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International

About The Chicago School
Overview of the Campuses
Overview of the Programs
Why Choose The Chicago School?
International Scholarships
Student Services
Housing Support
Application Process
Student Visa Process

Welcome to The Chicago School

Welcome to The Chicago School community! Here you will experience a culturally rich environment that contributes to the development of a global perspective in several professional fields, including business, counseling, psychology, medicine, and behavioral sciences.

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“Since my move here, I just know that this is my family. I belong here.”
–Prabhjot “Sophia” Sidhu
Student, Psy.D. Marriage and Family Therapy program

Watch more from two of our international students below.

Campus Locations at The Chicago School

The Chicago School campuses are located in culturally rich, urban areas across the United States. Whether studying online or at one of our metropolitan locations, you’ll learn through hands-on training led by faculty who are leaders in their respective fields.

Programs at The Chicago School

Whether your goal is to become a counselor, psychologist, or business leader, our programs will prepare you to engage with individuals from any cultural background. Through hands-on training and instruction from faculty who are esteemed professionals in their respective fields, you will learn to apply a variety of skills in global contexts.

The Chicago School is authorized to sponsor students for F-1 or J-1 visas for eligible on-ground programs. To learn more about eligible programs, please contact our International Admissions Office at 312-488-6039 or email us!

See All Programs

Why Choose The Chicago School?

Inclusive Community and Expert Faculty

Our faculty are leaders with extensive connections in their respective fields. In addition to learning from instructors with years of experience, you will begin building professional networks from the first day of class through an inclusive learning environment that comprises students from around the world.

Our model of education represents a newly defined approach to professional education, an approach grown—yet differentiated—from two earlier psychology training models. To learn more about our approach, click here.

Global Vision and Mission

The Chicago School Global is focused on nurturing the pathways for international students in their pursuit of education.

Vision
To be the model of higher education by preparing professionals to live, thrive, and serve in a diverse and global world.

Mission
To advance a model of comprehensive internationalization by offering all The Chicago School community members exposure to global opportunities through our four-pillar model.

This model exemplifies student mobility and cultural immersion, community integration, alumni engagement, and community service.

International Partnerships

International partnerships provide a breadth of opportunity and academic collaborations to our faculty and students. Prospective students from our international partner institutions may be eligible to apply and be admitted to The Chicago School through an established pathway to select programs. For more specific information about available opportunities, please contact our International Admissions Office at 312-488-6039 or [email protected].

Our International Partners
  • Abu Dhabi School of Management, UAE
  • BAU University, Turkey
  • CETYS Universidad, Mexico
  • Cornerstone Institute, South Africa
  • DUNK, Ghana
  • Hassan University, Morocco
  • Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, India
  • Krea University, India
  • Leeds Beckett, United Kingdom
  • LEORON, UAE
  • Middle East Psychological Association
  • Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania
  • Richmond University, United Kingdom
  • Seneca Polytechnic, Canada
  • SRH University, Germany
  • The University of Botswana, Botswana
  • Universidad Católica de Murcia, Spain
  • Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Peru
  • Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
  • Universitas Sanata Dharma, Indonesia
  • Vidyashilp University, India
  • York St. John University, United Kingdom

For details contact an admissions counselor.

International Scholarships

The Chicago School is proud to offer institutional scholarships for eligible international students. These scholarships were designed to reduce financial barriers for international students who wish to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in the U.S. Click the button below to learn more about these opportunities.

Institutional Aid

Student Services

The Chicago School offers a variety of comprehensive programs and services to help you succeed as an international student in the U.S. In addition to the services offered to all community members, we provide resources designed specifically for international students like you to help with your transition to living in America. We can assist you with cross-cultural adjustment, immigration status, employment, housing, health insurance, social security, income tax regulations, personal concerns, and more.

Many of our academic programs require students to participate in internship or practicum experiences. You will be placed in real-world training sites under the direct supervision of a working professional so that you may apply what you’ve learned in the classroom into actual practice. These experiences help you establish working relationships with American organizations, opening doors to potential job opportunities in the future.

Student Services

Housing Support at The Chicago School

Personalized assistance is available to students to aid their transition to living in a new city. Click the link below to explore housing options near campus and connect directly with representatives to guide you every step of the way.

Explore Housing

International Student Application Process

Step 1:

Inquire with us!

