Information for International Students
For full-time students in on-campus degree programs
If you're an international student planning to study at Stony Brook University in the United States, you will need a Form I-20 (for F-1 student status) or DS-2019 (for J-1 student status) to apply for your student visa and gain entry to the U.S. Once you've been academically admitted to Stony Brook University, you will receive detailed instructions via email, along with your login credentials for accessVIS, our secure online platform.
Certificates of Eligibility
Certificates of Eligibility are issued to students who have:
- been admitted to a full-time program of study at Stony Brook University in a degree program that has on-campus course requirements,
- provided proof of financial support for their proposed program of study
- provided proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL scores -- see below)
[Students who are not yet proficient in English may wish to apply to the Intensive English Center. For additional information, visit that website at www.stonybrook.edu/iec.]
Prospective students should submit a Certificate of Eligibility form for review.
Application Process for International Students
Prospective students must follow the steps outlined below in order:
- Prospective student submits an application to the intended SPD master's degree program.
- a. Applicant will receive an email from Stony Brook University Visa and Immigration
Services (VIS) containing a link to the AccessVisa system in order to request initial
Form I-20 / DS2019.
b. Applicant then uploads required documentation for Form I-20 / DS2019. (Note: Form I-20 / DS2019 requests are only reviewed after the applicant has been formally admitted to a matriculated program. - Decisions regarding admission to the applicant's intended program will be emailed to the applicant approximately three – four weeks after SPD has received all required application materials.
- Applicant's request for Form I-20 / DS2019 will then be reviewed by an international student advisor if, andonly after the applicant has been matriculated (admitted and processed) into an SPD academic program (either master's degree and/or advanced graduate certificate).
- If the request for Form I-20 / DS2019 is approved, the Form I-20 / DS2019 will be processed and mailed via UPS Express to the applicant.
Please note that we can only offer master's degree programs to international applicants who required an I-20. We cannot offer our 15-18 credit advanced graduate certificate programs. This is a result of a combination of the full-time VIS requirement (12 credits per term), and the limitations of all offering all of the courses needed within the shortened time frame.
Admissions Deadlines
Fall Admission: April 1 for MA in Liberal Studies; March 1 for MA in Higher Education Administration.
Spring Admission: October 1 for MA in Liberal Studies
TOEFL Examination Scores
If your native or primary language is not English, English proficiency must be established based on the results of your TOEFL or IELTS examinations.
Minimum exam scores required for admission to Stony Brook University:
IELTS: Overall score of 6.5, with no subsection recommended to be below 6
TOEF iBT: 80*
*In addition to the minimum overall score of 80 on the Internet-based exam, students must score at least 22 on the speak subsection.
The above tests must have been taken within two years of the application deadline date. For example, TOEFL exams taken prior to June 2018 will not be accepted for Fall 2020 applications due on June 1, 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
International Services
Visa and Immigration Services provides advice and assistance on U.S. government immigration regulations and cross-cultural issues relating to study, teaching, research, and living in the United States.
Visa and Immigration Services
Office: Melville Library, Room E5310
Phone: 631-632-4685
Fax: 631-632-7064
Web: http://www.stonybrook.edu/visa
SPD Contact Information
For information about applying to School of Professional Development (SPD) degree or certificate programs, contact:
SPD Records and Admissions
School of Professional Development
Email: spd@stonybrook.edu
Tel. 631-632-7050