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Start Your Journey!

For more than 50 years, FSCJ has been serving students in northeast Florida and across the globe. Our diverse learning community is made up of students, faculty and staff from more than 115 countries bringing unique perspectives, cultures and values to our College. FSCJ accepts new students throughout the year. Check out our programs, resources and steps below to help you get started. Welcome to FSCJ!

 
 

 


Steps to Admission

Apply now to submit your F-1 visa international application. Once submitted, supporting documents can be scanned and emailed. An international admissions advisor will contact you via email within four business days of your application submission

Note: You must be at least 18 years old by the first day of class.

Admission to FSCJ as an international student does not guarantee admission into a selective/limited access program or a bachelor's program. Additionally, students must have earned an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree or an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree (60 college-level credits) from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or, if foreign, the equivalent of an associate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, prior to applying for a bachelor's degree program. Please consult International Student Services for a list of eligible selective/limited access or bachelor’s programs for F1 international students.

Note: International students are not eligible to apply for all of the programs of study. Please ask International Student Services staff before you select your program of study. The best option for international students is the Associate in Arts Degree (AA). 

 

What is an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree?

The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree is a two-year degree in general education. Students who complete this degree often transition into a bachelor’s degree program. Students must choose a major/program of study while completing their first two terms of the A.A. degree. The major/program of study will help an advisor determine which courses a student will need before they can transition in a bachelor's degree program either at FSCJ or a university. 

For example, a student majoring in business will need to complete the general education part of the A.A. degree, plus the required courses of Business Calculus, Statistics, Economics 1 and 2, Accounting 1 and 2, and a computer course.

For international students, the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is not as flexible as the A.A. degree. There are fewer A.S. degrees at FSCJ that are open to international students because many are offered mostly online and in 7-week sessions. International students are required to take the majority of their courses in a face-to-face environment and in a 15- or 12-week format. 

Submit the Certificate of Financial Responsibility and Affidavit of Support with the required acceptable financial documentation to demonstrate that you can cover estimated living expenses (listed below) while you’re attending school.

Guide to acceptable financial documentation
Acceptable Evidence of Financial Support:
 Unacceptable financial documents:
  • Bank statements on letterhead with required signature/stamp
  • Scholarship letters
  • Lines of credit
  • Governmental funding
  • Chartered accountant statements
  • Payroll reports/expected income
  • Tax statements and W-2s
  • Property assessments
  • Credit cards
  • Bank statements lacking currency amounts
  • Other statements of non-liquid assets
Important Note Regarding Financial Documentation

All financial documentation must be less than six months old. Financial support may be from your own resources or from a sponsor.

Estimated Living Expenses for an International Student

International students are admitted with the understanding that adequate finances are available during their period of study in the United States. The support may be from the individual’s own sources or from sponsors in this country or from abroad. In general, scholarships are not available to international students. The College may require, based on certain conditions or circumstances within a country, that a predetermined amount of money be on deposit in the United States to cover a student’s expenses for one year.

Average cost estimated for one year for an A.A. or A.S. degree (effective Fall Term 2019):

Tuition (30 credit hours X $401.27)

$12,000

Total Estimated Tuition 

$12,000

Books (30 credit hours X $40)

$1,200

Electricity (12 months X $75)

$900

Apartment Rent (12 months X $600)

$7,200

Food (12 months $150)

$1,800

Transportation (monthly student bus pass) 

$450

Health Insurance (Amount varies on coverage)    

$450

Total Estimated Living Expenses 

$12,000

Total Estimated Cost 

$24,000

 

Additional cost per dependent is $6,000.

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice. Students on an F-1 student visa are NOT eligible for in-state tuition rates.

See college placement information below for additional testing requirements

Submit Acceptable Test Scores

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

  • Required score 5.5 or higher

Exemption Guidelines

Any of the following:

  • Native of an English-speaking country.
  • Transfer student who completed courses equivalent to English Composition I at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • Two years of English with a grade of “C” or higher from an accredited U.S. high school.

An English language proficiency test is required for all entering F-1 students. Students must place into college-level EAP (English for Academic Purposes) or English courses to be considered a degree-seeking, college-credit student.

If you don’t have acceptable test scores

Florida State College at Jacksonville offers an intensive English program to help you improve your English skills through English classes. Students can transfer into FSCJ academic credit classes after successful completion of this program.  

Degree-seeking students must submit a general/document-by-document evaluation of foreign high school credentials from a NACES approved foreign credential evaluation service. Foreign university transcripts must be evaluated with a course-by-course evaluation. Please select an evaluator from among the companies listed at naces.org.

Submit Additional Requirements:

  • Copies of your F-1 student visa and I-94.
  • Copies of all previous I-20s.
  • A photocopy of the visa photo pages in your passport.
  • A Transfer In Form sent directly from your previous institution to FSCJ.

Next Step Checklist - International Student

Once your application is approved, your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) will be mailed to the address listed on your International Application. You will need to take the I-20 document to a United States Embassy or Consulate to obtain permission to enter the United States on a student visa. Review “Preparing for an F-1 Visa Interview” to make sure you're ready for your Embassy or Consulate appointment. Please be advised that acceptance to the College does not guarantee a student visa by the U.S. Embassy in your country; nor does it guarantee a change of status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Once you receive your I-20, you may arrive in the United States no earlier than 30 days before the beginning of the term you plan to enroll. Local flight information is available at Jacksonville International Airport. Contact International Student Services upon your arrival by emailing fscjinternational@fscj.edu

Set right in the heart of downtown Jacksonville in the historic Lerner Building, FSCJ Student Housing offers a convenient and affordable housing opportunity for our students. Beautifully renovated to maintain the building’s historical character, the 58 apartment-style living spaces are positioned on the second through sixth floors. FSCJ student housing offers the modern, comfortable conveniences of home with a trendy, urban twist. Residents enjoy access to FSCJ’s Downtown Campus, dining and entertainment just steps from their front door. Visit fscj.edu/housing for more information.

Once you arrive in Jacksonville, please email fscjinternational@fscj.edu to schedule your check-in appointment.

An English language proficiency exam is required for all entering F-1 students. Students must place into college-level EAP or English courses to be considered a degree-seeking, college-credit student.

Note: Transfer students who have completed courses equivalent to English Composition I at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university with a grade of “C” or higher are exempt from this requirement.  

Apply Now!

All International Student Applications

Fall Term (Aug. - Dec.):

Outside the U.S.: May 31

U.S. Transfer: June 20

 

Spring Term (Jan.-  May):

Outside the U.S.: September 30

U.S. Transfer: October 31

 

Summer Term (May - Aug.):

Outside the U.S.: February 28

U.S. Transfer: March 25


fscjinternationl@fscj.edu
fscjinternationl@fscj.edu

Information & Hours
Contact Information
Email
 fscjinternational@fscj.edu
Hours
Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Fri. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

fscjinternationl@fscj.edu
fscjinternationl@fscj.edu