International Admissions

North Hennepin Community College is a great choice for international students (F-1 visa) to begin an associate degree, which is the foundation for a bachelor's degree in the United States.

Application Deadlines

All required documents must be submitted by the date listed

Fall Semester (August start date)

May 1 for new international students (seeking F-1 visa)
July 1 for transfer students (currently studying with active F-1 visa)

Spring Semester (January start date)

October 1 for new international students (seeking F-1 visa)
December 1 for transfer students (currently studying with active F-1 visa)

NHCC does not offer summer admissions for international degree-seeking students.

Complete the below steps to enroll as an international student. For details about each step, click the purple plus sign to the right of the step.

Click below to upload and submit international documents:

International Document Submission

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1. Apply for Admission

Apply for admission online
Complete the F-1 Student Contract
Complete F-1 Additional Information Form

You must still submit all supporting documentation listed in the steps below by the application deadline to complete your application.

2. Submit Immigration Documents

Submit copies of your Passport (for all applicants) and US visa, I-94 record, and current I-20 (if in the United States).

Upload immigration documents here.

3. Submit Proof of English Proficiency

Proof of English language proficiency is required for ALL applicants, regardless of country of origin or spoken language. Test score reports for language proficiency should be sent by the testing center to NHCC.

Applicants can complete one of the following tests for proof of English proficiency.

Score Requirements

TOEFL iBT: score requirements are 61 or higher overall, with at least 12 in each section, and our school code to send results is 6498.
IELTS: score requirements are 5.5 or higher overall, with at least 4.5 in each section.
Duolingo: 85
Accuplacer: course placement minimum - 800 level

Upload test results here.

Course Options

ELS Language Center in St. Paul, MN
- Successful completion of Level 109 or Level 112 in the last 3 years.
Minnesota English Language Program (MELP) in Minneapolis, MN
- Successful completion of Level 3 or Level 4 within the last 3 years.
Recent completion of college level English composition course, and 6 credits of general education courses, with a grade of C or higher from an accredited United States college or university.
- Make sure to request an official transcript from your college or university.

4. Submit Academic Records

Completion of a high school diploma (or equivalent) is required for all applicants. Academic records must be in English or professionally translated (English and original version).

Click on the link below to view what type of document is required based on country. If your country is not listed, please reach out to international@nhcc.edu to ask.

Diploma Equivalencies

Upload high school diploma/certificate here.

5. Submit Financial Sponsorship Documentation

International students are required by federal law to submit proof of sponsorship for their education. Sponsors may include the student or a sponsor inside or outside the US who plans to support the student financially while attending North Hennepin Community College. Sponsors should submit a signed and notarized Financial Certificate with Bank Statements (checking or savings account only). The total amount of sponsorship required is $22,386 for the current academic year.

Upload financial certificate and bank statement here.

Guide to International Student Visa Process

Study in the States, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security website, has an excellent guide to help you understand the international student visa process.

Are you seeking a change of status to an F-1 visa?

The following resources can help you understand a change of status request:

International Transfer Credits

If you completed university courses in another country and would like to request transfer credit, you must order a course-by-course evaluation report from a NACES member credential evaluation service. Members of NACES credential evaluation services include, but are not limited to, ECE, WES, and SpanTran. These services are independent from NHCC and are provided for the convenience of NHCC students. Students are responsible for contacting the appropriate credential evaluation agency for any questions regarding their evaluation request.