International Student Freshman Admission & Application Requirements

An international freshman student is starting at a university for the first time or is transferring with fewer than 12 university credits. Usually the student enrolls directly out of high school/secondary school with no previous university experience.

You must provide evidence that you have successfully completed your secondary education within your home country (usually 12 years) and be entitled to acceptance into the universities in your home country. As a result of the extreme differences in educational systems among countries, admission requirements vary depending on the country you are from.

Applicants outside of the United States are encouraged to contact your local EducationUSA Advising Center for assistance with your application and visa process.

International Student Application Dates

  • January 15-June 30 for starting Fall Semester (August)
  • August 15-Oct 20 for First Year Freshman application starting Spring Semester (January)
  • August 15-Dec 1 for U.S. Transfer application starting Spring Semester (January)

How do I Apply as an International Freshman Student?

Submit your application for undergraduate international admission

The online application must be completed fully before any further processing of your admission.

Pay the $20 application fee payable in U.S. dollars

You may pay the one-time $20 non-refundable undergraduate application fee online with a credit card.

Payment of the fee should only be made after you have:

  1. Submitted your online application and
  2. Activated your StarID.

To Pay:

  1. Log in to eServices using your StarID.
  2. Click on "Bills and Payments".
  3. Click on "Make a Payment" to pay the $20 application fee.

Pay Application Fee

Submit your academic documents
  • Submit your official academic documents to one of the following external credential evaluators. Submit your official documents in both their original language and English. Official documents should be sent directly from your educational institution to the evaluator. Only transcripts submitted directly to the evaluator are accepted.
    • ECE – select the “General with GPA”
    • IEE- select “Education Document + GPA Report (US)”
    • SpanTran - select the “General Analysis with GPA report”
    • WES – select “Document-by-Document Evaluation WES ICAP”
  • If you are currently attending a U.S. university/college, all official transcripts MUST be sent to us directly from the institution.
  • Keep the original or certified documents with you in case we need you to send us the official/certified documents. You will also need the official/certified documents to present at the U.S. visa interview.
Provide proof of English proficiency

If you are from a non-English speaking country, you must provide proof of English language proficiency in one of the following ways. Only scores directly from the testing organization are accepted. Please make appropriate action for MSUM to verify your score from the testing organization.
Students from exempt countries do not need to provide proof of language proficiency. A list of exempt countries can be found below.

  • Transfer from a U.S. college or university with a C or better in an approved English composition course
  • Submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score report sent directly to us by the issuing agency (ETS for TOEFL or IELTS directly). MSUM TOEFL institutional code is 6678
  • English Proficiency Requirement
    • TOEFL- minimum score of 61 iBT/173 CBT/500 PBT
      • TOEFL institutional code is 6678
    • IELTS- minimum overall band score of 5.5
      • e-Delivery: University Name- Minnesota State University Moorhead
    • Duolingo - minimum score of 95
    • ITEP - minimum score of 3.7
    • PTE Academic - minimum score of 50
      • Institutional code is Y7J
    • SAT test - (2016 or later) A score of 28 or higher on the SAT Writing and Language section AND a score of 560 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
      • SAT Code: 6678
    • ACT - A score of 21 or better on ACT Combined English/Writing
      • ACT Code: 2134
    • WASSCE/WAEC - minimum score of B3 or higher on the English Language section
      • Applicants from Nigeria: West African Examinations Council Digital Certificate website and share score with Minnesota State University Moorhead
      • Applicants from Ghana & Sierra Lione: Share unused Scratch Card for us to verify score
        • We are NOT able to make admission decision unless we verify your WAEC score.
      • Diploma from a U.S. high school
Verify funds

Provide a financial Statement and supporting bank statements or letters from bank verifying funds.

Bank Statement/Bank Letter

  • Must be dated within the last six months;
  • Must validate at least $26, 585 USD
    • Plus $7,000 USD for the first F-2 dependent
    • $6,000 for each additional dependent after the first dependent
  • Name of account holder must be present;
    • Applicant Self, their family, or their family business can be a financial sponsor.
  • Amount of money in the account must be listed;
  • Must be in English, or include a certified English translation;
  • Type of account (eg. savings, checking, time deposit) must be included;
  • Type of currency must be included.
    • If you submit documentation that include foreign currency, calculate the value in U.S. Dollars and include evidence of the source for the currency conversion exchange rate. https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en/
      • Select Original Currency convert to U.S. Doller
      • Type closing amounts on original bank statements
      • Select the date that the bank statement was issued
      • Print the document, save it in PDF format, and upload as a part of Financial Document
    • If the account holder for the Bank Statement is not match the name of the applicant, the financial sponsor needs to f to fill in ONE of the following:

NCAA/NAIA Athletic Scholarship

  • Institutional Tender of Financial Assistance and Declaration of Intend
    • Name of Recipient
    • Type of Assistance
    • Amount of Assistance
    • Signature from Recommender and Director of Financial Aid
  • If the amount of assistance is not meet a minimum of $26,585USD, applicant is required to provide additional financial documents to meet total of $26,585 USD

Government Sponsor

  • Letter from Government Sponsor meeting listed below requirements:
    • Must be an original;
    • Must be dated within the last six months;
    • Name of award recipient must be present;
    • Must state the period of time covered by the award;
    • Must indicate Minnesota State University Moorhead as the student's institution
    • Must state the total amount of support for the given period.

Documents NOT accepted

  • Tax returns
  • Tax documents in general
  • Mortgages
  • Employment or salary statements
  • Paystub
  • Pending or Provisional Education Loans
  • Lines of credit including Credit Card available balances

 

If immediate transfer is a student's intention, they must get an I-20 from another school and acquire a visa using that separate process. Using the Minnesota State University Moorhead I-20 at the Embassy and U.S. airport to enter when you have no intention of attending MSUM is a misrepresentation to the Embassy and immigration officials. This action alerts immigration to your misrepresentation at the embassy and airport.
 

Please note submission of fraudulent documents will cause severe penalties resulting in an investigation from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Your SEVIS (Immigration Record) will be terminated immediately.

English Proficiency Requirement Exempt Countries

Students from the following countries do not need to take an English Proficiency Test

  • Antigua and Barbuda 
  • Australia
  • Bahamas 
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda 
  • Botswana
  • British Virgin Islands 
  • Canada (except Quebec) 
  • Cayman Islands 
  • Dominica 
  • Gambia (with B3 or better for English on WASSCE/WAEC certificate)
  • Ghana (with B3 or better for English on WASSCE/WAEC certificate)
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Liberia 
  • Malawi 
  • Micronesia 
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand 
  • Nigeria (with B3 or better for English on WASSCE/WAEC certificate)
  • Sierra Leone (with B3 or better for English on WASSCE/WAEC certificate)
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad and Tobago 
  • Turks and Caicos Islands 
  • United Kingdom 
  • U.S. Territories
  • Zambia