International Admissions Overview
The following admissions overview is for international students on a temporary visa.
Applicants are evaluated individually, with consideration given to each student's academic record in relation to their country's educational system.
*For the items below, click on each box to expand and view more information.*
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International Student Application Deadlines
Spring 2024
The spring 2024 Application Deadline is December 1.
Fall 2024
The fall 2024 Priority Application Deadline is May 1.
The fall 2024 Application Deadline is June 15.
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First-Year International Students
Application Requirements
A complete first-year international application consists of the items listed below. Applications cannot be reviewed until all of these items are received.
Application for Admission
Submit the online application.
Application Fee
Submit your one-time $50 non-refundable application fee. We do not waive the application fee for international students. The fee can be paid online at the time you apply or paid online at a later date. Please note that your application will not be complete until the fee is paid.
High/Secondary School Record(s)
Students can upload all secondary (high school) records via the Application Status Portal.
- (Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for currently enrolled students who have not graduated.)
Proof of English Proficiency
If English is not your native language or language of instruction, we will accept the following tests and scores.
- TOEFL: Minimum iBT score of 80
- IELTS: Minimum Academic Test score of 6.5
- Duolingo: Minimum English Proficiency score of 105
- Cambridge: Minimum (CAE) C1 score of 180
- Pearson: Minimum (PTE Academic) score of 55
Applicants who are otherwise admissible but not yet fully proficient may be conditionally admitted to UMD through its ELCI program. Successful completion of the ELCI Intensive English Program curriculum provides a direct exemption from UMD's English proficiency requirements.
- TOEFL: Score of 79 or lower
- IELTS: Score of 6.0 or lower
- Duolingo: Score of 100 or lower
- Cambridge: Score of 179 or lower
- Pearson: Score of 54 or lower
Please note: Test scores are considered official if sent to UMD directly from the testing agency (College Board, ACT, etc.)
- TOEFL: UMD test code is 6873
- ACT: UMD test code is 2157
- SAT: UMD test code is 6873
In addition, the university will consider the following for meeting English proficiency:
- AP English, A-level English, or IB English
- ACT (21 subscores in English and Reading)
- SAT (540 Reading & Writing)
- U.S. college/university transfer coursework of 26 or more credits
- Exemption by country
- Attended at least one full year at a U.S. high school
Send application materials to:
UMD International Admissions Processing
184 Darland Admin Bldg.
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
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Transfer International Students
Transfer international students include:
- Transfer international applicants from universities outside the United States
- Transfer international applicants from U.S. colleges and universities
Application Requirements
A complete transfer international application consists of the items listed below. Applications cannot be reviewed until all of these items are received.
Application for Admission
Submit the online application.
Application Fee
Submit your one-time $50 non-refundable application fee. We do not waive the application fee for international students. The fee can be paid online at the time you apply, or paid online at a later date. Please note that your application will not be complete until the fee is paid.
Official College or University Transcripts
- Non-U.S. colleges or universities: All academic records from colleges/universities outside the U.S must be originals/official copies and must be translated into English. For information related to the transferability of college/university credit from outside the U.S. please visit our One Stop Student Services page. UMD accepts credential evaluations completed by providers affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
- We recommend the following credential evaluation providers:
- Always request a course-by-course evaluation be sent to: [email protected]. It is best to request evaluation after all your grades are final.
- U.S. colleges or universities: official transcripts from U.S. colleges or universities must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions by each college or university.
High/Secondary School Records
Original or certified copies of ALL secondary (high school) records must be issued by the school in a sealed envelope and mailed or electronically submitted to the university.
Proof of English Proficiency
If English is not your native language or language of instruction, we will accept the following tests and scores.
- TOEFL: Minimum iBT score of 80
- IELTS: Minimum Academic Test score of 6.5
- Duolingo: Minimum English Proficiency score of 105
- Cambridge: Minimum (CAE) C1 score of 180
- Pearson: Minimum (PTE Academic) score of 55
Applicants who are otherwise admissible but not yet fully proficient may be conditionally admitted to UMD through its ELCI program. Successful completion of the ELCI Intensive English Program curriculum provides a direct exemption from UMD's English proficiency requirements.
