International Applicants

Welcome

Union Presbyterian Seminary has been equipping ordained ministers, church leaders, and Christian educators for the global church for more than 200 years. The Syngman Rhee Global Mission Center, established in 2018, is committed to continuing and nurturing our commitment to the church universal by hosting students from overseas at our Richmond campus. Here, men and women seeking to follow their call to ministry are transformed by interactions with distinguished and caring professors, research in a world-class library, thoughtfully designed curricula, and innumerable learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

UPSem welcomes international applicants to our Richmond campus in the following degree programs:

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.),
• Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.),
• M.Div./M.A.C.E. dual degrees, and
• Master of Theology (Th.M.).

(Our Doctor of Ministry and Master of Arts in Public Theology programs, and all programs on our Charlotte campus, are not open to international students. We are not currently offering any online programs for international students.) All international students must begin in the Fall term.

International Application Process

1. Contact Annie Franklin Arvin (annie.arvin@upsem.edu). 
2. Complete an online application in SONIS by December 1, 2024. 
3. Share the names and email addresses of three people to serve as references. (We’ll send them information). References must be returned to UPSem by February 1, 2025. 
4. Request transcripts from ALL previous institutions be sent to admissions@upsem.edu or via mail to the Richmond Campus. Transcripts must be received by February 1, 2025. 
5. Complete an admissions interview and a faculty interview by February 1, 2025.  
6. Submit English Language Proficiency Scores or request a waiver by February 1, 2025.  

English Language Proficiency  

International applicants are required to submit scores from the TOEFL iBT or IELTS or to receive an English proficiency exam waiver from the Director of Admissions. A waiver will not be granted until after an applicant’s interviews. All applicants are encouraged to take an English proficiency exam. Applicants must achieve at least 20 on each section of the TOEFL iBT to be considered for admission. Scores from the paper-based TOEFL test will no longer be accepted. Alternatively, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 8.0 in each section of the IELTS. Test information is available from Educational Testing Services at www.ets.org. Our institution code is 5805. To contact the director of admissions about a TOEFL waiver, please email admissions@upsem.edu. Common reasons to request a TOEFL waiver include the following: English is the applicant’s primary language, the applicant has completed all their education in English, the applicant completed a post-baccalaureate degree in English, or the applicant hails from a country where English is the official language. 

UPSem’s International Student office is responsible for assisting admitted students with obtaining the necessary documents for your visa and entry into the United States. Further information about visa requirements and procedures can be found on the U.S. government’s website, Study in the States.

Admitted students must provide proof of sufficient funding In order to be approved for the U.S. Form I-20. Total expenses for 12 months for tuition, books, and living expenses for a single student living on campus are approximately $30,000 – $35,000 including approved health insurance. A deposit equal to 40% of first-year costs is also required. Financial aid includes full tuition and International Living Expenses Grants. A majority of Union Presbyterian Seminary students receive some type of financial aid.

Financial Aid and International Students 

• International Students are eligible to be considered for full tuition aid scholarships of up to 100%.  
• International Living Expenses Grants: Students are eligible to apply for living expenses grants of up to $5000. This is a separate application that can be completed as soon as an applicant is admitted. 
• International students are encouraged to look for additional aid and resources beyond what is available from Union Presbyterian Seminary. 

Hear from current international students and faculty below!