International Applicants

Denison prides itself on offering a culturally diverse environment for its students. International students comprise 16% of our student body. Our strong academic reputation attracts talented students from nearly all U.S. states and more than 50 countries, so our students interact with people of many different faiths and cultural backgrounds.

We Make It Easy!

Our admission policies reflect our commitment to providing equal access to a phenomenal Denison education:

Test-optional admission

Denison applicants have not been required to submit ACT or SAT scores since 2008. If you choose to be a test-optional admission candidate, simply select that option on your application, and we will focus on all the other things that make you great.

Denison’s Test Optional Policy

No fee to apply for admission

Proof that the phrase “Nothing good in life is free” is pure fallacy. Put that money toward your phone bill or something much more fun than app fees.

No supplemental essay required

That’s us helping you find time to rewatch a few episodes of The Office for the 100th time — or is that just us?

International transfer students should complete the Transfer Common Application. Learn more about applying as a transfer applicant »

Admission Rounds & Deadlines

For first-year applicants, we have early decision and regular decision.

Early Decision 1: November 15
Early Decision 2: January 15
Regular Decision: January 15

Transfer applicant? Deadlines are a little different. Learn More »

Regardless of when an admission decision is released, all admission decisions become final and official on April 1. Any appeals must be submitted prior to April 1.

What is Early Decision?

Early decision is a great option for students who know Denison is their first choice college. It is binding, meaning that students admitted in an early decision round are committed to enroll at Denison and must withdraw any applications from other institutions.

A higher percentage of students are admitted through our early decision rounds, and ED applicants typically receive their admission decisions within a few weeks after the application deadline, where RD students receive decisions by late-March.

International Admission Application 101

In evaluating your application to Denison, we take a number of things into consideration about you as an individual. We are seeking students who have demonstrated a seriousness toward their academic life and who, in addition, would bring a variety of interests, characteristics, and personal qualities to our dynamic campus community.

What We'll Need From You

Common Application or Coalition Application (required): Once you submit your application, you will be emailed a confirmation that includes login information for your online portal (where you can keep track of your other application materials). A personal essay is included in this application.
English Proficiency Demonstration (required): All international applicants must demonstrate adequate English proficiency to qualify for admission. Considerations include, but are not limited to, the following: English as the primary language of school instruction; English as the first/native language; TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Essentials; IELTS; Duolingo English Test (DET)+; SAT Reading; ACT English Language Arts; and an admission interview. English proficiency waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis after a student applies for admission.
Denison University Certification of Finances (required): All international applicants are required to submit this form.
Early Decision Agreement (only required for early decision applicants): This is a binding contract signed by you, a parent/guardian, and your high school counselor confirms as an early decision applicant that if admitted, you will enroll at Denison and withdraw any other applications.
Interview (recommended): An interview is not required for admission consideration, but we do encourage applicants to complete one as an interview can provide a more personal element to your application. Interviews happen in a number of ways.
Learn More »
ACT/SAT Scores (optional): Denison is test-optional. Test scores can be submitted directly from a testing agency, through official high school transcripts, or test scores can be self-reported. Any test scores submitted will be superscored.
Arts Supplement (optional): Students who have an interest in cinema, creative writing, dance, music, studio art, or theatre may submit supplementary arts materials for faculty evaluation. If submitted, students will be eligible to receive a departmental scholarship. This is done through the Denison Applicant Portal, which is available once the Common or Coalition Application has been submitted.
Interview (recommended): While interviews are not required to be admitted, the majority of successful applicants complete an interview. If you are serious about Denison, we recommend sitting for an interview. Learn More

What We’ll Need from Others

Counselor Recommendation & School Report (required): Your counselor will submit these directly to us. If you do not have a counselor at your school, you may ask a teacher or another school official to do so instead.
High School Transcript (required): Your counselor must send us a copy of your official transcript. We will use this to recalculate your GPA and evaluate your academic performance and course selection.
Teacher Evaluation (required): At least one teacher of a core course must submit a teacher evaluation form for you. You can invite your teachers to do this online, which is how they will submit the evaluation to us.

Already submitted your application? Manage your application here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Denison offer financial aid and scholarships to international students?

Yes, Denison offers exactly the same need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships to international students as it does to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and Denison meets 100% of each student’s demonstrated financial need. All international applicants are required to submit the Denison University Student Certification of Finances, regardless of whether or not they want to be considered for need-based financial aid.

You may apply for need-based financial aid only during the admission process. International students who enroll at Denison without need-based financial aid cannot apply for funding in the future.

Can I have a fee-waiver for the CSS Profile?

We do not accept the CSS Profile for international applicants. Instead, we use our own form, the Denison Certification of Finances. The Certification of Finances is free to submit.

What documents do I need to obtain for immigration purposes before leaving for Denison?

Once you are admitted and choose to attend Denison, you will receive the I-20 Form needed to obtain your F1 visa (NOT a visitor visa). Please read the information on the form carefully. Along with your passport, the visa is needed to avoid immigration problems during your stay in the United States.

What kind of support do international students receive?

We have study abroad opportunities, faculty and staff who help students achieve their goals, and many different programs that focus on multicultural areas of study.

Multicultural Activities

Besides interacting with classmates from various backgrounds, international students can also join organizations with multicultural focuses, where they can embrace their individuality and get to know other students with similar interests. Throughout the year, we also offer numerous lectures, concerts, and events that introduce our community to new art forms, cultures, and ways of life.

International Friendship Program

Denison sponsors a non-residential host (International Friendship Program) family program that brings international students together with local families. Host families give international students the opportunity to learn more about our culture, and they can introduce their students to the local community and off-campus life. In turn, local families are able to expand their own horizons through friendships with students from other countries. International students meet their host families upon arrival and occasionally throughout their time at Denison. While there are different levels of involvement that are agreed upon between students and host families, most host families meet their student during the orientation program and make a commitment to spend some time together during the year. For international students, the program is voluntary, so students requesting host families should be genuinely interested in learning more about family life in the United States and developing personal relationships beyond the college campus.

International Student Services

International Student Services offers students who have been educated abroad the tools, guidance, and instruction to engage and perform at their optimal level in the U.S. academic domain. ISS provides a pre-orientation program for entering students, one-on-one advising on the academic, social, and personal challenges associated with living and learning in an unfamiliar culture, and continuing education on the immigration regulations, requirements, and expectations pertinent to the non-immigrant student visa.

Is there any organization on campus designed specifically to assist international students?

Yes, we have the Denison International Students Association (DISA). This very active group is run by students. The association frequently holds meetings to discuss general student concerns and to plan upcoming events such as holiday celebrations, retreats, International Week, and debates on international issues.

How diverse is the student body at Denison?

Denison students come from 51 countries and 16% of our students are international students.

Contact information for international applicants

Bryce Benton

Senior Associate Director of Admission

Coordinator of International Admission

bentonb@denison.edu

740-587-6789

Territories:

Africa, Europe (except United Kingdom), Oceania, Asia (East and Southeast), Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East

Pieter Hansen

Associate Director of Admission

hansenp@denison.edu

740-587-6621

Territories:

Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

All offers of admission are conditional based on Denison’s Conditions of Admission policy.

Denison University is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in matters of admission, employment, and housing, and in access to and participation in its education programs, services, and activities. No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, religion, creed, or disability.