- TOEFL: Score of 79 or lower
- IELTS: Score of 6.0 or lower
- Duolingo: Score of 100 or lower
- Cambridge: Score of 179 or lower
- Pearson: Score of 55 or lower
Please note: Test scores are considered official if sent to UMD directly from the testing agency (College Board, ACT, etc.)
- TOEFL: UMD test code is 6873
- ACT: UMD test code is 2157
- SAT: UMD test code is 6873
In addition, the university will consider the following for meeting English proficiency:
- AP English, A-level English, or IB English
- ACT (21 subscores in English and Reading)
- SAT (540 Reading & Writing)
- U.S. college/university transfer coursework of 26 or more credits
- Exemption by country
- Attended at least one full year at a U.S. high school
Send application materials to:
UMD International Admissions Processing
184 Darland Admin Bldg.
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
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English Proficiency Exemption by Country
Applicants from the following countries whose first language is English are exempt from the English language test requirement:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- The British Virgin Islands
- Canada (except Quebec)
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- England
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Monserrat
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Northern Ireland
- Palau
- Scotland
- Seychelles
- Shetland Islands
- St. Kitts-Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Singapore
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Wales
- U.S. Territories including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands
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Admission Factors
Here are the primary factors we take into consideration in making admission decisions for international applicants:
- Coursework through high/secondary school graduation
- Grades (and grade point average if calculated by school)
- Standardized test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, ACT, SAT, etc.)
- College/university coursework (transfer applicants)
Additional secondary factors that we take into consideration:
- Contribution to diversity
- Evidence of having overcome barriers to educational achievement
- Exceptional talent
- First-generation college student
- Personal statement and letters of recommendation
- Significant responsibility in a family, community, job, or activity
- Specific high/secondary school courses, grade trends, and rigor of academic curriculum
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Admitted Students
The following steps will assist you with your transition to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD).
I-20:
The I-20 form is an important part of the student visa application process. Admitted international students must submit the following documents within the Application Portal before the university will issue an I-20.
- Photocopy of passport
- Financial Certification Statement
- The Office of Admissions may require evidence of supporting funds.
Confirm:
Admitted international students must accept their offer of admission and pay the non-refundable confirmation fee. To complete this step, log into the Application Portal and complete the Decision Reply Form to initiate your confirmation process.
Orientation:
Sign up for Orientation, Advisement, and Registration (OAR) within the Application Portal. Orientation date selection will become available for Spring 2024 in November and for Fall 2024, available in March.
For questions about OAR, you can contact the Bulldog Resource Center at 218-726-6393 or [email protected].
Housing:
For students who choose to live on campus, apply for university housing. The Housing Application for Spring 2024 is available now. The application for Fall 2024 will be available in February.
View housing options
Go to our Housing & Residence Life site to explore the different housing options available to you as a student at UMD. The first dropdown on the top of the site will take you to our housing options. You can also take a brief video tour (YouTube) of our housing facilities with a student tour guide.
Health insurance:
UMD requires and will provide health insurance coverage. You are encouraged to have and travel to the United States with your own health insurance coverage until university coverage starts.
Official transcripts:
Students who have not submitted official transcripts must do so once they are available. Official transcripts are those received by UMD directly from the issuing source.
- Official paper documents are those received by UMD in sealed, unopened envelopes from the school, college, university, or department of education.
- Official electronic documents are those received directly by UMD from a verified high school/secondary official, college official, or marked as official via an approved transcript vendor (e.g., National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, and Scoir).
- All documents not issued in English must be in the original language and include a certified, true (word-for-word) English translation.
- Applicants may deliver paper documents in person, but the documents must be in a sealed, unopened envelope from the issuing source or be able to be verified (issuing source, 3rd party, etc.).
- Applicants are required to submit proof of high school/secondary graduation, a graduation certificate, leaving exam results, or equivalent prior to the first day of classes.
Transcripts can be mailed to:
UMD International Admissions Processing
184 Darland Admin Bldg.
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812