International Student Applicants

Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity boasts a dynamic and diverse learning environment that welcomes students from an array of traditions and backgrounds. In addition to its student body representation from across the United States, the School has welcomed individuals from Belize, China, Egypt, Germany, Peru, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, and Tanzania, among other countries.

We share our diverse talents and experiences in and out of the classroom, from chapel services that showcase our wide range of ecclesiastical traditions to the multicultural contexts courses that allow students to engage in studies outside of Winston-Salem. We encourage you to explore the opportunities available at the School of Divinity and consider us as both a home for your theological studies and a place to explore faith with global considerations.


Admissions Requirements

In addition to the items required of all applicants to the MDiv program, international applicants whose native language is not English must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as part of the application process. Official TOEFL scores must be transmitted electronically from the Educational Testing Services (E.T.S.) to Wake Forest. (Use code B362 when requesting a score report be sent to us.). Personal copies are not accepted and TOEFL scores must be less than two years old.   No exceptions will be made if you do not meet the criteria:

  • Will have received an undergraduate degree where the language of instruction was English only (the official language of the country is English) by the time of enrollment.
  • Earned or will earn by the time of enrollment an undergraduate degree from a college or university in the United States

If an applicant successfully graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States, a TOEFL waiver can be requested.   Please note that the Admissions Committee will not make a decision to waive the TOEFL requirement until your application is complete and ready for submission. IELTS Academic test may be submitted as an alternative to the TOEFL examination.

Applicants must also have obtained an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and possess at least a 2.80 GPA on a 4.00 point scale. Applicants with a GPA that falls below the 2.80 minimum are still welcome to apply and may be admitted on academic probation.

Additional information about admissions requirements, including deadlines and materials, can be found here.

International students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. The regular application also serves as a scholarship application. Therefore, there is no separate form to complete. A number of full tuition scholarships available to international students; however, these are highly selective. Other scholarships range from 33% of tuition to 80% of tuition.

  • Housing

    Graduate students at the School of Divinity make their own arrangements for housing. Assistance in locating housing is available through the Office of Admissions and Student Services.   There are several affordable options available to divinity students in the city of Winston-Salem.

    Housing Guide

    The Office of Admissions and Student Services has put together a a quick resource listing information about apartment complexes current students suggest for housing, several of which are located on the University’s shuttle lines. Housing Resource and Guide »

    Wake Forest Properties

    The Office of Wake Forest Properties offers services and rental properties supporting the mission, vision and values of Wake Forest University, which serves as a community amongst many communities. We strive to ensure high quality rental properties, responsive customer service and professionalism while maintaining the long-term integrity of Wake Forest University in both academia and real estate.

    Mailing Address:
    PO Box 7477, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109
    Phone: 336.758.7161
    Office Hours: 8:30am — 5:00pm
    Hope Jordan, Portfolio Manager, jordanha@wfu.edu

    Communities and Apartments Near Campus

    Rental rates may vary from information below. We are not promoting any of the complexes; please take care to inquire into each location for yourself. All addresses are Winston-Salem, NC unless otherwise noted.

    Complex Distance to WFU Unit and Rent Info Contact
    Alaris Village
    5003 Winster Drive
    2.5 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $679-$1127/month
    866.528.3680
    Arbors
    4981 Hunt Club Road
    6.2 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $467-$650/month
    888.671.4023
    Brannigan Village
    200 Brannigan Village Drive
    9.6 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $515-$959/month
    866.847.3818
    Briarleigh Park
    401 Park Ridge Lane
    5.3 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $765-$1130/month
    336.793.4297
    Bromley Park
    2113 Bromley Park Drive
    6.0 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $599-$699/month
    888.331.0074
    Brookberry Park
    100 Brookberry Drive
    7.5 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $785-$1175/month
    336.793.1009
    Brookford Place
    50 Brookford Place Court
    5.6 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $679-$838/month
    336.245.4512
    Burke Ridge Crossing
    2112 Burke Meadows Road
    6.8 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $735-$1402/month
    877.296.2948
    Countryside Villa
    5460 Countryside Drive
    3.1 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $475-$650/month
    888.328.4303
    Crowne Club
    200 Crowne Club Drive
    5.8 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $700-$1075/month
    336.765.2400
    Crowne Oaks
    1000 Crowne Oaks Circle
    1.7 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $740-$1120/month
    336.759.9444
    Crowne Park
    900 Crowne Park Drive
    2.0 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $760-$1140/month
    336.761.1466
    Crowne Polo
    875 Crowne Forest Court
    2.1 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $775-$1250/month
    336.721.0678
    Deacon’s Station
    10 Quincy Dr
    0.7 miles 4 bedroom 4 ½ bathroom
    $785-$825 per bedroom all inclusive
    336.765.7171
    The Edge Flats
    111 Edgeway Drive
    3 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    *Call for prices* (fully furnished)
    336.283.8660
    Glendare Park
    240 Village Crossing Lane
    6.0 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $485-$935/month
    336.750.6234
    Highland Oaks
    700 Walnut Forest Road
    6.7 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $640-$768/month
    855.330.0235
    Legacy Park
    1805 Legacy Park Lane
    6.4 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $679-$825/month
    336.785.3699
    Plaza South
    3501 Plaza Ridge Circle
    9.5 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $450-$585/month
    336.310.1907
    Pointe at Peters Creek
    3750 Holmes Creek Place
    9.4 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $675-$789/month
    336.784.9922
    Providence Pointe
    2309 Providence Pointe Lane
    4.0 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $669-$925/month
    336.923.0065
    Regents Village
    5405 Regents Village Drive
    7.5 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $950-$1465/month
    336.760.9112
    Salem Crest
    105 Brent View Court
    6.6 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $553-$853/month
    866.587.2924
    Savannah Place
    400 Magnolia Branch Drive
    7.1 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $667-$851/month
    336.659.0886
    Sugar Creek
    4190 Trace View Drive
    1.4 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $515-$839/month
    336.759.2411
    The Corners at Crystal Lake
    2700 Reynolda Road
    1.5 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $505-$885/month
    866.505.6592
    The Enclave at North Point
    4260 Brownsboro Road
    1.6 miles Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $425-$630/month
    336.759.7612
    The Pines at Bethabara
    511 Bethabara Hills Court
    2.6 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    starting at $600 and $875/month
    *Call for current specials!
    336.922.1155
    Towergate Apartments
    2501 Towergate Court
    3.8 miles 1 and 2 bedrooms
    $395-$495/month
    336.922.4041
    Trails at Bethabara
    1620 Woods Road
    2.3 miles 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms
    $638-$843/month
    336.924.5347

