International Student Information

International Student Information

USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program have had the pleasure of welcoming students from all around the world. Each summer, many international students apply and join our inclusive and diverse filmmaking community. Students will be able to enjoy all that our university has to offer and immerse themselves in their classes with fellow cinematic storytellers.

APPLICATION

The first step in the process of attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program is to apply. Applicants must make sure to mark themselves as an “International Student” on the application. “International Students” are identified as any applicant that is not a U.S. Citizen.

English Language Proficiency

All courses at the USC SCA Summer Program are taught in English. Students must be comfortable with the language to be able to communicate with their instructors and classmates. The USC SCA Summer Program office reserves the right to request additional information and/or require language proficiency exam scores. Language proficiency can be verified in the following ways.

Accepted English Proficiency Tests:

TEST NAME MINIMUM SCORE
iBT TOEFL Total Score: 100
Each Section Score: 20
IELTS 7
PTE 65
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section 650
SAT Critical Reading Exam 600
ACT English Section 25
Duolingo English Test 120

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 USC SCA Summer Program is a SEVP accepted institution. This means that international students (non-U.S. citizens) without a valid visa (see below) must apply and enter the U.S. on an F1 visa.

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 USC SCA Summer Program students who are denied a visa or unable to enter the country due to an improper visa.

Please identify your status below to see the requirements and process.

Status Description Requirements Documents Process
I-20/F1 from USC • Students who need to apply for an I-20/F1 visa from USC. • *Demographic Information Form

• 2x Passport copy

• *Proof of Funding 		• *Submit a passport copy into a private One Drive folder.

• Fill-out the Demographic Information form.

• Pay the USC I-20 Processing Fee.

• Activate USC OIS account.

• Submit all required documents into the student’s OIS account for the *I-20.

• Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

• Schedule an F1 visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate with the I-20.

• Enter the U.S. with the F-1 visa.
Valid Visas • Other valid visas that are acceptable to study here at the USC SCA Summer Program.

• Valid Visa Examples:
    • E1/E2
    • O1/O2
    • J1
 • *Demographic Informat
ion Form • 2x Passport copy

• Visa copy

 • *Submit a passport copy into private One Drive folder.

• Fill-out the Demographic Information form.

• Gather all required documents.
Another School’s F1 • Identified as students who are currently sponsored under another school’s I-20/F1 visa

 • Passport copy

• *Demographic Information Form.

• *Concurrent Enrollment Letter

 • *Submit a passport copy into private One Drive folder.

• Fill-out the Demographic Information form.

• Gather all required documents.
Canadian Citizen • Students that have Canadian Citizenship.

• Canadian citizens must apply for an I-20, but does not need an F1 Visa.

 • *Demographic Information Form

• 2x Passport copy

• *Proof of Funding

 • *Submit a passport copy into private One Drive folder.

• Fill-out the Demographic Information form.

• Pay the USC I-20 Processing Fee.

• Activate USC OIS account.

• Submit all required documents into the student’s OIS account for the *I-20.

• Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

• Enter the U.S. with the I-20.
Green Card/Permanent Resident • Students who have a Green Card or Permanent Resident Card from the U.S.

 • Passport copy

• *Demographic Information Form.

• Copy of the Green Card or Permanent Resident Card

 • *Submit a passport copy into private One Drive folder.

• Fill-out the Demographic Information form.

• Gather all required documents.
* Private One Drive folder:
    • After acceptance into the program, an email invite will be sent to a private One Drive folder.

* Demographic Information Form:
    • The form will be sent to students upon acceptance into the program.

* Proof of Funding:
    • The U.S. government requires international students on a student visa to provide proof of the ability to pay for the tuition and fees.
    • Documentation must show that the student has the funds to cover the cost of the program tuition and set living expenses cost ($3500).
    • Example documentation includes a recent savings or checking account bank statement, or a signed bank letter verifying the ability to pay for the total cost.


* I-20 Processing Time:
    • Once all the required documents have been submitted and approved, it takes 10 business days to create an I-20.

* Concurrent Enrollment Letter:
    • This is a permission letter from the student’s sponsoring school that the student may attend our program under their F1.
    • This must be on official school letterhead and cannot be an email.
MANDATORY VISA FEES

Beyond the tuition and fees for the SCA Summer Program, international students requiring an F-1 visa will have additional mandatory fees that are due.

  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.