International FAQ's

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is in Manchester, New Hampshire, which was named one of the 10 “most livable” U.S. cities by Forbes magazine, and is just 1 hour from the city of Boston.

Manchester, NH, is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in northern New England. With a population of over 110,000, Manchester combines small-town charm with a lively cultural scene. Downtown Manchester boasts more than 70 restaurants. Go fishing, go for a hike or go skiing – Manchester has it all. Learn more about the Manchester area.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE). All programs offered by SNHU are encompassed by this regional accreditation. Learn more about SNHU’s accreditations.

SNHU enrolls more than 3,000 students with over 750 international students from more than 75 countries – offering you endless opportunities to meet other students from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.

New Hampshire has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 3rd safest state in the U.S. At SNHU, we take the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff seriously. The preservation of life, protection of property, prevention of criminal behavior and the creation of a safe environment is our foremost responsibility. We work around the clock to maintain campus safety through a variety of initiatives, including escort and education services. Learn more about SNHU’s Office of Public Safety.

Absolutely. SNHU welcomes all prospective students currently in or visiting the United States to contact SNHU International Admission to schedule a tour and a meeting with our admission staff. We have student tour guides that generally offer tours at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm Monday-Friday. Email international@snhu.edu or call +1 603.645.9629 to make tour arrangements. See directions to campus.

Our 4-step application process for international students is both easy and fast. Learn more about the international admission requirements.

We understand that due to a variety of circumstances, students may need to defer their admission. SNHU permits up to one deferral to the future term of your choice (within one year) with no need to fill out a new application or pay another application fee. If you need to defer your admission a second time, SNHU will require you to fill out a new application and pay another application fee.

After you have filled out the online application and paid the application fee, you can then send your documents to us.

Non-academic documents can be submitted to SNHU by email. Examples include your passport, English proficiency score and financial documents. Transcripts and other academic documents cannot be accepted via email.

Emailed documents must be sent to our designated document mailboxes:

• graduate admission – IntGRdocs@snhu.edu
• undergraduate admission – IntUGdocs@snhu.edu

Official transcripts must be mailed by courier to SNHU at the address below: 

Southern New Hampshire University
International Admission
2500 North River Road
Manchester, NH 03106 USA 

All transcripts and other academic documents must be official. To be considered official, the document must be in a sealed/stamped envelope from the issuing institution. The envelope containing the document must remain sealed – only to be opened by us. Receipt of a transcript that is not contained in a sealed/stamped envelope by the issuing institution cannot be accepted as official. Official e-transcripts from US institutions using approved transcript services (such a Parchment and others) are also permitted. A positive admission decision cannot be made until official academic documents have been received.

Documents are processed quickly when the guidelines below are followed:

• Ensure your scanned copies are of good quality.
• Send one email with multiple PDF attachments.
• Please do not scan all required documents into one PDF. Your email should contain a separate PDF for each requirement. (For example, attach one PDF for your bank statement. Attach a separate PDF for your passport.)
• Please do not send ZIP files.
• Documents should not be inserted as an image into the body of your email. All documents should be attached as a PDF.

SNHU offers 2 academic term starts for undergraduate students in January and September and 3 academic term starts for master's students in January, May and September.* SNHU's ESL program has 6 term starts per year. Application deadlines are 3 months before the program start dates. Find the upcoming start dates and application deadlines.

*MS.TEFL has different term starts, which you can find on the dates and deadlines page. MS in Professional Accountancy and undergraduate Engineering programs for Freshman students are only available in the September term (transfer students for Engineering are welcome to join SNHU in the January term).

No. SNHU does not require applicants to take the SAT/ACT for undergraduate programs or GRE/GMAT for master's degree programs. The PhD application process is different than our other levels of study. Please see our PhD Frequently Asked Questions page for specifics.

Applications typically take 2-4 weeks to process after all required documents have been submitted. Inquire about the status of your application at any time by emailing us at international@snhu.edu or calling +1 603.645.9629.

Absolutely. To request an appointment for a phone or Skype consultation, email us at international@snhu.edu.

Yes. English proficiency scores must be officially reported. SNHU verifies all English proficiency test scores with the testing organizations. Our ETS code is 3649.

Students from non-English speaking countries with no proof of English proficiency (or scores below the minimum requirement) may be enrolled in SNHU's Intensive English (ESL) program prior to their degree program. In this situation, students are granted conditional admission to their degree program. Learn more about our ESL program.

