International Applicants
Applying from Outside the U.S.
Wesleyan is one of the most highly selective institutions in the United States, and admission is competitive, with over 14,000 applicants each year. Applicants are expected to have a strong secondary school preparation in English, social science, science, mathematics, and a foreign language. Candidates studying at schools outside the U.S. who have taken national examinations for university admission (A levels, French Baccalaureate, ISC, International Baccalaureate, etc.) are expected to have achieved superior results. A high degree of proficiency in English, must also be demonstrated. Wesleyan provides support services for students who speak English as a second language through the English Department and the Writing Workshop
All students, including international students, applying for undergraduate admission who have not yet attended a university for one full year will be considered applicants to the first-year class. All students, including international students, who have completed a year or more at a university will be considered transfer applicants. Please note that students may not discount credit to be considered first-year students.
| Application Type | Application Deadline | Notification Date |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15 | mid December |
| Early Decision II | January 1 | mid February |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | late March |
| Transfer | March 15 | late April |
The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars Program
The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars Program provides full scholarships for a four-year course of study at Wesleyan toward a bachelor’s degree for exceptionally able students from Asia with demonstrated financial need. Citizens of The People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are eligible to be considered for the scholarship. To qualify, students must be citizens or permanent residents of one of these countries (and not dual U.S. citizens or permanent residents). Transfer applicants are not eligible for the Freeman Asian Scholarship.
International students who are not citizens of one of the countries included in the Freeman Asian Scholars Program can apply for need-based financial aid, which is available to all other international students. While spaces in each class for international students seeking financial aid are extremely limited, Wesleyan meets full demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
Standardized Tests for Admission
Wesleyan does not require students (regardless of citizenship) who study outside the US at an American curriculum high school or who can present predicted or actual results of IB, A level, or other national, standardized, subject-based examinations at the time of application to submit SAT/ACT scores. We do however, recommend all other students in schools outside the US submit SAT or ACT results as these tests may provide additional information when assessing their applications. If you have taken the SAT or ACT, then we encourage you to submit the scores; however, if you opt not to share your results the admission committee will still be able to make an informed decision on your candidacy. We will accept self-reported scores from the application or via your school.
If actual or predicted results for national, standardized, subject-based examinations are available, we ask that they be submitted by the student's school with the School Report. Students in an IB curriculum are expected to submit any predicted and actual IB subject results when available. Actual results must be submitted after matriculation as soon as they become available.
Demonstration of English Proficiency
English Proficiency Testing is not a requirement to complete your application for admission review. As a result, we provide no waivers for English Proficiency Testing. However, at Wesleyan, English is the language of instruction; we do not offer remedial English courses; and the curriculum is reading and writing intensive. Regardless of citizenship, candidates considered competitive for admission must adequately demonstrate English proficiency. If English is NOT your first language and you live outside the US, you can demonstrate proficiency through one of the following accepted tests:
| Exam | Minimum expected score |
| TOEFL (in person or at home) | 100 |
| IELTS (in person or Indicator) | 7.0 |
| SAT | 700 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing |
| ACT | 29 Reading and English section scores or English and Language Arts (ELA) combined score |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 |
| Cambridge English Assessment | 190 (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) |
While Wesleyan is test-optional for most applicants, please note that if you wish to submit your SAT or ACT as proof of English proficiency, you must submit the entire test. All sections of the SAT or ACT, not just the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section on the SAT or English and Reading sections of the ACT, will be used in evaluating your application. If you plan to use this option to demonstrate English proficiency, you must select "SAT" or "ACT" as your test to be considered on the Common/Coalition Application when applying to Wesleyan.
In addition to SAT and ACT, Wesleyan will accept self-reported English proficiency test scores documented on the application. Official scores will be required upon matriculation and must be received by July 1st. It’s preferred for scores from tests taken after the submission of the application to be sent directly from the testing agency; however, we will consider screenshots emailed to: applicant@wesleyan.edu. Results for the Duolingo English Test should be sent directly from the testing agency only, as there is no cost associated with doing so.
We understand that opportunities for in-person English proficiency testing may be limited at this time. Because we provide a number of options for online English proficiency testing, we will continue to highly recommend that students living outside the US for whom English is not their first language submit testing as proof of English proficiency.
Support for International Students
Wesleyan’s Office of International Student Affairs offers many services and programs to support the international student population including advice on personal and cultural matters, assistance with visas, insurance, career planning, and academic expectations. It is also a resource for questions related to housing, financial matters, traveling, and emergencies. The office hosts programming and events as well as an international student orientation.
