International Applicants

Important Changes for First-Year Applicants

Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, the Office of Admission has made important changes that you can read about in the blue shaded box below. We encourage you to contact the Office of Admission should you have any questions.

students laughing while descending the steps in front of Tower

International Applicants

The application: an overview

Wellesley is proud to claim a long history of engagement with the world. Our 2,300 students come from more than 80 countries; many of our faculty were trained or currently conduct research abroad; and many of our most prominent programs, from the Albright Institute to the Wellesley Centers for Women, are explicitly global in scope. Our stunning 500-acre campus is located in the suburban town of Wellesley, 12 miles from Boston and Cambridge, one of the world’s great concentrations of intellectual, entrepreneurial, and technological innovation.

For many students, Wellesley is a transformative experience. We appreciate your interest, and we’re excited to learn more about you.

Important Updates for First-Year Applicants

Suspension of Standardized Testing Requirement for 2021-22 (Updated February 2021)

Wellesley has extended the one year suspension of its standardized testing requirement for first-year applicants given the fact that many high school students are still unable to sit for standardized tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that submission of SAT or ACT scores will be optional for first-year applicants applying to the College for entry in the fall of 2021 and 2022. If an applicant wishes to have their standardized test scores considered as one component of their application, we will consider the scores in a nuanced and contextual way alongside all other application credentials. If applicants choose not to submit standardized test scores, we will evaluate their application in a nuanced and contextual way without scores. Our holistic, committee-based application review process gives us the flexibility to evaluate each applicant’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments within individual context. Standardized Testing FAQs.

Academic preparation for admission

Your academic preparation as an applicant for admission to Wellesley should include:

training in writing
the interpretation of literature
mathematics
at least one laboratory science
other academic studies customary for university admission
fluency in all areas of the English language: reading, writing, and verbal skills.

Wellesley does not offer courses in intensive English or in English as a second language (ESL).

Financial aid for international students

Financial assistance is available for a limited number of international citizens. Wellesley is committed to meeting 100 percent of calculated need for all admitted international citizens who have applied for financial aid during the admission process. Its purpose is to support highly qualified candidates who could not otherwise attend Wellesley. Because of the keen competition for these funds, candidates should apply for them only if family resources cannot adequately meet College expenses. In determining the amount of aid given, the College examines the financial resources of the student and her family through information provided on financial aid forms. A well-formulated financial plan is required of all financial aid applicants. For more information on financial aid for international students, please see Financial Aid for International Applicants.

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