English proficiency scores are not required from some countries. If you have received a degree taught fully in English, you may be eligible for a waiver. Please email international@snhu.edu to inquire about our current list of exception countries or to request a waiver.

Southern New Hampshire University recognizes 3-year 180 ECTS credit bachelor’s degrees (conferred after 2003, or year of Bologna Process adherence) from institutions in member countries that adhere to the Bologna Process as the equivalent of a 4-year 120 semester credit bachelor’s degree from the United States. In order to validate equivalency, SNHU must receive official transcripts of the conferred degree along with a European Commission recognized Diploma Supplement, both in English. These international transcripts are excluded from the requirement of being evaluated by a recognized NACES or AICE international transcript evaluation agency.

SNHU International Admission calculates your grades/marks by converting them to a U.S. equivalent grade point average (GPA). These conversions follow accepted practices used by many universities in the United States.

Except for doctoral applicants, an outside transcript evaluation is NOT required by SNHU. However, if you are considering having your credentials evaluated by a credential evaluation service, please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for a list of SNHU-approved providers. Be sure to have your official transcript evaluated and included with professional evaluation.

SNHU International Admission does not require applicants to submit these documents as part of the application process for undergraduate or master’s programs. The PhD application process is different than our other levels of study. Learn more on our PhD Frequently Asked Questions page.

Admission decisions typically take 2-4 weeks from the date the application and all required documents are received. Processing time may be extended if required documents are missing. Therefore, we recommend that all of the required documents be sent to SNHU as quickly as possible. Only accepted students who have submitted a copy of their passport and necessary financial documents will receive an I-20 from SNHU.

Transfer applicants will receive an I-20 transfer form from SNHU with the acceptance letter. The current institution should complete the form and return it to SNHU. The financial statement and the transfer I-20 form must be received by SNHU before a new I-20 can be issued.

Yes. Applicants must submit all post-secondary academic records with the application, even if it was a different program or you do not wish to receive transfer credit. Failure to provide all academic records may result in denial of admission, scholarship revocation and/or refusal of transfer credit.

Yes. SNHU International Admission works with trusted agent partners around the world. Please contact international@snhu.edu to inquire.

At SNHU, we recognize that certain situations may cause test center or school closures and affect students’ ability to meet published application timelines or deadlines for admission. If you are not able to provide test scores or complete your application because of such a situation, please contact us at international@snhu.edu to discuss your options. We are flexible and will work with you to ensure you can complete your application and be considered for admission.

Applicants can find a current list of degrees available by clicking on the "Programs available for international students" link on our International Admission Requirements page.

Bachelor’s programs generally take 4 years to complete, unless a student is taking our Degree in Three program. Learn more about the Degree in Three program.

Master’s programs take 12-18 months, depending on the number of courses in the program and the student’s educational background.

Business students can earn a bachelor’s degree in 3 years at Southern New Hampshire University with the Degree in Three program. Through Di3, you can save thousands on tuition and related expenses and use the fourth year to start your career early and/or start your master’s degree.

Degree in Three programs only start in September. Applicants to this program must have the required English proficiency and cannot take an Intensive English (ESL) Program or Undergraduate Language Studies (ULS) program first.

The PhD application process is different than our other levels of study. See our PhD Frequently Asked Questions page for specifics.

SNHU currently offers the following programs that are officially considered STEM:

• BS Aeronautical Engineering
• BS Biology
• BS Computer Information Systems
• BS Computer Science
• BS Electrical & Computer Engineering
• BS Environmental Science
• BS Environmental Science with a concentration in Compliance and Sustainability
• BA Game Art & Development
• BS Game Programming & Development
• BA Mathematics
• BS Mechanical Engineering
• BS Physics
• MS Business Analytics
• MS Information Technology

Students may transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Graduate applicants may transfer in up to 12 elective credits (4 courses). 

In order to evaluate transfer credit, applicants must submit an official transcript for a course-by-course evaluation. Students may be required to submit course descriptions or syllabi in some cases to receive transfer credit. Transfer credit is determined once a student has a completed application on file (application fee has been paid and all documents have been submitted).

No. Students are not required to have studied or worked in a related field in order to apply for most master’s degree programs at SNHU. However, students with an education background in a different area of study may be required to take foundational courses. SNHU has one master’s program, MS in Professional Accountancy, that requires an undergraduate degree in accounting.

