International Admissions

Apply early!

Prospective international students should start the admissions process as early as possible. Our staff recommend starting the application process at least three months before the start of the term in which you intend to enroll. 

Deadline Information

Your application, application fee payment and all supporting documents must be received by the Deadline for International Student (F1 Visa) Admission Application for the term in which you intend to start. International application deadlines for each term are available in PBSC's academic calendars. 
View academic calendars 

 

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit the application

• Please complete the online application: Admission Application for International Students
• Students may also request a printable application from the Office of International Admissions and Recruitment by emailing international@pbsc.edu.
  • Print, complete and mail the application to:
    Office of International Admissions and Recruitment
    Palm Beach State College PG 126/127
    4200 Congress Avenue
    Lake Worth, Florida 33461
    USA
     

Step 2: Pay the $75 application fee
Once the application is processed, you will receive an email with instructions regarding how to submit the $75 non-refundable application fee payment. Applications and supporting documents will not be reviewed until the fee has been paid in full.

 

Step 3: Submit all supporting documents
Once your application and fee payment have been processed, please submit all applicable items on the list below of Required Supporting Admissions Documents. 

Translation Requirements: Any document written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation that includes an attestation signed by the translator indicating they are fluent in both English and the original language of the document and competent to render a true and accurate translation. Please review the information below about high school diplomas carefully to determine whether your diploma is exempt from this requirement.

PBSC Student ID Number: Include your PBSC student ID number with all submissions. 

Ways to submit:

• • Email: Attach PDFs to an email to international@pbsc.edu (or the email addresses noted in the instructions below)
  • In person: Room 126/127, PG building, Lake Worth campus 
  • Mail: Office of International Admissions and Recruitment
    Palm Beach State College PG 126/127
    4200 Congress Avenue
    Lake Worth, Florida 33461
    USA

 

Required Supporting Admissions Documents

1. High School (Secondary Education) Records

• Submit your original high school diploma or leaving certificate to demonstrate successful completion of secondary education equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.
• PBSC only accepts original documents (which will be copied and returned upon request) or certified copies submitted in person or by mail.
• High school diplomas do not have to be translated into English except for documents in character-based languages: Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, etc. These diplomas must be accompanied by a certified English translation that includes an attestation signed by a translator indicating that they are fluent in both English and the original language of the document and competent to render a true and accurate translation.
• Uncertified copies submitted in person, by mail or by emailing international@pbsc.edu, must be accompanied by a document-by-document evaluation from a NACES-approved agency.
• Evaluations can be emailed to admissions@pbsc.edu or hand-delivered in a sealed envelope to PBSC's Office of International Admissions and Recruitment.
• Students from British-based systems must submit certificates such as GCE, CXC, BGCSE, WAEC, WASC or HKCE with at least five (5) academic passes.

2. University (College) Transcripts

• Submit official transcripts from each U.S. postsecondary institution attended. Applicants transferring from any postsecondary institutions must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be in lawful immigration status, and in good academic standing.
• For international university transcripts, a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-accredited agency is required to transfer credits.
• Evaluations must be sent directly to transcriptevaluation@pbsc.edu or delivered in a sealed envelope.
• If you do not wish to transfer credits from outside the United States, you may omit listing the institution on your application. If you already listed the institution(s) on your application, you must request a waiver for the submission of transcripts and commercial evaluations. Please email your request to international@pbsc.edu.

3. I-20 Request Form

• Complete the I-20 Request Form.

4. Proof of Financial Support

• Submit a bank letter showing a minimum balance of $24,000 USD for admissions for fall or spring terms and $28,875.00 USD for the summer semester.
• If you plan to have a financial sponsor, please submit a notarized Affidavit of Financial Support Form and a bank letter from the sponsor’s financial institution or a bank statement to confirm the indicated balance.
• For more information regarding the cost for an international student to attend Palm Beach State College for one academic year, please see the list of estimated expenses for international students. 

5. Proof of English Proficiency

• Non-native English speakers who have completed their education in languages other than English must provide one of the following test results:
  • TOEFL: 500 (paper), 173 (computer) or 61 (iBT) 
  • IELTS: 5.5 or higher
  • COMPASS/ESL: 69 or higher
  • Accuplacer ESL: 86 or higher composite score in reading, English, listening and speaking

• Need to take a test? View options below.
  • PBSC's Testing and Certification Center administers the ACCUPLACER ESL online and on campus.Register to take the ACCUPLACER ESL test via PBSC 
  • The TOEFL iBT at Home Solution test may be taken online. Use PBSC code 5531. Register for the TOEFL iBT at Home Solution test

6. Copy of Passport Bio Page and Visa (if available)

7. Copy of I-94 and Previous I-20 (if currently in the U.S.)

• Submit a copy of your I-94.

8. SEVIS Transfer Eligibility Form (for students transferring from another SEVIS-approved institution)

• Submit the completed SEVIS Transfer Eligibility Form. It must be signed by your current Designated School Official (DSO).

9. SEVIS Record Release (for students transferring from another SEVIS-approved institution)

• Please work with the institution you're transferring from to release your SEVIS record to Palm Beach State College. 

