International Admissions Requirements
In addition to meeting all general admission requirements indicated on our program-specific pages, you must submit the information below to be considered for international student admission to The Chicago School.
Language Requirement
If English is not your primary language, you must submit proof that you are able to communicate in English at a proficient level. Acceptable proof of proficiency includes:
- Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report (TOEFL code: 7161).
- As an undergraduate program applicant, you must earn a minimum score of:
- 61 on the internet-based test
- 500 on the paper-based test
- 173 on the computer-based test
- As a graduate program applicant, you must earn a minimum score of:
- 79 on the internet-based test
- 550 on the paper-based test
- 213 on the computer-based test
- Official Pearson Test of English (PTE) score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 44 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 53 as a graduate program applicant.
- Official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 5.5 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 6.5 as a graduate program applicant.
- Duolingo English Test score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 95 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 110 as a graduate program applicant.
- Completion of the required level at a partner ESL institution (please inquire).
- University of California, Irvine Extension
Note: The language requirement does not apply if you have either earned an undergraduate or graduate degree or at least 60 credit hours from a university in which the language of instruction was English (example: American University of Cairo).
Test scores must be submitted to The Chicago School directly from the testing agency, and you must have taken the test within the past two years.
Transcript Evaluation
If you hold a qualifying conferral (undergraduate) or qualifying degree (graduate) from an international institution, you must have it evaluated as part of the admissions process. You will need to obtain a course-by-course evaluation or an official equivalency may be required. The evaluation must indicate the equivalent U.S. credential and grade-point average (GPA). The Chicago School recommends evaluations from:
The evaluation itself is not a guarantee of admission. The Chicago School does not pay the cost of a credential evaluation; you are responsible for this fee.
The transcript evaluation must be submitted to The Chicago School directly from the evaluation agency. Evaluations that require mailing may be sent to:
Admissions Operations
C/O The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
203 N. LaSalle, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601
U.S.A.
Immigration Matters – Obtaining an initial I-20 or DS-2019
Full-time on-ground programs: Upon admission to a full-time on-ground degree program, International Programs and Services (IPS) will request required documents from you in order to prepare your proper immigration document (I-20/DS-2019). Details and instructions for obtaining an I-20/DS-2019 can be found here. As part of this documentation, you must submit detailed financial statements before your I-20/DS-2019 can be processed. These statements must be written in English and should include the amounts and sources of funds available for educational expenses in the United States.
Online programs with a residency requirement:
Some Online Campus degree programs require students to travel to the United States for residency, a short-term, in-person learning experience. Prior to enrolling in one of these programs, reach out to your International Admissions Counselor to confirm whether your program is eligible for student visa sponsorship. U.S. immigration regulations stipulate that “B” nonimmigrants (both B-1 visitors for business and B-2 visitors for pleasure) are strictly prohibited from enrolling in degree programs.
The following is a list of general requirements for international applicants to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. For information regarding program-specific requirements, contact the International Admissions Office.
☑ Application
☑ Application fee – $50 USD
☑ Program-specific essay (500-750 words)
☑ Resume or CV
☑ Letter(s) of recommendation
☑ “Course-by-course” transcript evaluation completed by a NACES- or AICE-approved evaluation service
- For university-level education completed in Canada, India, the U.K., or the Bologna Signatory Regions, The Chicago School is able to provide an in-house course-by-course transcript evaluation.
☑ TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or Duolingo scores
☑ GRE score*
- Required only for Psy.D. Clinical Psychology and Post-Bachelor Ph.D. Business Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Track programs
- GRE School Code 1119
Applying to The Chicago School
Q: When is the application deadline?
A: Deadlines may vary by program and campus location. Contact the International Admissions Office to determine an appropriate admissions timeline given visa appointment wait times, if applicable; proximity to the start of the term/semester; and preferred campus location. Dates for each term/semester are located in the Academic Calendar.
Q: Do The Chicago School programs start multiple times per year?
A: All Chicago School programs welcome new students in August. Some on-ground programs start new students in January as well. Online programs welcome new students six times per year—in August, October, January, March, May, and July. Please contact the International Admissions Office for more information.
Q: Is a criminal background check required?
A: The Chicago School requires all degree-seeking and most certificate students to complete a criminal background check as a condition of acceptance and matriculation. Additional communications regarding the criminal background check process will be shared by your International Admissions Counselor.
Q: How long does it take to complete a program?
