Application Materials:

1. International Student Admission Application Form: complete & submit the online application. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
2. Application Fee:  $20 USD (undergraduate), $35 USD (graduate).  Academic English Preparation Program: no application fee required.  If you wish, you may submit this fee along with the financial documents listed below.
3. Official Transcripts (translated to English) for secondary school (high school) and post secondary school (if attended).  Student should have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (or equivalent) from high school and/or a 2.0 GPA (or equivalent) from university.  *Note: An Official Transcript must be sent to our office directly from your school/university, with either an Official School Stamp or Signature located on the sealed flap of the unopened envelope. If you are a degree seeking student and desire to receive credit for completed coursework from a post-secondary institution outside of the U.S., we require that you obtain a course-by-course evaluation from either World Education Services (WES) or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE). The evaluation must be sent directly to BHSU and the student/applicant is responsible for the costs of the evaluation. BHSU reserves the right to require you to take the necessary courses to meet the requirements of your desired program. 
4. English language proficiency: One (1) of the following must be submitted by non-native English speaking applicants (Generally, this would include all international applicants who did not graduate from high school in Canada, Australia or the UK):
   • TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) score:
     • PBT (Paper Based TOEFL) minimum 550
     • or IBT (Internet Based TOEFL) minimum of 79
   • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) minimum score of 6.5
   • TOEIC   (Test of English for International Communication) minimum score of 790
     
   • EIKEN (Exam from Japan's Society for Testing English Proficiency) minimum Grade 2A
   • ACT (American College Test) minimum score of 19 in English
   • SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) minimum score of 500 on Critical Reading and 500 on Writing for a combined score of 1000 for both sections (not including Mathematics).
     ***AEPP students do not need to meet this requirement, but must demonstrate knowledge of English language***
5. Academic English Preparation Program:  Intended for students who do not meet English proficiency qualifications prior to enrollment.  Students must have some knowledge of the English language prior to beginning the AEPP.  Click here to learn more: Academic English Preparation Program 
6. Financial Responsibility:  A letter from a Bank/Broker, Employer or Financial Sponsor is required to document financial ability to cover the costs of attending your studies at BHSU.
7. Statement of Finances:  International student applicants must complete the International Student Official Statement of Finances form. You must complete this form with ORIGINAL SIGNATURES and mail it to the BHSU Office of International Studies at the address listed below.
8. Copy of Passport: Please send a photocopy of the photo/data page of the passport to verify data accuracy, if you have a passport at the time of application.
9. Send all Application Materials to:
   Black Hills State University
   Office of International Studies
   1200 University Street, Unit 9519
   Spearfish, SD 57799-9519
   Admission Deadlines:
    

• Fall Semester:
  All application materials must reach BHSU by June 1
• Spring Semester:
  All application materials must reach BHSU by October 1
• Summer Sessions:
  All application materials must reach BHSU by February 1

Once BHSU has received all of your Application Materials, it will then be determined if you have met all requirements for admission to BHSU.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.   If you have met all requirements, you will then receive a letter of acceptance and will also be issued a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20).  With the I-20 you can apply for a student visa (F1) at a US Embassy or Consulate. 

After you have been admitted to BHSU you will also be asked to provide these additional materials, due upon your arrival on campus:

1. Health Insurance:  International students are required to purchase the Health Insurance Plan for Students of the State of South Dakota at SDBOR myHealth.  Health insurance waivers can be requested by students who meet one of the following criteria: Embassy Sponsored Insurance; Employer Sponsored (including Medical Evacuation and Repatriation); ISEP Exchange; Athletic Insurance for Primary Insurance only; Indefinite Residence; or Provide Documentation of SD Domicile based on Visa Status (defined by BOR).  All international students must enroll upon commencement of the fall or spring semester or they will be auto-enrolled into the plan and the student’s SDePay account will be billed.
2. Evidence of Immunization:  All students must provide proof of two doses of immunization for mumps, measles, & rubella (MMR). Please visit BHSU Health Services - Immunization Information for more information and required documentation.
3. International Student Fee:  All international students pay a non-refundable fee of $75.00 USD for processing immigration information each semester of enrollment.
4. SEVIS: All students on F-1 and J-1 VISA must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee