International and Exchange Students

Application Process

Is this exchange student program right for you? St. Mary’s is a rigorous Honors College and close-knit community in a beautiful rural and riverside location, about two hours’ drive by car from Washington DC. Speak to your exchange coordinator at your home institution to verify that this is an approved option for you.

Ready to apply? Create an account in our exchange student application portal to get started. Complete SMCM’s Inbound Exchange Student Application. You will be asked to electronically request the approval of your home institution’s outbound exchange coordinator, as well as two academic recommendations. Applications will not be considered until all three of these recommendations have been received.

You will need to complete and submit the following forms/materials within the application:

• J-1 Visitors form
• Proof of Financial Support (in English) – This can be a bank statement or a letter for your institution if your institution is supporting your time abroad.
• A copy of your transcript in English

SMCM’s Office of International Education will send acceptance letters to those exchange students accepted for study at St. Mary’s only after receiving all of the required documentation.

Application due dates are

October 22 for spring semester exchange

March 22 for academic year or fall semester exchange

Documentation required after acceptance

New Student Housing Form in your student portal
Copy of Immunization Record (in English): Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials
Results of a TB (Tuberculosis) Test (administered by a doctor or hospital): Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials
Drug Free Acknowledgement on SMCM Student Portal
Read Campus Drug-free Policy
Health History Form: Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials

Pre-departure Preparation

SMCM will enter each student into the U.S.’s SEVIS system in order to issue each student a SEVIS I-20 (degree-seeking students) or a DS-2019 (exchange students), only after all of the above information has been received. Each student will take this SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to a U.S. embassy or consulate in his/her home country to obtain the required entry visa.

These online resources will be helpful in preparing for your visa application:

U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to you
U.S. Department of State

Post-Approval Payment:

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has partnered with Pay My Tuition to accept international payments for enrolled degree-seeking or enrolled exchange program students. Please go to the SMCM student portal to log in and learn more about ways to pay.