International Students

2009-2010

Application, Admission and Important Related Information

Application and Admission

Hartford Seminary is authorized under federal law to enroll full-time nonimmigrant alien students. It is the policy of Hartford Seminary that all international students enter the U.S. under the F-1 program. There are no exceptions to this policy. Typically and primarily, Hartford Seminary accepts international students interested in the Master of Arts degree with a focused area of study in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations and Doctor of Ministry students from interfaith or Christian-Muslim contexts.

English Language Proficiency

Students who do not have English as a first language, or as a primary language in previous academic studies, are required, prior to application, to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination and achieve a minimum score of 550 (written version) or 213 (internet version). Applicants to the International Ph.D. program must have achieved a minimum score of 600 (written version) or 250 (internet version). Applications for admission will not be processed without official TOEFL scores.

Additionally, students pursuing graduate level studies at Hartford Seminary for whom English is a second language are required within the first month of their enrollment to undergo assessment of their English language ability. Based on this assessment, students will either be free from any further formal English language training, or be required to successfully complete the appropriate level of English language preparatory course at the English Language Institute of the University of Hartford. The appropriate level of preparatory course will be determined by the staff of the English Language Institute (in consultation with the Dean of the Seminary or her/his designee) based on an assessment of the student's abilities in listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing skills. The course must be taken either immediately prior to or during the first two terms of enrollment at Hartford Seminary.

The cost of the course must be considered part of the requisite costs for the student's program of study and included in the amount of financial obligation for which the student seeks and receives financial guarantee/sponsorship. (See International Student Costs Table below.)

This requirement may be waived by the Academic Affairs 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 or previous long term residence in the U.S. or other country where English is the primary language.

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Financial Sponsorship

Although applications for admission from international students are not reviewed on the basis of the student's financial status, Hartford Seminary must receive a letter of financial guarantee from a scholarship agency or a private individual (in the latter case a statement of financial credit from a recognized bank must be included) before the I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status" can be completed. This form is required for international students seeking a student visa. The letter of financial guarantee must show sufficient funds to meet the costs outlined in the Estimated International Student Costs Table. Limited financial assistance is available for international students and has recently been the equivalent of approximately one third of the cost of program tuition.

All policies in the Hartford Seminary 2009-2010 Catalogue and the Hartford Seminary Student Handbook 2009-2010 apply; however, international students (and visiting scholars) should make special note of the policies and procedures listed below.

Course Registration

To maintain their F-1 visa status, international students must be enrolled in a full-time course of study. While taking coursework, full-time status is defined as 9 credits per semester (registration during summer session is not required). International students who have completed all of their coursework must register for their final requirement in the following semesters.

In order to maintain full-time status during the final phase of their degree program, students must follow these guidelines:

• 3-credit final paper or project: If the student has registered for the 3-credit final requirement, and is not enrolled in any other courses during that semester, the final requirement must be completed and examined within that semester. If the student has registered for the 3-credit final requirement and is still enrolled in one or more courses during that semester that are required for the completion of the degree, the final requirement must be completed and examined by the end of the following semester.
• 6-credit thesis (M.A.) or final ministry project (D.Min.): Students who are writing six-credit theses or D.Min. final ministry projects are allowed to register for three credits for each of two consecutive regular semesters, and must be examined no later than the end of the semester that follows the second semester in which they have registered for their thesis or project. This examination deadline applies whether or not the student is taking other courses during the semesters in which he so she has registered for the thesis or final ministry project.

Any exception to this policy must be approved by the Academic Affairs Committee and the Designated School Official.

Note: This policy allows students opting for the three-credit final requirement (M.A.) a maximum of two regular semesters before being examined on it; it allows students option for the six-credit final requirement a maximum of three regular semesters before being examined on it.

Health Insurance

All international students and visiting 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 Seminary apartments, when applicable) at Hartford Seminary.

Housing

Normally, international students are required to live on campus for the first year of their study at Hartford Seminary, subject to such housing being available. Because the programs offered by the Seminary are designed primarily for non-residential students, the Seminary does not guarantee accommodations on campus for students. Limited space may be available for rent in the Seminary's Edith Mason Howard Ecumenical House. International students are given priority for Seminary apartment space that is available. For more detailed information, contact the Admissions Office. Several rental options for student housing are typically available in the surrounding area.

