Amherst College

We welcome first-year and transfer applications from international students. Currently, some 10 percent of our students come from secondary schools or universities outside the U.S.; about 8 percent are non-U.S. citizens. Our Admission Committee is familiar with various education systems around the world.

In reviewing your application, we consider grades, standardized test scores, comprehensive exam predictions or results, essays, recommendations, independent work, the quality of your current academic program and your achievements outside the classroom. No one aspect will determine our decision; instead, we look at the sum total of your experiences.

First-Year Early Decision Deadline: November 15
First-Year Regular Decision Deadline: January 1

Spring Transfer Deadline: November 1
Fall Transfer Deadline: March 1

Click here to begin an application.  For more information on important dates and deadlines, click here.

Click here to see ADMISSION STATISTICS for the Class of 2015 and Fall 2010 & Spring 2011 Transfers.

Application and Financial Aid Guidelines

Regardless of your citizenship or geographic location, you should follow the same first-year or transfer application process that other students follow.  As of the 2008-2009 admission cycle, Amherst College extended its need-blind admission policy to international students.  This means Amherst will admit international students without regard to their level of financial need or request for financial aid.  In addition, Amherst meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all international students who are admitted to the college and apply for need-based financial aid.  To review the requirements necessary for international students to apply for financial aid, visit the Office of Financial Aid's web pages for international applicants.

English Proficiency Testing Requirements

The only additional application requirement for international student applicants (both first-year and transfer) is demonstration of English proficiency. We require any applicant whose first language is not English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a similar English-proficiency test (such as the International English Language Testing System - IELTS; or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery - MELAB)  with the following exceptions: The TOEFL is not required of international students who have conducted their entire secondary education at a school with English as the primary language of instruction or who have scored 700 or above on the Critical Reading section of the SAT.  If you have been taught primarily in English for a period of less than four years, and you are unsure of whether you need to submit an English-proficiency exam, please contact the Office of Admission.

We recommend a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 250 on the computer-based TOEFL and a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT); a minimum overall band score of 7.5 for the IELTS; or equivalent scores on the MELAB.

You may register online to take these tests:
TOEFL: Amherst Code #3003
MELAB: No Codes Used
IELTS*: No Codes Used

*IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.