Admission Dates
Admission Dates
Foothill College admits international students to Foothill College four times per year (Fall, Winter & Spring Quarters and Summer Session) for F-1 study in the U.S. or online study from abroad.
| Milestone | Fall Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | Summer Session |
| Application opens | November 1 (year prior) |
February 1 (year prior) |
May 1 (year prior) |
November 1 (year prior) |
| Deadline for F-1 applicants | August 27 | November 15 | February 15 | April 15 |
| Deadline for F-1 transfers & online-only applicants* |
September 10 | December 5 | March 5 | June 1 |
| Mandatory orientation** | Late August | Early December | Early March | Late June |
| Classes start | Late September | Early January | Early April | Early July |
*F-1 transfers are students who are attending another institution inside the U.S. and
eligible to transfer their I-20; Online-only applicants are students who intend to
take online classes from abroad and do not require an F-1 visa.
**Orientation schedule may vary and will be communicated to admitted students once confirmed.
- Application Opens: The date when the university officially starts accepting applications for a specific semester or term (e.g., Fall 2027 applications might open in August 2026).
- Deadline for F-1 Applicants: The last day for international students living outside the U.S. (or needing a new visa) to submit their application for admission and all required financial documents to receive an I-20 form.
- Deadline for F-1 Transfers & Online-only Applicants: The final date for students already in the U.S. to move their SEVIS record from another school to this one, or for online students to enroll. This often differs from the new applicant deadline to accommodate SEVIS record transfers.
- Mandatory Orientation: A required, non-optional session (often specifically for international students) that provides essential information on maintaining visa status, campus regulations, and academic policies. Missing this can cause a hold on registration.
- Classes Start: The official first day of the semester or term, which is also the crucial "program start date" for F-1 visa holders, as they must be registered by this time.
RemindersIf applying more than 6 months in advance, please allow up to 3 weeks for review. You will receive an email notification when an update to your admission status becomes available. You may also login to the admission portal anytime to view updates or submit additional items to complete your application. All application materials must be received by the deadline listed in the chart above to be eligible for admission.Applicants from OverseasPlease note that visa processing times may vary significantly by region. After you are accepted by Foothill and receive the Form I-20, you should plan carefully to have sufficient time for an F-1 visa interview. Applicants from the U.S.If you are already in the United States studying with an F-1 visa at another college, university, or language school, make sure you follow the transfer procedures when transferring to Foothill College. |
Deferral Policy
Applicants or admitted students to Foothill College may request to defer their application up to one calendar year from their original application term (up to three deferral requests within one year). After this period, students still wishing to defer will be required to submit a new application and will be subject to the $75 application fee again.
Note that this policy does not apply for conditionally admitted students. Students holding conditional admission may be deferred beyond one calendar year if necessary to complete their English language studies and receive full admission.
TO REQUEST A DEFERRAL: Log in to the Admission Portal and submit the Defer/I-20 Request or Conditional Admit Defer form
Contact UsInternational Student Programs Office650.949.7293foothillinternational@fhda.edu |
