SEI INTERNATIONAL TRUST
                       EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY PORTFOLIO
 
                      SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 19, 1997,
                 TO THE CLASS A PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 30, 1997
 
THIS SUPPLEMENT PROVIDES NEW AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEYOND THAT CONTAINED IN
THE PROSPECTUS, AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH PROSPECTUS.
 
The Board of Trustees of SEI International Trust (the "Trust"), including all of
the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, have appointed
Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited ("Credit Suisse") as a sub-adviser to the
Trust's Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), effective December
15, 1997. Credit Suisse was approved as a sub-adviser at the Quarterly Meeting
of the Board of Trustees held on December 1-2, 1997, and its appointment does
not require Shareholder approval. This procedure for adding or replacing
sub-advisers was approved by the Portfolio's Shareholders at a Special Meeting
of Shareholders held on June 16, 1995, and was authorized by an exemptive order
issued to the Trust by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 1996.
 
In evaluating Credit Suisse, the Trustees received written and oral information
from both SEI Investments Management Corporation ("SIMC") and Credit Suisse.
SIMC recommended the selection of Credit Suisse and reviewed the considerations
and the search process that led to its recommendation. The Trustees also met
with representatives of Credit Suisse and considered information about portfolio
managers, investment philosophy, strategies and process, as well as their
performance track record, among other factors. In appointing Credit Suisse, the
Trustees carefully evaluated: (1) the nature and quality of the services
expected to be rendered to the Portfolio by Credit Suisse; (2) the distinct
investment objective and policies of the Portfolio; (3) the history, reputation,
qualification and background of Credit Suisse's personnel and its financial
condition; (4) its performance track record; and (5) other factors deemed
relevant, including Credit Suisse's strong presence in the emerging European
markets. The Trustees also reviewed the fees to be paid to Credit Suisse,
including any benefits to be received by Credit Suisse or its affiliates in
connection with soft dollar arrangements.
 
Under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement")
between SIMC (the "Adviser") and Credit Suisse relating to the Portfolio, Credit
Suisse makes investment decisions for the assets of the Portfolio allocated to
it by SIMC, continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Portfolio's
investment program with respect to these assets. Credit Suisse is independent of
SIMC and discharges its responsibility subject to the supervision of SIMC and
the Trustees of the Trust and in a manner consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective, policies and limitations. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is
substantially similar to those in existence between the Adviser and the Trust's
other sub-advisers. Specifically, the duties to be performed under each
Agreement are similar, and the standard of care and termination provisions of
the Agreement are identical, to the other Agreements. The Sub-Advisory Agreement
will remain in effect until December 1999 (unless earlier terminated), and will
have to be approved annually thereafter by a majority of the Trustees, including
a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940).
 
In connection with the appointment of Credit Suisse as sub-adviser to the
Portfolio, "The Sub-Advisers" Section on page 14 of the Prospectus is amended by
inserting the following disclosure:
 
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED
 
Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited ("Credit Suisse") acts as a sub-adviser
for a portion of the assets of the Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. Credit
Suisse, a UK limited liability company formed in 1982, is a registered
investment adviser that managed approximately $36 billion as of September 30,
1997. Credit Suisse is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Credit Suisse Group, a
financial services conglomerate headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Credit
Suisse's principal business address is Beaufort House, 15 St. Botolph Street,
London, EC3A 7JJ.
 
Glenn Wellman, a Managing Director of Credit Suisse, and Isabel Knight, an
Associate Director of Credit Suisse, are primarily responsible for the
day-to-day management and investment decisions made with

respect to the assets of the Portfolio. Prior to joining Credit Suisse in 1993,
Mr. Wellman was a Director and Senior Vice President at Alliance Capital
Limited. Before joining Credit Suisse in 1997, Ms. Knight was Senior Fund
Manager at Foreign and Colonial from 1995 to 1997. From 1992 to 1995, Ms. Knight
was a Portfolio Manager for Morgan Stanley Asset Management.
 
The Adviser will pay Credit Suisse a fee based on a percentage of the average
monthly market value of the Portfolio's assets assigned to Credit Suisse.
 
Listed below are the names and principle occupations of the principal executive
officer and each of the directors of Credit Suisse. The principal business
address of the principal executive officer and each of the directors as it
relates to their positions at Credit Suisse, is Beaufort House, 15 St. Botolph
Street, London, EC3A 7JJ.
 


NAME                          TITLE
- ----------------------------  ---------------------------
                           
Robert J. Parker              Chief Executive Officer
Heinz Hoffmann                Managing Director
Beatrice H.M. Hollond         Managing Director
Patricia J. Maxwell-Arnot     Managing Director
William C. Mott               Managing Director
William W. Priest, Jr.        Managing Director
Dillip K. Rasgotra            Managing Director
William P. Sterling           Managing Director
Stephen M. Swift              Managing Director
Timothy T. Taussig            Managing Director
Heinrich H. Wegmann           Managing Director
Glenn Wellman                 Managing Director
Robert W. Jenkins             Chief Operating Officer
David M. Collins              Compliance Officer
Stephen J. Maynard            Finance Director
William A. K. Edmonds         Secretary

 
              PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.