The application procedures on this page are for international students (transfer and initial) who plan to study at HCC in F-1 student visa status.
Permanent residents and international students in other visa categories should contact the Office of Admissions, Registration, and Records at the campus they plan to attend for assistance in enrolling at HCC.
F-2 visa holders: An F-2 dependent (spouse or minor child) of an F-1 student in the United States may study part-time in any certified program at a SEVP-certified school at the postsecondary level, as long as it does not amount to what regulations define as full-time for an F-1 student.
Application Deadlines
Term
Applicants Outside the U.S.
(Initial/New F-1 Students)
Applicants in the U.S.
(Transfer Students)
Summer 2020
March 15, 2020
April 15, 2020
Fall 2020
June 15, 2020
July 15, 2020
Spring 2021
November 1, 2020
November 15, 2020
Summer 2021
March 15, 2021
April 15, 2021
Fall 2021
June 15, 2021
July 15, 2021
Admission Requirements
Complete the International Student Application
If you are currently residing outside of the United States and are applying for a new, initial F-1 student visa, complete the International Student Application.
The one-time, non-refundable International Student Application Fee is $50. Choose one of the following ways to pay:
Online
Credit card: Pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) or E-Check through HCC's Payment Gateway. Select "Pay Online for Health Sciences/Testing/Other Fees," then add "International Student Application Fee."
International wire transfer: Pay via international wire transfer through Flywire.
By Mail
Personal Check: Provide a personal check drawn on a U.S. bank account. Make payable to "Hillsborough Community College." The check must also include the following information from the maker of the check: full name, address, telephone number, U.S. driver license number and state, and the date of birth. Personal checks drawn from a non-U.S.-originating bank will not be accepted.Personal information (name and full address) must be printed in the upper left of the check; starter checks without printed personal information will not be accepted.
Money order
Certified/cashier's check
Mailing Address:
Hillsborough Community College
Center for International Education, DSSC #322/324
4001 W Tampa Bay Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33614
In person
Pay in person at the campus bursar office via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express). If a student approaches the Bursar Office at any of the campuses to pay on his/her account using another person’s credit card, the cardholder must be present!
Pay cash at the campus bursar office. Please do not mail cash to the Center for International Education.
Prove Financial Support
Submit aFinancial Declaration (included in the application) completed and signed by your sponsor.
Submit acurrent financial document/bank letter.This document must be in English, on official institution letterhead and bear the sponsor’s name. It must show at least USD $21,210 for one year of study at HCC (two semesters).
Federal visa laws require that F-1 international students must certify and declare that they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition, books, room and board, personal expenses, and health insurance for at least one academic year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, a single student will need at least $21,210.00(subject to change) per year to cover academic and living expenses. This statement must be on file before admission will be considered. Funds may come from various sources, including government scholarships, sponsoring agencies, private companies, the student's own personal funds, or funds provided by the student's relatives. The sponsor can be located in the United States or overseas.
Students with government sponsorships or grants/loans (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Sweden, Norway, etc.)who present preliminary financial statements for admission purposes must submit final, official financial guarantees by the program start date of the term they plan to enroll.
Acceptable proof of sufficient funds
Official award letters from a sponsoring institution (for example, Financial Guarantees from an Embassy)
bank statements on official bank letterhead
bank letters signed by a bank official
All documentation must be in English and show at least the minimum required amount in U.S. dollars ($21,210.00). Letters stating a vague range such "funds in the five-figure range" are not acceptable.
Acceptable financial sources
checking or savings accounts
certificates of deposit
money market accounts
other easily liquidated assets
Unacceptable proof
include bank statements without an account holder name
web printouts without a bank logo, stamp or signature
Unacceptable financial sources
real estate
retirement accounts such as 401(k)s
home equity lines of credit
pay advices
salary guarantees
Submit Your Academic Transcripts
To be eligible for admission to an associate degree program at HCC, applicants must submit documentation that they have the equivalent of one of the following:
high school equivalency certificate (GED)
Associate or higher degree
standard high school diploma
High School
If you graduated from a high school in the United States, please request that final, official transcripts be sent to HCC in a sealed envelope or electronically from your high school by the given application deadline. Transcripts must include your final grades and graduation date. Opened transcripts are considered to be unofficial and will not be accepted.
