International Student Admissions
Start the Process
One of the top reasons to attend SAGU is the warm welcome we give to international students. Surrounded by a missions-minded culture, you will be surrounded by people who share your faith. The staff, faculty and students are a community of believers who foster a network of support and friendship that will last a lifetime.
Take the next step and come to Waxahachie, TX, where you’ll find your new home. All international students complete a two-step process for enrollment at SAGU.
1) Complete items needed to be accepted to SAGU
2) Complete items needed to obtain a student VISA
Request Info or Apply at any time .
SAGU is approved by the Department of Homeland Security to accept non-immigrant students holding an F1 visa.
Application
All students must complete the following items for admission to SAGU (It is recommended that the application be submitted no fewer than six (6) months prior to the intended start date):
- Click here to start or access your online application
- Application Fee ($35)
- Pastoral Recommendation: This portion of the admissions process will need to be completed by a pastor or church leader who is unrelated to you. You will include your reference’s contact information as part of the online application and we will send them the necessary forms to complete through email.
- Proof of Meningitis Vaccination
- Health History Form
- Housing Application
Academics
All applicants must submit appropriate academic documentation before being considered for admission to SAGU. The following items will be needed:
- Official High School Transcript with International Evaluation (see below): If you are transferring from a college with more than 21 credit hours completed, we may able to waive this requirement. Please contact your admissions counselor for more information.
- Official College Transcripts: All international college transcripts will also need to be evaluated (see below).
- International Transcript Evaluations: An official evaluation from www.wes.org , www.transcriptresearch.com or www.incredevals.org/ must be done on ALL International High School and College transcripts. Two official copies of your transcript will be necessary: one sent to SAGU, one to the evaluation service.
- ACT or SAT Scores: Applicants must submit scores from either the ACT (American College Test) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) taken within the last 5 years. The minimum composite ACT / SAT scores are: 19 (ACT) or 990 (SAT R). The ACT is given in various countries all over the world. For more information on a testing location close to you, please go to www.act.org . Applicants who meet certain college transfer credit conditions may be exempted from this requirement. Please contact your Admissions Counselor about the exemption.
- TOEFL/English Proficiency Scores: All International Applicants must submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores as a part of the admissions process. Applicants from certain countries or transferring more than 30 hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution may be exempt from this requirement. There are multiple TOEFL testing centers all over the world. You will find more information about the TOEFL by clicking here: www.toefl.org . Currently, our minimum TOEFL score requirements for acceptance to SAGU are: iBT 71, cBT 197, pBT 525
Financial
All applicants must complete the following items before an I-20 can be issued (see step two for more details):
- Student Statement of Financial Support: This form is available in the Important Links section on this page and is required for all international students. This should be completed in addition to the proof of sponsorship forms and bank statements listed below.
- International Student Financial Sponsor Support Form: This form is available in the important links section on this page and is required for any sponsor who is a United States citizen or an international sponsor. For more details, contact your admissions counselor.
- Official Bank Statements: All applicants and sponsors will also need to submit 6 months Official Bank Statements. These records should be in English (translation is available through companies such as SpanTran ). If you have questions regarding this requirement, contact your admissions counselor.
- First Semester Payment: Each applicant must submit payment for the entirety of the first semester’s bill in advance. Please contact your admissions counselor if you have questions or need an estimate.
- SAGU Financial Aid Application: Although we do not currently offer scholarships specifically for international students, you may be eligible for various other scholarships that we offer. Please note that scholarships are very limited and require proper documentation.
Special note: You will likely hear about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in your college journey, this aid is limited to US citizens, however, and is not available for international students. If you are unsure about your current status or have questions about your eligibility, please contact your admissions counselor.
Student VISA
- Copy of VISA: You may not have this right now unless you are already studying in the U.S.. A copy of this document will need to be submitted as soon as it is available.
- Copy of Passport: If you do not have a passport, you will want to apply for one as soon as possible.
- Copy of I-94: This is a government form used to record your arrival and departure locations and dates. You will only have this if you are already in the U.S.. If you are not currently enrolled in a university in the U.S., you will need to obtain your I-94 at the I94 Official Website after you cross the U.S. border. You will then need to bring your I-94 to us when you come on campus. A copy can be submitted to your admissions counselor.
- I-20 / I-20 Transfer: This form will be issued by SAGU after all admissions requirements are completed and financial requirements have been met. For security purposes, I-20’s cannot be emailed or faxed. The original signed document must be sent via an international carrier to the address indicated by the applicant. Due to postage delivery times and costs, SAGU will not send I-20’s to an international destination later than 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.
- I-901 fee : This fee will be paid to the U.S. government in the process of obtaining your VISA.
- Embassy Appointment: For more information about applying for your F1 VISA and scheduling an embassy appointment after your I-20 has been issued, please click here .
- Proof of Health Insurance: All SAGU students on an F1 visa are required to have U.S. Health Insurance coverage for international students. You may obtain this type of health insurance by clicking here . Please contact your admissions counselor for more information.
- Employment Information: As an F1 student, job opportunities will be limited. Please click here to find more information about work restrictions on an F1 VISA.