International Admissions

Mr. Bryan Davis
Dean of International Programs

Mr. Ryan Falsetti
Associate Director of International Admissions
Phone 951.343.4690
FAX 951.343.4728
international.center@calbaptist.edu

International Undergraduate Admissions

Authorization

California Baptist University is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

When to Apply

Application and the completion of the file for a particular term must be made according to the following deadlines. The closing dates for receiving international student applications and all supporting documentation are earlier than for standard applications due to the additional time needed to process documents through SEVIS.

Once all admission requirements have been met and the applicant is approved for admission, a letter of acceptance and the form I-20 will be issued. All international student athletes are subject to additional criteria as outlined in CBU’s International Student Athlete I-20 Policy.

Application Procedure

Each program of study has specific admission and application requirements which are listed in the program sections of the catalog. To be considered for admission, international students must complete all requirements listed in the program section of the catalog.

Additionally, international students must complete the following:

1. Application
   • Applicants to graduate study at CBU must apply for acceptance into a specific graduate program. Applications can be submitted online at www.calbaptist/edu/apply.
2. Application Fee
   • A non-refundable application processing fee is required.
3. Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree
   • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the evaluated equivalency of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required.
4. Submission of Academic Records
   • Official academic records, showing dates of attendance, courses taken, and grades received are required. An official academic record (i.e. degree, diploma, mark sheets, exam records, record of courses, transcripts) is one the university, or its representatives, receives directly from that institution. A certified English Translation must also be provided.
5. GPA Requirement
   • Applicants must meet a minimum cumulative or last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) unit grade point average specified by each program.
6. Recommendations
   • Recommendations are required for most programs and are submitted on the online application. Recommendations may not come from family members or friends. Please see specific program requirements for additional recommendation criteria.
7. Essay
   • Most programs require an application essay. Please see specific program admission requirements for essay information.

Financial Documentation

International students must submit the Sponsor’s Commitment of Financial Support form, provided by California Baptist University, accompanied by a certified bank statement or affidavit of support indicating sufficient funds for study. Financial support must guarantee and certify funds equal to a minimum of one year of the student’s academic study at CBU. Note: International students must pay semester charges in full before registration can be completed.

Language Proficiency

An applicant whose first language is not English and/or does not have a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction is required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting a recent test score from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum score required to display English language proficiency for standard admission to a graduate program is 80 IBT TOEFL, 53 PTE Academic, or 6.0 IELTS with no individual area under 5.0.   

If the score is lower than 80 IBT TOEFL, 53 PTE Academic, or 6.0 IELTS with no individual area under 5.0, the applicant may be granted joint admission to the Intensive English Program (IEP) and a graduate program while taking required language courses to meet the minimum TOEFL/PTE Academic/IELTS requirement before beginning graduate program coursework. Joint admission is not available for applicants to the graduate programs in Athletic Training and Nursing due to program structure.

In addition to proving English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic all graduate-level students must also have completed ENG123: Intermediate Composition or its equivalent at an accredited institution. Students who have not met this requirement are required to complete ESL094: Academic Research for Graduate Students or its equivalent during the first semester of graduate studies, regardless of their language proficiency test scores.  

California Baptist University reserves the right to require additional English language testing/classes after the student has arrived at the university if considered necessary.

Student Status

Applicants to the program will be considered according to the following classifications:

Unconditional

Applicants who have met the unconditional status GPA requirement specified by each program, who have completed the required application, documents and fees, and have satisfied all other admission criteria, may be admitted standard status to the University with full graduate standing.

Conditional

Applicants who have a deficiency in any requirement may be admitted on a conditional basis. This includes applicants who have met the standard status requirements, except for English language proficiency. These students may be granted conditional status to the Intensive English Program (IEP) and graduate program. Students admitted under conditional status are limited to enrolling in IEP coursework. Students must submit an official qualifying TOEFL/IELTS score report prior to beginning graduate program coursework. Conditional status students, who need to complete undergraduate prerequisite courses, as outlined by the student’s admission conditions, may do so in combination with IEP coursework if the student’s language ability meets the undergraduate English language proficiency standard as determined by the IEP director/program personnel.

Denial

Denial may occur when an applicant does not qualify for admission in any one of the above categories. CBU reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who is antagonistic with the philosophy and purpose of the University.

Intensive English Program (IEP)

Information on the Intensive English Program (IEP) course progression and ESL courses can be located in the Academic Programs section of the Undergraduate University catalog.