Two students working on their laptops

International Students

At RWU, we form a community to help you succeed and adjust to life in the U.S. We welcome students, like you, from all over the world and help them each step of the way. We value what you add to our community and are focused on your success. To aid you, we provide a range of services that includes peer mentors and support groups.

Along with your studies, adventure waits for you here. There’s plenty to do on campus and we’re perfectly located in Bristol, Rhode Island. We’re just a half hour drive from both Providence and Newport, RI, and a 60-minute drive from Boston. New York is just a three-hour train ride from Providence, which also has bus stations and an airport to get you where you want to go.

We also recognize students with superior academic achievement through the awarding of merit scholarships. The RWU International Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for international students. Accepted international applicants are guaranteed a scholarship valued at 50 percent of standard tuition, housing and meals. This scholarship is annual and renewable. No separate application is necessary.

students sitting at tablesAdmission Requirements

Learn what you need to apply to RWU, for both first-year and transfer international students. 

Learn About Admission Requirements

student listening in classApplying for a Visa and Entering the U.S.

Most international students will need an F-1 visa to study in the United States. View the requirements needed for freshman and transfer students to obtain the visa and the Form I-20.

Learn More About the Visa and Form I-20

Students walking on campus on a sunny dayTuition & Fees

Get up-to-date information on annual tuition prices and fees. Also, try out the Net Price Calculator, a helpful tool that will assist you in the financial planning process.

Learn More About Undergraduate Tuition & Fees 

Students smiling for a photo at Global FestInternational Student Services

RWU works with student services and academic departments to ensure the successful matriculation and graduation of international undergraduate and graduate students as well as visiting scholars.

Learn More About RWU's International Student Services 

Student talking to a professor at an Intercultural Center eventIntercultural Center

RWU embraces all cultures and backgrounds and furthers a civil discourse across global perspectives. The entire RWU community is encouraged to take advantage of the many resources and activities at the Intercultural Center, which provides a student-centered space with the motto: “Welcoming people of all nationalities, faiths and personal identities.”

Learn More About RWU's Intercultural Center

Additional Information

Roger Williams University strives to recognize students with superior academic achievement through the awarding of merit scholarships. The RWU International Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for international students. Accepted international applicants are guaranteed a scholarship valued at up to 50 percent of standard tuition, housing and meals. This scholarship is annual and renewable. No separate application is necessary.

We firmly believe that our campus community is enhanced by the presence of international students, providing international students with a distinctive education experience while at the same time enriching the education of U.S. students through their own exposure to people from other countries and cultures.

Roger Williams University values global cooperation in a world that has increasingly become culturally, environmentally and economically interdependent. RWU is committed to developing strong global leaders by providing students with the international and intercultural experiences and competencies needed to thrive in their personal and professional lives. The University aspires to advance students' knowledge of world politics, economies and events, and to instill in all an appreciation and understanding of other cultures and customs in and out of the classroom.

Roger Williams University has a working relationship with international agencies to assist in the recruitment of international students. It is our commitment to work with organizations who operate to the high ethical standards and in the best interest of the student, their families, and Roger Williams University. The following represents a complete list of organizations that have an official working agreement with Roger Williams University:

Along with your application, you must submit official secondary school academic records of the last four years of study, plus a copy of any terminating or qualifying examination results or certificates.

Please contact us for any specific requirements for your own country.

If you are applying during your last year of secondary school, state the name of the certificate you expect to receive and when. Send an unofficial school transcript with your application now, and send original or certified copies of your credentials when they become available.

If your family would like to visit you while at Roger Williams University or for Commencement, they will most likely need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa (B-1/B-2 visa stamp). Canadian citizens and citizens of visa waiver countries do not need to obtain visa stamps and can apply for this status at the Port of Entry.

Unlike student and scholar visas (F and J), the visitor visa is not “sponsored” and no specific form is attached to it (like the I-20). Applicants who need a visa stamp should be prepared to explain the following points at their visa application:

  • That the visit to the United States will be temporary
  • That there are adequate finances to cover the cost of transportation and living expenses
  • That they have a residence outside of the U.S. to which they will return

For the first question, a letter of invitation from you and from Roger Williams University may be helpful. When you are preparing a letter, be sure to address your status in the United States (e.g. student, F-1, J-1) and your intent to return home. You should also address the “cost of living” issue (for example, if your family will be staying with you instead of in a hotel or if you will help cover their finances while here). Copies of your visa documents are also helpful. The registrar can provide you with a letter stating that you are a full-time registered student at RWU, or a formal invitation to your graduation ceremony would be considered a letter of invitation from the University.

The second item can be addressed by your letter of invitation and a current bank statement. If you will help cover your family’s costs during their visit, you should submit your bank statement. However, your family members can also show their own funding in their bank statements. There is also a form I-134 called an Declaration of Support, which can be completed by you and used at the visa interview. It is not required, and many people choose not to use it.

The third item, proving the intent to return home, might not even be asked in the interview process. However, applicants should be prepared to show they intend to return home whether by showing a job, family, property or other commitments that would bring them back to their home countries.

Request Information

International Student Immigration Forms

Required international student immigration forms (e.g., Immigration I-20 Form and F1 Transfer Verification Form) are available in the RWU Applicant Portal.  Contact the Admission Office at admit@rwu.edu if you have questions about the international student enrollment process.

Financial Resources (not affiliated with RWU)

Academic

US Government/Immigration

Contact

Dr. Aradhana Mehta

Dr. Aradhana Mehta
Senior Advisor
Email: amehta@rwu.edu
Phone: (401) 254 3400