Heritage Christian University welcomes applications from International students who demonstrate superior academic potential and who wish to pursue a Christian education.
Please read this entire page before beginning the International student application process below.
International students with an F-1 Visa are eligible for certain forms of assistance through the University. Heritage Christian University offers a Foreign Student Scholarship to those who meet all criteria. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at mthompson@hcu.edu to request a Foreign Student Scholarship application packet for consideration.
Heritage Christian University requires a separate application for international applicants. Please review the information under Admissions Procedures for Undergraduate applicants, as the same information applies to international applicants, with the following exceptions:
Scholarship
Eligible international applicants may be awarded a full tuition scholarship. Because of the limited financial aid resources available to international applicants, HCU can offer this scholarship to no more than 5 individuals from the same country each year. Applicants who are awarded the scholarship must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Financial Support
International applicants are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid, and typically not allowed to work in the US while in school. Therefore, applicants are required to submit proof of financial support and sponsorship from a church of Christ congregation in the U.S. or pay all charges up front for two years or more. For additional information about financial support and church sponsorship, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Academic Credential Evaluation
International applicants must contact an approved academic credential evaluation company to evaluate all foreign academic credentials. The credential evaluation must verify that the applicant has a U.S. equivalent high school diploma before applying to our undergraduate programs. Based on performance and student satisfaction, HCU provides the website for the following servicer: World Education Services (www.wes.org). Applicants may use another approved academic credential evaluation company. Personal copies of academic credentials will not be accepted by HCU for the admissions process.
Proficiency in English
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by taking and passing the TOEFL exam (www.toefl.org) as part of the application process. Applicants must complete a TOEFL Score Report Request Form and use the code number 8931 when indicating Heritage Christian University as the score recipient. Applicants may not submit personal copies of TOEFL scores as official records. Applicants from a TOEFL exempt country and applicants who have earned an accredited degree from an institution of higher learning within the US or an American institution abroad, or a transfer student who completed English Composition 101 or higher with a C or better from an accredited US institution are not required to take the TOEFL.
The scholarship provides a full tuition scholarship for one degree.
The scholarship will cover tuition for the Bachelor of Arts or one of the three graduate theological degrees (Master of Arts, Master of Ministry, Master of Divinity). There is a per semester limit of 16 credit hours for the Undergraduate program and a per semester limit of 12 credit hours for the Graduate program. Students awarded a scholarship are responsible for paying tuition charges that exceed the credit hour limit per semester.
Learn more of what is involved in applying for admission to Heritage Christian University by contacting the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) at mthompson@hcu.edu.
