International Students
Applying as an International Student
An international student is anyone who would require a visa to attend college in the United States.
Beginning in July 2022, Bowdoin College is need blind for international students. That means your family's ability to pay is not a factor or barrier to admission. If you require financial assistance to attend college, Bowdoin will work closely with you and your family to ensure your financial aid meets your need.
Browse our staff page to find the admissions officer for your region. More information about the application process can be found in the Applying to Bowdoin section of our website.
Virtual Opportunities
Learn about Bowdoin, financial aid, holistic application review, and more by watching a previously-recorded information session.
English Proficiency Test
English proficiency tests are optional for all international students; we will review your scores if you choose to include them with your application. You may submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET), or Cambridge English Assessment (CEA). Results may be submitted with your application, directly from the testing agency, or self reported through your Application Portal after you apply.
Please note that we do not offer English as a Second Language courses at Bowdoin so all incoming students are expected to be highly proficient in spoken and written English at a college level.
Interview Opportunities
A limited number of interview opportunities are offered between May and December of the year in which you intend to submit your application. Due to high demand, international students are asked to submit their application before requesting an interview. Learn more about interviews and how to register.
Couldn’t fit an interview into your schedule? Did you have an interview and have more to say? We encourage you to submit a video response, which you will find in your Application Portal after you submit your Bowdoin application.
Independent interviews
Bowdoin accepts independent interviews from vendors, such as Initialview or Vericant, from our international applicants. We also accept for this purpose the interview that is integrated into the Duolingo English Test (DET). These interviews will provide you with an opportunity to display your communication and reasoning abilities, as well as your enthusiasm for becoming a successful student at Bowdoin. Following this conversation, a report and video of your interview will be sent directly to Bowdoin from the vendor. We recommend registering early for these opportunities as soon as possible to ensure that your materials arrive in our office before the application deadline.
Please note that if you plan to submit an independent interview, you may not register for a Bowdoin interview. Bowdoin accepts only one interview per applicant.
National Exams and Transcripts
Students from countries with national university entrance exams (such as but not limited to: WASSCE, EGSE, KCSE, CAPE, IGCSE, ISC, SLC) are required to submit official results. Applicants in A-level or IB curricula are expected to submit predicted grades if in the final year of secondary school or final results if you have graduated.
Your transcript should be translated into English, and we prefer a translation from a school or a certifying official.
Financial Aid
Bowdoin meets the full calculated need of all admitted students without loans, and admission is need blind.
Applying for Aid
- Please visit Bowdoin's student aid website to locate the application information and filing instructions.
- Financial aid applications must be completed by the deadline.