Steps to Apply

“This is what I want, this is what I seek, this is what I desire with all my heart.” –St. Francis of Assisi

How to Apply

The easiest way to apply to FST is to complete the online application provided by the University of San Diego, our partner institution, and upload supporting documents as they are ready. If transcripts arrive before your application is completed, they will be attached to your application upon completion.

Your complete application must include the following:

Application
$55 Application Fee
Statement of Purpose
Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended
Letters of Recommendation
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
International students must submit additional elements including but not limited to:**
- Financial Declaration Form
- TOEFL or Duolingo English Test for Graduate Applicants (connect with Admissions for score details)

*Students who wish to transfer credit from other institutions, please connect with your enrollment advisor.

**If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, please connect with the FST Admissions Department.

Review Admissions Requirements

Important Materials

Before submitting your application, make sure you have prepared the following:

APPLY ONLINE

Statement of Purpose

Your statement of purpose should respond to the following:

Tell your academic or ministerial story
Explain a brief theological perspective you might have (or that you hope to pursue)
Describe a professional goal you have in mind and how your chosen program at FST will help you to achieve this goal

Applicants are asked to address all three points. An acceptable statement of purpose should be between 500–700 words split between the three questions. When writing your response, please remember that this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing skills and academic readiness.

Letters of Recommendation

All of the degree programs at FST involve academically rigorous coursework.

FST requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation. Please discuss options for recommenders with the FST admissions department.
Letters should address the applicant’s capacity for graduate-level reading, writing, and critical engagement with the material.
Recommendations should address both academic and personal qualities, with a focus on one’s academic capacity as an applicant. Please tell your recommenders to watch for an email request from sandiegoinfo@liaisoncas.com.

Once you have saved an electronic recommendation, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.

Financial Aid

There are a few ways you can apply for financial aid, including through the Federal Direct Loan Program, which is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

The first step in applying for aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Federal School Code for FST is G11792.

We recommend that applicants apply for financial aid when they apply for admission. Please notify the Admissions department as soon as possible if you will be applying for financial aid.

Recipients of financial aid will be notified of their award after their acceptance to FST. Please note FST’s discounts and scholarships are only available for on-campus programs. For more specific information, we encourage you to visit our Financial Aid page.

For International Applicants

International applicants must meet additional requirements for admission, including:

A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or Duolingo English Test for Graduate Applicants – connect with Admissions for score details.
A course-by-course transcript evaluation and report by one of the following approved agencies. No other transcript evaluation will be accepted for degrees earned outside the U.S.

Application Deadlines

Applications for Fall semesters must be received no later than July 15th. All application items
must be submitted no later than one month before the first day of the Fall semester.

Applications for Spring semesters must be received no later than December 15th. All applications
items must be submitted no later than one month before the first day of the Spring semester.

View Academic Calendar

What Happens Next?

After submitting your application, you will hear from our admissions department confirming that they have received your application. We will work closely with you to ensure your application is complete and your questions are answered.

After an admissions decision is made, we will send you a decision letter. If you are admitted, you will also receive a Letter of Intent form. You are required to return this form to confirm whether you will accept or decline your acceptance. It is important to return this form promptly as your financial aid application will not be considered until the admissions office has received your letter of intent form.

If you have questions during the application process, whether about degree programs, scholarship opportunities, life in California, or if you would like to schedule a visit, please get in touch with our Admissions Office. We are here to guide you through the process of becoming an FST student.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Visit FST

We highly recommend a campus visit as the best way to learn about FST. You can join us for liturgy, attend a class, and meet faculty and administration. You can easily schedule a visit with our web form or contact our Admissions Office.

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