International Students

The International team is operating remotely to provide you with services and support. If you are applying to BMCC, contact our virtual enrollment specialists for assistance. Stay healthy everyone!

At BMCC, international students get an excellent, affordable education in one of the world’s premier locations, downtown Manhattan. Students from over 155 different countries with more than 111 languages spoken.study at BMCC, adding to an already incredibly diverse student body.

You will get the personalized attention you need, as well as being part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. International students participate in a wide variety of clubs, extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities and career development. You will also have opportunities to apply for scholarships after the first semester. There are many student support services to help you along the way.

Applications and Priority Deadlines

To apply, the first step is to submit an online CUNY application and your academic documents by the following dates:

• Spring semester: September 15
• Fall semester: February 1

CUNY will consider all applications received after these dates on a rolling basis.

English and Math Proficiency Testing

Please refer to the current CUNY guidelines for testing.

Immunization

Currently COVID vaccination is required for students taking in-person classes at CUNY colleges. If you have not been vaccinated, please refer to the Reimagining BMCC site for vaccination locations. See our Health Services site for other immunization requirements.

International Students

When we refer to “international students”, we mean a non-immigrant with F-1 status. If you are in the U.S. on another type of non-immigrant status (such as A, B, G, H, J or M) and want to study at BMCC, or if you are not sure about your status, please contact us at internationalstudent@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Note: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are not considered an international student.

Benefits of Community Colleges

Did you know that 45% of undergraduate students in the U.S. are enrolled in community colleges? Community colleges are affordable, inclusive, and a smart way to begin your college experience. Many students in the United States complete their first two years of college at a community college like BMCC, and earn an Associate Degree (usually 60-68 credits). They can then transfer to a senior college to complete their bachelor’s degrees and/or begin working with skills already acquired.

Housing Options

BMCC is located in the neighborhood of TriBeCa, in downtown Manhattan. It can be difficult to find inexpensive housing in TriBeCa, so most of our students do not live within walking distance from the school. They live throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Some live in New Jersey. Like the majority of people in this city, many of our students commute. In New York, a normal commute is 30-60 minutes by subway and/or bus.

One accommodation option is a residence hall. BMCC is a City University of New York (CUNY) school, so our students can stay in any CUNY residence hall located on another CUNY campus.

However, many students find their own accommodation, such as subletting a room in an apartment. For more information, please explore the following links:

• BMCC’s Self-Help Housing Options
• CUNY’s International Student Guide: Living in New York

Scam Awareness

Our Public Safety Department will help keep you safe when you are on the BMCC campus. They have compiled some information about scams under “Updates” on their website; the links there will provide you with more information to keep in mind as you negotiate housing and other issues after you arrive in the United States.