Requirements & Application

Graduate Admissions Requirements

To be considered for full admission to a graduate program and for financial assistance, you must complete the following steps with all required documentation submitted and verified by the deadlines below:

• Fall Term (August-December): May 1
• Spring Term (January-May): September 1
• Summer Term (May-August): February 1

Notes:

• Prior to selecting a start term, check with your country to verify lead times for VISA appointments.
• Some of our graduate programs have specific application deadlines. Please see deadlines listed in the Program Finder.

1. Complete Your Grad School Application

• A completed Graduate School application is necessary.
• Pay a $35 non-refundable application fee, which is required of all applicants and will not be waived for any reason.

2. Submit Official Records and Documents

• One official transcripts (in English) for all undergraduate and graduate work attempted
• Official copy of your diploma or degree certificate if you have already received your degree
• Three letters of reference
• Statement of purpose
• Required English test scores
  • TOEFL scores older than two years are not valid and will not be accepted
  • All test scores must be sent directly by ETS

Official transcripts must be submitted to a foreign credentials evaluation service such as World Education Services.

Applicants from Chinese institutions may request and submit official transcripts directly through CHESICC. Request are processed by CHESICC and will be sent electronically to the Office of Admissions. Do not submit a paper copy of your transcript if you have requested transcripts through CHESICC.

3. Complete Mandatory Immunizations and TB Screening

All required immunizations and TB screenings must be completed and submitted.

4. Review Program Requirements

Please view your graduate program's requirements in our Program Finder.

5. Complete Statements of Financial Responsibility

Complete the Certification of Finances form or letter of sponsorship (accompanied by a certified bank statement).

If you plan to enter the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 student visa, you are required to certify that you will have adequate financial support for your program of study at the University of North Dakota. Complete support for your entire time of study at UND must be provided. Form I-20 or DS-2019 cannot be issued until you have completed this form satisfactorily and returned it to the International Center. Information provided must be no more than six months old at the time of enrollment.

A photocopy of your passport is recommended, but not required at this time. Please send to the International Center.

6. Provide Evidence of English Proficiency

All graduate applicants must demonstrate academic-level proficiency with the English language before they'll be considered for approved admission status. This requirement must be met by all applicants, regardless of citizenship, residency or nation of birth. No applicants will be considered for approved admission status until the English Language Proficiency requirement has been met. The English Proficiency requirement will not be waived for any reason.

This requirement may be satisfied in any of the following ways:

1. A bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized institution where English is the primary language of instruction in the United States and U.S. Territories, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ireland, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Wales, Commonwealth Caribbean or New Zealand.
2. An overall band score of at least 6.0 on the IELTS.
   • UND only accepts IELTS scores that have been taken within the last three years.
   • If your IELTS scores are more than three years old, you'll need to retake the test.
3. A satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which depends upon the type of TOEFL taken:
   • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT), you must score at least 550
   • Internet-based TOEFL (iBT), you must score at least 76 (Some programs below require additional and/or higher scores on the TOEFL to be considered for admission.)
4. Successfully completing the English Language Service (ELS) Language Center's Intensive Level 112.
5. Or a score of at least 110 on the Duolingo English Test.

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, a Speaking subtest score of 26/30 is required on the TOEFL.

Because we want all our students to excel from the very first day of their studies, all applicants (degree-seeking, certificate-seeking and non-degree seeking) must meet these requirements. We will not waive this requirement for any reason.