Considering Pacifica for your graduate education? Here is a list of items to consider and some helpful resources.
International Student Resources
F1 Visa Information:
- Pacifica is authorized under Federal Law to enroll international students offering the F-1 Visa only. This means that students cannot have any other Visas, i.e. H1-B, F2, etc., that would allow student employment or work status, due to Pacifica’s program delivery model requiring limited or low residence periods on campus. The FI Visa prohibits any employment authorization while enrolled at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
- F1 Visa applications, or Change of Status applications, may take up to three months to process.
- Most students use the F-1 visa as a commuter visa and travel back and forth to their country of origin at least once a month.
- Whether you choose to remain in the U.S. or not, international students are required to provide sufficient evidence of financial well-being. Program specific financial statements can be found below.
- Once accepted, international students must supply documentation of financial support, this could include bank statements that show the ability to finance education in the U.S, and if relocating, ability to finance their living expenses while studying in the U.S.
- Students are also required to provide a copy of their passport.
- You may not enter the US until one-month prior to the start of your classes. Please plan for your travels and transition in a timely manner.
- For Counseling & Clinical Psychology Programs: Curricular Practicum Training (CPT) is limited but can be arranged as needed (300 hours for Counseling, 1500 for Clinical, 70 per year for Depth summer fieldwork). Optional Practicum Training (OPT) – post-coursework extension of the 1-20 – can be arranged on an individual basis.
Application Process for International Applicants:
- Contact Admissions
- a. The Office of Admissions is your first point of contact for information about Pacifica’s degree programs and the admissions process. Please contact applicant@pacifica.edu.
- Apply
- a. Apply online to one of Pacifica’s nine graduate degree programs and specializations prior to April 1st or as soon as possible to allow sufficient process time to obtain any additional documentation required to study in the United States. For Spring enrollment, applications should be started by December 1st to allow sufficient process time.
- b. The initial application should take 5-10 minutes to complete and you will be asked to provide general information and prior degrees. There is a $75 application fee that is payable by credit card. Once the Office of Admissions receives your application, a confirmation email will be sent with a list of the program specific documents submit in order to complete your application file.
- c. International credit cards should process fine, but if you have any issues, please contact the Office of Admissions.
- Transcripts and Letters of Recommendations
- a. International transcripts must be evaluated to determine U.S. equivalency.
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- i. We will accept evaluations from current members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.).
- ii. Where applicable, international applications must submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results during the application process for admissions and prior to acceptance.
- We require the following scores for IELTS: 7; TOEFL: 230 computer-based test; 570 written test; or 90 internet-based test; or 4.5 on the new scale; and Cambridge Exam: Pass at Grade B; Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 120 or higher
- Each program requires two-three letters of recommendations and forms, at least one academic and one professional.
- Additional Required Documents
- a. Each program requires a writing sample, personal statement and resume. Please visit our application requirements section for the program specific guidelines and contact our Office of Admissions for more detailed instructions.
- Application Review and Interview
- a. Once the required application documents have been submitted, the completed application file will be sent to the Admissions Committee for review and consideration for an interview. Upon review and recommendation, applicants may be invited to interview
- b. Interviews are a required part of the admission process. The interview is conducted either on-campus or by phone depending on each program’s policy.
- NOTE: M.A. in Counseling Psychology and Ph.D./Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology programs require on-campus interviews, however international applicants will be provided a skype option for the interview.
- c. Notification of the admissions decision is sent after the interview
- Acceptance
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- a. If accepted, international applicants must supply documentation of financial support.
- Please download our program specific financial statement forms below, or contact our Registrar, Francine Matas, by email. Francine is responsible for all visa application information.
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- Confidential Financial Statement – Community, Liberation, and Ecopsychology
- Confidential Financial Statement – Jungian and Archetypal Studies
- Confidential Financial Statement – Integrative Therapy
- Confidential Financial Statement – Depth Psychology and Creativity
- Confidential Financial Statement – M.A. Counseling Psychology
- Confidential Financial Statement – Counseling Psy.D.
- Confidential Financial Statement – Mythology
- Confidential Financial Statement – Clinical M.A./Ph.D.
- b. Applicants who have been accepted must submit a non-refundable deposit of $250 and enrollment agreement forms for confirmation. Those who are unable to attend the academic year they have been accepted for must submit a new application and updated documents in order be considered for acceptance at a later date.
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- a. International transcripts must be evaluated to determine U.S. equivalency.
Financial Aid for International Students:
- Federal Financial Aid is not available for International Students, but check with your home country as some do offer aid for its citizens.
- Pacifica is pleased to provide several institutional scholarship opportunities. These are merit-based and need-based.