Acceptance Confirmation

Once all the admissions requirements are satisfied, the applicant will receive an acceptance packet, which includes the Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) to apply for the F-1 visa in the home country, apply for a change of immigration status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or enroll in classes at Palm Beach State College as a transfer student. 

Which programs are available to international students? 

Palm Beach State College welcomes international students to apply to the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Supervision and Management program. The program offers flexible course delivery options, including year-round on-campus, hybrid and online classes. International B.A.S. students may choose to specialize in one of the following concentrations:

• General Management
• Health Management

Due to federal regulations, this is the only bachelor's program offered for PBSC international students at this time. 

Who is Eligible?

International students must first complete an associate degree—either at Palm Beach State College or another accredited institution—before applying to a bachelor’s program. If you have not yet earned an associate or higher degree, please refer to the PBSC Application Guide for International (F-1) Students. 

How to Apply 

Step 1: Contact Bachelor's Degree Program Director
Before applying, international applicants must contact the B.A.S. in Supervision and Management program director to receive detailed information about admission requirements. Visit the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Supervision and Management webpage to find contact information for the program director.

Step 2: Contact the Office of International Admissions
Once accepted into the bachelor’s program, applicants must submit the following documents to the Office of International Admissions and Recruitment by the deadline for their intended semester:

• Official proof of acceptance into the bachelor’s degree program
• Completed I-20 Request Form 
• Proof of financial support:
• A letter from a financial institution showing a minimum balance of:
  • $28,700 USD for Fall/Spring admission
  • $35,925 USD for Summer admission
  • If sponsored, a notarized Affidavit of Financial Support and a letter from the sponsor’s financial institution showing the required balance. (See the Estimated Expenses List for full cost details.)
• Copy of passport (bio page and F-1 visa)
• Copy of I-94 (front and back)
• Transfer students (already in the U.S.): Completed International Student Transfer Form
• Copy of previous Certificate of Eligibility (I-20)

Once all documents are received and requirements are met, a new Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) will be issued to the admitted student. 

• Affidavit of Financial Support Form
• Change of Major
• Document Request Form
• F-1 Program Extension
• Full-Time Waiver Letter
• Health Insurance Compliance Form
• I-20 Request Form
• Applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Applying for Off-Campus Employment Based on Economic Necessity
• Preparing for the Visa Interview
• Reinstatement to F-1 Status
• Transfer Form

During your stay in the U.S. in F-1 status, you are subject to many complex immigration laws and regulations that relate to your legal status. The Office of International Admissions and Recruitment will assist you in answering your questions about your immigration status, but it is your responsibility to know and abide by the law to maintain valid legal status. It is to your benefit to make sure that you maintain legal status throughout the duration of your stay in the U.S.

As a non-immigrant international student, you must:

• Possess a passport that is always valid.
• Attend the school/institution you were authorized to attend.
• Be registered full-time for each academic semester as defined by USCIS. You are not required to be registered for classes during the summer unless you have been admitted to Palm Beach State College for the summer term or are completing a degree by the end of summer term.
• Do not enroll in more than one online class (three credit hours) toward your full course load for the term. You must be enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours of in-person or hybrid classes.
• Maintain good academic standing as per PBSC policy and make normal progress towards completing your degree.
• Follow appropriate procedures to notify USCIS if you transfer schools or if you change from one education level to another. Transfer procedures must be completed within 15 days of the start of a term.
• File for a program extension if you must remain in the U.S. longer than the time estimated for the completion of your program as stated on your I-20.
• Check your documents to be sure they are in order before leaving the U.S., even for a brief trip, and be sure to have the proper documents to re-enter the U.S.
• Limit on-campus employment or authorized off-campus employment to a total of 20 hours per week during the academic semester.
• Obtain proper authorization before engaging in any off-campus employment, whether the employment is paid or non-paid. Working without proper authorization constitutes illegal employment, an offense that can lead to deportation.
• Refrain from any off-campus employment if/while you are out-of-status.
• File for reinstatement if you have fallen out-of-status.
• Report address changes by updating your Workday record within 10 days. Make sure you update your local and permanent addresses.  

All international students in F-1 status at Palm Beach State College are required to have medical insurance prior to registration. They must first document medical insurance coverage meeting the minimum requirements, and two, clear with the Office of International Admissions before they are allowed to register.

If you have your own insurance policy or wish to purchase an alternate policy, you must have your insurance company complete the Health Insurance Compliance Form and fax it to the Office of International Admissions. The completed compliance form must verify the following:

• that the coverage meets or exceeds the requirements
• that the name, address and telephone number of a claims agent are in the United States,
• that you are covered under the policy, and
• that your insurance has been paid through for the current academic year.

Your policy will be reviewed, and if it complies with the guidelines, you will be cleared to register. If your policy does not comply with the guidelines, you will not be cleared until you provide documentation of insurance coverage that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements.

For any further inquiries or clarifications regarding the medical insurance requirements, please call the Office of International Admissions at 561-868-3029 or fax 561-868-3623.

PBSC is a commuter school and does not offer student housing. However, there are many housing options in the surrounding areas of each of our five campuses.