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International Students

Thank you for choosing BSC! Please be advised that all documents submitted must be official, translated into English and certified as to their authenticity and accuracy. 

Currently, Bismarck State College’s Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are not authorized programs of study for international student applicants under Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requirements. 

Additionally, Bismarck State College is not approved to host international students seeking to complete degree or certificate programs that are offered exclusively online.
 

The I-20 immigration form will not be issued by Bismarck State College until the Admissions file is complete.

Complete Admissions File Deadline for FALL...............................June 1
Complete Admissions File Deadline for SPRING..........................November 1


It is the international student's responsibility to be aware of and comply with all U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requirements. Helpful websites are https://www.ice.gov/sevis, https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/, and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html.

View the International Student Life Cycle

The Admissions process typically takes 1-3 weeks, depending on BSC receiving the required documentation. If you have any questions about any part of this process feel free to connect with an Admissions Counselor or call 701-224-5429.

Submit information to:
Bismarck State College
Admissions/Enrollment Services
P.O. Box 5587
Bismarck, ND 58506-5587

Bismarck State College Admissions Office reserves the right to revoke review of admission upon proof of fraudulent practices in the application process.

Please complete the following checklist for admission to Bismarck State College:

1. Application for Admission
 
  • Non-refundable $35 application fee*
*If proof of fraudulent payment is discovered toward submission of the $35 application fee, BSC Admissions reserves the right to withdraw the student’s application and may impact admission for future terms.
2. Official Transcripts
Official High School (secondary school) transcript
  • International high school credentials must be evaluated through an approved evaluation service. The evaluation is the sole responsibility of the applicant and must be submitted for evaluation to the member organizations of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). BSC recommends using World Education Services (WES) or Spantran for evaluation.
  • Please submit official transcripts/academic records from all secondary schools attended, along with document-by-document evaluation. There will be a cost to the student for the evaluating service. Exemptions to this policy may be granted if you have completed 24 or more semester hours of college level coursework evaluated through an approved evaluation service, or from an accredited institution in the United States. High school graduates from Canada with transcripts issued in English may be exempted from the evaluation requirement and can have the transcript sent directly to Bismarck State College.
Official College or Post-Secondary transcript(s)
3. Immunizations
Request documented proof of the following immunities:
  • measles, mumps, and rubella 2 doses if the student was born after 1/1/1957
  • meningitis (meningococcal) - meningitis information
    • All students 21 years of age and younger must provide documentation of vaccination of meningitis
    • vaccination must be AFTER the age 16
    • NOTE: meningococcal-B is a separate meningitis vaccination. It does NOT meet the NDUS requirement
Per SBHE Policy 506.1, immunization waivers may be granted when:
  • Immunization is contraindicated by a medical condition that is certified by a licensed provider;
  • The student's beliefs preclude participation in an immunization program or
  • Instances when the student has had one MMR immunization and agrees to have a second one no less than twenty-eight days later. Students will be accepted and allowed to register for one semester. A hold will be placed on the student’s account for any subsequent semesters until the 2nd MMR is received.
*Please contact the BSC admissions department for information about the waiver process.
 
Tuberculosis Screening may also be applicable. Read about Tuberculosis Screening for International Students.

These documents may be uploaded through the BSC Admissions Secure File Dropbox.
4. Placement Test Scores
Submission of placement assessment scores at the time of admission is encouraged, however, is not a requirement. Although the placement assessments will be waived for admission, appropriate placement scores or equivalent courses will be required in order to register for math and English courses.

The following Placement Exams are preferred by BSC:
  • ACT or SAT must be dated within the last five years
  • ACCUPLACER dated within the last three years
The assessment may be waived by the following:
  • Remedial or College level English and Math courses successfully completed at a regionally accredited institution
  • A baccalaureate or higher degree has been earned from a regionally accredited institution
Bismarck State College offers the ACCUPLACER exam. For further details or to schedule an exam, please visit the BSC Placement Testing page.
5. English Proficiency
Applicants who are not United States citizens will need to meet English proficiency requirements per North Dakota University System Procedure 411.5.

