Connecting with Lehigh
We realize international students may not have the opportunity to visit Lehigh's campus in person, so we encourage you to check out our virtual tour for a “walking tour” of campus that follows the Admissions’ tour route. And please explore our Youtube channel, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WeChat and Weibo accounts to learn more about Lehigh and determine if we are the right fit for you.
Applying to Lehigh as an International Undergraduate Student
Students who are non-U.S. citizens are considered international students regardless of whether they attend high school in or outside the United States. If you have been formally granted Refugee/Asylee/Parolee/or Permanent Residency status, then you are not considered an international student. Having applied for one of these statuses alone does not qualify.
Lehigh accepts the Common Application and Coalition Application—follow the procedures on the Common Application Website or Coalition Application Website. To see all of our requirements, forms and deadlines, please visit the Admissions Requirements page. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, be sure to indicate this when using the toolbox to see all of the additional forms and requirements necessary to apply to Lehigh. Any student whose first language is not English should indicate this to learn about English Proficiency requirements.
Financial Forms
View Admissions Requirements >
All non-U.S. citizens who will need financial aid during any of their years enrolled at Lehigh are required to submit the Lehigh University Certificate of Finances form (PDF) filled out for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment and to submit it by the application deadline. This form can be uploaded through your checklist once you've submitted your application and established your applicant portal. To be considered for need based financial aid, you must also submit the CSS Profile through the College Board. If paying the $25 fee to complete the CSS Profile would present a significant financial hardship, you can submit the International Student Application for Financial Aid (ISAFA). Lehigh has limited international financial aid available and therefore practices a need-aware review of applications from non-US citizens. We strongly prefer the CSS Profile as there are a limited number of spaces available for those submitting the ISAFA each year. The ISAFA can be uploaded through your admissions checklist once you've submitted your application and established your applicant portal. Please allow up to 5 business days for our staff to review your documents and mark this requirement as satisfied.
Both the Lehigh Certificate of Finances and CSS Profile or ISAFA must be submitted by your application deadline. For instance, if applying Early Decision 1, then the forms are due November 1, and if applying Regular Decision or Early Decision 2, then the forms are due by January 1.
Please note that if admitted to Lehigh, there will not be additional funding awarded beyond the initial financial aid offer outside of adjustments made based on increases in cost of attendance. We are unable to provide additional financial aid due to changes in the value of your home country’s currency during your enrollment at Lehigh. If you are a non-US Citizen, you may use this form to request a fee waiver. We will notify you whether or not you qualify, and have been approved for, a fee waiver within 10 business days.
*Note: Tuition, room and board at Lehigh can cost upwards of $89,800 USD per year. If your family cannot support this amount for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment, your application will not be complete without a CSS Profile and Lehigh Certificate of Finances form. A bank statement/certificate is not required with your Certification of Finances form and will be collected if you are admitted and decide to attend Lehigh.
**Note: U.S. citizens abroad can apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS profile by deadlines indicated on the Financial Aid website; no Certificate of Finances form is necessary.
Curriculum
Applicants must be completing or have completed the equivalent of 12 years of education (primary and secondary) or the program of study that leaves them eligible for admission to university-level study in the educational system in which they are enrolled. For example, students who are completing or who have only completed O level or GCSE/IGCSE study are not eligible to apply and should do so when they are completing the final year of A level study, or the equivalent.
Testing
All testing requirements needed to apply to Lehigh can be found on the Admissions Requirements page. To ensure full consideration of your latest test results, please submit them to Lehigh before the application deadline. Exam results submitted after the application deadline may not be received in time to be considered when applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Please plan accordingly so that you register and complete the exams with sufficient time for the testing agency to score your exam, for you to request the testing agency submit those results to Lehigh University and for Lehigh to process the results before reviewing your application. Official score reports should be sent to Lehigh by the testing agency. Emailed, faxed and photocopied scores are not official and will not be accepted.
