Welcome to Champlain College, located in Burlington, Vermont, USA! We are committed to the well-being and success of our international students and exchange visitors.
Non-U.S. students who have never attended university and wish to attend Champlain College full time.
Learn MoreNon-U.S. students who have attended university and wish to transfer college credit(s) to Champlain.
Learn MoreFor students enrolled at a non-U.S. institution and wish to study at Champlain for a semester or full year.
Learn MoreIf you do not fit the above application types, consider applying as an Exchange Scholar. This is an invitation for guests, artists, lecturers, researchers, and/or professors looking to conduct specialized services at Champlain.
How to Apply as an Exchange ScholarDue to the lengthy period of time needed for the visa process, we recommend that you apply as early as possible and by these preferred deadlines:
For more information on Early Decision, please visit our Early Decision webpage. If your application is not completed and ready for review by these preferred deadlines, there is a high probability that you will not be able to come to Champlain for your intended semester start. Please plan accordingly.
Champlain College offers generous merit-based scholarships for international students between $5,000 – $30,000 USD each year. This can significantly bring down the cost of attendance at Champlain.
Champlain College does not offer need-based financial aid or full-tuition scholarships for international students.
International students are not eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA) or state aid programs.
If accepted to Champlain College, your application will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships—no additional forms necessary! These scholarships are renewed annually.
If you pay your deposit to Champlain College, the Office of International Student Services (OISS) will invite you to apply for a Form I-20. This will allow you to obtain/renew an F-1 student visa, which will allow you to study full-time in a degree-seeking program at Champlain College.
For more information on the visa and Form I-20 processes or services for international students at Champlain, please go to the Office of International Student Services website.
Please apply as a first-year international student if you have never attended university. You may have completed (or are almost ready to complete) secondary school in your home country.
You can apply to Champlain College using the Common Application or the Champlain College Application. Both are free. Regardless of which you choose, all applications are considered equally. Please do not submit more than one application for admission.
Academic Transcripts
Please have your secondary school upload your transcripts into the Common App or Champlain College application through Parchment or SCOIR. If you have attended multiple secondary schools, you will need to reach out to each school and have them upload transcripts for you – we need a complete picture of your secondary schooling (our equivalent of Grades 9-12). Use the following links for the Common App, Champlain App, Parchment, or Scoir.
An administrator from your secondary school(s) can also directly email scanned copies of original documents or certified copies of academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, and national standardized examination results (if available) to admission@champlain.edu. Submissions should be translated into English.
In addition to your transcripts, you must also provide any national or international testing scores at the secondary level (WAECs, WASSCEs, NECOs, Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate (EGSEC) / Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE) with an appropriate way to verify these scores independently of yourself (electronic scratch cards, etc).
If accepted, you will be required to bring official transcripts and other documents to be verified.
Portfolio
If you are applying to the Creative Media, Filmmaking, Game Art, Game Design, or Graphic Design & Visual Communication majors, please send us your portfolio.
Portfolio Requirements
For students whose native language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Please have an official test score report sent to Champlain College in order to be considered for direct admission to the undergraduate program at Champlain. Our school’s code for the TOEFL is 3291.
If you have any questions about these tests or have taken another English language test not listed here, please email international@champlain.edu to discuss.
Important Note: The College reserves the right to request that an international student take a test to determine the student’s level of English proficiency even if the student has submitted the required documentation to waive English proficiency listed above.
We ask for two letters of recommendation. One recommendation should be from your school counselor and the other recommendation should be from someone who can best highlight your academic potential. These letters should be uploaded into your Common Application or emailed directly to admission@champlain.edu.
Champlain College has contracted with ECE to evaluate your university credentials. As part of the acceptance process, we will request that you sign a consent form and we will pay for and send your credentials to ECE for review, at no cost to you. Please allow 2 weeks for this process.
You can apply to Champlain College using the Common Application or the Champlain College Application. Both are free. Regardless of which you choose, all applications are considered equally. Please do not submit more than one application for admission.
A- Send Secondary School Documents
Please have your secondary school upload your transcripts into the Common App or Champlain College application through Parchment or SCOIR. If you have attended multiple secondary schools, you will need to reach out to each school and have them upload transcripts for you – we need a complete picture of your secondary schooling (our equivalent of Grades 9-12). Use the following links for the Common App, Champlain App, Parchment, or Scoir.
An administrator from your secondary school(s) can also directly email scanned copies of original documents or certified copies of academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, and national standardized examination results (if available) to admission@champlain.edu. Submissions should be translated into English.
In addition to your transcripts, you must also provide any national or international testing scores at the secondary level (WAECs, WASSCEs, NECOs, Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate (EGSEC) / Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE) with an appropriate way to verify these scores independently of yourself (electronic scratch cards, etc).
If accepted, you will be required to bring official transcripts and other documents to be verified.
B – Send University (Universities – if there are more than one) Documents/Official transcripts/mark sheets from all post-secondary institutions attended, along with official English translations. These are required whether or not transfer credit is desired.
