International Students

Applications to the 2026 SCA Summer Program open December 15, 2025.
The 2026 Program runs from Thursday, June 25 - Friday, August 7, 2026.
For any questions, please contact us at summer@cinema.usc.edu.
or 213-740-3327.

Success at the USC SCA Summer Program depends on the ability to engage in English confidently and comfortably.

All USC SCA Summer Program international applicants whose native language is not English, including those already residing in the United States, must submit a USC-approved English proficiency examination to be considered for admission. We do not grant waivers or exceptions to this policy under any circumstances.

USC's approved exams must be taken within 3 years prior to your application to the program. The required minimum scores are:

Test	Minimum Score	Notes
TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition)	100 overall, with no section below 20	TOEFL ITP Plus for China is not accepted
IELTS (or IELTS Indicator)	7.0
C1 Advanced (Cambridge English)	185 ocerall, with at least 169 in each skill
PTE	68
SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing)	650
ACT English Section	25
Duolingo English Test	120

Official: test scores from approved proficiency exams must be submitted as a part of your application.

Exemptions

• Native English Speakers
  • Students who are citizens of a native English-speaking country (e.g. Australia, Jamaica, United Kingdom) are exempt from providing an English Language Proficiency exam score.
• Attends school in a native English-speaking country
  • Students who are currently attending a school in a native English-speaking country.
  • Students who have completed a year or more of full-time coursework at a school in a native English-speaking country within the last 5 years. Courses must be academic in nature and not E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) courses.
  • Students who meet the criteria above are exempt from providing an English Language Proficiency exam score.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

• The SCA Summer Program is a full-time program in a SEVP accepted institution. Therefore, international students (or non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents) must enter the United States using an F-1 student visa (some exceptions apply).
• Tourist/Visitor visas (B1/B2) and the ESTA visas are NOT VALID for a study within our program.
• The University will not refund tuition or fees for SCA Summer Program students who are unable to enter the country due to an improper visa.

Status	Description	Requirements Documents	Process
I-20/F-1 from USC	• Students who need to apply for an I-20/F-1 visa from USC.	• *Demographic Information Form • 2x Passport copy • *Proof of Funding	• *Submit a passport copy on SlideRoom. • Fill-out the Demographic Information form. • Pay the USC I-20 Processing Fee. • Activate USC OIS account. • Upload all required documents to OIS. • Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee. • Schedule an F-1 visa appointment. • Enter the U.S. with the F-1 visa.
Valid Visas	• Students with other valid U.S visas acceptable for study at USC SCA Summer Program (e.g., E1/E2, O1/O2,J1)	• Demographic Information Form • 2x Passport copy • Visa copy	• Submit a passport copy on SlideRoom. • Fill-out the Demographic Information form. • Gather all required documents.
Another School's F-1	• Students currently under another school's I-20/F-1 sponsorship	• Passport copy • Demographic Information Form. • Concurrent Enrollment Letter	• Submit a passport copy on SlideRoom. • Fill-out the Demographic Information form. • Gather all required documents.
Canadian Citizen	• Canadian citizens (must apply for an I-20 but not an F-1 visa)	• Demographic Information Form • 2x Passport copy • Proof of Funding	• Submit a passport copy on SlideRoom. • Fill-out the Demographic Information form. • Pay the USC I-20 Processing Fee. • Activate USC OIS account. • Upload documents to OIS. • Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee. • Enter the U.S. with the I-20.
Green Card/PR	• U.S Green Card or Permanent Resident Card holders	• Passport copy • Demographic Information Form. • Copy of the Green Card or Permanent Resident Card	• Submit a passport copy on SlideRoom. • Fill-out the Demographic Information form. • Gather all required documents.

Demographic Form

• After you are accepted, we will send you this form to fill out.

Proof of Money (Funding)

• The U.S. government requires proof that you can pay for the program.
• You must show you have enough money for tuition and living costs ($3,500).
• Examples: recent bank statement or letter from your bank.

I-20 Processing

• After you send all required paper work, making the I-20 takes 10 business days.

Concurrent Enrollment Letter

• If you already have an F-1 visa, your school must give you a letter giving permission to study in our program.
• The letter must be on official school paper (not email).

MANDATORY VISA FEES

In addition to the tuition and fees required to attend the SCA Summer Program, international students who need an F-1 visa must pay the mandatory visas fees required by USC and the U.S Government.

	FEE AMOUNT	LINKS
Visa Application Fee*	$182	https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html
SEVIS I-901 Fee	$350	https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html
USC I-20 Processing Fee	$350	An email with a link will be sent by our office.

* Fees may vary from country to country. Please check here to see if your country has any additional issuance fees.

ISV - Immigration Status Verification

ISV Is a mandatory procedure for International Students to verify their immigration status to attend the SCA Summer Program. Once you have submitted the necessary documentation, your SEVIS will be validated.

All immigration documents must be submitted as digital PDF files.

Status	Required Immigration Documents
Issued USC I-20/F-1	Signed USC I-20 Page 1 Passport photo ID page I-94 website page or a photo of your I-94 entry stamp in your passport. F-1 student visa stamp (Note: Canadian citizens are exempted)
Another school's I-20/F-1	Permission Letter signed and dated by the student's current school.
Other Valid Visas	Passport photo ID page I-94 website page or a photo of your I-94 entry stamp in your passport. Visa stamp
Green Card/ Permanent Resident	Copy of Green Card/Permanent Resident Card.

* Fees may vary from country to country. Please check here to see if your country has any additional issuance fees.