Hampshire College

International Students
Hampshire’s admission process is highly selective. The Admissions Committee takes great care to evaluate each candidate individually, taking into consideration the multifaceted background of every applicant.

Factors Regarding Admissions
While the admission evaluation process is thorough and personalized, the factors that ordinarily most influence a candidate’s probability of receiving an offer of admission are:

• Rigor of the high school and/or college program
• Academic performance
• Evidence of a critical and analytical thought process
• Quality of writing
• Passion for learning
• Demonstrated initiative and follow-through
• Activities and community involvement
• Empathy and concern for others

Hampshire's Admissions Committee also seeks students who demonstrate the self-direction necessary to negotiate their academic concentrations with our faculty.

Ultimately, the Admissions Committee is charged with making a determination as to whether a candidate is likely to be successful in Hampshire’s distinctive and rigorous academic program. 

The 2009 Entering Class Profile >>

Other Admissions Materials
In addition to the application materials required of all candidates, international applicants must also submit a Certification of Finances form.

TOEFL
Applicants whose home language is not English are required to provide evidence of their English proficiency by submitting official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores obtained within the past two years.

A minimum TOEFL score of 577 (233 on the computer version, or 91 on the Internet version) is usually required for admission to Hampshire.

Results from other standardized tests (such as SAT, ACT, ELPT), or predicted grades for IB English A1 or A2, or for A-level English, will also be considered.

International candidates may apply under the Early Decision and Early Action admission plans. These plans are, however, available only to applicants who will not need financial assistance at any time.

Advanced Placement
Students who present International Baccalaureate Higher Level Exam scores of 5, 6, or 7, Advanced Placement scores of 3, 4, or 5, British A Level scores of A or B, or comparable scores on the Matura, Abitur, or other advanced secondary-level examination may use 200-level courses to fulfill the first-year distribution requirement in the relevant Schools.

Questions
If you have questions not addressed here, please feel free to ask Warren Emanuel, senior assistant director of admissions and Hampshire's international admissions specialist, at wemanuel@hampshire.edu.