Step 1: Consider the Appropriateness of Wheaton College Graduate School
Educational Requirements
A four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent, with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Wheaton is a Christian liberal arts college (university level). We do not offer graduate degrees in technical or business fields.
Wheaton College has recently instituted a policy that requires those who attended international schools to have a transcript evaluation completed from a reputable international credential evaluation service, such as WES (www.wes.org), ECE (www.ece.org) or IES (ies.aacrao.org). Each of these organizations offers a few different types of evaluation report. We do not require a course-by-course evaluation, as long as we receive an official transcript(s), in English, either from you, the applicant (in a sealed school envelope, directly from each school attended) or from the evaluation agency. If you send us your official transcripts, directly, you may opt for the basic evaluation that includes your grade point average. Please be sure to send official transcripts from all schools attended from which academic credit was awarded.
Read more about Educational Requirements.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you must demonstrate proficiency by submitting scores from either the TOEFL exam or IELTS exam. The following requirements apply to all international students and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English. Applicants who do not meet minimum English proficiency requirements will not be admitted. Read more about English Proficiency.
Financial Requirements
For many international students, financing an education is a challenge. International students are responsible for financing their own education. Financial assistance is not directly available through Wheaton College Financial Aid Office. Read more about Financial Requirements.
Cost of Graduate programs.
Billy Graham Center Scholarship Program
The Billy Graham Center Scholarship program offers financial assistance to carefully selected students who have completed at least two years of Christian service in their national church context and are affiliated with a Christian organization or national denomination which will indicate officially its future plans for an applicant's ministry. Application for the Graham Center Scholarship is not handled by the Graduate Admissions Office.
It is a separate process and materials are not interchangeable. Scholarship correspondence should be directed to:
Scholarship Program Administrator
Billy Graham Center
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL 60187-5593.
email: bgc.scholar@wheaton.edu
Step 2: Admissions Process
Formal Graduate Application
The deadline for submitting the formal graduate application is January 1. That means all application materials (application, references, TOEFL scores, official transcripts) should be returned to the Graduate Admissions Office by that date. International applicants will be admitted for the fall semester only. The fall semester begins in late August. Read more about Application Information.
Admissions Decision
If you are offered admission to a graduate degree program at Wheaton, please follow all the instructions provided in the admission letter and Notification of Acceptance.
Certification of Finance
Upon acceptance into the Graduate School, Jan Hnilica will email a budget sheet and a Certification of Finance form to the accepted student. The student is required to fill out the Certification of Finance form, provide bank/sponsor information and a wire/check payment to Jan Hnilica. Once these items are handed in, Jan Hnilica will review them and then process a financial clearance for an I-20 application. Payment plans must be finalized with Wheaton College by June 1st. The college will hold remaining funds and apply it to your bill at the appropriate time. The amount that exceeds your bill will be available for your access through your student account, once you arrive.
The I-20
When financial documentation and initial deposit are received by the Financial Aid Department, financial clearance will be given for the I-20 to be issued by the Office of International Student Services.
Employment
International students are not allowed to work in the U.S. except on the campus where they are registered. Accompanying spouses are not permitted to work in the U.S. unless they are also full-time students.
Step 3: Planning Your Trip to Wheaton
Student Visa (F-1)
The I-20 is an official document of the United States Government granting you permission to apply for an F-1 student visa at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy nearest you. Once you have a visa, you make final travel arrangements to come to the U.S. Please notify the Director of International Student Services about the time of your arrival in the U.S. All new international students are required to be on campus two weeks prior to the start of classes to participate in an orientation program that will help facilitate their adjustment to life in the United States. Please visit International Student Services for more helpful information and necessary steps for your transition. All questions concerning your transition to the U.S. should be directed to the Director of International Student Services.
Important Addresses
Director of International Student Services
Phone: (630) 752-5191
Email: International.Students@wheaton.edu
Financial Services Manager/Financial Aid Counselor for International Students
Phone: (630) 752-5180
Fax: (630) 752-5413
Email: Jan.hnilica@wheaton.edu
BGC Scholarship Administrator
Billy Graham Center
Phone: (630) 752-5903
Email: bgc.scholar@wheaton.edu