»International First-Year Applicants

Stay in Touch Visit How to Apply

The following information will help you determine whether you need to apply to Chapman as an international first-year applicant and how to do so.

Am I an international student?

At Chapman, you are considered an international first-year applicant if both of the following apply to you:

You are a non-U.S. citizen or non-permanent resident.
You have completed secondary school and have not attended an accredited post-secondary institution.

If both of the above describe you, you should apply to Chapman as an international first-year applicant.

International first-year applicants inside the U.S.

Even if you are applying from within the U.S., you may still be considered an international student.

If you are in the U.S. on an active non-immigrant visa type (i.e. F, J, A, E, H, K, L, R), you are considered an international first-year applicant.

Applying as an international first-year applicant

Follow these steps to apply to Chapman as an international first-year applicant:

Step 1: Submit your Chapman application

The first step is to apply to Chapman as a first-year applicant.

International applicants follow the same basic application process as domestic applicants.

You can follow the steps on our How to Apply page for first-year students. Follow all of the steps on that page before you continue to step 2 on this page.

Step 2: Submit English proficiency test scores

To demonstrate your English proficiency, you must submit official test scores from one of the following:

TOEFL: 4.5 for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026 (and an 80 with balanced sub scores for exams taken on or before January 20, 2026).
IELTS: 6.5 (with balanced sub scores).
Duolingo English Test: 120.
SAT English: 600.
ACT English: 24.

English proficiency test score waivers

Certain applicants may be able to waive their proof of English proficiency:

Applicants graduating from secondary schools where English is the language of instruction.
Applicants who are in an International Baccalaureate or Cambridge curriculum.

If either of the above applies to you, submit the English Proficiency Waiver Request form in your application portal after you have submitted the Common Application.

Step 3: Submit additional academic documents

In addition to the transcripts you provided as part of step 1, you may need to provide additional academic documents from secondary schools, pre-university programs and colleges you have attended.

Additional academic documents include:

External examination results or predicted results (predicted IB results, Indian board exam results, GCSE/IGCSE results, predicted A-levels, Australian ATAR, etc).
Graduation certificates (if applicable).

You must provide official academic documents from all secondary schools, pre-university programs and colleges that you have attended.

Official academic documents must come directly from a high school counselor or school official. They can be emailed to admission@chapman.edu from an official school email address.

Official documents can also be sent in a sealed envelope to our physical address:

Chapman University
Office of Admission
One University Dr.
Orange, CA 92866
USA

Chapman University expects students to prepare work that is their own, factually true and honestly presented. Chapman University does not contract with, nor is represented by, non-Chapman entities in the recruitment and admission process.

Frequently asked questions about applying as an international student

Visit our International Frequently Asked Questions page for helpful information and tips for applying and preparing to enter Chapman as an international student!

Visit International FAQ page

Understanding tuition and cost

While we offer merit and need-based scholarships for international students, understanding the financial requirements of studying at Chapman will help you plan accordingly so you are well-prepared to manage your expenses.

Visit our International Costs and Financial Aid page for information on financing your Chapman education.

How we can help

We are happy to help as you consider Chapman and work on your application! If you have any questions or want to learn more about the university, you can:

Email the Office of Admission: admission@chapman.edu
Visit campus: If you will be in Southern California, we encourage you to schedule an in-person tour of Chapman!
Visit virtually: We also offer many virtual opportunities to connect, including tours and information sessions.

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, religion, military status, or veteran’s status in its admissions policies or administration of its educational programs, including scholarship and loan programs, under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Questions, concerns, or complaints may be directed to Colleen Wood, Title IX Coordinator at titleix@chapman.edu, phone (714) 997-6721, Argyros Forum Room 101, or to the Director, US Department of Education, Washington, DC, 20201.

Note: any questions relating to the admission process should be sent to admit@chapman.edu

Follow Chapman on Social Media

Follow Chapman to learn more about the academics, student life and amazing opportunities here:

Take a Self-Guided Tour

Virtually explore Chapman in this student-led tour through our Orange Campus. You'll be able to visit classrooms, hang-out spots, our residence life area and much more!

Start the Tour

Chapman University is a CIS Higher Education Member. CIS members demonstrate a commitment to promoting internationalism and interculturalism in education and are characterized by high standards in leadership and global citizenship.