Test components will be considered valid for the following length of time:
  • ACT (school code 3196) or SAT (school code 6041) dated within the last five years
  • Accuplacer, EdReady, HiSet, GED, Pearson, or Smarter Balanced dated within the last three years
  • The International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS), Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE-A), Michigan English Test (MET), Duolingo English Test (DET), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (school code 6041) or Cambridge English Qualifications (CES) dated within the last 2 years
 
Effective April 23, 2023 Applicants from the following countries are not required to submit evidence of English proficiency:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
 
6. Declaration of Finance
The Declaration of Finance form must be filled out and submitted to BSC with appropriate documentation. Bank statements must be sent directly from the bank to Bismarck State College. The account must show deposits and withdrawals from the last six months. Documentation must show a source of full financial support for all years of attendance at Bismarck State College. You should be prepared to provide additional certified bank records or other pertinent documentation upon request. **Please note tuition, fees, and student insurance rates are based on the most current figures provided to BSC. This may be subject to change.**


The forms may be completed as a fillable pdf before being printed and signed to be set to BSC.
 
Declaration of Finance: All Countries Except Canada, Norway
Declaration of Finance: All Other Canadian Provinces & Norway
Declaration of Finance: Manitoba and Saskatchewan

International students are also encouraged to apply for BSC's International Student Tuition Waiver.

These documents may be uploaded through the BSC Admissions Secure File Dropbox.
7. International Student Health Insurance
If you are from Canada or Norway, you are not required to have international student health insurance as per SBHE policy/procedure 505. However, if you are interested in receiving student health insurance, please reach out to Admissions

The North Dakota University System (NDUS) offers health insurance coverage to international NDUS students through United Healthcare Insurance Company (except students from Canada and Norway).  
All international students are required (excluding students from Canada and Norway) to have health insurance in place and verified as per NDUS Policy 505  and an international student is able to secure a waiver from the NDUS health insurance plan. 

International students are automatically enrolled by semester in their institution's student health insurance plan. A student may opt-in to NDUS health insurance coverage prior to automatic enrollment to expedite confirmation of coverage. The premium cost is billed to the international student's campus connection account. If an international student wants to waive this health insurance coverage, comparable coverage must be in place and verified through the waiver process. 

Eligibility
All full-time undergraduate students actively taking classes on campus are eligible to enroll. "Full-time" is defined as:
  1. Undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each semester
  2. Additionally, eligible students who enroll may insure their dependents as well. Eligible dependents are the student's legal spouse/domestic partner and dependent children under 26 years of age. The student must be enrolled in order to access an enrollment opportunity for dependents
  3. Students eligible for this insurance plan must actively attend class in person. Students who are primarily enrolled in online courses, home study programs, or correspondence courses do not fulfill the eligibility requirements.
  4. This list is not exhaustive; each applicant must review the insurance policy information and base eligibility determinations upon that review. If a student is found to be ineligible for the policy, United Healthcare will remove the student from the policy. If you have questions if you are eligible or not, please contact Katie Fitzsimmons at the NDUS Office.
Domestic Students
Domestic students (i.e. American citizens) are not required by the NDUS to carry coverage; however, the Affordable Care Act does require that you carry some sort of health insurance. If you would like assistance with selecting health insurance, please go to HealthCare.gov.  
 
United Healthcare Contact Information:
United Healthcare Customer Service
www.UHCSR.com/NDUS
customerservice@uhcsr.com 
877.433.6667

Canadian Provincial Health Insurance
Canadian citizens are not required to carry the North Dakota University System insurance policy through United Healthcare. You should refer to your Canadian private and provincial health insurance providers for more information about what sort of coverage you have while attending college in the United States. 

If you are interested in purchasing the North Dakota University System insurance policy, read through the policy details and contact our student finance office to initiate your enrollment into the plan. Include the following details: First and Last name, BSC student ID, date of birth, U.S. phone number, and your address in Bismarck.  You must choose to Opt-In to be enrolled in the policy through United Healthcare.
 
8. Next Steps
Upon completion of the online application, you will receive an email giving you instructions on setting up an account in CampusConnection. This Online portal gives you access to the following (and much more).
  • Check your Application Status
  • Check your To-Do List
  • Apply for Housing
  • Register for Classes
  • Pay Tuition
  • Accept Financial Aid
  • View Holds

For Helpsheet and Video Tutorials visit our Campus Connection Help page.

 

9. Upon arrival at Bismarck State College

Medical Insurance

Medical Insurance: All F-1 students who enroll at BSC are required to purchase a medical health insurance policy which remains in effect for the duration of study. The premium for coverage under this plan will be billed directly to the student. The annual fee must be paid in full at the beginning of the first year and prior to each subsequent year of study. The insurance will be coordinated by the International student admissions office. (Students from Canada and Norway are exempt).

Passport

Copy of your passport, including passport expiration date and the U.S. entry visa stamp in the passport with expiration date (except Canadians) - after a student arrives on campus.

International Student Waiver Application/Procedure