International Students

Excellent education for effective ministry in every nation

Kuyper College warmly welcomes students from around the world. This year, there are students from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, and Zambia. Wherever you're from, we invite you to explore our part of the global village.

The vision of the international student program is to offer young men and women the education and training not available in their own country, so they can bring their newfound knowledge and skills back to their home country to provide leadership to churches and other ministries in their home countries. We are seeking for students with strong academic performance, proven English skills, a clear sense of purpose for serving God, plus a spirit of determination and adventure. It is not an easy thing to gain an education far from home and family in a fascinating new culture. But if that is where you sense God's call, we invite you to apply.

Application Process:

Fill out the online admissions application or  paper application  with all essays completed Educational profile along with official high school or secondary school transcript* and official transcipt(s) from any college you previously attended** TOEFL or IELTS Official Score Report Test scores from ACT or SAT I (for scholarship consideration)  Personal Recommendation   Ecclesiastical Recommendation  Statement of Finances Form

Financial Considerations:
The U.S. government requires that all students must provide proof of sufficient funds for their first year of study before being granted a student visa. Kuyper College also must have the documents proving that you and any sponsors have sufficient funds. You can show proof by sending a sponsor's letter of support and bank statements; scholarship award letters; approved loan documents, or your own bank account statements.

The cost of tuition, room and board, and fees, and miscellaneous living expenses is approximately $22,000. In addition, accepted students are asked to pay a tuition deposit of $2,000 BEFORE they are issued their immigration papers, and this money is not covered by scholarships from the College. Students are also reponsible to pay for their travel to the United States. Students who intend to bring family members along must also prove they have the additional funds to support these family members, as dependents of students are NOT allowed, by federal law, to work in the U.S.

Scholarships are available at two levels.

1. Those who have some funds of their own available, but need some financial help must indicate their request for scholarship assistance on the Statement of Finances form.

2. Students who show severe economic hardship may apply for the International Student Need-Based Grant and the International Student Merit-Based Scholarship. These funds are awarded by the International Student Affairs Committee in the month of February for students enrolling the following August. Consequently, the application deadline for students in need of these scholarships is February 1, 2009. Funds for this scholarship program are limited, so qualification for the scholarship does not guarantee you will receive one.

• International Need Based Grant: Provides 50% of the tuition, room and board, fees, and books for students who demonstrate financial need.
• International Merit-Based Scholarship: Provides 45% of the tuition, room and board, fees and books for students who demonstrate academic achievement (equivalent to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale grade point average).

Scholarship Eligibility:

The Committee looks for the following when awarding scholarships:

• Committed Christian faith and leadership potential in the body of Christ
• A clear sense of calling and purpose for ministry or missions work .
• Recommendations from the home church or denomination that they support the student's plans to study and that there will be a position open for him at the conclusion of his studies.
• Proficiency in the English language (TOEFL IBT score of 79 minimum).
• Academic marks that indicate the student will succeed in college studies.

Christian Missionary Scholarship

If your parents are serving as missionaries, you may also apply for the Christian Missionary Scholarship. This is a program for only a select few colleges, including Kuyper. The deadline for the scholarship is February 15. For more information, see the website: Christian Missionary Scholarship.

Getting from There to Here

The road from acceptance to beginning your studies (2010)

1. Acceptance packets are mailed to admitted students in late February.
2. Send in your scholarship acceptance letter and a tuition deposit of $2,000.
3. When the deposit is received, Kuyper College will issue your I-20 and a SEVIS receipt and send you the originals.
4. Set up an appointment at the embassy in your home country to apply for an F-1 visa. Be sure to have all the documents that will be required. Let Mary VanderMeer mvandermeer@kuyper.edu know the date of your visa interview.
5. Send your health forms and housing application to Kuyper College.
6. When you receive word about your visa approval or denial, immediately inform Mary VanderMeer of the outcome.
7. If the visa was denied, you may have your tuition deposit refunded, or you may ask to reapply for admission for the following school year.
8. If your visa was approved, make travel arrangements and let us know your plans. It is highly recommended that you fly into Grand Rapids International Airport. (Detroit and Chicago are approximately a four-hour drive from Kuyper College.) If you would like to be picked up at the airport, let us know the airline, the flight number, and when the flight will arrive. Plan to move into the campus dormitories on August 30. (If you expect to arrive in the U.S. sooner, you will need to make arrangements to stay with friends or family who live in the U.S. However, you may not legally arrive in the U.S. until 30 days before the start date indicated on your I-20 form, which means you should arrive after August 8.) Your acceptance packet will contain information about what to expect at the port of entry.
9. Move into Kuyper student housing on August 30.
10. International Student Orientation: August 31-September 2.
11. New Student Orientation: September 3-6.
12. Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 8.

Referrals: information for pastors, counselors, and others who want to help students involved in a college search

Are you a youth pastor or a high school guidance counselor? Do you know a student who seeks to know where God will lead his or her for post-secondary education? Perhaps you know someone who is looking for the type of ministry-focused Christian leadership education that we provide. Contact Kuyper's Admissions staff. We can assist with the right college fit.

Complete and submit our online referral form, and we'll gladly contact the student with more information on how TheKee-The Kuyper Education Experience-can open important doors for them!

Financial Aid and Tuition