A: Time for completion varies by program. Undergraduate programs typically take about four years to complete. Master’s programs typically take around two years to complete. Post-master doctoral programs typically take about three years to complete. Post-bachelor doctoral programs typically take four to five years to complete.
Q: Must I have completed a prior degree in psychology to apply?
A: No. To apply to graduate-level programs, you must have or be completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution. For undergraduate programs, you must provide proof of a qualifying conferral—high school graduation (or the equivalent) or proof of an earned associate degree. Programs may have prerequisite course requirements. Please contact the International Admissions Office for more information
Q: What is a transcript evaluation? Is a transcript evaluation required of all foreign coursework in order to apply?
A: Transcript evaluations are required of all coursework completed outside of the United States unless the institution has U.S. regional accreditation (e.g., The American University of Cairo). Course-by-course transcript evaluations are completed by outside companies that will take foreign transcripts and convert them to U.S.-equivalent transcripts, with performance converted to a U.S. 4-point scale. They also confirm degree and institutional accreditation equivalence.
Q: If I am missing a prerequisite course, can I take it at The Chicago School?
A: We offer an online Research Methods course, Introduction to Psychology course, and a Statistics course. These courses are open to all accepted students.
Q: Is the GRE required?
A: The GRE is required ONLY for the following programs:
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
- Post-Bachelor Ph.D. Business Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Track
Please note that you must have your official scores sent to The Chicago School (School Code 1119).
Q: Are there fees required to apply?
A: The fee to apply to The Chicago School is $50 USD.
Q: Is there a minimum grade-point average (GPA) to be considered for admission to The Chicago School?
A: No, although generally, our undergraduate programs require a high school or undergraduate GPA of 2.3 or higher, master’s-level programs require a 3.0 GPA or higher, and the education specialist and doctoral programs require a 3.2 GPA or higher (4.0 scale). However, GPA and GRE scores are only one part of the application. The Chicago School reviews each applicant holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration.
Q: What is a tuition deposit?
A: A tuition deposit is a nonrefundable payment that you, as an accepted student, make to demonstrate your commitment and intent to enroll at The Chicago School. The deposit is not a fee but an advance tuition payment that will be credited toward your first tuition statement.
Q: When is my tuition due?
A: For the courses, you are currently enrolled in, tuition is due by the end of the term/semester. You will receive advance notice from the Student Accounts Office when your tuition is due.
Q: How do I make a payment?
A: You can make a tuition payment in the following ways:
Q: What is Flywire?
A: The Chicago School has partnered with Flywire to streamline the international payment process. Flywire allows you to pay securely from any country and any bank, typically in your home currency. By making your payment with Flywire you can:
- Track your payments from start to finish
- Save on bank fees and exchange rates
- Contact Flywire’s multilingual customer support team with any questions, day or night
To get started, go to tcspp.flywire.com to begin the payment process. If you have questions about making an international payment, visit flywire.com/help.
Q: I’ve been accepted. What are the steps to getting a student visa?
A: Once you’re admitted, find information on the next steps here.
Campuses
Q: Where are your campuses located?
A: In addition to our Online Campus, The Chicago School has on-ground campuses in Chicago; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; New Orleans; Los Angeles; Anaheim; and San Diego.
Q: Do you provide housing?
A: The Chicago School does not have residence halls, as our campuses are in city centers with rental housing readily available. As an incoming student, you will receive a detailed overview of moving and living in the city where you will be attending classes. You are encouraged to contact the International Admissions Office for further assistance. You can also access this guide through our International Student Services page under “Live in the U.S.”
Q: Are Chicago School campuses accessible via public transportation?
A: Yes, most of our campuses are easily accessible by public transportation. Some campuses provide discounted transit passes for students.
Q: Can I receive a student visa while studying in a program offered online?
A: No. Only international students who are part of a degree program offered on one of our U.S. campuses are eligible to receive an F-1 or J-1 student visa.
Academic Programs
Q: Is The Chicago School APA accredited?
A: The American Psychological Association (APA) does not accredit institutions, but rather specific types of doctoral programs within institutions. (APA does not accredit programs at the master’s level). Our clinical doctoral Psy.D. program at the Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. campuses are accredited by the APA. The Chicago School’s clinical doctoral Psy.D. program at TCSPP-XULA is accredited on contingency by the APA. The Chicago School is institutionally accredited through the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For additional information on our programmatic accreditations, please review the information here.
Q: Are your programs accredited?
