FAQs

The CIS program stands for the “Cardon International Sponsorship” program.

The CIS program is designed to help international students earn a graduate management degree at the BYU Marriott School of Business, such as MBA, MPA, MAcc, or MISM, by providing scholarships and need-based loans for living expenses. CIS money is not applicable to executive programs or graduate programs outside BYU Marriott.

The CIS was initiated in the mid-1980s with a two-fold purpose: 1) to provide graduate management education for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living outside the United States and Canada and 2) to prepare participants for leadership roles in their chosen professions, their communities, and the Church when they return to their native countries.

All CIS participants are on a J-1 visa which is a visiting student visa. The spouse of a J-1 visa holder is able to apply for permission to work in the U.S. A J-1 visa holder is not able to change visa status to an H1B working visa after graduation. Please see the International Student Services office at 1351 Wilkinson Center, (801) 422-2695.

No, you must first be admitted to a graduate program at BYU Marriott.

After being admitted to a graduate program at BYU Marriott, the CIS application will be emailed to you. At any time, please reach out to CIS director Jonathon Wood to tell us about your interest and schedule an interview.

The purpose of the CIS program is to further educate and provide valuable management experiences for worthy Latter-day Saints through a masters program at the BYU Marriott School of Business. After graduation, participants will return home to build and strengthen their own countries and the church in their region/area. Therefore, if you are considering a PhD program in the US or living in the US for any other reason after graduation from BYU Marriott, with the exception of a 1-year Academic Training as part of the J-1 visa, you would not qualify for the CIS program.

The application deadline is two to three weeks after you receive the application. We will communicate with you when the exact date will be when we send it, and throughout the application process.

Every applicant must first interview with the CIS Director. This is recommended before you apply for your graduate program, but can be done after as well. You will be notified of the decision when all CIS application materials have been completed and processed, you have been interviewed by the CIS Director, and have been accepted to your graduate program. Feel free to reach out to director Johnathon Wood if you have any additional questions or concerns.

CIS students must have sufficient funds to become established in Utah in the United States, including housing deposits, utility deposits, school fees for children, and living expenses through the end of August in the year they arrive at BYU.

When housing is secured (on or off campus), a deposit is required. This fee can cost anywhere between $100–$250. Usually housing requires first and last month’s rent upfront, when signing the contract. Here are some housing links that may help you find housing or determine areas that you would want to live:

In addition to the full-tuition scholarships, students also receive CIS loans based on need to cover necessary educational and living expenses. Funds will be available to help students for eight months of each academic year, the first of September through the end of April. Funds are not available for Spring and Summer term, approximately 1 May to 31 August.

Loans provided by CIS may be used to cover educational and living expenses, including textbooks, health insurance, housing, food, and other essential living expenses. Scholarships cover full-tuition expenses for four semesters (two years).

CIS money should not be used by participants to send money home to family members. It should not be used to invest and/or save for post graduation. And CIS money should not be used to purchase expensive and otherwise unnecessary luxury items (such as pianos, etc.). Since participants are responsible for repaying all of the borrowed CIS loans, we strongly encourage CIS participants to live as frugally as possible in order to graduate from BYU Marriott with the least possible debt.

Students accepted into the CIS program must be committed to return to their home country or region with their families upon graduation from BYU Marriott. The only exception to this rule is if an employer requires a one-year commitment for optional professional training in the United States. Participants must also be committed to repay the full CIS loans on a timely basis following graduation from BYU Marriott.

As your graduation approaches, you will meet with the CIS financial administrator and arrange a payment plan on your loan. Payment of your loans will begin after your graduation, following a six-month grace period. Maximum amount of payback time is ten years.

Scholarships for international students may be available within each graduate program. Please visit the financial aid website for more information.