Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

International Applicants

Who is considered an International Applicant?
International applicants are individuals who need a visa in order to study or live in the U.S. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America, no matter where in the world they live or go to school, are not considered international applicants.

International students must meet the same requirements and deadlines as all other applicants. All application materials and recommendations must be written in English.
Are there any requirements specific to an International Applicant?
  1. A preliminary application is required for international applicants and/or applicants without a valid US social security number.  Graduate programs review the preliminary applications to determine if the applicant meets program criteria. If the criteria are met, the applicant will receive an approval to complete the full application. We ask that international students wait for further notification before sending any additional documentation to the Graduate School. We will not retain documents submitted before approval is granted to proceed with the full application. Please note that preliminary applications that are submitted without GRE and TOEFL scores will not be considered.
  2. Applicants presenting international educational credentials must possess a university degree that is recognized as equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree prior to beginning graduate study.
  3. Official transcripts from all schools attended must be submitted in envelopes sealed and signed by the Registrar. Transcripts and other educational credentials which are not in English must be translated and sent by a U.S. credential evaluation agency.
  4. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants are required to provide an official Test of English as a Foreign Language score report.  Original score reports for TOEFL taken within 2 years of the original test date will be accepted; copies of score reports, including those certified by a Notary Public, will not be accepted.

    The Graduate School requires the following minimum TOEFL scores:

    Paper-based:                      587
    Computer-based:               240
    Internet-bases

    Minimum scores for Internet-based TOEFL are currently being considered by the School and will be published as soon as possible.  In the mean time, we encourage scores that would be comparable to the minimum scores we required for paper-based (587) and computer-based tests (240).  To determine how to make a comparison, please visit the Educational Testing Service web site. 

Note:  Achieving the minimum score is not a guarantee of admission to the Graduate School.
Is waiver of the TOEFL requirement possible?
Applicants who have earned or will earn an undergraduate baccalaureate degree from a U.S. educational institution are not required to take the TOEFL. Exceptions to the TOEFL requirement can be granted for applicants who have earned a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the US, or the equivalent of either degree from a non-US college of recognized standing where all instruction is provided in English.  An exception for the TOEFL can be considered by written request submitted to the following email address:  gradadm@urmc.rochester.edu
Is Financial Aid available for international students who apply to Master’s Degree Program?
Scholarships and assistantships are not currently available through the Graduate School for master’s level graduate study.  We strongly recommend that applicants identify personal or external funding options while simultaneously pursuing admission to the program, as the process often takes longer than expected. International applicants who are offered admission must provide official bank documents or a letter of financial sponsorship that shows support for at least the first full year of tuition and living expenses. Payment for the first year of study (minimum of 24 credit hours of tuition) is expected in full before initial registration can occur in the Graduate School.

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