    Additional Resources:

  • What Comes After Theological Education

    Graduates of the School of Divinity serve in various religious leadership positions and in other fields:

    • 37% in congregational ministry
    • 13% in chaplaincy
    • 10% in non-profit work
    • 7% in education
    • 3% in counseling
    • 7% are completing additional education (PhD, second Masters, etc.)
    • 23% in other fields, including law, physical therapy, spirituality (spiritual direction, healing touch), education (teaching, librarian), career and personal coaching, healthcare and patient relations, small business (locally-owned and operated tea shop, photography), government (patent and licensing division), communications and marketing, banking and investments, publishing, and personal fitness and well-being
  • Living in Winston-Salem

    Wake Forest’s hometown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a culturally rich mid-size city in the Piedmont Triad area.  With a population of 225,000, Living in Winston-Salem is a thriving area that includes a number of diverse church communities, galleries and shops; indoor and outdoor performance spaces and museums; a greenway that traverses the Old Salem district; hotels, restaurants and sidewalk cafes. You can catch a baseball game with the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

    Students at Wake Forest University have access to all that the city has to offer, from a burgeoning arts scene, to small local coffee shops and music. Residents also enjoy a moderate climate, with high temperatures around 10°C (50°F) during the winter months and reaching into the 31°C (86°F) during the summer months. Housing on campus is not available to graduate students, although university-owned housing is offered through Wake Forest Properties. More information on housing for Divinity students can be found here.

    From the campus, access to the ski areas of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains is a two-hour drive, and travel to the North Carolina and South Carolina beaches takes about four hours. A number of county and state parks are short distances from campus.

  • Preparing to Study at Wake Forest

    To assist you with the transition process, the University’s Center for Global Programs and Studies has created resources to help international students transition to life in Winston-Salem and at Wake Forest.  These resources include:

    Most international students who study at WFU in a full-time academic program do so with an F-1 visa. However, if you will be coming to study in the U.S. for only one semester as part of an exchange program, you will be need to obtain a J-1 visa.  Once you have been accepted to the University and have proven that you have the available financial means necessary to fund your studies, you will be issued a Form I-20. This form will allow you to apply for an F-1 student visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate.  You must apply for your visa 120 days prior to the date listed on the Form I-20. Bring your Form I-20 when entering the United States and present to an officer at the port of entry. You may arrive up to 30 days before the date listed on your Form I-20.

    If you are currently residing in the U.S. in another nonimmigrant status and you wish to change your status to the F-1 category, you will need to file form I-539 “Change of Nonimmigrant Status” with USCIS Service Center that has jurisdiction over your current place of residence. The Center for International studies will assist you with your application for a change of status.

    If you are currently residing in the U.S. in F-2, B-1, or B-2 status, you are not allowed to attend classes as a regular, degree-seeking student until the I-539 has been approved by the USCIS.

  • Transportation

    Campus shuttles transport students around campus and to major destinations around Winston-Salem, including downtown and several nearby shopping centers. The city of Winston-Salem also has a bus system that can be helpful in navigating the area.

    Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro is the closest major airport to Winston-Salem, and is approximately a 30-minute drive from campus.  Those flying from abroad will have connections elsewhere before arriving in Greensboro.

  • Mobile Phone Service

    Cell phones in the United States may be purchased through a contract or on a pre-paid basis. Contracts generally run from 1-2 years and may require a SSN, while pre-paid phones generally do not require a deposit or a SSN. Nearly all providers offer pre-paid plans for international text or calling.


Brittani Hunt

Questions?

Brittani Hunt

huntb@wfu.edu