- The scholarship application is August 15th. Applicants must be accepted PRIOR to this date in order to be considered for the scholarships. For information about our scholarships and process, please visit Pacifica’s scholarship information on the website.
- International and domestic student tuition and residential costs are the same.
- Check out the SmartStudent Guide to studying in USA – This website contains information that is relevant to international students who wish to study and live in the United States. It covers everything from college admission and financial aid, passports and visas, to cultural diversity and living in the US. A Scholarship database search for international students may also be found on the website – check it out at http://www.edupass.org.
- International students may qualify for Private Alternative Loans to cover their educational expenses. Most programs require a credit-worthy US Citizen or permanent resident to co-sign. Most loan programs allow students to borrow up to the cost of attendance each academic year. Interest rates vary among programs and lenders.
Resources:
- http://www.studyabroadloans.com – International Student Loans
- http://www.fordfound.org – Ford Foundation: International Fellowships Program
- http://www.aauw.org – American Association of University Women (AAUW): International Fellowship (Women) and American Fellowship
- http://www.InternationalScholarships.com – Scholarship database search
- http://www.iefa.org – Scholarship database search & Loans
- http://www.isloan.org – The Paras Education Foundation (TPEF) Private Loan Program
Canadian students can learn more about the Canadian grant and loan programs available at www.esdc.gc.ca .
* Pacifica is not responsible for the content or services provided on these websites. *
International Student FAQs
Pacifica is authorized under federal law to enroll international students and currently offers support for the F-1 student visa only. Pacifica’s international student visa model is designed around its limited-residency or low-residency program delivery format.
International students are supported through the F-1 visa only. Students with other visa types should contact the Office of Admissions directly before applying to determine whether Pacifica’s program model and federal requirements align with their situation.
F-1 visa prohibits employment authorization while enrolled at Pacifica Graduate Institute. International students should plan their finances accordingly and speak directly with Pacifica’s Admissions team for guidance.
F-1 visa applications or Change of Status applications may take up to three months to process. Because timelines can vary, international applicants are encouraged to begin the application and documentation process as early as possible.
Because many Pacifica programs are offered in limited-residency or low-residency formats, many international students use the F-1 visa as a commuter visa, traveling between their home country and the United States for required residential sessions.
Not necessarily. Depending on the program format and visa requirements, some international students may travel to the United States for required campus sessions while maintaining residence in their home country. Students should confirm expectations for their specific program with Admissions before enrolling.
Funding options for international students are often limited. We encourage international students to explore scholarship, fellowship, and private loan resources. International students may apply for Pacifica scholarships. Private alternative loans may also be available, but many require a credit-worthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Please note that even if awarded a Pacifica Scholarship, it will not cover the entire cost of the program.
Funding options for international students are often limited. We encourage international students to explore scholarship, fellowship, and private loan resources. International students may apply for Pacifica scholarships. Private alternative loans may also be available, but many require a credit-worthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Please note that even if awarded a Pacifica Scholarship, it will not cover the entire cost of the program.
In most cases, U.S. federal financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. International students should contact Pacifica’s Financial Aid Office to discuss scholarship options, private alternative loans, and other outside funding resources.
International applicants should be prepared to submit the standard admissions application materials, along with any additional documents required for international student review, visa processing, and financial verification. After submitting an application, applicants will receive instructions regarding required documents.
Pacifica’s admissions process includes an online application and a $75 application fee. Applicants will receive a confirmation email with a list of required documents after submitting the application.
Prospective international students are encouraged to contact Pacifica’s Office of Admissions for guidance before beginning the application process. Admissions can help clarify program format, visa considerations, application requirements, and next steps. Please contact applicant@pacifica.edu or 805.879.7305.
Yes. International applicants are welcome to attend Pacifica admissions events, webinars, and virtual experiences. These events are a helpful way to learn more about Pacifica’s programs, community, learning formats, and admissions process.
Yes. Because each student’s visa, travel, financial, and residency situation may be different, international applicants should speak directly with Admissions. This helps ensure that the program format, travel expectations, and visa requirements are understood before enrollment.
Begin by reviewing Pacifica’s International Student Resources page, identifying the program that best aligns with your academic and vocational goals, and contacting the Office of Admissions with any visa or application questions. Starting early is especially important because visa processing can take time.
For further questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 805.879.7305 or at applicant@pacifica.edu. For F1 visa-related and/or financial statement questions, please contact our Registrar, Francine Matas who handles all visa application information at 805.969.3626 ext. 165 or fmatas@pacifica.edu. For Financial Aid questions, please contact our Financial Aid office at 805-969-3626 ext. 197 or at finanicalaid@pacifica.edu
