Information for International Applicants
Language Schools students come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 75 countries.
International Student Visa Information
Non-U.S. citizens who are not U.S. legal permanent residents must have a non-immigrant visa status which allows them to enroll in courses full-time. Tourist status does not allow full-time study.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will assist eligible students with obtaining a non-immigrant visa status. If visa support is needed, ISSS will reach out by email with specific instructions for non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents. We encourage deposited students to apply for their visa-related document by May 1 to allow time to obtain a visa, if needed, before their program start date.
Most international students attend in F-1 (student) status. To be eligible to apply for F-1 status, you first must obtain an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility Form from Middlebury. Information about how to obtain the I-20 will be sent in the initial email from ISSS. ISSS also will provide information about the visa application process when they issue the I-20.
Please be aware that it can take several weeks after you submit the required documentation for ISSS to issue the I-20, at which point you will be able to apply for a visa appointment. ISSS is not able to issue an I-20 form until the non-refundable enrollment deposit has been received.
PLEASE NOTE: ISSS does not process I-20 applications until after the first application deadline passes.
Funding
International students are eligible to apply for and receive Language Schools funding.
“What surprised me most about my experience at the Middlebury Language Schools was how immersive the program was. I felt like I was part of a community, and I received a lot of support from the institution, the teachers, and the other students.”
Antoine Jacquin (Poitiers, France), 7-week Spanish Immersion Program
Graduate Programs
Admissions
International transcripts submitted by applicants applying to the MA, MAT, and DML degree programs must be accompanied by an original translated course-by-course evaluation report, performed by a certified educational credential evaluation service.
OPT
Graduates of Middlebury Language Schools programs do not qualify for Optional Practical Training (OPT). For Middlebury graduate programs that do offer OPT, please see the in-person programs at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Online Graduate Courses
Students in the MAT and Hebrew MA, Japanese MA, and Korean MA will enroll in online courses during the academic year.
Visa Requirements
If you are located outside the U.S. and will join the online portion from abroad, you will not need a U.S. visa status to enroll in courses offered remotely (online or via other distance education methods).
If you are currently in the U.S. and hold a non-immigrant visa status, you will need to confirm with your visa sponsor, or a U.S. immigration lawyer, as to whether your current status allows enrollment in an online program. Please also verify with your visa sponsor whether you can pursue online courses part time and/or full time under your current U.S. visa status.
If you choose to enter the U.S. while enrolled in your online program, you must ensure that you enter the U.S. in a status that would allow you to participate in part time and/or full-time study during the period in which you intend to be in the U.S. This is for your protection so as not to violate your U.S. visa status.
Technology
For some international students living in other countries, technology issues may make it difficult or impossible to complete online degrees through Middlebury.
For instance, Canvas, Middlebury’s online learning system, does not work in certain countries due to export control restrictions (more information). Additionally, some online resources, such as Google Docs, Google Drive, YouTube, etc., are not accessible in all countries. Because your ability to successfully complete courses remotely depends on access to these resources, you must ensure that you can meet your program’s minimum computing requirements from your location before you register for online classes.
Privacy
Middlebury is committed to protecting all students’ online privacy and data; for our international students, this means we follow international regulations governing the handling of online data. For example, we are currently working to ensure that our privacy policies comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For more information, please visit our privacy policy.
Degree Recognition in Your Country
Prospective students residing or employed outside the United States are urged to verify with the relevant certification bodies or government authorities whether completing a Middlebury Institute Online degree program will fulfill the credentialing requirements of their country of residence and/or intended employment. We strongly advise all prospective students to complete this verification process before enrolling in any degree program. Additionally, we recommend that students reconfirm annually that these credentialing requirements continue to be satisfied throughout their course of study.
Please note that Middlebury cannot guarantee the recognition or acceptance of our degrees in all countries. It is the student’s responsibility to research and understand the implications of pursuing an online degree from a U.S.-based institution.