Admissions Requirements
Apply as an International StudentApplying to Foothill College as an International Student
Before applying to Foothill College, it’s helpful to understand the key dates, application milestones, and policies that guide the admissions process. This page provides essential information, including deadlines, milestone definitions, and helpful resources to support you as you prepare your application.
We’re excited that you are considering joining the Foothill College community. The guidelines below will help you navigate the application process smoothly and with confidence.
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 15 | 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.
Deferral Policy
Applicants or admitted international students may request to defer their admission up to one calendar year from their original application quarter. Students may request up to four approved deferrals within this one-year period.
If a deferral request is approved, your admission will be moved to the next available international admission quarter. Students cannot skip an academic quarter when requesting a deferral. Please note that summer session is a unique admission term. If you are deferring from Spring to Summer, please follow the link for your campus to read more about summer session.
After four approved deferrals within one calendar year, applicants must submit a new international student application and pay the $75 application fee again.
This policy does not apply to conditionally admitted students. Students with conditional admission may request additional deferrals as needed to complete their English language studies and meet full admission requirements.
TO REQUEST A DEFERRAL: Log in to the Admission Portal and submit the Defer Request or Conditional Admit Defer Form.
Admission FAQsWe have compiled for you the answers to the most common questions asked. |
