America's commitment to providing world-class educational opportunities to students from around the world is unwavering. Southern is especially dedicated to bringing talented international students to our campus. Enrolling talented international students makes us a stronger, global campus. The admission process is a collaborative effort between the Office of Undergraduate Admission and the Office of International Education.
International New Student Information
New Student Applicants are students who are in the process of completing secondary/high school or who have never attended a post-secondary college/university.
The application process for international students is timely. It is highly recommended that you begin five months prior to the start of the semester you wish to attend. Please note that the fall semester begins late-August and the spring semester mid-January. Below is a checklist of application requirements:
- Online application: This includes a 500 word personal essay and a $50 application fee (payment is made by credit card - American Express, Discover, and Master Card)
- Document-by-document evaluation of high school record: Evaluation agency must be a member of NACES - List of acceptable evaluation agencies. For questions about the evaluation process, please contact the agency directly. If your transcript is in English, an evaluation is still required to determine diploma equivalency.
- SCSU partners with International Education Evaluations (IEE) and SpanTran to offer credential evaluations that meet the university admission requirements at a discounted rate. Students can also use any NACES member service to request a general or document-by-document evaluation of to determine the high school equivalency or a course-by-course evaluation to determine any potential transfer credit.
- Proof of English proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Pearson PTE, Certificate of completion from ELS Academic English Level 112, SAT, ACT, or successful completion of the English Language Pathways Program.
- GPA: The average grade equivalency for incoming new students is a 2.7 on a 4.0 U.S. grading scale or what is equivalent to a letter grade of a B-
- English proficiency minimum scores: TOEFL - 72 iBT/525 paper; IELTS - 6; Duolingo - 100; Pearson PTE - 53; Certificate of completion from ELS Academic English Level 112; SAT - 900 (combined critical reading and math only); ACT - composite score of 19.
International Transfer Student Information
Transfer student applicants are those who have attended a college/university.
The application process for international students is timely. It is highly recommended that you begin five months prior to the start of the semester you wish to attend. Please note that the fall semester begins late-August and the spring semester mid-January. Below is a checklist of application requirements:
- Online application: The application includes a $50 application fee (payment is made by credit card - American Express, Discover, and Master Card)
- Document-by-document evaluation of high school record showing U.S. High School Graduation equivalent and course-by-course evaluation of all college/university records. Evaluation agency must be a member of NACES - List of acceptable evaluation agencies. For questions about the evaluation process, please contact the agency directly. If your transcripts are in English, the evaluation is still required to determine degree and grade equivalency.
- SCSU partners with International Education Evaluations (IEE) and SpanTran to offer credential evaluations that meet the university admission requirements at a discounted rate. Students can also use any NACES member service to request a general or document-by-document evaluation of to determine the high school equivalency or a course-by-course evaluation to determine any potential transfer credit.
- Proof of English proficiency (waived if English is official language of country of origin): TOEFL, IELTS, Certificate of completion from ELS Academic English Level 112, SAT, or ACT
- GPA: The average grade equivalency for incoming transfer students is a 2.0 on a 4.0 U.S. grading scale or what is equivalent to a letter grade of a C
- English proficiency minimum scores: TOEFL - 72 iBT/525 paper; IELTS - 6; Certificate of completion from ELS Academic English Level 112; SAT: 900 (combined critical reading and math only); ACT: composite score of a 19
- Submit the Transfer Student Application for admission. You will receive a confirmation email from the Admissions office once we have received your application.
- Submit all required documents to the Southern Admissions office. Official documents, including transcript evaluations, are required to complete and process your application file. To be considered "official", the document must be sent from the institution directly to the Southern Admissions office.
- Check your Admissions Status online in the Admission Portal
- Allow 2-3 weeks for submitted documents to be processed.
- Allow 3-4 weeks once application is complete for an admissions decision.
- A decision e-mail will be sent to the email address you provided on your admission application.
