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We’re delighted you’re considering Bay College as your international community college of choice. Bay College is an inviting and supportive environment for international students to start their U.S. post-secondary education. With a friendly campus community and support through the F-1 Visa process, you will find everything you need to succeed and feel at home. 

Bay de Noc Community College is authorized under federal law to enroll international students who’ve obtained an F-1 Visa. Please take a moment to review the admissions criteria, deadlines, and process below. Contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions along the way.


Let's Get Started!

Due to the variance of international visa wait times and admissions documentation required for acceptance, it is recommended you allow three or more months prior to the start of the semester to complete the international student applicant process.

International students must enroll as full-time students (a minimum of 12 credits/4 classes or more) in order to maintain their F-1 Visa status. In addition, 9 or more credits must be in-person classes. International students cannot enroll in all online courses.

Fall Semester Documentation Deadline: Winter Semester Documentation Deadline:
June 15, 2025 October 15, 2025

Steps to Apply

The first step to apply to Bay College is to complete the International Student Admissions Application.

Once the Office of Admissions has received your application, we will email you using the email provided on the application to confirm your home mailing address. Please respond to this email confirming how your address should be written. This is to ensure when communicating your admissions status and enrollment next steps, your mail will be received.

In addition, the Office of Admissions would like confirmation of your Place of Birth. Please respond to this email from admissions.

Bay College accepts scores from TOEFL and a score of 500 or higher, on the computer-based version – a score of 173, or on the internet-based version - a score of 61. Additional information is below. Scores can be emailed to admissions@baycollege.edu.

Provide evidence of financial support, Proof of Funds, resulting in at least $28,216 USD in U.S. currency for each academic year to cover education and living expenses (e.g. cost of attendance). Cost of Attendance changes annually. Additional information is below. Proof of Funds can be emailed to admissions@baycollege.edu.

The Bay College Admissions Office accepts evaluations from one of the three approved organizations: www.wes.org or www.ece.org or www.ierf.org. Evaluations received from another organization or from the applicant will not be accepted.

Once the previous steps are completed, you are fully admitted to the college! The Designated School Official (DSO) will then issue an I-20 form. Once you have an I-20, you will be able to pay the SEVIS fee required by the United States government, which is required before you’re able to schedule a visa interview with a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Once you’ve received your F-1 visa, you will be able to log into your Bay College student accounts like myBay and your college email. Through these accounts, you will be able to: 

  1. Request an appointment with your advisor
  2. Register for classes
  3. Apply for student housing
  4. Register for new student orientation

Once you’ve received your Visa, you’ll be required to provide Proof of Insurance. International students and their dependents, if applicable, are required to have medical insurance coverage. More information is below. Proof of Insurance documents can be emailed to admissions@baycollege.edu.

You can submit your ACT or SAT scores, if applicable, to admissions@baycollege.edu. If you do not have these scores, your advisor will work with you to schedule placement testing either during your advising appointment or once you're on campus. Placement testing should take place prior to the start of classes.


Frequently Asked Questions

Students whose native language is not English must have successfully completed three academic years of English in high school and obtained a TOEFL score of 500, a score of 173 on the computer-based version, or a score of 61 on the internet-based version. Review TOEFL testing options by visiting their website.

Students whose native language is English or is a preferred language like province of Ontario, Canada where they speak English and French, are not required to submit a TOEFL Score and can waive this portion of the admissions process. Students whose secondary language is English, are required to provide a TOEFL score. For instance, students living in Quebec, Canada are required to provide a TOEFL score as English is their secondary language. Exceptions may be considered based on the successful completion of three academic years or more of English in high school.

Proof of funds can be accomplished with a statement from a financial institution that shows the name of the person on the account. Lines of credit and investment portfolios are not able to be used for proving funds. If a local sponsor will be responsible for all or a portion of the educational and living expenses for the international student, the sponsor must also submit a letter and financial documents indicating same.

Bay College does not have financial aid for international students. Some Norse athletic teams provide athletic scholarship; however, this is the decision of the Bay College recruiter and coach to offer.

Students applying from countries apart from Canada, are required to provide an official translation and evaluation of their high school and, if applicable, college transcripts. High school transcripts mush also show proof of graduation (e.g. the student’s graduation date). 

Translation and evaluation of transcripts are accepted from one of the following organizations: www.wes.org or www.ece.org or www.ierf.org. The evaluation must show the education received is equivalent of a US High School Diploma. 

  • If using IERF, please order the “Detail Report with Course Level Identification”
  • If using WES, please order the “Course-by-Course Evaluation WES ICAP”
  • If using ECE, please order the “High School and University Course-by-Course” package 

The Bay College Admissions Office will not accept evaluations sent from the student applicant. Only evaluations from one of the three organizations listed will be accepted. Finalized evaluations can be emailed to: admissions@baycollege.edu or mailed to the Office of Admissions.  

TIP: It is recommended to wait until after your high school graduation to have your high school transcript translated and evaluated. Why? Bay College requires proof of completion (e.g. graduating high school) and if your transcript is evaluated prior to your graduation date, your transcript will indicate as such.

Please do not send transcripts to be evaluated before the high school graduation date as we’ll request it to be evaluated again.

International students and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits. 

  • Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
  • Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
  • Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the international visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
  • A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
  • Insurance to be in effect during the entire period of time that student will be in the United States 

An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of “A-“ or above, an Insurance Solvency International Ltd (ISI) rating of “A-1” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above. 

Have a sponsor? Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the student’s policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country. For other options, see [22 CFR 62.14]. 

Important Deadline: International Students are required to show the Designated School Official (DSO) or the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) Proof of Insurance that meets the above requirements for the period of time student will be in the United States at least one week before the crossing the United States border. Details of anticipated insurance coverage (medical insurance plan benefits) can be sent to admissions@baycollege.edu in advance so an alert of any issues can be made.

Contact admissions@baycollege.edu for the International Student Transfer application. Do not complete the International Student admissions application on myBay.