online.

Obtaining Your I-20 Form for a Student Visa

The Financial Documents deadline is June 1 for fall applicants and November 1 for spring applicants. Follow these steps to obtain your I-20:

Submit financial documentation. This includes the following:
- Enrollment Deposit
- International Student Contact Form (PDF)
  This form provides information necessary for your I-20 Form (immigration document).
- Bank Document (Sample PDF)
  Please provide us with a bank document that meets the following criteria:
  - In English
  - In U.S. Dollars
  - An original copy
  - Showing a minimum of US$48,000
  - Signed by a bank official
  - Issued within 12 months of the start date of your program. (Please note that the funds must be liquid: real estate and forms of property are not acceptable forms of documentation.) Please view our Financial Documentation guidelines PDF »
- Letter of Sponsorship (PDF)
  If your official bank letter represents finances of someone other than you, you must include this letter of sponsorship. Make sure your financial sponsor signs and dates the letter.
- Passport Photocopy
  Please submit a copy of the biographical/identification page of your passport. This is the page that shows your photo, your date of birth, passport number, date that the passport was issued, expiration date, and country of citizenship.
- Proof of Secondary School/ High School Graduation
  Please submit final transcripts with proof of graduation or a certified copy of your diploma. If you have not received a U.S. diploma, please read Section 3 on transcripts/proof of graduation.
Emerson does not process an I-20 until we receive a tuition deposit. We typically process I-20s in May and June for September enrollees, and as soon as you deposit for January enrollees.
Once you receive your I-20 and SEVIS information, you must pay the SEVIS fee. More information »
You must contact your nearest consulate or embassy to schedule an interview. More information on visa wait times in your home country.
Here are 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa.
We can only accept original copies of the International Student Form, the Bank Document and the Letter of Sponsorship.

International Transfer Students

For students attending colleges and universities within the United States, please look over the procedures for maintaining your F-1 visa status.

In addition to the items listed above, you must also submit one copy of each form from below:

Current F-1 student visa
Form I-94 arrival/departure record (the small white card stapled into your passport)
Previous Form I-20
Transfer Verification Form

Sign Up for Housing

Deadline: July 15

After submitting your Enrollment Deposit, visit eCommon and login with your ECnet username and password. Freshmen will see an option to complete the online Housing Application Form. Please do so as soon as possible. View our residency requirements »

Emerson has wonderful, safe housing and learning communities right in the heart of Boston:

Submit Final Transcripts and Proof of Graduation

Deadline: July 15

International Transcript Policy

We must receive a Final Secondary School Transcript and an official Proof of Graduation or completion of secondary education program before you matriculate to Emerson College. Some of our international students will need to receive a credential evaluation of their transcripts and diploma.

Proof of Graduation is due by June 1 for fall enrollment and by December 15 for spring enrollment.

A credential evaluation and translation will assist in determining transfer credit, as well as proof of secondary school graduation. You may use any of the following recommended credential evaluators:

The credential evaluation service will inform the student about which official documents it requires (transcripts, diplomas, exam scores, etc). This varies, depending on the country where the student was educated. If you determine that you need a credit evaluation of your official transcript, you will also need one for your proof of graduation.

You do need a Credit Evaluation if:

Your secondary school is outside the United States and your transcript is not in English
Your secondary school is not accredited by the United States
You are a transfer student who took college credit outside the United States (non-U.S. colleges only)

You do not need a Credit Evaluation if:

Your graduated from an American secondary school outside the United States
Your school is U.S. accredited
You received a U.S. diploma
You received an International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma). However, you must still submit an official copy of your diploma.

When choosing your credential service, please choose a service similar to World Education Service’s Document-by-Document report.

Proof of Graduation

Acceptable proof of graduation includes:

Official Final Transcript with date of graduation (Only if school is U.S. accredited and issues U.S. Diplomas)
Official copy of IB Diploma
Credential evaluation of your non-U.S. diploma/certificate stating it is equivalent to a U.S. diploma
Official A-level results

We cannot accept the following as proof of graduation:

IB exam scores (without accompanying diploma)
Photocopy or scan of high school diploma
Exams, such as the International Baccalaureate, German Abitur, European Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureat, and Swiss Maturité need not be translated in order to be considered for transfer credit, but are not sufficient proof of high school graduation.

Advising and Registration Information

DEADLINE: MID-JULY

Academic Advising will mail first-year registration instructions in mid-June. Please return all materials by the deadline listed in the instructions. Registration instructions for transfer students will be sent by the end of June, and will be due shortly after you receive them.

Transferring Credits

First-year students may be awarded transfer credit for college coursework taken prior to enrolling at Emerson or for taking Advanced Placement or IB exams.
If you would like to receive a credit and/or exam score evaluation, submit official final college transcripts to Emerson College Undergraduate Admission Processing Center, PO Box 880, Randolph, MA 02368-0880 by July 15. You can submit a transcript for any Summer 2012 college coursework by August 15. Evaluations are usually complete within a few weeks.

Major Changes

Please note that incoming students may not request to change majors into the Visual and Media Arts department or the Performing Arts department.

If you are considering a major change before you deposit, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at admission@emerson.edu. You will hear from an Admission Counselor within one week as to whether your request can be approved.

If you are considering a major change after you deposit, please contact the Academic Advising Center at advising@emerson.edu. Advising will note that you would like to change your major, and then will consider requests according to program space availability in mid to late summer.

Once you matriculate in the fall, we will ask you to wait until your second semester at the College to request a change of major. All changes require approval of the department Chair. Information regarding the major change process and qualifications required for specific programs is available from the Academic Advising Center.

Pay Tuition Bill

Deadline: August 1

Tuition bills will be sent the week of June 18 and are due by August 1. More information »

Submit Health Forms

Deadline: JULY 1

Full-time students should carefully read the Pre-Entrance Health Requirements Policy. In order to begin classes and/or take residency, students must download and complete the Entrance Health Form and provide documentation of compliance with all health requirements by July 1. We encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.

Read the Pre-Entrance Health Requirements Policy »

Orientation and Moving to Boston

Student Life will send you information in late July regarding your housing and move-in day assignment.

View the latest Orientation information »

Fall International Timeline

Create your ECnet Account