Earn Your Degree Without Leaving Home
Because St. Mary's is 100% online, international students do not need a student visa. No embassy visits. No visa fees. No immigration paperwork. No anxious weeks waiting for approval. You apply, you are accepted, and you begin studying, all from your home country.
This means you can maintain your current job, stay close to your family, and remain part of your community while earning an accredited degree from a U.S.-based university. You do not have to choose between your education and your life. At St. Mary's, you get both.
For many international students, the visa process is the single biggest barrier to studying abroad. Application fees, travel to embassies, financial proof requirements, and the ever-present risk of denial make the traditional path uncertain and expensive before classes even begin. St. Mary's removes that barrier entirely. Your education starts when you are ready, not when an immigration office says so.
Time Zone Flexibility
All content at St. Mary's is on-demand. There are no live lectures to miss at inconvenient hours, no mandatory synchronous sessions at 3 a.m. your time, and no penalty for studying at midnight or noon. Every lesson, every resource, and every assessment is available whenever you are ready. The AI tutor does not sleep, does not take holidays, and does not care what time zone you are in.
Study at dawn before your workday begins. Study during your lunch break. Study at midnight after your family is asleep. The platform is always there, always ready, and always patient. Your progress is saved in real time, so you can stop mid-lesson and pick up exactly where you left off, whether that is five minutes later or five days later.
English Language Requirements
Instruction at St. Mary's is conducted in English. We require a minimum proficiency level sufficient to engage with academic content, participate in assessments, and communicate with faculty. If English is not your first language, you are not alone. Many of our students study in their second or third language, and our platform is built to support that.
The AI tutor can simplify complex academic language, explain concepts in clearer terms, and provide definitions on demand. Listen mode allows you to hear content spoken aloud while following along with the transcript, reinforcing both comprehension and language skills simultaneously. Voice input means you can respond to checkpoints and interact with the AI tutor by speaking rather than writing, reducing the barrier that written English can present. ESL support resources are available to all students who need them.
International Credit Transfer
St. Mary's accepts transfer credits from accredited institutions worldwide. Whether you completed coursework at a university in Lagos, a college in Manila, a polytechnic in Nairobi, or an institution in Seoul, your prior learning counts. We evaluate international transcripts and convert credits to the U.S. system. Up to 90 of the 120 required credits can be transferred, potentially reducing your program cost by up to $22,500.
Our international credit conversion tool provides an instant estimate of how your existing credits map to St. Mary's requirements. Submit your transcripts as part of your application, and our admissions team will provide a detailed evaluation within two weeks. If you are unsure whether your credits qualify, contact our admissions team for a free preliminary assessment.
Tuition & International Payments
St. Mary's charges the same tuition for all students regardless of country of residence. There is no international surcharge, no out-of-state premium, and no hidden fees. Every student pays $250 per credit hour, with all course materials, AI tutoring, and technology access included. The total program cost for the full 120-credit BA is $30,000. With transfer credits, your actual cost may be significantly lower.
We accept international bank wire transfers, major credit and debit cards, and work with international payment processors to ensure students from any country can complete transactions. Monthly installment plans are available with zero interest. Employer sponsorship documentation is provided upon request for students whose organizations fund professional development.
Scholarships for International Students
St. Mary's offers both merit-based and need-based scholarships specifically for international students. The International Student Scholarship provides up to $3,000 for students from developing nations, awarded based on a combination of financial need and academic merit. Regional scholarships are available for students from underserved areas where access to higher education is limited. The Faith & Service Scholarship, worth up to $5,000, is open to all students regardless of location and recognizes commitment to ministry and community service.
The application process is straightforward. Scholarship consideration is integrated into the standard admissions application, so there is no separate form to complete. Merit-based awards are determined automatically from your application materials. Need-based awards require a brief financial statement. Decisions are communicated within two weeks of application review. For questions about scholarship eligibility or the application process, contact scholarships@stmaryschristianuniversity.org.
Digital Credentials & Recognition
Upon graduation, you receive a verifiable digital diploma and transcript. These credentials include cryptographic verification that employers and institutions anywhere in the world can validate online. No waiting for physical documents to be mailed internationally. No risk of documents being lost or damaged in transit. Your credentials are available immediately upon completion and remain verifiable indefinitely.
For use in your home country, credential evaluation services such as WES (World Education Services) and NACES members can assess your St. Mary's degree for recognition by local employers and institutions. Many of our international graduates have successfully used their St. Mary's credentials for career advancement, further study, and professional certification in their home countries. Your qualification is globally portable and goes wherever your career takes you.
International Student Community
St. Mary's is designed to serve a global student body. You will study alongside students from Nigeria, the Philippines, South Korea, Brazil, Kenya, India, Colombia, Jamaica, and dozens of other nations. This global community enriches every discussion, brings diverse perspectives to shared coursework, and creates a professional network that spans the globe.
Online community forums connect students by region, language, and shared interests. Cultural exchange events celebrate the diversity of our student body. Study groups form organically across time zones. And our global alumni network means that wherever your career takes you, there is likely an St. Mary's graduate who understands both your education and your local context. You are not studying alone. You are joining a worldwide community of learners united by faith and a commitment to education.
Students Around the World
St. Mary's serves students in every major region. Here is what our platform offers in your part of the world.
St. Mary's has a growing community of students across West, East, and Southern Africa. Our self-paced model works well for students balancing education with work and family responsibilities. Low bandwidth requirements ensure accessibility even in areas with limited internet infrastructure. The International Student Scholarship is particularly accessible to African students.
Asian students represent one of our largest international groups. The AI tutor's ability to simplify English academic language is particularly valued by students studying in their second language. Credit transfer from Asian institutions is well-established, and many students transfer significant coursework from local universities.
Latin American students benefit from St. Mary's's time zone alignment with the Americas and our competitive tuition compared to U.S. campus-based programs. The self-paced format allows students to maintain employment while studying, and listen mode supports students strengthening their English proficiency alongside academic content.
Our proximity to the Caribbean and shared time zones make St. Mary's a natural choice for students throughout the region. English-speaking Caribbean students can begin immediately without language barriers. Church partnerships across the Caribbean provide additional scholarship and sponsorship opportunities for ministry-focused students.
European students choose St. Mary's for its faith-integrated approach to educational anthropology and Christian studies, which many secular European institutions do not offer. Credit transfer from European universities under the ECTS system is straightforward. The self-paced model allows European students to study a U.S. program without relocating across the Atlantic.
St. Mary's welcomes students from across the Middle East seeking faith-centered education in an interfaith-respectful environment. The fully online format eliminates the travel and visa challenges that often accompany studying abroad. Our flexible schedule accommodates students observing different weekly rest days and religious calendars.
International Students Share Their Experience
How to Apply as an International Student
1. Apply Online
Complete the standard application form. No special international application is needed. Include your academic transcripts for credit transfer evaluation.
2. Transcript Review
Our admissions team evaluates your international transcripts and determines transfer credit eligibility. You receive a detailed credit report within two weeks.
3. Acceptance
Receive your acceptance letter with your personalized degree plan, transfer credits applied, and tuition summary. Scholarship awards are included if applicable.
4. Start Learning
Enroll, complete a brief orientation, and begin your first module immediately. No waiting for a semester to start. No visa required.
Join Students From Around the World
A U.S. degree from your home country. No visa, no relocation, no barriers. Start your application today.
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