International Undergraduate Applicants: What to Know
Babson College is known as one of the best schools for international students—and for good reason. We offer full support for our international students and their specific needs, from the first steps of your application to graduation day and beyond. Undergraduate Admission is the primary point of contact throughout the application process but partners closely with the Glavin Office of International Education, and the entire Babson community to make sure you have what you need. After the deposit deadline has passed, the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) team works directly with individuals for the student visa process.
If you have any questions throughout the process, you can reach the Babson Undergraduate Admission office by emailing them at ugradadmission@babson.edu or calling them at +1 781-239-5522 or +1 800-488-3696.
As a degree-seeking student, once you have received your acceptance to Babson, paid your deposit, and have an active Babson email, you will receive information from ISSS to begin the process to request your immigration documents. They are typically issued about four months from the start date of your program. You will use these documents to apply for the appropriate visa.
You can find a step-by-step guide to the Student Visa process on this page.
Application Process
International applicants to Babson go through the same application process as domestic students, with the added requirement of an English proficiency exam score for applicants whose native language is not English. For undergraduate tests, Babson currently accepts:
Immigration Status Information
The majority of our international students are in F-1 student immigration status, though some students may be on dependent visas that allow full-time study or qualify for J-1 immigration status (student category).
To maintain legal F-1 or J-1 status, you must:
- enroll in a full course of study during the academic year (at least 12 credits per semester)
- maintain a valid passport (best practice is at least six months into the future)
- comply with the extension of program procedures before your current Form I-20/Form DS-2019 expires
- comply with procedures for changing from one degree level to another
- engage only in authorized employment (see more information below)
- report any address change within 10 days of moving.
Forms and Identification
If you ever have any questions or concerns about your forms and don’t know what you need for travel, please reach out to International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) at isss@babson.edu. It is recommended that you have all of your original documents (plus digital copies) on you if you leave campus.
You will hear about your SEVIS record when applying and attending Babson. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a Department of Homeland Security electronic monitoring system for international students. It requires schools to report certain information on each student. F-1 and J-1 students (and any dependents) are assigned a SEVIS ID, which can be found on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
Babson College provides student immigration documents for students who have been admitted into a full-time program. To enter the United States for educational purposes, most full-time undergraduate and graduate international students obtain a Form I-20, receive an F-1 student entry visa, and enter the United States in F-1 student immigration status.
Form I-20 (F-1 status)
The Form I-20 is a three-page document issued by a U.S. school to prove that you have been accepted and have met all admission requirements for your program and are eligible for F-1 student immigration status. It also indicates how long you may remain in the United States based on your program of study. It may be reissued over the course of a program for travel or work authorization purposes.
Form DS-2019 (J-1 status)
The Form DS-2019 is issued by a U.S. school to prove that you have been accepted and have met all admission requirements for your program and are eligible for J-1 student immigration status. It also indicates how long you may remain in the United States, based on your program of study. It may be reissued over the course of a program for travel or work authorization purposes.
Visa
An entry visa is placed in your passport at a U.S. embassy or consulate (outside the U.S.). An F-1 entry visa is required to enter the U.S. in F-1 student status (unless you are from Canada or Bermuda). The entry visa stamp may expire while you are inside the U.S. You will only need a new visa if you leave the U.S. after it expires and you wish to return.
I-94
The I-94 is your official arrival/departure record. It indicates what date you arrived in the U.S. It also indicates how you were admitted into the U.S. (for example, as an F-1 student). It also will include an expiration date—which for F-1/J-1 students/scholars and their dependents, this should be D/S, which means Duration of Status. This notation refers to the date you complete your studies or the end date on your Form I-20/Form DS-2019 (whichever is earlier) plus any grace period you may be eligible for.
F-1 students may apply for a Social Security number if they are authorized for employment or have an on-campus job offer. You can find information about SSNs here and information on obtaining a driver’s license here.
Applying for Aid
We offer specific types of need- and merit-based aid for our international students. You can find more information about this on our financial aid website.
Transferring to Babson as an International Student
There are important steps to consider when you’re transferring to Babson, specifically if you’re an international student. For the complete transfer application process for international students, including information about transferring your SEVIS record, please see the International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) website.
