Updates and Resources for New International Students

Are you a current or continuing Foothill College or De Anza College F-1 student? If so, always check your email for important updates regarding general and campus-specific news and policies.

IMPORTANT: Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has ended its Coronavirus guidance regarding online class enrollment starting Fall term 2023-24

• Students must register in on-campus/in-person classes beginning Fall quarter of the 2023-24 academic year. 
• You will only be allowed to count a maximum of one online class toward the mandatory full course load of study (12 units) each quarter.
• If you wish to take more than 12 units, any additional units over the first 12 can be online. You must stay in on-campus classes in order to enroll in extra online classes.
• Failure to comply will result in the termination of your F-1 status. 

For Summer 2023, we are accepting applications for both F-1 (in-person) and online studies from abroad! 

• If you are admitted for the Summer 2023 quarter, you will be able to register for, and attend, courses online from your home country or enter the U.S. to take  hybrid, or in-person courses.
• Support services, such as counseling and tutoring, will be available both in-person and online, but please be aware that services are available in the California time zone, which may be at odd times depending on your location.
• International Student Programs (ISP) will assist you with your admission and I-20, even if you begin your studies online as a non-F-1 student. ISP will also offer virtual workshops and an orientation to help you prepare for your studies.
• Most summer classes are six weeks long.
• Fall admits who would like to get a head start on their studies can enroll in 1-2 online classes over the summer.
• Students who are not pursuing F-1 status can take online classes to meet personal or professional goals.
• Summer online students may choose to continue studies in the fall either online or in-person on an F-1 visa without paying another application fee.

A note about our application deadlines:

See our application deadlines here. Online-from-abroad and F-1 transfer students have a later application deadline; however, applying early has many benefits:

• Access to the highest selection and variety of courses available
• Have more time to complete your math and English assessments before course registration begins
• Take part in academic counseling workshops
• Attend the full international orientation event and receive international support and services

Deferral Option:

• If you are admitted for summer or another term and cannot obtain a visa or travel in time, you can choose to start studies online or defer your admission to a later quarter. All admitted students can request a deferral for up to one year at no cost.

We strongly recommend applying as early as possible to receive the full access to courses, counseling, and other support services.

Your success is very important to us. Please see our recommendations when taking courses online while outside the U.S.:

• Register for fully online courses, so you can complete the course work on your own time. Please check the course footnotes to confirm if there are any specific meeting times.
• Attend ISP Registration Workshops, International Orientation and other sessions that will help set you up for success
• Online campus services, such as counseling, tutoring, International Student Programs etc., will be offered during designated hours in the California time zone (Pacific Time). Please check each office’s website for availability and plan to be flexible
• Read through all course syllabi carefully for information on required books, assignments, deadlines, etc., and plan ahead
• Communicate with your professors and reach out for help if you need it

Online courses are not a good fit for some students:

• If you live in a location that has significant internet restrictions, we do not recommend taking online courses. Due to unavoidable government restrictions in some countries, selected course content may not be available, even when using a VPN
• You will require a reliable internet connection and access to a computing device

If you have any questions, please reach out to us to chat about your particular situation.

A Note About Tuition and Fees

Many factors are taken into consideration when calculating tuition and fees, including our ability to offer access to leading faculty and educational resources. Tuition and fees also help us offer student support services such as tutoring, counseling, and International Student Programs, all while ensuring that your courses are transferable no matter how they’re delivered. There will be no changes or reduction of our tuition or fees based on instructional method. International students will continue to receive a high quality, affordable education from the top community college District in California.

Resources

International Student Application & Student Status Page

Online Learning Resources
Preparing for Online Learning

Counseling Services
Foothill College
De Anza College

Tutoring Services
Foothill College Tutoring Programs
De Anza College Student Success Center

Contact Information
International Student Programs (General questions)
Foothill College: fhinternational@fhda.edu
De Anza College: dainternational@fhda.edu

International Student Admissions (Application information or to defer your admission)
Foothill College: fhintladmissions@fhda.edu
De Anza College: daintladmissions@fhda.edu