Fall 2023

The priority application deadline for the fall semester is May 1.
The final deadline for students to apply is June 15.

Spring 2024

The application for spring 2024 will be available in August.

The priority application deadline for the spring semester is November 1.
The final deadline for students to apply is December 15.

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

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:
    • ECE (Education Credential Evaluators)
    • WES (World Education Services).
  • 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

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

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 the cultural, gender, age, economic, racial, or geographic diversity of the student body
• 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

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. In addition, international students are required to submit the following documents before the university will issue an I-20:

• Photocopy of passport

• Financial Certification Statement

  • The Office of Admissions may require evidence of supporting funds

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 enrollment.

Transcripts can be mailed to:

UMD International Admissions Processing
184 Darland Admin Bldg.
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812