A large group of students in front of a brick building holding flags from around the world

International Applicants

ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø is committed to building a community that includes the brightest and most curious minds from every corner of the world.

Annually, more than 2,500 students apply to ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø from over 85 countries outside of the United States. We're proud that 11% of our community comes from more than 50 countries.

How to Apply

All international applicants follow the same application process as our first year domestic applicants, with the addition of the English Proficiency requirement, an optional application video, and the financial verification form.

There is no application fee for non-U.S. citizens. When applying using the Coalition or Common Application, the fee will be waived after you select your citizenship. 

Requirements for International Applicants

All international applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate they possess the level of communication skills necessary for thriving in ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø’s dynamic, immersive, and academically challenging educational environment. To satisfy this requirement, we accept results from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo’s English Test (DET).

ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø will waive this requirement for students whom:

  • Are from a country where English is
  • Are taking English A as part of the IB diploma

If your English Proficiency requirement is not automatically waived based on the criteria above, please send an email to admission@davidson.edu with "English Proficiency Waiver" in the email subject line after you submit your application.

Please provide the following information in your request:

  • Full name as it appears on your application
  • Date of birth
  • Reason for requesting the waiver (one of the reasons listed above)

If you take the DET, we require you share your score with ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø from the Duolingo dashboard. If you take the IELTS or TOEFL we require these results sent to us from either the testing agency or your high school counselor; we will not accept scores submitted directly from students or self-reported on the application. We have found students who achieve test scores in the following ranges or higher are best prepared to study and learn at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø:

  • DET: 130
  • IELTS: 7
  • TOEFL: 100 iBT

As a community of scholars dedicated to leadership and service, our interest in you as an international applicant goes far beyond test scores. Your success at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø is dependent upon your conversations with professors, your interactions with your roommates and classmates, and your desire to proactively pursue your goals and take advantage of our community’s resources. In your application, we want to get to know you personally, hear your unfiltered voice, and see how you interact in an unscripted environment.

To learn this, we strongly recommend international applicants to submit materials from InitialView or Vericant Interview in order to demonstrate their communication skills and ability to converse about academic topics. InitialView conducts an unscripted conversation and proctors an open-ended writing sample. Vericant offers options that include speaking and writing.

International students seeking financial assistance must apply for need-based aid at the time of applying for admission. Applications for financial assistance from international students submitted after admission to ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø are not accepted, nor will they be accepted during their duration of enrollment at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø. The Financial Verification Form, which includes instructions, will be available on your ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø application portal after you submit the Common Application or Coalition Application.

Financial Aid for International Students

Two young women hold flags of various countries while smiling

Considering Early Decision? Learn more about applying Early Decision and what the process involves at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø.

a group of three young men standing around and looking at a stack of papers

Access our application site to ensure you have reviewed the relevant information to support you through your application process.

Plensa campus art sculpture with autumn background

Questions about testing, pre-college credit, home-schooling and more are answered by our admission policies.