If you graduated from a high school outside of the United States, your transcripts, graduation certificates and/or exam results must be evaluated by a NACES-approved agency to prove equivalency with a U.S. high school diploma (generalordocument-by-document evaluation and translation, if transcripts are not in English). Completed evaluations need to be submitted by the application deadline. For the list of countries which are exempt from the secondary school transcript evaluation requirement, see International Secondary School Requirements for Admission.
If you graduated with an International Baccalaureate (IB), the final, official IB results must be submitted directly from International Baccalaureate to the Center for International Education at Hillsborough Community College.
College/University
If you have attended a university or college in the United States, request that final, official transcripts from all institutions attended be sent to HCC in a sealed envelope or electronically directly from the issuing institution by the application deadline or immediately following completion of your current term.If official transcripts have not been received by the I-20 program start date, an evaluation of transfer credit for your first term at HCC can no longer be guaranteed, and you may be required to take the college placement test before enrolling in classes.
If you have attended a university or college outside of the United States, you are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation and translation (if not in English) of your academic transcripts by a NACES-approved agency by the application deadline.Acceptance of transfer credit is subject to review by the school and cannot be guaranteed.
Students are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining translations and evaluations of their transcript(s).
Prove English Proficiency
International (F-1 visa) students whose native language is not English and whose country of citizenship is not on the English proficiency waiver list must demonstrate English language competency to gain admission to the College.
HCC does not offer courses in English as a Second Language for F-1 international students and does not offer conditional acceptance to students who do not meet our English proficiency requirements.
You may demonstrate English language competency for admission purposes by meeting any one of the following conditions:
TOEFL score of 61 (iBT) or higher (www.toefl.org; HCC Institution Code: 5304)
Completion of Advanced Levels in Academic English (Level 109)at an ELS English Language Center
Completion of the highest level of a regionally accredited intensive English language program
Completion of ENC 1101 from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
Graduation from a U.S. high school with a standard high school diploma after having attended that school for at least two years (not including ESOL classes) and attaining a grade of "C" or higher in English
All new students, unless exempt, are required to take the college placement test in English and Math upon arrival at HCC to determine course placement. Based on the results of the placement test, students may be placed in preparatory coursework--which may not count towards the degree--prior to enrolling in college-level coursework.
Students may be exempted from the placement test only if they submit proof of successful completion of ENC 1101 or qualifying SAT/ACT scores. Request your official scores to be mailed directly to the Center for International Education from the College Board (SAT) or the ACT respectively.
Please note: Diplomas, certificates and test scores must be dated within two years of the desired term start date. If they are older than two years, HCC may still require an applicant to take an English proficiency exam (i.e., TOEFL or IELTS) and submit test scores to be considered for admission.
Submit a Copy of Your Valid Passport
All F-1 students must submit a copy of the biographical page of your passport. Passports must be kept valid for six months into the future.
Additionally, F-1 students transferring from another U.S. institution must also submit the following documents:
A copy of your F-1 visa
A copy of your current Form I-20
HCC Transfer Clearance Form, completed by you and your current International Student Advisor.
Submit Proof of Health Insurance
After admission and no later than by the I-20 program start date, all international F-1 students must submit proof of health insurance before enrolling in courses at HCC. Visit Insurance for Students to enroll in the College-endorsed health insurance plan.
Once your application is complete, your file will be reviewed. Please be careful in submitting all appropriate documents, as incomplete or improperly completed items will result in a delay in processing your application.
Initial F-1 students who are accepted to HCC will be sent an official Arrival Guide with an Acceptance Letter and Form I-20. You will use this I-20 to apply for your F-1 student visa at your local United States Embassy or Consulate. The Arrival Guide will provide you with detailed information regarding next steps on your way to enrollment at HCC.
Transferring F-1 students will receive an official Arrival Guide with the HCC Acceptance Letter which they can submit to their current schools to arrange for the release of their SEVIS record to HCC.
Conditional Admission to USF
HCC's university transfer agreement with the University of South Florida (USF) provides Conditional Admission to USF! When you apply for admission to one of HCC's Associate in Arts transfer programs, you can choose to receive a conditional admission letter from USF. Just select the option that you would like to receive the letter when you complete our online International Student Application! When you apply for your F-1 student visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country, you can present this letter along with your admissions letter from HCC.
Questions?
Contact Us:
Center for International Education
4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., DSSC #322
Tampa, FL 33614, USA