Since SNHU has a practice-based university model and our undergraduate classes are always taught by full professors, we do not offer many assistantship opportunities for graduate students. Our master’s degrees are short, practical programs with hands-on and pre-professional practice. After the first full academic year, students can apply for an internship with the help of our Career Services Office.

International students may also work on campus (even during their first year) for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during breaks between terms. However, there is a lot of competition for the few on campus jobs available.

We value the traditional classroom experience, but what makes SNHU special is our commitment to learning outside the classroom. Both undergraduate and graduate students can choose to do an internship during their study. After receiving approval from faculty and meeting with International Student Services (ISS), SNHU’s Career Services Office can help students locate, apply for and secure internship opportunities during their study. Learn more about internships.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a 1-year period in which students can gain practical training that complements their education. When students graduate, they can apply for OPT and work in an internship or a job for a full year following the completion of their studies.

This opportunity is only for students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than 9 months as permitted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List may apply for a 24-month extension.

For our published list of current tuition, fees and estimated living cost, see our international program costs page.

SNHU offers opportunities for all international students to apply for scholarships. Although SNHU does not offer full scholarships, international applicants may be eligible for partial merit-based scholarship awards (called the International Merit Scholarship) based on previous academic achievement (GPA 3.0 or above). SNHU also offers a Diversity Scholarship for undergraduate students from select countries. Find out more about our scholarship opportunities.

Students are eligible to apply for scholarship consideration after SNHU has received the student’s application for admission and the application fee has been paid. The student should reference the applicant ID when filling out the scholarship application. Scholarship eligibility will only be reviewed once all documents have been received and the application file is complete.

International Merit Scholarships are awarded in variable amounts up to approximately 20% of the total tuition. Diversity Scholarships (for undergraduate students only) amount to approximately 30% of the total tuition. Total tuition can be found on our international program costs page.

Unfortunately, we do not offer fully funded scholarships.

Applicants who are not responsible for their own educational expenses, or whose submitted bank statements are not in their name, are required to submit an Affidavit of Support.

Tuition is due upon arrival at SNHU. Students pay for one term at a time. Students can prepay tuition online (you must be logged in to your my.SNHU account to prepay tuition).

Yes. All international students are required to enroll in SNHU's international student health insurance plan. Exceptions are granted for students who receive health insurance through their sponsoring program (SACM or Fulbright, for example) or if covered as a dependent of a parent or spouse with U.S. or Canadian (but only if the Canadian insurance covers you in the U.S.) health insurance provided through an employer. Exemptions must be requested by filling out a health insurance waiver and are approved on a case-by-case basis.

International students may work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session and 40 hours per week during breaks between terms. See a listing of current job openings. Unfortunately, there are a small number of jobs available each term, and on campus jobs cannot be guaranteed.

An on campus job can help with the student’s personal expenses, but these funds are not sufficient to finance tuition costs. SNHU also offers a few off-campus, paid options, which are all available only after the first full academic year of study.  Students studying in the U.S. on a student visa are not eligible for off-campus work not arranged through SNHU.

On campus housing is available for ESL, undergraduate and graduate students, with the exception of married students. On campus housing is limited and does fill up, so we recommend you make your reservation early. If you wish to search for off campus housing, you will do this on your own. Explore housing options.

Career Services works with students throughout their academic experience as well as after graduation. Whether you are still considering potential career options or looking to advance your career, our career coaches are here to help. From the job search, to networking, to the application and interview process, SNHU offers a wide array of services. 

Some students may be required to make a tuition deposit. The acceptance letter will indicate if you are required to pay a deposit with instructions. This deposit can assist you in the visa process. We will indicate receipt of a tuition deposit on your I-20 form. In the case of a visa denial, these deposits are refundable.

You will receive your SNHU email address and login credentials within 24 hours of your I-20 being issued. This will give you access to SNHU's student portal. If you do not receive your login credentials, contact our SNHU International Admission at international@snhu.edu. If you have difficulty logging in to your mySNHU account, call the help desk at +1 855.877.9919.

Yes. There is a $100 housing deposit to secure your space. You can pay online with a credit card. The deposit is your key to unlocking the housing application through mySNHU and myHousing. If you have any charges remaining on your account at the end of your terms, then this $100 deposit is applied to those balances. If you don’t have any remaining charges, then you are refunded the $100.