Step 2:

Schedule a Consultation
with International Admissions

Step 3:

Start an Application
View Deadlines

Step 4:

Upload the required
application documents to
the applicant portal

Step 5:

Completed file
gets reviewed

Step 6:

Interview scheduled,
if required

Step 7:

Notification of
admissions decision

Step 8:

If accepted to a U.S.-based
campus program, begin visa related process

If accepted to online campus, submit tuition deposit and get registered

Step 9:

Attend Orientation
& Start School

International Student Application Information

Admission Requirements

International Admissions Requirements

In addition to meeting all general admission requirements indicated on our program-specific pages, you must submit the information below to be considered for international student admission to The Chicago School.

Language Requirement

If English is not your primary language, you must submit proof that you are able to communicate in English at a proficient level. Acceptable proof of proficiency includes:

  • Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report (TOEFL code: 7161).
    • As an undergraduate program applicant, you must earn a minimum score of:
      • 61 on the internet-based test
      • 500 on the paper-based test
      • 173 on the computer-based test
    • As a graduate program applicant, you must earn a minimum score of:
      • 79 on the internet-based test
      • 550 on the paper-based test
      • 213 on the computer-based test
  • Official Pearson Test of English (PTE) score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 44 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 53 as a graduate program applicant.
  • Official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 5.5 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 6.5 as a graduate program applicant.
  • Duolingo English Test score report. To be considered for admission, you must earn a minimum score of 95 as an undergraduate program applicant, and a minimum score of 110 as a graduate program applicant.
  • Completion of the required level at a partner ESL institution (please inquire).
    • University of California, Irvine Extension

Note: The language requirement does not apply if you have either earned an undergraduate or graduate degree or at least 60 credit hours from a university in which the language of instruction was English (example: American University of Cairo).
Test scores must be submitted to The Chicago School directly from the testing agency, and you must have taken the test within the past two years.

Transcript Evaluation

If you hold a qualifying conferral (undergraduate) or qualifying degree (graduate) from an international institution, you must have it evaluated as part of the admissions process. You will need to obtain a course-by-course evaluation or an official equivalency may be required. The evaluation must indicate the equivalent U.S. credential and grade-point average (GPA). The Chicago School recommends evaluations from:

The evaluation itself is not a guarantee of admission. The Chicago School does not pay the cost of a credential evaluation; you are responsible for this fee.
The transcript evaluation must be submitted to The Chicago School directly from the evaluation agency. Evaluations that require mailing may be sent to:
Admissions Operations
C/O The Chicago School
203 N. LaSalle, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601
U.S.A.

International Admissions Checklist

The following is a list of general requirements for international applicants to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. For information regarding program-specific requirements, contact the International Admissions Office.

  • Application 
  • Application fee – $50 USD
  • Program-specific essay (500-750 words)
  • Resume or CV
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • Course-by-course” transcript evaluation completed by a NACES- or AICE-approved evaluation service  For university-level education completed in Canada, The Chicago School is able to provide an in-house course-by-course transcript evaluation.
  • TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or Duolingo scores
  • GRE score*
  • Required only for Psy.D. Clinical Psychology and Post-Bachelor Ph.D. Business Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Track programs
  •  GRE School Code 1119
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Applying to The Chicago School

When is the application deadline?
Deadlines may vary by program and campus location. Contact the International Admissions Office to determine an appropriate admissions timeline given visa appointment wait times, if applicable; proximity to the start of the term/semester; and preferred campus location. Dates for each term/semester are located in the Academic Calendar.

Do The Chicago School programs start multiple times per year?
All Chicago School programs welcome new students in August. Some on-ground programs start new students in January as well. Online programs welcome new students six times per year—in August, October, January, March, May, and July. Please contact the International Admissions Office for more information.

Is a criminal background check required?

The Chicago School requires all degree-seeking and most certificate students to complete a criminal background check as a condition of acceptance and matriculation. Additional communications regarding the criminal background check process will be shared by your International Admissions Counselor.

How long does it take to complete a program?
Time for completion varies by program. Undergraduate programs typically take about four years to complete. Master’s programs typically take around two years to complete. Post-master doctoral programs typically take about three years to complete. Post-bachelor doctoral programs typically take four to five years to complete.

