There are no required courses at Amherst beyond a first-year seminar. Students build their own programme under the open curriculum, and through the Five College Consortium they can take classes at Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and UMass Amherst. The college has about 1,900 students. It admits international applicants need-blind and meets full demonstrated need.
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Official website: amherst.edu
1821
Private liberal arts college
About 1,900 students
Need-blind for international applicants
$68,000 – $72,000
All students, tuition before financial aid
$18,000 – $21,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on amherst.edu before you apply.
BA Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Mathematics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA Political Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BA English
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
An open curriculum with almost no required courses.
Need-blind admission for international students.
Cross-registration with four other colleges nearby.
Graduates go into finance, consulting, tech, law and academia.
Many continue to top graduate and professional schools.
F-1 graduates can apply for OPT, with STEM extensions for eligible majors.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
No PG intake
Amherst is a small New England town on a green common, with the Emily Dickinson Museum a short walk from campus.
Free PVTA buses link the five colleges. Boston is about 90 minutes east, and the Holyoke Range is close for hiking.
Form I-20 issued by Amherst College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Early decision closes in early November and regular decision in early January. Financial aid documents are due around the same time.
New students start in late August. Amherst does not admit first-years in spring.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Amherst College first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Economics, computer science, mathematics, political science and English are among the largest majors. Admission is highly selective and holistic; English proficiency at around TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0 is expected.
Amherst meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students, including international students, with grants rather than loans. There are no separate merit scholarships.
