International Applicants
International applicants must adhere to application deadline dates and submit all required documents as early as possible. The Graduate School or an individual graduate program may request that you have a credential evaluation done by an outside agency.
In addition to meeting the requirements for all applicants cited above, international applicants must: (1) hold a degree that is equivalent or comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree and have a cumulative grade point average equivalent to a B or 3.0 grade point average, or the first- or high-second division or comparable class ranking, and (2) provide proof of financial sponsorship for immigration and visa status purposes.
Transcripts and Mark Sheets
International applicants must provide one (1) official transcripts in English and one (1) official native language transcripts or mark sheets from each college or university attended. Each set of documents must list subjects studied, grades or marks received, and rank in class or division.
Language Requirements
Applicants whose native language or language of the home is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score for admission is 550 for paper-based tests, 80 for the internet-based tests. IELTS test takers must score no less than Band 7 (total). Some graduate programs have higher minimum score requirements.
TOEFL information and applications are available from:
Test of English as a Foreign Language
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 899
Princeton, NJ 08540
www.toefl.org
(The Graduate School’s TOEFL institution code number is 5848; department codes are published by TOEFL)
IELTS test center, exam, and scoring information is available from:
IELTS International
100 E. Corson St., Suite 200
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-564-2954; 626-564-2981 (fax)
www.ielts.org
Graduate students whose work suggests English language deficiencies may need to take remedial English courses at their own expense.
The doctoral program in social work maintains a strict language requirement for non-native speakers of English. All applicants to the doctoral program whose native language and/or language of the home is not English are required to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This guideline applies to international students/non-native speakers of English who have completed a master of social work or similar degree from a US or UK college or university.
Exemptions from English Language Proficiency Requirement ▾
Individuals who have received a degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or a nationally recognized university in one of the countries on the list below do not need to submit an English proficiency exam. Complete, official transcripts and a copy of the diploma from said college/university are required.
Students who are citizens of any of the countries on the list below and whose total education (primary – tertiary) was conducted in English are not required to take an English proficiency exam:
- Antigua
- Australia
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- Canada (English-speaking, i.e. not Quebec)
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grand Turks and Caicos Islands
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Montserrat
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa (English-speaking, i.e. not Afrikaans)
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- The Bahamas
- The British Virgin Islands - St. Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Any individual that does not meet the above criteria, but who believes that s/he should be exempt from the English language proficiency requirement for whatever reason(s), must provide a written appeal to the Graduate School. The appeal must include a rationale for the request specifically addressing length of stay in the US, prior work and educational experiences here, and any prior English language assessments and/or instruction. A recent CV or resume is also highly recommended.