- Expenses and Financial Aid
Review the cost of attendance as well as Financial Aid opportunities for newly admitted international students. If you do not apply for financial aid by your deadline (see table below), you will not have any opportunity to apply. International students who do receive financial aid in their first year do not need to reapply.
The dates for submitting the required financial aid documents are: Early Decision 1 November 15 Early Decision 2 January 1 Returning Students November 15 Regular Decision January 15 Fall Semester Transfers (Entering September 2022) March 15 If international students do not need financial aid, they must submit documentation verifying sufficient personal resources or outside scholarships to meet the expenses of four years at Wesleyan at the time of application. Instructions on how to complete the International Student Certification of Finances form.
Wesleyan and U.S. federally sponsored financial aid are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Financial aid for non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents is limited and awarded based on both exceptional qualifications and demonstrated need. Each year, we expect to offer financial assistance to approximately 40-45 international students from a pool of approximately 2800 international applicants applying for financial aid. The full demonstrated financial need of all undergraduate students, as determined by the Financial Aid Office, is met with a combination of loans, part-time employment, and grants. Financial aid is not available for international transfer students.
- Early Decision for International Citizens
While Wesleyan does not prohibit international citizens applying for financial aid from applying in either round of Early Decision, please note that due to the highly selective nature of our selection process for those students, it is unlikely that we will offer an international citizen seeking financial aid admission in Early Decision. Most Early Decision applicants who are international citizens seeking financial aid will be deferred to the Regular Decision round for consideration with the entire applicant pool. Students applying for the Freeman Asian Scholarship (applicants applying for financial aid who are citizens or permanent residents of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, or Singapore) should NOT apply in Early Decision as applicants for the scholarship will only be considered in the Regular Decision round. International citizens NOT seeking financial aid may apply for and be considered in both Early Decision rounds. View Early Decision and Regular Decision Information.
- Credits/Advanced Standing
College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations: The University will grant first-year students up to two credits for a score of 4 or 5 received on an AP examination, provided that they then take at least one upper-level course in the appropriate department at Wesleyan.
International Baccalaureate (IB): Students with superior results on their IB Higher Level may be awarded up to two credits by the appropriate department of the University. Some departments award credit for scores of 5 or better, others require a score of at least 6. Most departments will award this credit only after students take an upper-level course in that subject at Wesleyan. All students with IB diplomas are admitted as first-year students.
British ‘A’ Levels: Students with superior ‘A’ level results may petition the appropriate department of the University for up to two credits (the equivalent of two semester courses) for an ‘A’ level passed.
Wesleyan will apply towards graduation a maximum of two credits of any kind earned before matriculation by entering first-year students. While a maximum of two credits will be counted toward the Wesleyan degree, all such credits that have been duly approved by Wesleyan departments will be listed on the student’s transcript. This limit applies to Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and ‘A’ level exams as well as any college courses taken elsewhere. Students who have spent a year or more studying at a university should apply as transfer candidates.
- Visa Information
Visa Information
Wesleyan supports international undergraduate, graduate, and visiting scholar students who hold a F1 or J1 visa by providing immigration services before arrival to campus and during your time at Wesleyan.
- Special Statement About Plagiarism and the Use of Agents
Teachers and administrators from an applicant’s current or most recent school attended should complete the School Report, in order for the Admission Committee to receive information about an applicant’s academic work, participation in activities, and role in the school community. A student’s academic record prior to enrolling at Wesleyan is of utmost importance. A student’s transcript should be sent to Wesleyan directly from the student’s school, not from any outside organizations. Documents must be received in English and, when translation of any documents is necessary, it must be certified.
Wesleyan also requires that each student’s application and personal statement be their own work. An essay that is not written by an applicant will disqualify them from consideration. The purpose of the personal statement is for the Admission Committee to learn more about the applicant’s own ideas, background, and writing ability in English.
Wesleyan does not authorize anyone outside of the United States to represent the Office of Admission, nor does it establish relationships with persons or organizations that confer preferential treatment in the admission process. Only Wesleyan faculty, staff, and authorized alumni representatives can represent Wesleyan.
For More Information
Candidates with questions about undergraduate admission should contact intladmission@wesleyan.edu. Questions regarding graduate admission should be sent directly to the appropriate department. Visit Wesleyan’s home page often for updated calendars of campus events, our course book, alumni in the news, and more.