Any student living on-campus must receive the meningococcal vaccination (meningitis) and provide documentation to the Registrar's Office. Students who do not comply with this requirement within one month of moving on-campus will be asked to leave student housing.

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International Student Tuition, Fees and Additional Costs

Master of Arts Degree Program

The following table provides an estimate of total costs for the Master of Arts degree program on a full-time basis taking two academic years and two summers to complete. These figures are based on the costs of the student alone who is housed in one of Hartford Seminary's international student apartments. Students who come with a dependent or dependents should add approximately $1000/month to overall expenses.

These costs are based on the very minimum amount of time in which it is anticipated the program may be successfully completed therefore, the costs are the minimum anticipated amount and are not in any way provided as the definitive or final costs and should not be interpreted as such. Individual student costs will vary depending on residence, lifestyle, program requirements and normal economic fluctuations.

ESTIMATED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COSTS Master of Arts Degree Program (to complete the MA degree – based on 22* months full-time study) * 22 months represents four semesters of 9 credits each semester and two summer sessions of 6 credits each
Tuition 2009-2010: $1,680*/course (48 credits/ 16 courses**) * tuition is subject to increase annually ** each course is 3 credits	$26,880
Books 16 courses at approximately $150/course (estimate)	2,400
Additional Fees Application ($50), Graduation Fee ($185)	235
Housing (On-campus when available) 22 months at $480/month (rent includes utilities and local phone service) plus $10 a month for internet service	10,560
Food 22 months at $200/month (estimate)	5,500
Total Tuition, Books, Fees, Housing and Food	$45,575
Additional Costs (all costs are estimates)
Health Insurance (Required) Health Insurance costs vary significantly based age, health, etc.; Insurance premiums can vary from $700 to $5000 per year or more ($2200 is an estimate)	$1,500
Computer (approximate) Computer Equipment ($1000)	1,000
Phone 22 months at $20/ month for long distance	440
Personal Expenses Clothing, postage, recreation, toiletries, etc. 22 months at $50/ month	1,100
Transportation Public transportation; 22 months at $45/month; Does not include cost of transportation to and from the United States	990
TOTAL Estimated Program Costs – MA degree	$50,605

Doctor of Ministry Program

The following table provides an estimate of total costs to complete the coursework for the Doctor of Ministry degree program on a full-time basis. Please note: The Doctor of Ministry degree requires successful completion of the six credit ministry project; the candidacy examination for progressing to the ministry project phase of the degree program cannot be scheduled until the student has completed the two years of Colleague Seminars and at least four of the six required elective courses, therefore, the minimum on-campus time necessary to complete the coursework is anticipated to be approximately 22 months.

These figures are based on the costs of the student alone who is housed in one of Hartford Seminary's international student apartments. Students who come with a dependent or dependents should add approximately $1,000/month to the overall expenses. These estimated costs are the minimum anticipated amount and are not in any way provided as definitive or final costs and should not be interpreted as such. Individual student costs will vary depending on residence, lifestyle, program requirements and normal economic fluctuations.

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ESTIMATED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COSTS – Doctor of Ministry Degree Program (to complete the Doctor of Ministry degree – based on 22 months full-time study*) * Course work may be completed in 22 months; the Ministry Project may be completed from a distance/off site with permission of the Dean and faculty advisor
Tuition 2009-2010: $1,680*/course (36 credits/ 12 courses**) * tuition is subject to increase annually ** each course is 3 credits	$20,160
Books 10 courses at approximately $150/course (estimate)	1,800
Additional Fees Application ($50), Graduation Fee ($185)	235
Housing 22 months at $480/month (rent includes utilities and local phone service)	10,560
Food 22 months at $250/month (estimate)	5,500
Total Tuition, Books, Fees, Housing and Food	$38,255
Additional Costs (all costs are estimates)
Health Insurance Health Insurance costs vary significantly based age, health, etc. Insurance premiums can vary from $700 to $5,000 per year or more ($1,500 is an estimate)	$1,500
Computer (approximate) Computer Equipment ($1,000)	1,000
Phone 22 months at $20/ month for long distance	440
Personal Expenses Clothing, postage, recreation, toiletries, etc. 22 months at $50/ month	1,100
Transportation Public transportation; 22 months at $45/month; Does not include cost of transportation to/ from the U.S.	990
TOTAL Estimated Costs - Doctor of Ministry	$43,285

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