Certificate of Finance

Certificate of Finances (Proof of Funding) Requirement

As an international applicant who needs an F1 visa, you will be asked to upload proof of funding documents (bank statements, bank letters, and/or scholarship letters) for the first year of studies. The Certificate of Finances is a calculation used for the purpose of issuing the visa document to students and is required by the university before your application will be reviewed for admission. This amount is an estimate and does not reflect the exact amount that a student will be billed by the University. For more detailed information on program costs, please refer to the Graduate Cost of Attendance information.

Review Proof of Funding Details

Bank statements/letters

Bank statements or letters must:

• Include checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts and/or cash in investment accounts. Funds in stocks/investments, bonds, lines of credit, real property or statements of income are not accepted.
• Be issued by the bank with the account holder’s name, currency type, and account type in English
• Be dated within 12 months of your program start date
• Must show at least the minimum amount in the table below (the funding required by your program for the first year of studies)

Scholarship Letters

Scholarship letters are also accepted from governments and organizations. The letter must be in English and indicate the amount of funds awarded.

If you have a sponsor, they must provide a signed statement in English that says: “I agree to financially support [your name] during their graduate studies at USF” for you to upload. Their name and signature on the letter must be in English characters with the date.

Dependents

If you plan to bring dependents with you who will need an F-2 visa, please provide additional proof of funding to cover their expenses. If you were awarded a scholarship that includes funding for your dependents, please have them listed on the scholarship letter. See the Proof of Funding Details section for the specific amount required for each dependent.

Proof of Funding Details

Bank statement or Bank letter with the account holder’s name, currency type and account type in English should be uploaded. The document must be dated within 12 months of your program start date, and should show the minimum (or higher) amount required for the first year of studies in your program.

Valid account types include checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts and cash in investment accounts. Funds in stocks/investments, bonds, lines of credit, real property or statements of income are not accepted.

Scholarship letters are also accepted from governments and other organizations. The letter must be in English and indicate the amount of funds awarded.

Sponsors – If you have a sponsor, they must provide a signed statement that says: "I agree to financially support [your name] during their graduate studies at USF" for you to upload. Their name and signature on the letter must be in English characters with the date. Upload this letter to the application in the Certification of Finances section, along with their bank documents.

Dependents – If you have dependents who will need an F-2 visa, please provide additional proof of funding to cover their expenses. If you are awarded a scholarship that includes funding for your dependents, they will need to be listed on the scholarship letter.

For a 9-month program add an additional $7,650 per dependent adult. For a 12-month program include an additional $10,200 per dependent adult. Child dependents require an additional $600 for each month of the first year of your studies ($5,400 for a 9-month program and $7,200 for a 12-month program).

Living Expenses is an estimate for shared housing (rent), food at home, and health insurance.

Other Expenses is an estimate for books, a local transit pass, and personal expenses, such as eating out and entertainment.

Required minimum amounts for F-1 Visas

Below are the estimated costs for the first year for programs. Your proof of funds must show at least the Estimated Total Amount.

Estimated First Year Budget for programs starting in Summer/Fall 2026 and Spring 2027

*Students admitted to Biology and Chemistry receive full scholarship and teaching assistantship.