International Admissions

Home Away From Home

An Inclusive Campus Community

As one of America’s oldest and most distinctive institutions of higher learning, Mercer University is proud to be a second home for students from more than 50 countries. We welcome all applicants, including international students, and consider students for admission to the traditional undergraduate program without regard to nationality or citizenship. We are ready to support you as you transition to university enrollment in the U.S.

Who Is An International Student?

At Mercer University, an “international student” is defined as a student who is not a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. permanent resident – including citizens of other countries graduating from a secondary school (high school) in the U.S.

Find Your Counselor

Your Point of Contact

Mercer's admissions team is dedicated to guiding you through every step of the admissions process. Our counselors are here to answer your questions, provide you with information about visiting campus, help you navigate the financial aid process, and more.

Felix Jelen

Felix works with all international students requiring a visa to study at Mercer University. Contact him at 478.796.9972 or jelen_f@mercer.edu.

Ashley Herman

Ashley works with United States citizens studying abroad in high school. Contact her at 478.301.5213 or herman_ag@mercer.edu.

Caroline Carlton

Caroline works with international recruited student-athletes. Contact her at 478.301.2314 or carlton_c@mercer.edu.

Costs, Scholarships, and Financial Planning

See Mercer's tuition and fees, learn about opportunities for scholarships, and read more about financing your Mercer education. International students are eligible for merit-based scholarships, but are not eligible for state or federal aid.

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Application Requirements

Application

Mercer University offers two ways to apply for admission: The Common Application or the Mercer Application. We do not have a preference, and we encourage you to use the option that is most convenient for you.

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Standardized Test Scores

Submit your official SAT score(s) and/or ACT score(s), if your native language or language of instruction is English. Submit an official TOEFL score of at least 80 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5, if your native language or language of instruction is not English. When submitting standardized test scores, make sure to submit all your scores because we super score, meaning we take your highest section scores out of all your submitted tests.

Or apply as a Test Optional candidate for admission. Mercer’s Test Optional admission policy allows international students to apply to Mercer and be considered for admission without submitting official standardized test scores. Test Optional international applicants must complete an interview with their admissions counselor.

Test Optional

Official School Transcript(s)

Ask your school counselor to send us your official secondary school report(s) or high school transcript(s), translated in English. We want to see how you've challenged yourself and explored academic interests through your coursework.
Upon admission, submit a course-by-course evaluation of transcript(s), including Grade Point Average, translated in English by World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny & Associates.

Letter of Recommendation

We want to hear from one of your high school teachers or counselors about your work ethic, school engagement, academic achievement, and more, translated in English.

Test Optional

THINGS TO KNOW

Test Optional

At Mercer, our students are more than a number, which is why we look beyond GPA and standardized test scores to review applications holistically. We look at a variety of factors to ensure that students will be successful in Mercer’s rigorous academic environment, including high school course selection, extracurricular and community involvement, leadership experience, letters of recommendation, essay responses, and more.

International students are eligible to apply to Mercer University as Test Optional applicants. Test Optional applicants must complete an interview with their admissions counselor as part of the application process. After submitting your application, contact Felix Jelen at 478.796.9972 or jelen_f@mercer.edu to schedule an interview.

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IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR

International Students

A valid government-issued passport and a U.S.-issued F-1 Student Visa is required for any student enrolling at Mercer University who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

An I-20 Form is required to obtain the F-1 Visa. The I-20 Form is issued to international students who have been awarded admission to Mercer. The University has been authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students and to issue I-20 Forms. A Declaration of Finances, in U.S. dollar equivalents, verifying that you have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of attending Mercer University is also required as part of the Visa process.

Because this process is lengthy and requires specific paperwork, international applicants are encouraged to begin the process early. Students should submit an application for admission at least three months prior to the intended date of enrollment to allow adequate time for completion of all necessary paperwork. This process will take place after a student is admitted to Mercer University.

If you need to begin your I-20 and F-1 visa process for enrollment at Mercer, please collect the following documents described below:

I-20 Application
Passport Biography and Photo
Proof of Funds
- Acceptable Proof of Funds include: bank letter or statement, certificate of deposit, scholarship award letter, or government award letter
- Unacceptable Proof of Funds include: salary, credit cards, insurance policies, property, and machinery
Currency Conversion
Sponsor Form

Please send these documents directly to the Office of International Programs (OIP) at oip@mercer.edu. The Office of International Programs will continue to assist you through the I-20 process. For more resources and information concerning the F-1 Visa process, please visit the OIP website.

For additional information about your next steps in the enrollment process, visit our Accepted Students page.