Study Abroad at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s College is one of the oldest four-year, women’s universities in the United States, having been founded by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1844. With a population of nearly 1,700, Saint Mary’s has long been recognized for its exceptional academic programs and for preparing graduates to make a difference in the world. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Saint Mary’s as one of the top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges.

The 98-acre campus, set alongside the Saint Joseph River, has great natural beauty. Saint Mary’s is located just across the street from the University of Notre Dame, just minutes north of the city of South Bend (population 150,000), and only 1 ½ hours east of Chicago (population 14 million).

The student to faculty ratio at Saint Mary’s is 10 to 1. All of Saint Mary’s courses are taught by professors, mostly full-time, instead of graduate assistants or teaching assistants. On average, our faculty has 10.2 years of teaching experience. Our small discussion-based classes ensure that our faculty provides students with personal attention, engage them in lively dialogue, and assist in shaping their dreams and aspirations. Class sizes range from a high of 50 to a low of 8.

Major Offered

Accounting	French	Religious Studies
Art	History	Social Work
Biology	Humanistic Studies	Sociology
Business Administration	Italian	Spanish
Chemistry	Management Information Systems	Statistical and Actuarial Mathematics
Communication Studies	Mathematics	Student Designed Major
Communicative Disorders	Music	Theatre
Computational Mathematics	Music Education
Economics	Nursing
Elementary Education	Philosophy
English Literature	Political Science
English Literature and Writing	Pre-Professional Studies
English Writing	Psychology

Dual Degree in Engineering

In addition to completing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Mary’s College, students also earn an engineering degree in chemical, computer, electrical, environmental geosciences, or mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Application Requirements

• Online application (no application fee)
• Current transcript (in English)
• Certification of English level: TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 105 and phone interview
• Personal statement (1-2 pages essay)
• Official bank statement
• Copy of valid passport
• Two letters of recommendation

Recommendation Letters should detail class attendance, participation, ability to succeed in an English environment, ability to succeed in a discussion-based classroom, ability to succeed with group assignments/projects, and general comments about the student’s English ability and ability to succeed.

Application Deadline

Application materials are due by April 1 for the fall term and by November 1 for the spring term.

Fall Semester:
Nomination period: Jan 15 – March 15
Application period: Feb 15 – April 1
Acceptance period: rolling acceptance

Spring Semester:
Nomination period:  Aug 15 – Oct. 15
Application period:   Sep 15 – Nov 1
Acceptance period: rolling acceptance 

Campus Life

• 84% of students live on campus in five resident halls.
• Over 70 different Saint Mary’s clubs and organizations. There are over 140 which are sponsored jointly with the University of Notre Dame.
• Varsity sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball.
• 25% Multicultural, including international students in the past three years from Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Myanmar, Panama, Poland, Uganda, and Vietnam.

Housing and Meals

Exchange students will be assigned a double room in one of Saint Mary’s dorms on campus. They will choose a meal plan and can enjoy three meals a day in our dining hall.

Visa Information

Saint Mary’s College will issue a DS-2019 form to accepted visiting students who need to apply for a J-1 visa in order to travel into the U.S. to attend the program. A DS-2019 form allows exchange visitors to apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate abroad. Exchange visitors already in the U.S. may use this form to transfer their record from another institution or apply for J-1 status by requesting a change of status within the U.S.

International Student Services

Once a Belle, always a Belle! Saint Mary’s International Student/Scholar Services (ISSS) will treat the inbound exchange students in the same ways as other exchange or degree-seeking international students and invite them to participate in social and cultural activities. ISSS matches Peace Belle Buddies with international students to help them adapt to the US campus life and American culture. The program participants will also receive the Global Competence Certificate (GCC) training and can take the one-credit online course designed for study abroad students, ICS 250 Intercultural Engagement through Study Abroad.

Contact Information

Global Education Office
Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership
Saint Mary’s College
+1 574-284-4263
abroad@saintmarys.edu