Must I have completed a prior degree in psychology to apply?
No. To apply to graduate-level programs, you must have or be completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution. For undergraduate programs, you must provide proof of a qualifying conferral—high school graduation (or the equivalent) or proof of an earned associate degree. Programs may have prerequisite course requirements. Please contact the International Admissions Office for more information

What is a transcript evaluation? Is a transcript evaluation required of all foreign coursework in order to apply?
Transcript evaluations are required of all coursework completed outside of the United States unless the institution has U.S. regional accreditation (e.g., The American University of Cairo). Course-by-course transcript evaluations are completed by outside companies that will take foreign transcripts and convert them to U.S.-equivalent transcripts, with performance converted to a U.S. 4-point scale. They also confirm degree and institutional accreditation equivalence.

If I am missing a prerequisite course, can I take it at The Chicago School?
We offer an online Research Methods course, Introduction to Psychology course, and a Statistics course. These courses are open to all accepted students.

Is the GRE required?
The GRE is required ONLY for the following programs:

  • Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
  • Post-Bachelor Ph.D. Business Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Track

Please note that you must have your official scores sent to The Chicago School (School Code 1119).

Are there fees required to apply?
The fee to apply to The Chicago School is $50 USD.

Is there a minimum grade-point average (GPA) to be considered for admission to The Chicago School?
No, although generally, our undergraduate programs require a high school or undergraduate GPA of 2.3 or higher, master’s-level programs require a 3.0 GPA or higher, and the education specialist and doctoral programs require a 3.2 GPA or higher (4.0 scale). However, GPA and GRE scores are only one part of the application. The Chicago School reviews each applicant holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration.

What is a tuition deposit?
A tuition deposit is a nonrefundable payment that you, as an accepted student, make to demonstrate your commitment and intent to enroll at The Chicago School. The deposit is not a fee but an advance tuition payment that will be credited toward your first tuition statement.

When is my tuition due?
For the courses, you are currently enrolled in, tuition is due by the end of the term/semester. You will receive advance notice from the Student Accounts Office when your tuition is due.

How do I make a payment?
You can make a tuition payment in the following ways:

What is Flywire?
The Chicago School has partnered with Flywire to streamline the international payment process. Flywire allows you to pay securely from any country and any bank, typically in your home currency. By making your payment with Flywire you can:

  • Track your payments from start to finish
  • Save on bank fees and exchange rates
  • Contact Flywire’s multilingual customer support team with any questions, day or night

To get started, go to tcspp.flywire.com to begin the payment process. If you have questions about making an international payment, visit flywire.com/help.

I’ve been accepted. What are the steps to getting a student visa?
Once you’re admitted, find information on the next steps here.

Campuses

Where are your campuses located?
In addition to our Online Campus, The Chicago School has on-ground campuses in Chicago; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; New Orleans; Los Angeles; Anaheim; and San Diego.

Do you provide housing?
The Chicago School does not have residence halls, as our campuses are in city centers with rental housing readily available. As an incoming student, you will receive a detailed overview of moving and living in the city where you will be attending classes. You are encouraged to contact the International Admissions Office for further assistance. You can also access this guide through our International Student Services page under “Live in the U.S.”

Personalized assistance is available to students to aid their transition to living in a new city. Click here to explore housing options near campus and connect directly with representatives to guide you every step of the way.

Are Chicago School campuses accessible via public transportation?

Yes, most of our campuses are easily accessible by public transportation. Some campuses provide discounted transit passes for students.

Can I receive a student visa while studying in a program offered online?
No. Only international students who are part of a degree program offered on one of our U.S. campuses are eligible to receive an F-1 or J-1 student visa.

Academic Programs

Is The Chicago School APA accredited?
The American Psychological Association (APA) does not accredit institutions, but rather specific types of doctoral programs within institutions. (APA does not accredit programs at the master’s level). Our clinical doctoral Psy.D. program at the Chicago, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. campuses are accredited by the APA. The Chicago School’s clinical doctoral Psy.D. program at TCSPP-XULA is accredited on contingency by the APA. The Chicago School is institutionally accredited through the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For additional information on our programmatic accreditations, please review the information here.

Are your programs accredited?
The Chicago School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges WSCUC. To review a list of our programmatic accreditations, please review the information here.

Will The Chicago School degree be portable to another country? How can I find this information?
We advise you to research the requirements of licensure/employment in your field of interest in your home country to ascertain if a program offered at The Chicago School will meet licensure/employment criteria. This can be done by contacting accreditation bodies or home-country government organizations.