If accepted, you will be required to bring official transcripts and other documents to be verified.
If you are applying to the Creative Media, Filmmaking, Game Art, Game Design, or Graphic Design & Visual Communication majors, please send us your portfolio. View our portfolio requirements.
For students whose native language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required. There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Please have an official test score report sent to Champlain College in order to be considered for direct admission to the undergraduate program at Champlain. Our school’s code for the TOEFL is 3291.
If you have any questions about these tests or have taken another English language test not listed here, please email international@champlain.edu to discuss
Important Note: The College reserves the right to request that an international student take a test to determine the student’s level of English proficiency even if the student has submitted the required documentation to waive English proficiency listed above.
We ask for two letters of recommendation. One recommendation should be from your school counselor and the other recommendation should be from someone who can best highlight your academic potential. These letters should be uploaded into your Common Application or emailed directly to admission@champlain.edu.
For non-degree students currently enrolled at an institution abroad who wish to study at Champlain College for a semester or a full year.
In order to apply you must meet the eligibility requirements. You may apply if you:
In many exchange agreements, the cost of tuition is covered by Champlain College, but some exchange agreements differ or may cover additional items. See your home university international office for more details.
Once you have been nominated by your home institution, the Director of the Office of International Student Services (OISS) will reach out to you via email with instructions on how to apply. Generally, these documents are required to complete an exchange application for Champlain College:
All documents should be scanned and sent directly to Jessa Karki, Director, Office of International Student Services at international@champlain.edu.
J-1 exchange scholars are usually visiting artists, lecturers, postdoctoral candidates doing research, or professors at Champlain. They are invited officially by Champlain College to perform specialized services (i.e. teaching, lecturing, observing, demonstrating specialized skills, etc.) for a specific time period.
This section is for those who have been officially invited by the College and are seeking immigration, arrival, orientation, and other information.
Step 1: Please download and complete the Champlain College Request For Form DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status – For Scholars Only.
Step 2: Gather a copy of your biographical information page of your passport and copies of your funding documentation (bank statements, letters of support/affidavits, etc).
Step 3: Download and complete both the Champlain College J-1 Scholar Statement of Health Insurance and the Champlain College J-1 Scholar English Proficiency Statement.
Step 4: Scan and submit via email to the Director of the Office of International Student Services at jkarki@champlain.edu the following completed documentation:
Step 5: Wait for the Director Director of the Office of International Student Services to reach out to you to discuss with instructions.
Now that you have been issued your Form DS-2019, the next step is to apply for your J-1 visa.
We are looking forward to your arrival at Champlain College! If you follow the instructions outlined below, you should be able to enter the United States without difficulty.
As a J-1 Scholar, you will be asked to attend a required International Scholar Orientation before the start of classes. The Director of the Office of International Student Services will arrange this with you before your arrival. This is a mandatory requirement of the J-1 Program and must be completed no later than the first week of employment.
As an international student, you will be required to show proof of English language proficiency or request a waiver. Champlain College reserves the right to request that an international student take a test to determine the student’s level of English proficiency even if the student has submitted the required documentation.
For some majors, submitting a portfolio of your work is a required step in the admissions process. Your portfolio is a way to show us your unique approach to your craft! Check out our requirements to see if your major requires a portfolio!
Portfolio RequirementsInternational students are guaranteed on-campus housing all four years at Champlain College. International students are able to stay in their Residential Halls over all academic breaks, except summer break. Summer housing is only offered to students doing internships locally or are employed on-campus.
Champlain College is located in Burlington, Vermont, on Lake Champlain, about 156 km south of Montreal, QC, Canada. We are located 347 km north of Boston, MA, USA. The city of Burlington is home to three colleges and universities and has a population of about 40,000.
Champlain College is located about 10 minutes from the Burlington International Airport. This airport connects with New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Detroit, Orlando, and other major cities. Champlain College will provide initial airport pick-up for international students.
Champlain offers more 100 unique areas of study across its majors, minors, and concentrations.
Please visit Tuition & Cost of Attendance for a complete breakdown of the cost to attend Champlain College.
You are considered a first-time, first-year student if you are a current high school senior, have a high school equivalency diploma, or haven't attended college since graduating from high school.
Join our transfer-friendly campus where practical, career-focused education meets a vibrant community of thinkers and doers. Continue your journey to success and transfer to Champlain!
Welcome to Champlain College, located in Burlington, Vermont, USA! We are committed to the well-being and success of our international students and exchange visitors.
Champlain College welcomes those who have served our country in the military and their family members. We understand your unique needs and are here to help you succeed.
We're looking for students who are as unique as our approach to education. Think we could be a match? Keep reading to find out.
Dare to dream big and express your creativity! Let your artistic journey unfold with Champlain's portfolio requirements for creative majors such as Animation, Filmmaking, and Game Design.
Get answers to all your questions about applying to Champlain College! Learn about Early Decision benefits, Regular Decision deadlines, portfolio submission, and the test-optional policy.