International Applicants

International Applicants

The experiences and perspectives of Christians from a variety of cultures enrich our own understandings about God, how we approach scripture, and how we embody God’s love and justice in the world.

International students in the School of Theology provide a vibrance to our community for which we are incredibly grateful. We are excited that you are interested in studying with us, and we want to make sure you have all the information you need as you begin your processes in order to study with us in Atlanta.

General Information

International students holding an F1 visa are eligible for full-time, in person programs and may not enroll in online or hybrid programs. For this reason, we currently do not offer the Doctor of Ministry degree for F1 visa holders. Eligible visa categories include H1B, H4, J, and R visas.

To help ensure you have time to complete all necessary paperwork and processes, we have specific deadline for international applicants:

  • For Fall Entry Terms (August): March 15th
  • For Spring Entry Terms (January): September 15th

In order to be considered for admission, a file must be complete with no missing requirements by the indicated date. These deadlines are strictly kept and are to ensure that we have enough time to review your application and provide you a decision so that, should you be accepted, you have time to complete the visa application process.

Please know that visa application processes may take several months and we cannot guarantee processing times. If you are unable to secure a visa for the term which you are accepted, then you may defer your acceptance for up to 1 year while you work to secure your visa. 

Please take time to review our application requirements detailed on our website and be sure to follow the directions listed there and that all of your documents meet the standard:

School of Theology Required Application Materials.

Failure to follow directions and meet the listed requirements will delay the processing of your application and may result in your application being moved to a future entry term if it is not complete by the deadline.

Office of Global Engagement

Mercer University has a specific team dedicated to helping you navigate the visa process, our Office of Global Engagement. While your admissions team in the School of Theology will be your main point of contact for admission into the school, the Office of Global Engagement staff will be the ones who will help you navigate the visa process. Their office maintains a website with lots of important information for students hoping to come study at Mercer University, so please take time to carefully review their materials: Office of Global Engagement.

Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Financial Considerations

One question that many students ask is whether the School of Theology offers scholarship aid for international students. At this time, we are not able to award scholarship aid for our international students. We understand that financing international studies can be difficult, and we encourage all interested students to reach out to our Office of Global Engagement to inquire about any loan or scholarship opportunities they may be able to share with you.

As part of your visa application, you must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study. With this in mind, please be proactive in ensuring that you have the financial resources to study internationally.  

Specific Application Requirements for International Applicants

Eligibility

All applicants for admission to the School of Theology at Mercer University are required to hold a bachelor’s degree with a liberal arts core from a college or university regionally accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education or proof of an equivalent degree from a foreign university.

Admission will be based on your total profile (undergraduate GPA, personal information you supply, letters of recommendation, and/or interviews). A minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in your major is required. Please refer to the following information below for the additional requirements necessary for processing your application.

Transcripts

  • Need all official university transcript(s), and need them translated in English if not already in English
    Course-by-course evaluation of transcripts, including grade point average (GPA), completed and forwarded to Mercer. We will accept evaluations from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny & Associates.

Recommendations

  • All recommendations must be in English.

Written Material

  • Resume, autobiographical essay, and writing sample must be in English.

English Proficiency Requirements

  • TOEFL Requirements. Qualified students whose native language is not English must show proficiency by scoring a minimum official score of 79 IBT (internet based TOEFL), 215 CBT (computer based TOEFL), 550 PBT (paper based TOEFL) or 6.5 IELTS on an official TOEFL test or a score of 120 on the Duolingo English Test (DET).

I-20 Form

  • An I-20 form is issued to all accepted and approved international applicants upon receipt of the Declaration of Finances. This form is used to obtain the F-1 visa.

If you have any questions about the admissions process for international students into a School of Theology program, please email theologyadmissions@mercer.edu.

If you have any questions about the visa process and requirements, please contact Katie Lloyd, Assistant Director of Global Enrollment, at lloyd_k@mercer.edu.