International Students

Application and Admission

Hartford International is authorized to sponsor nonimmigrant students on an F-1 or J-1 visa.  

English Language Proficiency

Students who do not have English as a first language, or as a primary language in previous academic studies, are required to submit official language proficiency test scores and achieve minimum scores as described below. Applications for admission will not be processed without official TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores. Online “test preparation” scores will not be accepted.

Please see English language proficiency exemptions here

Language proficiency tests must be taken within 18 months of application submission. Minimum scores for each test are listed below:  

*For TOEFL iBT examinations taken before January 21, 2026, the equivalent minimum score is 80 on the former 0–120 scale. TOEFL iBT examinations taken on or after January 21, 2026 are reported on the new 1–6 scale, with 4.0 representing the applicable minimum level.

You must request that official copies of your scores be sent to the Admissions Office. The code for Hartford International University is: 8726. 

Address: Hartford International University for Religion and Peace 
Office of Admissions 
77 Sherman Street 
Hartford, CT 06105 U.S.A. 
Or emailed DIRECTLY from the testing agency to: admissions@hartfordinternational.edu.

The University may accept other recognized measures of English-language proficiency at its discretion. English-language proficiency requirements may vary by program where additional proficiency is necessary for successful academic study. This requirement may be waived by the Admissions Committee based on factors that have come to its attention during the admission process, such as previous degrees earned in which English was the language of study. 

Transcripts

Applicants are required to present transcripts in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Applicants with non-U.S. transcripts will be required to submit a course-by-course evaluation completed by a credential evaluation service accredited by NACES. We have partnered with The Evaluation Company to offer a discounted rate.  

If you encounter barriers to securing the foreign credential evaluation or requesting your official transcripts, please email us at admissions@hartfordinternational.edu.  

International Student Merit Scholarships

(Academic Year 2026-2027)

Committed to creating access for qualified international students, HIU offers a tuition scholarship (of 30% off of tuition) to international students that do not have full tuition external funding. Students must intend to matriculate as full-time, degree-seeking students for our Master of Arts for Interreligious Studies or our Master of Arts in Chaplaincy program and meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must have the U.S. equivalent of a 3.0 GPA from previous collegiate work
• Must take classes in-person at HIU
• Must maintain F-1 or J-1 visa status
• Must be registered for 9 or more credits each fall and spring semester
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA at HIU

HIU will review student eligibility for the International Student Scholarship when a student submits the HIU Scholarship and Grant Supplemental Form. The International Student Scholarship is renewable annually, with the completion of the Supplemental form each academic year.

Note that reporting external funding is a requirement of all students receiving aid at HIU.

Please email any questions to admissions@hartfordinternational.edu

Financial Sponsorship

Although applications for admission from international students are not reviewed on the basis of the student’s financial status, Hartford International must receive documentation that shows full proof of funding before an I-20 or DS-2019 form can be issued.  

If your source of funding is non-personal, you will also need to have your financial sponsor submit the Letter of Support along with financial documentation.

All financial documentation must meet the following requirements:

• Must be in English (or certified English translations must be included)
• Must be issued within 12 months of your program start date
• Must be on official letterhead
• Must clearly state the account holder’s name in English
• Must list the currency of the funds in the account (if not U.S. dollars) in English
• A detailed stamp of authentication from the financial institution

Financial sources must be readily available liquid assets, such as:

• Checking or savings accounts
• Letter from a bank stating the amount of funds in your account and the type of account
• Money market accounts
• Certificates/term deposits/fixed deposits with maturity dates no later than the program start date or stating that funds can be withdrawn at any time
• Educational loans (a loan application is not sufficient)
• University or Government scholarship Letter  
• Letter from an employer showing annual salary

The following are examples of sources that are NOT acceptable:

• Investment portfolios (Examples: stocks, bonds, mutual funds).
• Retirement plans
• Available lines of credit
• Deeds to real estate
• Material items (examples: livestock, land, jewelry, fur)
• Income tax forms 

Course Registration

To maintain their F-1 or J-1 visa status, international students must be enrolled in a full-time course of study which is defined as 9 credits per semester (registration during summer or winter session is not required). The one exception is the semester when students are registered for their final requirement. In this case 3 credits is considered full time. Students must complete their final requirement within a maximum of two semesters.

Please see this document for more detailed information

Note: International Ph.D. students should consult with their academic advisor in order to maintain full-time enrollment during all stages of the Ph.D. program. The number of credits required to maintain full-time enrollment varies based on the stage. Independent Studies are considered in-person courses. 

Health Insurance

All international students and research scholars are required to carry adequate major medical insurance (accident, illness, hospitalization), medical evacuation, and repatriation insurance for the duration of their enrollment (and occupancy of Hartford International apartments, when applicable) at Hartford International.

Housing

Normally, international students are required to live on campus for the first year of their study at Hartford International, subject to housing availability. For more detailed information, please contact housing@hartfordinternational.edu. Several rental options for student housing are also available in the surrounding area.

Any student living on-campus must receive the meningococcal vaccination (meningitis) and provide documentation to the Assistant Dean of Student Experience at ndiaz@hartfordinternational.edu. Students who do not comply with this requirement within one month of moving on-campus will be asked to leave student housing.