Students planning to live in campus housing should note that space is limited, and housing applications are processed by the Housing Office by date of acceptance.
Admissions Process International applications take approximately 45 days to process after all required items are received by the Admissions Office. The admissions procedure for international students requires additional information and processing time due to Seminary policies and the requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The Admissions Committee treats all material confidentially. If approved, the application file will remain valid for purposes of admission for two years from the date of approval. If matriculation is delayed beyond two years or if this application is not approved, a new updated application must be filed in order to reopen the admission process. Interested parties may contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sebts.edu with any questions about applications or about the admission process. In order to qualify for admission to the College, international students are required to provide a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the Intranet-based TOEFL. The required score for post-graduate and M.A. (Ethics, Theology, and Culture) students is 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL. (The school code for TOEFL is 5620). International applicants must also complete all the forms and documentation outlined in the International Student Application Packet in order to ensure their financial security while studying at SEBTS. This packet can be found on the Seminary website; it is also available from the Admissions Office. It must be completed, along with the other application requirements, before an application will be reviewed and before an I-20 will be issued.
International Student Deposit Requirement Southeastern’s purpose in accepting international students is consistent with the stated mission of the institution: to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Southeastern’s priority in training international students is to equip ministers who will return to their country of origin (or in some cases, an international mission field), seeking to serve the church and further the Great Commission outside the United States. International students accept the conditions of their visa to enter the U.S. that they will return to the country of origin upon completion of studies. Therefore, all international student applicants must state their commitment to return to their country of origin as a condition of acceptance and continued enrollment. International Students are required to pay a deposit, which is designed to encourage and assist them in fulfilling their commitment to return to their country of origin. The deposit, due upon application, ensures that the applicant has reflected seriously on the commitment for enrolling at Southeastern and adhering to U.S. international student regulations. If the student complies with all signed commitments and school policies, the International Student Deposit will be fully returned upon graduation. Thus the deposit will assist the international student with the initial costs of returning to their country of origin. The International Student Deposit requirement will be waived only if the President of Southeastern or the Senior Vice President for Academic Administration initiates and approves waiving this requirement. Waivers are rarely granted and only if doing so does not jeopardize adherence to federal regulations or institutional commitments. If the student complies with all signed commitments and school policies, the International Student Deposit will be fully returned upon graduation. Exceptions for returning the deposit when a student is not in compliance with signed commitments and school policies will be few. Deposits, for example, will not be returned in the case of marriage to an American citizen, gaining U.S. citizenship, transferring to another school, or the change of immigration status which allows the international student to remain in the U.S. Only extenuating and extreme circumstances will be considered for possible exceptions to agreed upon arrangements (e.g., an international student from Brazil accepts a mission appointment to Spain, or the country of origin prohibits the return of the Christian student.) Each case will be investigated and adjudicated by the Director of International Student Services and/or the Dean of Students.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Academic Catalog 2012–2013 | Becoming a Student | 53