English Proficiency Requirement
Lehigh requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Results from an English proficiency assessment must be submitted unless the applicant’s first language is English, or the last two full years (not including current year of study) of completed formal instruction have been in English. The TOEFL and IELTS are preferred, however TOEFL IBT Home Edition, and Duolingo English Test will be considered if those exams are not available to the student. Scores must be submitted directly from the testing/assessment agency and the most competitive candidates score above a 90 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS or 110 on Duolingo. SAT, SAT Subject Test, and ACT results cannot be used to meet the English proficiency requirement.
U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents Living Abroad
Tips on applying to Lehigh as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living abroad:
- Start early.
- If you plan to apply for federal financial aid (campus work study, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans), you must have a U.S. Social Security number. You should apply for this at the local U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible. Visit our Office of Financial Aid for more information.
- Provide us with an email address that you check regularly so that we can effectively communicate with you.
- Reach out to your Admissions counselors with any questions.
Additional Resources for International Students
Frequently Asked Questions for Non-US citizens
The English testing requirement (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) is one main difference. In addition, those who will need financial aid during any of their intended years of enrollment at Lehigh are required to submit the Lehigh University Certificate of Finances form and the CSS Profile. Both of these forms must also be submitted by your application deadline. For instance, if applying Early Decision 1, then the forms are due November 1, and if applying Regular Decision or Early Decision 2, then the forms are due by January 1.
All non-U.S. citizens who will need financial aid during any of their years enrolled at Lehigh are required to submit the Lehigh University Certificate of Finances form filled out for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment. The Lehigh COF form can be uploaded through your admissions checklist once you've submitted your application and established your applicant portal. To be considered for need-based financial aid, you must also submit the CSS Profile through the College Board by the appropriate admissions application deadline. If paying the $25 fee to complete the CSS Profile would present a significant financial hardship, you can submit the International Student Application for Financial Aid (ISAFA). Lehigh has limited international financial aid available and therefore practices a need-aware review of applications from non-US citizens. We strongly prefer the CSS Profile as there are a limited number of spaces available for those submitting the ISAFA each year. Similar to the Lehigh COF form, the ISAFA can be uploaded through your admissions checklist once you've submitted your application and established your applicant portal. Please allow up to 5 business days for our staff to review your documents and mark this requirement as satisfied.
An application will not be complete without these forms if your family cannot cover the full cost of tuition, room and board for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment. We do not need bank statements to accompany the Certificate of Finances form.
Both the Lehigh Certificate of Finances and CSS Profile or ISAFA must also be submitted by your application deadline. For instance, if applying Early Decision 1, then the forms are due November 1, and if applying Regular Decision or Early Decision 2, then the forms are due by January 1.
**Note: U.S. citizens abroad can apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS profile by deadlines indicated on the Financial Aid website; no Certificate of Finances form is necessary.
Non-U.S. citizens who are not planning to apply for financial aid during any of their intended years of undergraduate enrollment do not need to submit the Lehigh Certificate of Finances form or CSS Profile. Please note that Lehigh’s tuition, room & board, fees, etc. can cost upwards of $89,800 USD per year. If your family cannot support this amount for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment, then you must still complete the Lehigh Certificate of Finances form with a value of funds available for each year. This can be anywhere from $0 – $89,800 for each year. We do not have a minimum family contribution as financial aid packages range from full tuition, room and board to a few thousand dollars. Merit scholarships range from $5,000 to full tuition and there is no separate application to be considered for merit.
Please note that if admitted to Lehigh, there will not be additional funding awarded beyond the initial financial aid offer outside of adjustments made based on increases in cost of attendance. We are unable to provide additional financial aid due to changes in the value of your home country’s currency during your enrollment at Lehigh.
