Graduate School Admission & Application Requirements

International graduate student applicants follow the program specific admission and application requirements listed on the graduate program webpages.

In addition to the admission requirements listed on the program page, international applicants must supply:

International Student Requirements

• An official comprehensive course-by-course transcript evaluation by Educational Credential Evaluator (ECE), World Education Services (WES) or any other NACES accredited evaluation firm, from post-secondary institutions outside the U.S.
• The ECE, WES, or NACES evaluation must certify your international degree is equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• For students whose native language is not English, or who were not taught in English, an official score from either TOEFL (6678 MSUM code) or IELTS (Minnesota State University Moorhead) is required.
  • TOEFL scores-550 (paper-based) or 78-80 (online)
  • IELTS score of 6.5

On Campus International Students-Visa Sponsorship Requirements

Upload the following documents under the Optional Documents section.

• Completed International Graduate Student Agreement form.
• Completed International Graduate Student Sponsor form listing the availability of adequate monetary support for the duration of the graduate program.
• Verification of additional funds is necessary if you are bringing a spouse or other family members.
• An official bank statement. The current requirement is approximately $29,600.
• Completed International Graduate Student Transfer form. (if applicable)
• University Health Insurance must be purchased. (no exceptions)
• Passport copy.

Please note:

• It is important that you check with your home country to be sure than they will accept an online degree from another country.
• Submissions of fraudulent documents will cause severe penalties resulting in an investigation from S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Your SEVIS (Immigration Record) will be terminated immediately (for on-campus students. Online students will not have a SEVIS record.)

If you have a baccalaureate degree and want to take courses for graduate credit but are not seeking admission to a graduate program, you may enroll as a "graduate special" student (admission status is "graduate unclassified"). International students who require an I‐20 and Visa are not eligible for admission as non‐degree seeking students.

1. Students who later wish to be admitted to a graduate degree program must submit a new application and meet all admission criteria for the specific program.
2. Credits earned as a Graduate Special student may later be applied to a degree program with advisor approval, but cannot exceed nine (9) semester credits.
3. Graduate Special students are not eligible for most types of financial aid.
4. Students who are denied admission to a degree program may register as Graduate Special students only with special permission from the graduate program coordinator.

Graduate Student Admission & Application Instructions

Upon receipt of all required application materials, your file will be forwarded to the appropriate graduate program for review. The program reviews all complete files for admission or denial based on published program requirements.

A formal acceptance or denial is sent to the applicant by the Dean of Graduate and Extended Learning.

International applicants have an additional step in the review process. Your application file will also be reviewed by International Student Services who will determine if an I-20 may be issued for a student visa.