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.
4. English language proficiency: One (1) of the following must be submitted if English is not your first language:
   • 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. 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.   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. Evidence of Health Insurance:  All international students are required to purchase health insurance through the South Dakota Board of Regents to ensure a sufficient level of health coverage.  Please click here to purchase the health insurance: SDBOR myHealth.  Health insurance waivers are only available to those students who are required to purchase their health insurance through their government. 
   Phone#: 1.888.322.2115 
   Fax#: 1.605.322.4689
   
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 $120.95:  All international students pay a one-time non-refundable fee of $120.95 USD for processing immigration information.
4. SEVIS: All students on F-1 and J-1 VISA must pay the 901 SEVIS fee