Once you have paid your housing deposit, you will be notified via your SNHU email address to access mySNHU. Start by going to this portal page (login required), select “Access myHousing Director” at the top of the page, and then follow the steps to apply on that page. Through this application, you will provide us any information related to the room you are requesting and any information to help us find you a suitable roommate. Learn more about the housing application process.

No. Orientation provides essential information about government and university regulations, expectations and support services. Without this information, you will not be successful in the onboarding and matriculation process. As a result, attendance at orientation is mandatory. Students must arrive at least 1 day before orientation in order to complete the check in process. Additionally, your required arrival date is listed on your I-20. Arriving in country after that date can also result in your entry to the U.S. being declined. If you have specific questions about orientation, email intlwelcome@snhu.edu. Learn more about orientation.

Students are registered for courses for their first term by their academic advisor. This is done once we receive notification that you have received your visa. Email SNHU International Admission at international@snhu.edu when you have received your visa to expedite your course registration. Your academic advisor will then contact you about registering for your first term courses. Undergraduate students will receive a new student inventory (NSI) survey that will help your advisor register you for your first term. Please be sure to complete the survey when you receive it.

The closest international airport to SNHU is Boston Logan International Airport, which is 58 miles and about 1 hour by car from campus.

There is a regional airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, which is 11 miles and about 20 minutes by car from campus.

There are a number of ways you can travel to SNHU from either Manchester-Boston Regional Airport or Boston Logan International Airport, including bus, taxi, train or a combination of these. Learn more about traveling to campus.

SNHU's International Student Services office has organized an airport pickup service for students flying into the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport or taking the bus into Manchester or Londonderry bus terminals at the beginning of the International Week of Welcome. When organizing your travel, keep in mind that we will only provide airport pickup service between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Please fill out this transportation request form to ensure that there will be someone at the airport to greet you and ample space in our vans to bring you to campus. When you arrive, a member of our welcome committee will greet you at baggage claim, and you will be taken directly to the check-in desk for international students.

Yes. SNHU has a few limited spots in our residence halls available for students on a temporary basis. Keep in mind that temporary accommodations on campus should be arranged before you arrive, and the check-in process is during regular business hours. If you arrive after business hours or on a weekend, you can stay in a local hotel until the next business day. Students must submit all health forms prior to moving into campus housing.

The Office of Residence Life manages the temporary housing options, so if you are interested in this option, contact them directly by emailing housingquestions@snhu.edu or calling +1 603.645.9758.

All international students (undergraduate, graduate and ESL) taking classes on campus must provide complete and accurate medical information and immunization records. The required documents must be translated into English, and students are asked to bring original copies to campus in case there are any concerns upon their arrival. Students are also encouraged to submit electronic copies of these documents before arriving to campus through the Patient Portal (login required). You will need your SNHU email and password to log in.

Students are required to provide this information prior to the start of their first academic term or moving into the residence halls. Failure to fulfill this requirement will prevent registration in future academic terms.

Students are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider prior to their arrival at SNHU in order to complete the health requirements as delineated below:

• Medical history summary form
• Physical exam report within 24 months of expected start date
• Tuberculosis screen and any needed official tuberculosis test results (skin test report, blood test report or chest x-ray report)
• Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, meningitis and varicella

For questions about medical documentation, contact wellness@snhu.edu.

I-20 forms are sent only to students who have been accepted into SNHU. To apply for admission, please refer to the “Applying to SNHU” section in the FAQs above.

Once you have your I-20, provided by SNHU, you will need to apply for a visa. The process for applying for a visa varies by U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate depending on the country from which you are applying.

You can find country-specific information on the Travel.State.Gov website. Generally, you will need to complete the online “Nonimmigrant Visa Application” first and submit a photo ID. You will also need to schedule an appointment for your visa interview, usually held at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. Once you have completed the steps outlined in the link above, you will be granted a visa to enter the U.S. as a student.

Once your interview for your visa application has been scheduled, there are several things you will need to bring with you: 

• Visa application fee (usually $160 USD but may vary) 
• Application fee payment receipt
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Printed Nonimmigrant Visa Application
• Photo
• I-20 form

There may be additional materials you need depending on the embassy or consulate requirements. For more information, see the Visa-Related Information for Incoming International Students document.