Graduate International Admission and English Proficiency
An international applicant is a person who is not a citizen of the United States or classified by the United States Immigration and Immigration Service (USCIS) as a Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). Please contact International Admissions at (970) 351-2095 for assistance or visit the International Admissions website at www.unco.edu/international-admissions.
Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university, or equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution and have a grade point average of 3.00 or better (4.00 point scale) from the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress. If a master's degree is in progress, a minimum of 18 credit hours must be completed for the GPA of the master's degree to be used, otherwise the GPA from the bachelor's degree will be used.
All applications must be submitted 90 calendar days before the semester start date. Supporting materials and related credentials must be received by the International Admissions no later than 60 calendar days before the semester that the student wishes to enroll (see www.unco.edu/international-admissions for deadlines). International applicants must complete the following steps to be considered for admission:
- Complete the Application for Admission online.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Submit official transcripts, mark sheets, diplomas, graduation and degree certificates in a sealed envelope for each college or university attended. If they are not in English, submit a certified literal and complete English translation of each document. Official US transcripts can either be mailed directly from the Registrar's office in a sealed envelope or submitted electronically through a secure digital program.
- Supplemental materials may be required by some graduate programs. Check with the program area for further requirements. GRE scores must be sent from ETS directly to UNC (UNC School code is 4074). The score must be no more than five years old. Your program may also require letters of recommendation, statements of goals, resume, audition, interviews or other materials; please check with the program for further information.
- Photo quality copies of the bio page of your passport and your student visa (if you have one).
Once an applicant is admitted they will be required to submit financial documents verifying funding to support the cost of attending UNC for one academic year (see www.unco.edu/international-admissions for estimated cost and acceptable documentation) and they will be instructed to create a shipping label for their admission packet (including the admission letter and immigration documents).
English Proficiency
Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to provide evidence of English language proficiency by one of the following:
- Submitting results of an acceptable English proficiency test
- TOEFL iBT: 80 - with cut scores no lower than: Listening (16), Reading (16), Speaking (20), and Writing (22)
- IELTS: 6.5 - with sub scores no lower than 6 in each of the following proficiency areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
- English3 Proficiency Test: 67 E3PT with a minimum of 16.5 in each of the following: Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing
- Having completed previous education in a recognized English-speaking country within the last two years
- Completing UNC’s Intensive English Program through Level 7
Applicants who do not provide sufficient English proficiency documentation may be considered for conditional admission to UNC with the requirement that they either successfully complete the UNC Intensive English Program or demonstrate English proficiency through submitting sufficient TOEFL or IELTS scores. (See www.unco.edu/center-international-education/ for further information.) They cannot begin an academic degree program until they achieve the required level of English proficiency.
Academic programs on campus may have higher or additional English proficiency requirements including screening or testing for English proficiency. The applicant is responsible for determining whether the program has additional language requirements.