Lehigh University provides need‐based financial assistance to a limited number of admitted non-US citizens who have applied for financial aid and who have demonstrated financial need. It is our goal to meet 100% of the demonstrated need (not including travel and personal expenses) for as many admitted students as possible with the limited funds available. Admissions decisions for non-US citizens are, however, need-aware. This means that international citizens will be evaluated for admission with consideration of the ability of students, guardians, or sponsors to pay educational costs alongside our holistic admissions process. Some candidates who apply for financial aid and do not demonstrate need may be admitted without a financial aid offer. Other candidates whom we would like to admit may be declined because we have exhausted our financial aid budget.
Please note that if admitted to Lehigh, there will not be additional funding awarded beyond the initial financial aid offer outside of adjustments made based on increases in cost of attendance. We are unable to provide additional financial aid due to changes in the value of your home country’s currency during your enrollment at Lehigh.
Results from an English proficiency assessment must be submitted unless the applicant’s first language is English, or the last two full years (not including current year of study) of completed formal instruction have been in English. The TOEFL and IELTS are preferred, however TOEFL IBT Home Edition and Duolingo English Test will be considered if those exams are not available to the student. Scores must be submitted directly from the testing/assessment agency and the most competitive candidates score above a 90 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS, or 110 on Duolingo. SAT, SAT Subject Test, and ACT results cannot be used to meet the English proficiency requirement.
You may find the link to register for interviews as well as other virtual events on the Visits & Campus Tours page.
Students who earn the International Baccalaureate (IB) may be granted credit in higher-level or subjects with scores of 5 or better. This also applies to students who earn a grade of A or B on Advanced Level (A Level) examinations. All students will have their credentials evaluated on an individual basis for specific course equivalency.
Our office only works with students applying for undergraduate degrees at Lehigh. Please directly contact the graduate program office associated with your college or department of interest:
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Education
College of Business
If you have been enrolled in a post-secondary institution for any amount of time or already have a bachelor’s degree, then you should apply as a transfer student. More information on the application process >
The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) provides all required visa documents for students. OISS also offers cultural and international programming on campus, including Orientation for Int’l students 1 week prior to classes starting, International Bazaar, Diwali celebration, career and professional development workshops, connections to the local community, and much more! Questions regarding 1-20s or Visas, international orientation or other programs for current international students should be sent to OISS: intnl@lehigh.edu
The International Center for Academic and Professional English at Lehigh University helps multilingual speakers of English improve their communication skills with flexible, student-focused program options that are grounded in evidence-based practice and connected to the resources of the larger university community. Questions regarding programming or courses can be directed to: icape@lehigh.edu
During the 2023-2024 academic year, over 1,000 international students from 80 countries studied at Lehigh. 441 of these students are undergraduates from 60 countries. Around 7% of each incoming freshman class are international students from around the world. Please see the Geographic Distribution - International Nation of Origin table in the Census Data that indicates how many from each country are represented at the undergraduate level for the 2023-2024 school year.
Non-U.S. citizens who qualify for federal student aid are known as "eligible noncitizens”. If you fall into one of the categories listed on this website and have the specified documentation listed, please notify LUinternational@lehigh.edu. Students are considered in the same category as domestic candidates for admission and financial aid consideration and should apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. You do not need to submit the Lehigh Certificate of Finances. Note the “eligible non-citizen” status only applies if you have been formally granted Refugee/Asylee/Parolee/or Permanent Residency status. Having applied for one of these statuses alone does not qualify. Please review the instructions on Lehigh’s Financial Aid website.
Please select the citizenship status option on the Common App that applies to you at the time you submit your application. If your status changes after you submit your application, please email LUinternational@lehigh.edu with a copy of your green card or I-94 attached and we will update your application to reflect your new status and provide instructions on applying for financial aid.
If you are a non-US Citizen, you may use this form to request a fee waiver. We will notify you whether or not you qualify, and have been approved for, a fee waiver within 10 business days. If you are considered a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, and you meet the qualifications for a fee waiver listed on the Common Application or Coalition Application through Scoir, simply select that option.
You can email luinternational@lehigh.edu or find your regional admissions counselor and reach out to them directly via email.