Can I enroll in online or hybrid programs as an international student?
If you reside outside the United States, you have several options to explore when considering an online program:

  • Online programs: An added benefit of enrolling in a program that is offered fully online is that your degree can be completed globally! To learn more about our fully online programs, please click here.
  • Hybrid programs requiring residency: If you are part of a degree program that requires low residency—meaning you will meet on one of the on-ground campuses in person for a few days once or twice in your program—you may obtain an F-1 or J-1 student visa for the duration of the on-campus residency requirement. Please consult with the International Admissions Office for more details.
  • Other visa options: Our goal is to be an active part of your Chicago School experience and support you in many ways. To begin, please see International Programs and Services for important visa matters and details on how to manage your immigration status. Additionally, if you are considering study with any visa status other than F-1, our International Admissions Office is available to assist you in the navigation of your visa’s eligibility for study in the U.S. Please note that U.S. immigration regulations stipulate that “B” nonimmigrants (both B-1 visitors for business and B-2 visitors for pleasure) are strictly prohibited from enrolling in degree programs.

Tuition and Financing

How can I find out what a program costs?
Please review the tuition and fees page for information on program costs. The International Admissions Office can help explain the cost of your degree and help you explore your available financing options.

Does The Chicago School offer full-tuition scholarships or stipends?
No. The Chicago School’s primary focus is not on research production and does not typically have graduate students teaching undergraduate students (two of the typical stipulations of full-tuition scholarships with stipends). Instead, students spend much of their time outside the classroom on clinical or real-world experiences. However, international students may qualify for an International Student Grant and may apply for other partial scholarships, such as The Global Impact Scholarship and the Global Leaders Scholarship. Please review the Financial Aid page for additional information.

Do international students qualify for financial aid?
To be eligible for U.S. Title IV (federal) financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. No need-based financial aid is available to international students. The Chicago School accepts Canadian financial aid from Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Alberta Student Aid, and Student Aid BC. International students may also qualify for an International Student Grant. The International Admissions Office can help explain the cost of your degree and help you explore your available financing options.

What opportunities are there for international students to work on campus?
There are limited opportunities for graduate assistant positions. These positions are posted on our Career Services page and will be available for review once your student account is created.

How do international students pay for school?
Most international students attend The Chicago School utilizing private funds, private or home-government scholarships, sponsorships (private, family, or governmental), or a combination thereof.

International Student Life

Am I required to have health insurance?
All full-time international students in F-1 status and students and their dependents in J-1/J-2 status in on-ground programs are required to have health insurance. You can purchase a health insurance plan from the school-designated health insurance carrier and The Chicago School will enroll you before your first semester begins. You may show proof of enrollment in a comparable health insurance plan to waive enrollment in the school-designated plan.

Am I eligible to work during my study?
Per immigration regulations, if you are F-1 or J-1 status, you are permitted to work during enrollment, but only for the school. The Chicago School has a limited number of graduate assistant work opportunities available for students. Additionally, you may work off-site at certain community partners if their position is funded by The Chicago School.

You may be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if you are in F-1 status or Academic Training if you are in J-1 status and internship/practicum or other related opportunities are an integral part of your degree program. Students in F-1 status also may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon completion of coursework. You can find more information here.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Dates and Deadlines

Our U.S. campus-based programs in Southern California (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego); Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas are approved for international student enrollment and are currently accepting applications for the fall and spring semesters.
Our campus-based programs adhere to the general dates and deadlines found here. However, international applicants are encouraged to complete the admissions process earlier due to visa timelines.
Online programs begin every eight weeks (Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II, Fall I, and Fall II) and have a rolling admissions policy. International applicants to online programs should consult with the International Admissions Office on deadlines and timelines regarding the admissions process.
Prospective international students should contact the International Admissions Office at +1-312-462-0377 (international dialing fees may apply).
Toll-free (free from within the U.S.): +1-800-721-8072
WhatsApp: +1-312-978-2840
Email: [email protected]
Click here to start your online application to The Chicago School today!

International Student Visa Process

The time for visa processing varies by country. To review instructions and processing times for your visa, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

F-1 International Student Services
J-1 International Student and Scholar Services 
Visa Information

Admissions Contact Information

For admissions-related questions, please contact our International Admissions Office:
Telephone (international dialing fees may apply): 312-488-6039
Toll-free (free from within the U.S.): 800-747-8367
[email protected]
For immigration-related questions, please contact International Student Services.

Request Information

Join a community dedicated to hands-on experience and a global perspective.
Begin your enrollment process today by filling out our request for information form. After completion, you will be contacted by one of our International Admissions Counselors specially trained in admitting international students.
We look forward to speaking with you!