How to Apply
Apply for the (VISIT) Program
Visiting International Students, to begin the application process, please complete the VISIT Program application.
When you click on the application link, you will be asked to enter your email address and click “submit.” You will receive an email from Cal Poly EPaCE with a link to complete the VISIT application. After the application has been submitted you will be contacted by the VISIT Program with next steps in the application process.
If you have any questions about the program or application process, please email visit@calpoly.edu. We would be happy to help you through the process.
Architecture Applicants
Please note: students interested in a field of study within architecture must be preapproved by the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Please include a copy of your most current portfolio with your application. The review process may take several weeks, so please plan accordingly and submit your application and portfolio as soon as possible.
Minimum Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old to enroll in our program. Students are required to submit a tentative course of study including a list of eight courses of interest. Courses with prerequisites will be met by evidence provided by the students from their home university.Visit the Cal Poly Catalog for a list of potential course options.
This is not an English as a Second Language (ESL) program. All international students from non-English speaking countries registering must present a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) must be taken within the last 2 years with a minimum internet-based score of 80 or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) must be taken within 2 years with a minimum score of 6.5.
When to Apply
We recommend you apply as early as possible, but no later than three months before the start date of the academic term you plan to attend begins. Please allow one to two weeks for us to review and process your application and to allow yourself ample time to make your visa and travel arrangements. Keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments can be difficult to get during that period. It is important to apply for your visa several months before your travel departure date. Refer to the Visa Appointment & Processing Wait Times to see how long you will wait for an F-1 visa interviews in your area.
Please visit Cal Poly's Office of the Registrar for a list of quarter start and end dates
Note: For a complete breakdown of program fees and payment schedule, please see the Fees & Payment page.
U.S. Visa Requirements
International students accepted to the VISIT program will be issued an I-20 form to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the student's home country. Prospective students present in the U.S. in F-2 dependent visa status are allowed to enroll in less than full-time units. Full-time undergraduate study is 12 units and full-time graduate study is 8 units. U.S. federal visa regulations do not allow full-time study when present in the U.S. in B-1/B-2 tourist visa status.
See Applying for a Visa on International Advising.