International Students

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, welcomes international students and is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant F-1 category students. International students follow the same admission procedures as domestic students; however, they must also demonstrate satisfactory English language proficiency.

Many of our programs (including our Master of Divinity program) require students to be members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Because of this requirement, both international and domestic students may not qualify to apply for every program offered at CTSFW.

International student applicants whose first language is not English must adequately demonstrate their ability to read, listen, write, and speak English. The accepted tests to sufficiently demonstrate this are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Duolingo English Test. Scores must be less than two years old.

Students who are accepted into a program of study will coordinate with CTSFW’s International Studies Office on the next steps in the process:

• Obtain the initial Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” which proves you are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States.
• Pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee.
• Apply for an F-1 Student Visa.

F-1 students studying in the United States must maintain their status by meeting specific requirements. These include enrolling in a full course of study, making satisfactory academic progress, and reporting necessary information to a PDSO or DSO. For more details on maintaining status, visit the DHS Study in the States website.