A: The Chicago School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges WSCUC. To review a list of our programmatic accreditations, please review the information here.
Q: Will The Chicago School degree be portable to another country? How can I find this information?
A: We advise you to research the requirements of licensure/employment in your field of interest in your home country to ascertain if a program offered at The Chicago School will meet licensure/employment criteria. This can be done by contacting accreditation bodies or home-country government organizations.
Q: Can I enroll in online or hybrid programs as an international student?
A: If you reside outside the United States, you have several options to explore when considering an online program:
- Online programs: An added benefit of enrolling in a program that is offered fully online is that your degree can be completed globally! To learn more about our fully online programs, please click here.
- Hybrid programs requiring residency: If you are part of a degree program that requires low residency—meaning you will meet on one of the on-ground campuses in person for a few days once or twice in your program—you may obtain an F-1 or J-1 student visa for the duration of the on-campus residency requirement. Please consult with the International Admissions Office for more details.
- Other visa options: Our goal is to be an active part of your Chicago School experience and support you in many ways. To begin, please see International Programs and Services for important visa matters and details on how to manage your immigration status. Additionally, if you are considering study with any visa status other than F-1, our International Admissions Office is available to assist you in the navigation of your visa’s eligibility for study in the U.S. Please note that U.S. immigration regulations stipulate that “B” nonimmigrants (both B-1 visitors for business and B-2 visitors for pleasure) are strictly prohibited from enrolling in degree programs.
Tuition and Financing
Q: How can I find out what a program costs?
A: Please review the tuition and fees page for information on program costs. The International Admissions Office can help explain the cost of your degree and help you explore your available financing options.
Q: Does The Chicago School offer full-tuition scholarships or stipends?
A: No. The Chicago School’s primary focus is not on research production and does not typically have graduate students teaching undergraduate students (two of the typical stipulations of full-tuition scholarships with stipends). Instead, students spend much of their time outside the classroom on clinical or real-world experiences. However, international students may qualify for an International Student Grant and may apply for other partial scholarships, such as The Global Impact Scholarship and the Global Leaders Scholarship. Please review the Institutional Aid page for additional information.
Q: Do international students qualify for financial aid?
A: To be eligible for U.S. Title IV (federal) financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. No need-based financial aid is available to international students. The Chicago School accepts Canadian financial aid from Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Alberta Student Aid, and Student Aid BC. International students may also qualify for an International Student Grant. The International Admissions Office can help explain the cost of your degree and help you explore your available financing options.
Q: What opportunities are there for international students to work on campus?
A: There are limited opportunities for graduate assistant positions. These positions are posted on our Career Services page and will be available for review once your student account is created.
Q: How do international students pay for school?
A: Most international students attend The Chicago School utilizing private funds, private or home-government scholarships, sponsorships (private, family, or governmental), or a combination thereof.
International Student Life
Q: Am I required to have health insurance?
A: All full-time international students in F-1 status and students and their dependents in J-1/J-2 status in on-ground programs are required to have health insurance. You can purchase a health insurance plan from the school-designated health insurance carrier and The Chicago School will enroll you before your first semester begins. You may show proof of enrollment in a comparable health insurance plan to waive enrollment in the school-designated plan.
Q: Am I eligible to work during my study?
A: Per immigration regulations, if you are F-1 or J-1 status, you are permitted to work during enrollment, but only for the school. The Chicago School has a limited number of graduate assistant work opportunities available for students. Additionally, you may work off-site at certain community partners if their position is funded by The Chicago School.
You may be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if you are in F-1 status or Academic Training if you are in J-1 status and internship/practicum or other related opportunities are an integral part of your degree program. Students in F-1 status also may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon completion of coursework. You can find more information here.
Dates and Deadlines
Our U.S. campus-based programs in Southern California (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego); Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas are approved for international student enrollment and are currently accepting applications for the fall and spring semesters.
Our campus-based programs adhere to the general dates and deadlines found here. However, international applicants are encouraged to complete the admissions process earlier due to visa timelines.
Online programs begin every eight weeks (Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II, Fall I, and Fall II) and have a rolling admissions policy. International applicants to online programs should consult with the International Admissions Office on deadlines and timelines regarding the admissions process.
Prospective international students should contact the International Admissions Office at +1-312-462-0377 (international dialing fees may apply).
Toll-free (free from within the U.S.): +1-800-721-8072
WhatsApp: +1-312-978-2840
Email: [email protected]
Click here to start your online application to The Chicago School today!
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