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:

3. Official standardized test scores:  All candidates must take either the SAT (given by the College Board) or the ACT Assessment Test with the writing section. All tests should be completed by the end of January of the senior year.  Additionally, international students for whom English is not their native language should submit results from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Applicants who, for four or more years, have attended a high school where the primary language of instruction is English are exempt from this requirement.  Applicants will be prompted to submit a waiver request during the application process in order to confirm this exemption.

4. Two teacher evaluations or letters of recommendation from teachers who have instructed you in core academic courses.

5. School report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.

6. Financial documentation

If you are applying for financial aid, you must submit:

• CSS Profile
• 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 you are unable to submit the online CSS Profile, you may send the International Student Financial Aid Application instead.)

If you are not applying for Financial Aid, you must submit:

• 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 statement. You can do so through the online Common Application, or by printing and sending us the 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.