International Applicants
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must submit additional information as part of the application and admission process (as outlined below). No offer of full admission will be made until the Office of Admission receives all required materials. All documents submitted must be either in English or original language accompanied by notarized English translation. Degree equivalency with the American system of education must be demonstrated at the time of application. Applicants who are presently living in the U.S. and hold either a visa or permanent residency card should submit copies of the pertinent documents.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. For most students this means sending the results of a recent TOEFL examination (Code: 3659). The TOEFL is administered worldwide with frequent examination test dates. Applicants should register early for the TOEFL, as NEC must receive the test results not later than March 1. Please note that students may take the internet-based test (iBT), computer-based test or paper-based test.
Minimum TOEFL scores for full admission are:
Undergraduate programs: 61 iBT, 173 computer-based, or 500 paper-based;
MM and GD programs: 79 iBT, 213 computer-based, or 550 paper-based. Applicants who do not achieve the minimum scores may be offered admission requiring intensive English study at NEC. Students entering the intensive English program at NEC should expect that their degree program might be prolonged.* DMA and Artist Diploma applicants do not need to submit a TOEFL score.
Students who require a student visa (F-1) will be sent an I-20 form only after full admission has been granted and a tuition deposit has been received. A Certification of Finances with accompanying documentation and letter(s) of support is required for any student needing an I-20 (for application to receive a student visa). The Certification of Finances form will be sent with all offers of admission. Funding may be combined from several sources, but the total must cover the full costs of attending NEC including tuition, room, board, medical insurance, student fees, and personal expenses for one year. (For 2007–2008 this totaled $45,595.) If a student is awarded scholarship assistance, this money will be in addition to any demonstrated funds. Every applicant who does not have the full financial means at his/her disposal to cover all costs related to attending NEC should research all possibilities of support early in the application process.
*Applicants who have completed a full-time, four-year degree program at an English-speaking college/university may request an exemption from the TOEFL requirement in writing.