Information for International Students
Applicants with international credentials, including those who require a student visa, can use this page as a guide to application requirements, certification requirements, and employment.
Application Process
First, learn how to apply for a School of Education program and the requirements you will need as an applicant with international credentials.
The undergraduate major declaration process remains the same for all students. For more information on the School of Education major declaration process, please visit the School of Education Undergraduate Programs page.
For applicants with international credentials, the application deadline for Fall admission is February 1st, and September 1st for Spring admission.
Applicants with international credentials are encouraged to apply early to account for additional processing time. For more information on the admissions process and application requirements please visit the School of Education Graduate Admissions page.
Course by Course Evaluation
Applicants with transcripts from non-US institutions must submit original academic transcripts, evidence of degree conferral, and a course-by-course evaluation report. Find more information, including technical support, on the Graduate Admissions page.
TOEFL or IELTS Exam Score Report
Applicants whose native language is not English and whose post-secondary education was in a country where English is not the native language must present Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Applicants must meet the minimum score requirements in each section and overall listed below.
Effective June 1, 2021, applicants with international credentials who also hold a prior Master’s or Doctoral degree from an English-speaking institution are exempt from this requirement.
Minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for all programs
- Overall: TOEFL iBT: 90
- Writing: TOEFL iBT Writing Section: 22
- Speaking: TOEFL iBT Speaking Section: 23
Minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores for all programs
- Overall IELTS: 6.5
- Writing: 6.5
- Speaking: 7
Applicants with foreign credentials who need an F-1 or J-1 Visa are currently ineligible to apply to the following programs:
- Applied Behavior Analysis, Advanced Certificate
- Applied Behavior Analysis, MS
- Visual Impairment – Rehabilitation Teaching, MSEd
- Visual Impairment – Combined Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility, MSEd
After you have been admitted to Hunter College, the next step to studying in the United States is to apply for the appropriate visa at the American Embassy in your country.
See the International Students Office’s Prospective Students page for general information about the student visa application process and the type of visa you need to study in the United States.
For additional information about visas, visit travel.state.gov or contact the State Department’s Visa Office. Always feel free to contact the International Students Office at Hunter College. Another option is to consult an education-abroad advisor at the U.S. consulate in your country.
After You Are Admitted
Students should follow the Newly Accepted Graduate Students page if they are new graduate students. Students who are approved for an undergraduate education major can review the Information for New Education Majors page.
Applicants with international credentials, including those who require a student visa, are eligible to apply to School of Education programs leading to initial certification. All students admitted to programs leading to New York State certification must have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) before engaging in clinical experiences.
International Students should contact the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) who will support you in this process. Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance. We encourage you to begin this process as early as possible after you are admitted.
There are many scholarships available for international students.
Find scholarship awards that do not require proof of citizenship or permanent residency via the Immigrants Rising website.
Scholarships specific to international students can be found on the Hunter College International Students Office, Scholarships and Grants page.
Please note that the U.S. government student assistance programs, including the Pell Grant, Stafford and PLUS loans, and work-study programs, are not available to international students on a student visa.
There may be aid available from the U.S. government for students from specific countries. Your best bet for finding out if there is any financial aid from the U.S. for students from your country is to contact your embassy, the US Department of State, and the U.S. Information Agency. You should also write to the Agency for International Development, Office of International Training, Washington, DC 20523.
New York State Certification
International students are eligible to obtain Initial Certification through the New York State Education Department. Students are recommended for initial certification upon graduation from their program.
The NYSED TEACH system is a state portal where you will manage your certification(s) during your program and throughout your career. This is where you’ll officially apply for Initial Certification when you graduate.
If you do not yet have a valid Social Security Number, you will need to email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number first. The access number is only for use with TEACH and meeting requirements for New York State teacher certification. If you do get a social security number, you must notify NYSED.
Registering for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE)
When you register for your certification exams, enter all 9s when prompted for your Social Security Number (SSN). Once you do receive a Social Security Number, you will need to fax a copy of your Social Security Number card and Passport to the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) with a cover letter including your assigned NYSTCE ID number to request they update your Social Security Number.
To learn which certification exams you need to complete, please visit your program page. For more information about New York State Certification Test Prep Resources, visit Career, Professional and Partnership Development (CPPD) website.
Find more information about applying for your initial certification under Certification and Licensure on your program page, including your program code.
If you apply for OPT near graduation, the process will generate a Social Security Number. If you created your TEACH account before receiving a Social Security Number, you must contact the New York State Education Department to provide them with your Social Security Number. You should apply for OPT as soon as you can, but you cannot apply earlier than 90 days before your program completion date. For information on OPT or CPT please review the Preparing for Employment section below.
Note that international student applications for initial certification should not take any longer to be approved than anyone else who has applied after graduation, as long as you have your fingerprint clearance, exam scores, and workshops on your NYSED TEACH account as required.
Employment
International students on a visa can find employment in education settings across the state. Below are resources to help you navigate the employment process.
For international students seeking job opportunities in the U.S., it is recommended to start research at least one year before graduation. Students can connect with the International Students Office (ISO) for more information on visas.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F1 students to work on a full-time basis for one year after they have completed their studies, in a field related to their major.
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows F1 Students to work for up to 20 hours a week in a field related to their major while engaging in their studies. For information on OPT or CPT please visit the OPT and CPT information page.
To work in the United States, you must have a Social Security Number (SSN). For more information visit the Employment page on the International Students office website.
International Students may qualify for employment in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) once they hold NYS certification. You will be eligible to apply to work for the NYCPS if you hold OPT, have an SSN, have an NYSED TEACH account, and your NYS certificate(s) have been issued. Candidates fitting the above criteria may apply online to the NYC Public Schools. This policy is subject to change at any time.
Get support with the career search process by utilizing resources and workshops offered by the Career, Professional and Partnership Development office.
Create a free profile with Selected, an organization that can help you identify charter schools and independent schools that may sponsor international students.
NYSAIS is a voluntary association of 203 independent nursery, elementary, and secondary schools enrolling over 80,000 students. Click here to view careers with the New York Association of Independent Schools.
For international students who wish to participate in volunteer work in any of New York’s five boroughs, the Mayor’s Volunteer Center (MVC) offers a great database listing hundreds of volunteer work opportunities. This is also a great opportunity for OPT students who wish to maintain their status.
The CUNY/311 Project accepts applications for part-time employment from International students. Both F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to work for the CUNY 311 project as “on-campus employment.” You can be offered employment before you receive work authorization, but you are not allowed to work until work authorization is granted.
To be hired and work for the CUNY Research Foundation, you should review Job Openings at Careers at RFCUNY and provide the documents needed for the job.
Proximity Learning offers virtual teaching opportunities, which may be beneficial for international students.
Join the American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE). Membership with the organization is free. One of the perks of membership is access to their national job board where you can investigate schools in other states and see if any offer sponsorship for international students.