Who is an international student?

This is an important definition!  At NU, we define an international student as someone who is on an F-1 student visa or is part of the CELE program.  There are Green Card holders and other types of visas at NU, but those students are treated as domestic students.  Please see the Who can study? page for more information.

There are international students in the CELE, undergraduate, and graduate programs, including doctoral students.  We often have short-term programs coming to NU for a few weeks of duration.

The CELE program has the most diverse types of international students.  There are:

• Normal international, fee-paying students.  These include both students on F-1 visas and even Green Card holders and U.S. citizens.  They can be both degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students.
• Exchange students from partner universities in South Korea and Japan that do not pay tuition.  These students typically only study 1-2 semesters and take a hybrid of ESL and undergraduate courses.
• Visiting exchange students who do pay tuition.  They are similar to exchange students.
• Bridge-level students.  These are the CELE students in the final semester of the CELE program who take a hybrid of ESL and undergraduate courses.  After they complete this level, they can matriculate to an undergraduate or graduate program.
• Part-time students – Some Green Card holders only take part-time courses.