International Graduate Student Admission

Non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents will be considered international applicants. A non-refundable application fee is required with each application for admission to the Graduate School.

All applicants (domestic and international) who have taken university/college coursework outside of the United States must have the coursework and degree evaluated by NACES or other UTSA-approved agencies. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the foreign credential evaluation arrives by the posted deadline. Any evaluation that is received after the posted deadline will not guarantee the applicant an admissions decision. Because transcripts from foreign universities require special evaluation, prospective students with foreign credentials are advised to submit their application and test scores, upload transcripts, and submit evaluations well in advance of deadlines. Early submission gives UTSA enough time to process the application and gives the international applicants enough time to obtain visas and make travel arrangements if admission is granted.

If accepted into a graduate program, official transcripts, and degree certificates in both original language and English translations must be submitted prior to the second term of enrollment. Official documents submitted to the foreign credentialing agency can be used to fulfill this requirement.

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission, applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate sufficient competency in English to study effectively at UTSA. These applicants are required to submit English Proficiency Scores from one of the following agencies: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo (DET) to Graduate Admissions. Information about TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo is available online. Scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions from the ETS, IELTS or Duolingo testing center, copies of scores are not accepted as official. Official test scores must be less than two (2) years old. Unofficial scores can be used for admissions decisions. However, official scores must be received prior to the second term of enrollment. The UTSA institution code is 6919.

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests
for Graduate Applicants		 Minimum Test Scores*
TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) 79 or greater
IELTS 6.5 or greater
Duolingo English Test (DET) 100 or greater
TOEFL Paper-Based Test (ITP)** 550 or greater
*

Individual degree programs may have higher score requirements for their various programs. Consult the Graduate Admissions website for more information. 

**

TOEFL Paper-Based (ITP) examination is accepted for UTSA Academic English Program or UTSA International Pathway applicants.

The English Proficiency Scores requirement may be waived for international students from countries where English is the official language spoken; or for noncitizens of the United States earning a bachelor’s degree or higher in the United States or other countries where English is the official language.

Applicants from the following countries are exempt from submitting the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score:

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Dominica
  • Ghana
  • Grand Cayman
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Liberia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad/Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S. Pacific Trust

If attendance under the F-1 (student) visa is anticipated, students will be required to submit a financial statement guaranteeing the ability to pay all expenses while a student at UTSA. The statement may be sent from a parent or guardian when endorsed by a bank or other reliable institution or from a U.S. citizen who will accept responsibility for the student’s financial needs.

The above criteria serve as guidelines for admission for international students. The credentials of each applicant are examined on an individual basis by the Graduate School and the appropriate Graduate Program Committee. Please note that meeting the above minimum standards does not guarantee admission because the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of spaces available. Consequently, many well-qualified applicants may not be admitted.

Shorelight Applicants

Qualifying students may apply for admission directly to UTSA or apply through Shorelight Education. International students, regardless of their English language proficiency level, can participate in the personalized programs and services offered by Shorelight Education. These supportive services include admission support, enrollment services, academic support, and career development. Please note that not all graduate programs participate in the Shorelight Education partnership. Please check the Shorelight Education website to confirm which programs participate. UTSA will accept degree equivalencies as determined by Shorelight Education for admission purposes. 

It is important that all materials submitted to UTSA or to Shorelight Education are complete and accurate. Incomplete applications cannot be processed, and those with inaccurate information may be subject to cancellation.