Application Procedures

Admission to the Institution is based upon academic capability and upon spiritual and moral character. Academic qualifications are considered by the Director of Admissions and other members of the Office of Admissions to determine whether the applicant’s educational background and ability ensure reasonable chances of success in aca-demic work at the Institution. An applicant’s spiritual and moral character may be evaluated by personal interview, by his/her application essay or by recommendation of church elders or other knowledgeable individuals. Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a church leader, are required.

Applications are normally accepted for entry in the Fall term, though students may apply to begin in the Spring term.

Applications are welcome from men and women of all religions, nationalities and races. No particular course of undergraduate preparation is required, although a basic knowledge of history, the social and natural sciences, psychology and philosophy is desirable. Students are expected to have basic computer skills.

In seeking admission, a candidate agrees to abide by the policies, rules and regulations of the institution.

Application Procedures

Inquiries should be sent to the Office of Admissions, 4 West 43rd Street., New York, NY 10036, admissions@hji.edu.

Prospective students also have the option to apply online through HJI’s student information system.  Begin the application process.

Application Checklist

Applicants must submit the following:

•    A completed application form, including intended degree program, signature and date.

•    Official transcripts from all colleges, universities, or seminaries attended. Official transcripts have the official college seal and signature, and must be mailed directly to the HJI Admissions Office from the issuing institution. If the original transcript is in a language other than English, the applicant must also submit the English translation.

•    Two recommendation letters, one from the applicant’s pastor, church elder or faith community leader.

•   Test score on TOEFL iBT (80), IELTS (6.5), or Pearson PTE (56) (for non native English speakers).

•    One digital and one passport-size photograph

•   Vaccinations

• Proof of immunization for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR).  Students born before 1/1/1957 are exempted from this requirement.
• Meningococcal Meningitis Form

Students who do not intend to enroll in on-campus classes are not required to submit Health Forms as a part for admission. If students subsequently decide to take courses on campus, they will be required to submit the Health Forms.

•    Application fee of $30.00.

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or its recognized equivalent, is the first requirement for admission to HJI. (Exceptions may be made, particularly for students who graduated from foreign post secondary institutions but who do not have the equivalent of the U.S. Bachelor’s degree.)

Determining English Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is other than English are required to take the TOEFL iBT (80), IELTS (6.5), or Pearson PTE (56). The minimum score requirement for full admission to the UTS program is as indicated above. The UTS TOEFL institution code is #2941.

International students who have successfully completed four years of an undergraduate program in the U.S. may waive the TOEFL entrance examination on the condition that they:

Submit an undergraduate transcript with either courses in Writing or courses that reflect English competence.

International Students

HJI is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. In addition to the general requirement for admission to HJI programs, international applicants must provide the English translation of all academic records.

International applicants who seek entrance to the U.S. with a student (F 1) visa must certify their capacity to meet the cost of tuition and fees, living expenses, as well as the cost of round-trip travel. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations governing F 1 student status do not permit HJI to send the I 20 form to the admitted student until this financial certification is on file with the Institution.

Notification of Acceptance

Applications to the Institution are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.  The Admissions Office notifies each applicant in writing regarding the decision made on his/her application.

Admission Status

Full Program Standing

A student is admitted to Full Program Standing if he/she possesses a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and has submitted all application materials, has provided official, original transcripts of academic studies in post-secondary institutions, has two formal recommendations, and is considered to meet personal qualifications for admission, and, where applicable, has attained a satisfactory TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson PTE score.

Provisional Standing

Provisional standing is granted for one term only to applicants whose documents are incomplete at the time of admission. Evidence of capability must be strong enough to justify provisional admission pending receipt of outstanding documents. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the missing documentation in a timely manner. In exceptional cases, the provisional status may be extended for a second term. Hardcopy of term grades will be withheld until all required documentation is submitted.

The Admissions Committee will review the file of each student on provisional standing for full admission when all documentation is complete.

Conditional Standing

An international student who has earned an undergraduate degree from a foreign institution whose course of study represents the equivalent of three years of undergraduate studies in the U.S. may be admitted with Conditional Standing. After completion of 12 HJI credits his/her academic performance is reviewed by the Office of Admissions. The student may then be admitted to Full Program Standing, directed to pre Intitutional study, or if conditions warrant, have his/her Conditional Standing extended one term.

Special Status

A limited number of applicants who do not hold a Bachelor’s degree may be admitted into the Insitutional degree programs if they: (a) have substantial experience in ministry or related careers; and (b) can demonstrate the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons who hold a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants age 30 and younger will not be considered for Special Status.

Applicants are required to submit, in addition to the documents required for regular admissions, an essay that demonstrates the applicant has the knowledge, academic skill, and ability generally associated with persons holding a Bachelor’s degree. Additional documentation that would be helpful includes: experiences of ministry or related careers, diplomas, certificates, GRE scores, and evidence of noncredit theological studies at workshops, seminars and conferences. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list to which priority is given based on merit of the applicants rather than the chronological order in which the applications were received.

Special Status is a privilege, and students on Special Status should be aware of their duty to finish the program expeditiously. They may take no more than one term of leave of absence.

Non Matriculated Standing

Non matriculated students take courses for credit but are not enrolled in a degree program. The maximum number of credits that can be taken with non matriculated standing is 12. In order to take more than 12 credits, students must be accepted into a program.