International Students

Hampshire is an institution committed to teaching in a local and global context. How can you use your education to change the communities around you? And how can you do it your way?

As an international student, you will enjoy the diversity of Amherst, Massachusetts, a community with over 30,000 students from all over the world, as well as benefit from the intimacy of Hampshire's small classes and close faculty relationships.

Apply online via
THE COMMON APPLICATION

 

Application Deadlines

International Admission Plan	Deadline	Notification	Deposit
Spring 2017	November 1, 2016	November 10, 2016	December 1, 2016
Early Decision I (fall 2017)	November 15, 2016	December 15, 2016	January 1, 2017
Early Action (fall 2017)	December 1, 2016	February 15, 2017	May 1, 2017
Early Decision II (fall 2017)	January 1, 2017	February 1, 2017	February 15, 2017
Regular Decision (fall 2017)	January 15, 2017	April 1, 2017	May 1, 2017
Transfer Students (fall 2017)	March 15, 2017	April 15, 2017	May 15, 2017

Financial Aid information for International Applicants

You can find financial aid application information and deadlines for international students here.

Required Application Materials

We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials through the Common Application:

FIRST YEAR APPLICANTS

• Common Application
• Writing Supplement
  • An academic paper in English
  • Supplemental essay responses
• High School Transcript (current or final)
• School report, including guidance counselor recommendation
• At least one letter of recommendation from a teacher
• Certification of Finances, submit at least one of the following:
  • Certification of Finances Form
  • Letter of financial support
  • To students applying for financial aid, we will accept the CSS Profile
• TOEFL or IELTS score (Minimum TOEFL score of 91 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Predicted grades for IB English A1 or A2, or for A-level English, will also be considered. You may request a TOEFL waiver from International Coordinator Christina Rizleris, at INTLadmissions@hampshire.edu.)

TRANSFER APPLICANTS

• Common Application
• Writing Supplement
  • Proposed Program of Study
  • An academic paper in English
  • Supplemental essay responses
• All College Transcripts
• Transfer Mid-Term Report (if currently enrolled)
• Final High School Transcript
• One Academic Evaluation
• Certification of Finances, submit at least one of the following:
  • Certification of Finances Form
  • Letter of financial support
  • To students applying for financial aid, we will accept the CSS Profile
• TOEFL or IELTS score (Minimum TOEFL score of 91 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Predicted grades for IB English A1 or A2, or for A-level English, will also be considered. You may request a TOEFL waiver from International Coordinator Christina Rizleris, at INTLadmissions@hampshire.edu.)

Optional Application Materials

Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.

• Tell us about a collaborative, group, or community-engaged activity that has been especially meaningful to you and why.
• Video/media supplement. This could be music, dance, film, animation, monologue, etc.
• Project sample: submit an example of your independent or collaborative project work. This project can be creative, scientific, or otherwise showcase the type of work you've done in high school.
• Additional letters of recommendation, up to three.

We also highly recommend an interview.

*Supplemental Essay Questions

We like to geek out here at Hampshire, and our essay questions give you a chance to do the same. So here's a sneak peek at the questions you'll find on the Common App. We can't wait to read what you come up with.

• Describe a proposal for a hypothetical research project that explores the connections between two or three different disciplines (for example: math, creative writing, and psychology). Which academic disciplines would you draw from and how would you utilize Hampshire's unique curricular structure to realize and enhance your project? (300 word minimum)
   

• Students receive narrative evaluations at Hampshire instead of letter or number grades. At the end of each course, students also complete a self-evaluation reflecting on their goals and class performance. Write a self-evaluation of a favorite class or other learning activity in high school. What were your goals? Where did you succeed? What do you wish had gone differently? (300 word minimum)

After Submitting Your Application

Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment letter that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. Hampshire College has entered the 21st Century and now releases decisions online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.

FAQ

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, contact our international coordinator, Christina Rizleris, at INTLadmissions@hampshire.edu, and listen to any episode of our Navigating the Application podcast on Soundcloud. Each episode deals with a different section of the application. Here are quick links to each, short episode:

• An Overview of the Different Areas of the Application
• The Supplement Essay Section
• Optional Creative Supplements
• Homeschool Applicants
• Visits and Interviews
• Financial Aid
• Final Thoughts on the Application

 

 

Common App Support

Prospective Applicants can get Common App online support through the Applicant Help Center. From the Help Center, click the "Ask a Question" tab to contact our support team and access a comprehensive FAQ resource covering different aspects of the application process.

Counselors/Recommenders with Common App questions or suggestions can contact them through the Recommender Help Center. You can also receive real-time support through the new chat program available now from 12-4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.