Office of International Programs

Department Contact

MSC 677
1600 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
803-705-4527
Office Hours 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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The mission of the Office of International Programs (OIP) is to expose students to the international dimensions of undergraduate education and to help expand the international component of Benedict’s teaching, research, and service mission. The OIP also seeks to prepare students to fully participate in the socially conscious aspects of U.S. society and to continue the struggle to move the U.S. closer to global justice through equality for all.

Established in 2000, the OIP functions under the Office of the President, working closely with the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs.

What We Do

  • Advise students interested in study abroad and international internships;
  • Maintain updated lists of approved study abroad and summer internship placements;
  • Advise students applying for scholarships, many of which fund study and research abroad;
  • Provide on-going support for students participating in international programs, from pre-departure to re-entry;
  • Process courses for approved semester and summer programs abroad;
  • Develop and support study and internship programs abroad in conjunction with academic departments and programs;
  • Educate the campus community about College travel policies and emergency procedures abroad.
  • Advise students interested in applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT);
  • Benedict College is committed to providing undergraduates with high quality opportunities to enrich and expand their education through approved travel and interaction with the peoples, cultures, and contemporary concerns of other regions around the world.

Who is an International Student?

If you are not a United States citizen, and you will be entering, or have already entered, the United States with an F-1 or J-1 student visa, you should apply as an international student. Students who already reside in the United States and hold other non-immigrant visas (E2, H2, or L2, for example) are also considered international students.

Permanent residents of the United States, naturalized U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens residing abroad and attending school outside the United States are not considered international students.

Guidelines for International Students Seeking Admission to Benedict College

When reviewing an international application for admission, the OIP Admissions Committee seeks to build a global community of students to further enrich the diversity of the student population at Benedict College. The Committee looks for students who are academically curious, excited to be in the classroom and willing to fully immerse themselves in our community of scholars. While our academic reputation continues to rise year after year, we seek well-rounded students who will bring their talents and interests to our campus. Benedict students are the leaders of tomorrow, shaping their futures on our campus today as they prepare for a lifetime of possibilities.

Application Review and Selection Process

The OIP believes that selecting talented students requires a very careful, individual overall assessment of each student’s application materials, academic preparation and performance. Additionally, consideration for admission is based on the primary and secondary factors listed below. Although stronger consideration in the decision is given to the primary factors, all factors are taken into account in the review process.

Primary Factors

  1. Grade point average (GPA)
  2. ACT or SAT scores
  3. Coursework throughout high school graduation
  4. Class rank (if available)

Secondary Factors

Individual circumstances such as the ones listed below are also considered as part of the overall assessment of each application and may factor into individual decisions.

  1. Strong commitment to community service and leadership
  2. Outstanding talent, achievement, or aptitude in a particular area
  3. Contribution to the cultural, gender, age, economic, racial or geographic diversity of the student body
  4. Evidence of having overcome social, economic, or physical barriers to achieve educational pursuits
  5. Significant responsibility in a family, community, job or activity

Best of luck to you in the admissions process.

Other links of interest: Need guidance from a representative in your own country on applying to Benedict College? Education-USA can help! Education-USA has more than 400 advising centers around the world that are supported by the U.S. Department of State. Contact an adviser near you: http://www.educationusa.info/for_international_students.php

Please read the following instructions carefully, before submitting your documents for admission.

1. Application Form

Complete the application form then upload the completed pdf to this site. Or, if you prefer, you may complete the online version.

2. Application Fee

Submit a $60.00 non-refundable Application Fee (No fee waiver requests, please).You may pay this fee online by using our Credit Card Authorization Form or via Flywire. Please be sure to activate your credit card for international transactions CC Authorization Form. You may also pay by check in the form of a foreign draft (a check in U.S dollars drawn through a U.S. bank). The drafts are generally available at most foreign country banks. To pay the fee via wire transfer, send an email to oip.inquires@benedict.edu, and request instructions on how to do so. When you write to us, be sure to include your full name, date of birth, and the name of your high school.

3. Personal Statement

Write and submit an online 300-word essay in English, stating why you would like to study at Benedict College and what are your future career aspirations. Be sure to include your full name, your date of birth, your country of origin, and the name of your high school at the upper left hand side of your essay. Upload your Personal Statement to this site.

4. High School and College Records*

Mail official transcripts from your hight school and any colleges you have attended directly to the OIP. Applicants may upload copies of the school records to this site for preliminary review. If your school records are issued in a language other than English, have them translated into English by a certified translator. The original translations must accompany the original high school transcripts.

In addition to the preliminary copies uploaded to this site, the official school records must be sent to:

Office of International Programs
Benedict College
MSC 677, 1600 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204.

5. Mid-year High School Report

If you are in your last year of high school at the time you apply to Benedict College, you must scan and upload your Mid-year high school transcripts to OIP.

6. Test Scores (Scholastic Attitude Test, SAT, or American College Testing, ACT)

Take either the Scholastic Attitude Test (SAT), or the American College Test (ACT). If you take the SAT, please designate Benedict College as an official recipient using the school code 5056. If you take the ACT, use the school code 3834. When you receive your scores, upload a copy to this site. For more information on the above tests go to: http://www.collegeboard.org, and http://www.act.org/ respectively.

7. Proof of English Language Proficiency

Note: The U.S. Department of State requires all students coming from non-English speaking countries demonstrate English language proficiency. If you come from a country where English is not the language of instruction, you must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking a standardize language assessment test such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). When taking either one of the above tests, designate Benedict College as the score recipient. For more information on the TOEFL and IELTS tests go to: http://www.ets.org/toefl, and http://www.ielts.org respectively, or visit U.S, embassies of consulates in your country. You may also demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting a certificate from a reputable English language teaching institution showing that you have taken, at least, one year of continuous English language instruction. This document must be written in English.

8. Proof of Sufficient Financial Resources

The United States Immigration law requires every institution to certify that each student admitted has adequate funding to attend school. Student must be able to show proof of sufficient financial resources to cover 12 months of expenses at the College. Please click on the Proof of Sufficient Financial Resources link, have your parents, guardians or sponsors fill out the form and upload to this site along with the other required original documents.

9. Copy of Current Passport

You can mail documents to:

Office of International Programs
Benedict College
MSC 677, 1600 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204.

Upon review of the above documents, if you meet the criteria for admission, a letter of acceptance will be sent to you within three weeks of receipt of all admission documents. Please click on getting your I-20 for instructions on how to get your I-20.

*Only originals or “certified originals” of these documents will be accepted. If you are submitting your admission documents by airmail, be mindful of international airmail delays.

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Tamiko Newborn

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