- Allow 3-4 weeks for a hard copy of a decision letter (and transfer credit evaluation(s) for transfer students) to arrive to an international address
- If accepted, e-mail Michael Schindel (schindelm1@southernct.edu) to proceed with the paperwork needed to begin the visa process
- Once your visa is approved, follow the instructions in the acceptance letter to proceed with your “Next Steps”
- A non-refundable $200 confirmation deposit is required to reserve an enrollment spot at SCSU (first of the online “Next Steps”)
There is no limitation on how many credits will transfer to SCSU from your prior college/university; however, the following rules do apply:
- English courses/credits do not transfer.
- Only courses/credits with an equivalent grade of a U.S. C- or higher will be transferred.
- We evaluate courses based on the information provided on the course-by-course evaluation. If you have a question regarding the way a course transferred to SCSU, please be prepared to provide a course description from your college/university in English to appeal the evaluation.
- SCSU has specific course requirements for each degree program. Please review the current online undergraduate catalog for a better understanding of what courses are needed to complete a degree at our university from our website - Catalogs and Schedules
International Graduate Student Information
Graduate Students are students who have completed a Bachelor's degree and are enrolling in a Master's program.
The application process for international students is timely. It is highly recommended that you begin five months prior to the start of the semester you wish to attend. Please note that the fall semester begins late-August and the spring semester mid-January. Below is a checklist of application requirements:
- Online application: A $50 application fee must be submitted before your application will be considered complete (payment is made by credit card - American Express, Discover, and MasterCard)
- Course-by-course evaluation of Bachelor's degree: Evaluation agency must be a member of NACES - List of acceptable evaluation agencies. For questions about the evaluation process, please contact the agency directly. If your transcript is in English, an evaluation is still required to determine diploma equivalency.
- SCSU partners with International Education Evaluations (IEE) and SpanTran to offer credential evaluations that meet the university admission requirements at a discounted rate. Students can also use any NACES member service to request a general or document-by-document evaluation of to determine the high school equivalency or a course-by-course evaluation to determine any potential transfer credit.
- Proof of English proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Pearson PTE, Certificate of completion from ELS Academic English Level 112, or successful completion of the English Language Pathways Program.
- GPA: 3.0 on the U.S. grading scale. Hold the foreign equivalent of a United States bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with an undergraduate grade point average of at least "B."
(On various grading scales this would be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, 14 on a 20 point scale, 80.0 from Chinese institutions, 1st Class or Division from Indian institutions, and upper 2nd Class Honors from British systems. Other grading systems will be evaluated on receipt of transcripts and certified evaluation of those transcripts.) - English proficiency minimum scores: TOEFL - 550 written/213 computer/79 or above on Internet based exam; an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher; Duolingo score of 105 or higher; or Pearson Language Test with a score of 53 or higher, successful completion of ELS 112—English for Academic Purposes; or an earned (Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral) degree from within the United States. Each student should request that his or her score be sent directly to the Southern's School of Graduate and Professional Studies (Code 3662). TOEFL scores are valid only for two years from expected date of acceptance.
Information for All International Students
Once you have been admitted to the university, you will need to complete and submit additional information to the Office of International Education including, but not limited to the International Student Enrollment Form. Please contact Mr. Michael Schindel at schindelm1@southernct.edu or (203) 392-5454.
Location
Office of International Education
Engleman Hall 220
Southern Connecticut State University
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00-5:00 p.m. EST, Friday, 9:00-4:30 p.m. EST
Contact
Phone: (203) 392-6756
Fax: (203) (203) 392-6978
oie@southernct.edu
More Information
Erin Heidkamp, Ph.D.
Director / SEVIS R.O., P.D.S.O.
HeidkampE1@southernct.edu
Engleman Hall A 220
(203) 392-6975
Michael Schindel, MFA
Assistant Director, International Student Advisor SEVIS D.S.O
SchindelM1@southernct.edu
Engleman Hall A 220
(203) 392-5454
Ina Marshall, MBA
Assistant Director, Programs Abroad Coordinator
MarshallI2@southernct.edu
Engleman Hall A 220
(203) 392-7257