Whatcom offers two pathways towards meeting your academic goals: 

1. Begin your studies online in your home country

    Admissions requirements:

    1. Signed copy of application form
    2. Transcripts
    3. Copy of passport

Clear, scanned copies can be emailed to:  international@whatcom.edu

Click here to learn more about International Online Learning

2. Apply for study on-campus in the USA

     Admissions requirements:
  1. Signed copy of application form 
  2. Supporting financial documents (see below) showing a minimum of U.S. $24,810.
  3. Non-refundable U.S. $50 application fee
    • Check or money order made out to WCC
    • Credit card payment through FlyWire payment portal
    • Payment in person to WCC Cashier (Laidlaw Center) 
  4. Photocopy of high school and college transcripts
  5. Photocopy of passport
  6. Essay stating career and academic goals (optional and recommended)
  7. Underage agreement & homestay application (students under 18 years of age when they arrive must submit during the admissions process)

Financial documents

  • Acceptable documents include a bank statement from a checking or savings account, or a bank certificate/letter of verification. 
  • Financial documents must be on official bank letterhead and not printed from a website.
  • Financial documents must be less than 6 months old.
  • Sponsors outside your immediate family must provide a letter of support along with financial documents.
  • Financial documents are not required for a student not applying for an F1 Visa.

Transfer students (applicants studying in the U.S)

Please submit these additional forms

  1. Photocopy of I-20, I-94, and visa
  2. Whatcom Community College Transfer-in Form

English language proficiency requirements

No test scores needed!  

Complete a free placement assessment during the admissions process to find the right level for you. The assessment can be done on your own time. 

Our committment  

At Whatcom Community College, we strive for accurate placement of English levels to support student success and learning.  

For New Students: 

  1. Proof of Proficiency: If you have an English proficiency score* accepted by WCC (view graph below), please submit it with your application. If you don’t have proof of proficiency, no problem! We will complete an English assessment at no cost. 

*Note: If your submitted scores do not meet our minimum requirements or place you in ESOL College transition, to get an accurate placement, you will need to complete our English assessment. 

  1. English Assessment Components  

  • A Writing Sample 

  • An Audio Recording 

After you submit your application, we will send you an email with instructions on how to complete our assessment. 

Why Take the English Assessment? 

  • Placement: This determines your starting level for your English language journey at Whatcom. 

  • Immigration: If studying in the United States, when you complete the assessment, you can receive an I-20. 

Note: The corresponding proficiency test scores below guarantee placement into at least one academic/college level class or into English 101: Composition 1.  

English Proficiency Measure

Guaranteed enrollment
in an academic class

Guaranteed enrollment
in English 101
 TOEFL minimum 61 minimum 70 
(minimum 20 for writing)
 TOEFL ITP minimum 500  
 IELTS minimum 5.5 minimum 6.0
(no band lower than 5.5)
 TOEIC minimum 580

 
 ELS


minimum 109
 STEP/EIKEN minimum 2A



 Duolingo

 minimum 90 
 minimum 95
Manchester Exam

ME 301

ME 360
Oxford ELLT 

(use discount code at checkout to purchase the test for only $144 USD (Oxford ELLT Digital only)


minimum 5
minimum 6
  SAT   minimum 460 in Reading and Writing
Cambridge IGCSE
 (A or O levels)
   minimum grade of C in English
 EdExcel IGCSE 
 (A or O levels) 		  

  minimum grade of C in English
Pearson Test of English

minimum 46
Oxford Elite Academy  Level 4 Level 5

 International Baccalaureate

    minimum score of 5 in English A: Literature or English A: Language
Completion of grade 12 (or equivalent) in US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand    Passing grade in English