Information for International Applicants
Brandeis has been a welcoming place for international students since its inception in 1948. Our commitment to the international community was enhanced in 1958 with the establishment of the Wien International Scholarship Program, an extensive grant program that awards deserving students based on a combination of academic merit and financial need. Throughout our history, we have valued the energy, perspective and enthusiasm that the international student population brings towards enhancing campus life.
•Applying to Brandeis
•Application Deadlines
•Scholarships and Financial Aid
•Life at Brandeis
•Contact Information
Applying to Brandeis University
If you are an international student applying as a first-year student, the following are the required components of your Brandeis Application:
- Completed Application: You may use either the Brandeis Application Online or the Common Application and Brandeis Supplement. Both have an associated application fee of $55.
- Personal Statement or Essay, which is included as a part of the Brandeis Application Online and the Common Application
- Transcripts: Official copies of all high school transcripts as well as marks from any national exams
- Official Standardized Test Scores:
If English is your first language, you must submit scores from either the SAT I or the ACT.
If English is not your first language, you must submit scores from either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. If you have taken the SAT I and your critical reading score is above 600, you may submit the SAT I instead of TOEFL or IELTS.
SAT II Subject tests are not required. - Two teacher evaluations or letters of recommendation from teachers who have instructed you in core academic courses
- School report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official
- Financial Documentation
If you are applying for Financial Aid, you must submit the following:
International Student Financial Aid Application
Supporting Financial Documentation, demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to the applicant’s education for four years of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax-returns, if such are available.
If you are not applying for Financial Aid, you must submit the following:
Certification of Finances for International Students
Supporting Financial Documentation, demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to the applicant’s education for four years of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax-returns, if such are available.
Other Requirements and Information
- If you are applying as an Early Decision I or Early Decision II applicant you are also required to submit a completed Early Decision Agreement Form.
- Interviews are offered but not required. If you will be visiting Brandeis, we invite you to schedule an on-campus interview. You may also request off-campus interviews; however, we are unable to offer off-campus interviews in all locations. Please know that we understand the limited access to interviews for international students, and we feel that we get to know applicants very well through the application process. If we are unable to accommodate your interview request, you are welcome to submit additional information that you would like to have shared during an interview, along with your application.
- If you have been out of high school for a year or more, and are applying for first-year admission, please submit a brief statement explaining what you have been doing since graduating from high school
Deadlines for Applying to Brandeis
Students may apply to Brandeis either Early Decision or Regular Decision. To ensure that your application receives full consideration, please be sure to submit all application documents, including your financial aid application or certification of finances, by the application deadline.
Early Decision at Brandeis is binding, meaning that students who are admitted during Early Decision are committed to attending Brandeis. If admitted, early decision applicants must withdraw applications from other institutions. Early decision should be considered only if you are absolutely sure that Brandeis is the best fit for you. We offer two separate early decision deadlines: November 15 and January 1. Early decision applicants are sent notification of their decisions one month after the application deadline.
The Regular Decision deadlines at Brandeis are November 1 for spring admission and January 15 for fall admission. Applicants are sent notification of their decisions by December 1 for spring admission or April 1 for fall admission.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
We are fortunate to be able to offer significant financial aid to international students each year. We seek to meet the demonstrated financial need of international students whom we admit. Our admission process for international students is need-aware; thus as the size of financial need increases, so does the competition for admission. To be considered for these scholarships, international students must submit the International Student Application for Financial Aid and supporting financial documents. Please note that international students who are not awarded financial aid for their first year will not be able to receive financial aid in future years. It is imperative that applicants who will need financial aid during college apply for financial aid when they apply for admission. All Scholarships are awarded for four years of study at Brandeis, beginning with the semester for which the student is admitted.
Scholarship Opportunities
The Wien International Scholarship Program provides full and partial scholarships to high achieving international applicants. Full Wien Scholarships combine scholarship, university employment and loan to cover the full cost of attendance at Brandeis. Partial Wien Scholarships also combine scholarship, university employment and loan to meet the demonstrated financial need of a student. Wien Scholars who work outside of the United States after graduation will have their Wien loans forgiven over the course of five years.
Alumni and Friends Scholarships combine scholarship, university employment and loan to meet the demonstrated financial needs of admitted international students.
The Sylvia and Joseph Slifka Israeli Coexistence Scholarship is a full scholarship awarded nearly every year to two Israeli citizens; one Arab and one Jewish. The scholarship will provide the resources for tuition, on-campus room and board, and a round-trip air ticket each year between Israel and the United States; books and personal expenses remain the obligation of the student. Applicants must be Israeli citizens, demonstrate strong academic achievement and English proficiency and have been involved significantly in coexistence efforts. Slifka Scholars are chosen on the basis of their academic achievements and their ability to make a contribution to student life through their leadership skills and interaction with other students. The scholarship is open to Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs, who are committed to, and will work to foster, greater tolerance and understanding between Arab and Jewish Israelis. Finalists for the Slifka Scholarship will be invited to interview with the Selection Committee in Israel. Dual US and Israeli citizens are eligible for this award. Applicants interested in the Slifka Scholarship should submit standard application materials as well as a description of their coexistence efforts. The Slifka Scholarship will not be awarded for Fall 2009 admission, and will next be offered for students entering in Fall 2010.
The Judd and Jennifer Malkin Scholarship is a full scholarship provided by the Judd and Jennifer Malkin Israeli Scholar Endowment Fund. This Fund was created to foster greater tolerance and understanding in both Israel and the United States. Candidates must be Israeli citizens and must present evidence of serious involvement in coexistence efforts. A maximum of two undergraduate students can be funded through this scholarship at any one time; thus, it is usually awarded only every other year. The scholarship will provide the resources for tuition, on-campus room and board, and a round-trip air ticket each year between Israel and the United States; books and personal expenses remain the obligation of the student. Dual U.S. and Israeli citizens are not considered for this award. An interview in Israel is preferred for this scholarship. The Malkin Scholarship will be offered for Fall 2009 admission.
Slifka and Malkin Scholars bring reality and personal commitment to the campus discussion of peaceful coexistence in Israel and in the world in general.
The Davis United World College Scholars Program provides a $10,000 grant per year by the Shelby Davis Foundation for any graduate of one of the United World Colleges (http://www.uwc.org/) who demonstrates financial need and is admitted to Brandeis. Brandeis will meet the remaining financial need with Alumni and Friends Scholarship and university employment.
Life at Brandeis
The Brandeis community works hard to ensure your seamless transition to the educational system and daily life in the United States. The International Students and Scholars Office, in conjunction with the Department of Orientation and First Year Programs, hosts a comprehensive two-day program designed to help you adjust to life on campus. During this time, you will receive guidance with regard to visa requirements, banking, obtaining a cell phone and other immediate concerns. Housing for international students is guaranteed for the first two years, and the vast majority of students who wish to remain on campus for their full four years may do so. We understand that it is often difficult to visit campus, so we encourage you to explore academic offerings and student life through our website, and to tour our campus through our virtual tour. Of course, if you are able to visit we welcome you to schedule a campus tour and information session.
We encourage you to complete our Undergraduate Admissions Inquiry Form, which will enable us to send you materials that reflect your areas of interest as well as announcements of special admission events.
If you have additional questions, please e-mail admissions@brandeis.edu, or call us at 781-736-3500 or 800-622-0622.
