INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for admission as a graduate student, students must have a four-year United States bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, and must meet the admission requirements of the academic program to which they apply.
Students should begin the application process six to twelve months prior to expected enrollment to allow time for the exchange of correspondence, evaluation of all required documents, financial matters, visa, and travel arrangements.
Most graduate departments have application deadlines. If the department has no deadline, the application and all supporting documentation are due no later than March 1st for fall admission and October 1st for spring admission. All materials submitted for admission must be complete at least three months before registration.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please submit the following:
Complete the online Application for Graduate Admission (includes program requirements)
Pay a $65 non-refundable application fee
Attach unofficial transcripts to the online application, and send official, sealed transcripts to the Graduate College. Transcripts must be in the original language of the issuing institution with an English translation vetted by the issuing institution. Official transcripts must include verification of graduation. If the degree/diploma is not posted on the transcripts, a separate degree certificate must be included and indicate the degree awarded and date on which awarded.
If the issuing institution does not provide an English translation, the applicant is responsible for obtaining an English translation from an accredited translating company.
Depending on the program's admission requirements, submit official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The Graduate College requires a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based test. The Graduate College requires a minimum score of 6.5 for the IELTS.
Some programs require a higher TOEFL score (see the list below).
Graduate Programs with TOEFL Requirements above the University Requirement
Some departments require a higher minimum score and only accept the TOEFL:
| Program | Internet-based test |
| Business Administration | 83 |
| Clinical Speech Pathology | 100 |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 89 |
| Physical Therapy | 100 |
| Political Science | 93 |
The English programs in Applied Linguistics (PhD) and Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL) accept both the TOEFL score (internet-based only) and the IELTS scores:
| Program | Section | TOEFL iBT | IELTS |
| Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL) | Reading | 25 | 7 |
| Listening | 22 | 6.5 | |
| Speaking | 22 | 6.5 | |
| Writing | 24 | 7 | |
| TOTAL | 92 | 7 | |
| Applied Linguistics (PhD) | Reading | 27 | 7.5 |
| Listening | 24 | 7 | |
| Speaking | 22 | 7 | |
| Writing | 27 | 7.5 | |
| TOTAL | 100 | 7.5 | |
| English Teaching Assistantship Eligibility | TOTAL | 104 | 7.5 |
TOEFL/IELTS is waived for the following international applicants (see exceptions below):
Native speaker of English. For the purpose of this policy, native speakers of English are considered students who completed a high school or university education at an institution where the language of primary instruction is English (students in this category must provide documentation to verify this information).
Students who earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. university.
EXCEPTION TO THE TOEFL/IELTS WAIVER POLICY
Regardless of where international students received their education, all applicants to the English Department's MA-TESL program or the Ph.D. program in Applied Linguistics must submit current, official TOEFL/IELTS scores (no more than 2 years old). If an applicant considers him or herself a native English speaker, that student may seek an exemption from submitting TOEFL/IELTS exam scores by contacting the TESL/Applied Linguistics programs in the English Department.
If you obtained a degree at an international institution, you must submitofficial, sealed transcripts to the Graduate College. Your application will not be reviewed for admission consideration until the Graduate College receives your official, sealed transcripts.
Accepted accredited translating companies for English transcript translations:
World Education Services
Educational Credential Evaluators
Financial Guarantee
Upon admittance to a program, students must submit one of these forms to the Graduate College:
Completed Financial Guarantee Statement, certified by a bank official, or
Letter of Financial Sponsorship, certified by a bank official
Please note that at least $40,621.00 (US dollars) should be available annually to international students planning to study at NAU.
