International Admissions | Graduate School |SIU

As an international student, you may be admitted to the SIU Graduate School only by applying directly to a particular degree program. "Nondeclared" or nondegree admission is not available to international students.

COVID-19 Changes to Admissions

The Graduate School Catalog will list our programs and course descriptions.

Please choose your major carefully from the list of programs, as some departments offer more than one degree at the Master's level. All application materials must be submitted to the department. In order to apply to more than one degree program, you will need to submit separate applications, application fees, and all other application materials to EACH department.

While the Graduate School in general does not have an application deadline, many departments do. Please contact your department directly for application deadlines and to see if applications are only accepted for certain semesters.

Each department sets their own admission requirements. Please contact your department directly for assistance. Once you are enrolled as a graduate student, you are required to maintain an overall "B" average (3.0) in your graduate credit coursework to remain in good academic standing.

All departments require a $65 nonrefundable application fee. This must be paid by credit card at the time you submit the online application.

Requirements

To be eligible to be considered for admission to a graduate degree program, you must meet the following minimum Graduate School requirements:

Proof of Funds:

Beginning with the Spring 2023 term, the financial responsibility for the first year will be raised from $42,500 to $44,000. This is the amount that needs to be proven before an I-20 can be issued. Proof of funds is required to complete your application process. Please be aware that the proof of funding cannot be more than 6 months old. It must show sufficient funds to cover one full academic year of study here at SIUC. Please fill out the Financial Statement Form and upload with your application materials. If you are being offered a Graduate Assistantship at SIUC, please be sure to submit a letter from the hiring department that includes assistantship details.

A prospective student must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study. Evidence of financial ability includes but is not limited to:

• Family bank statements.
• Documentation from a sponsor.
• Financial aid letters.
• Scholarship letters.
• Letter from an employer showing annual salary.
• Letter from a bank manager showing funds available.

For admission to a Master's program:

• 2.7 (on a grading scale with 4.0=A; approximately a "B-" average) on the last two years of Bachelor's coursework
• 3.0 on all previous graduate work (approximately a "B" average)

For admission to a Ph.D. program:

•  3.0 on all previous graduate-level coursework (approximately a "B+" average) (some exceptions apply)

The English language requirement may be met by submitting:

• 550 on the paper-based TOEFL
• 80 on the internet-based TOEFL
• 6.5 on the IELTS
• 105 on the Duolingo English Exam
• 5.0 on the iTep Academic Plus Exam
• C1 required on the Cambridge English Exam

Some programs require a higher score and some require a specific test rather than accepting every test listed. Please check with the academic program directly to verify their requirements.

The English language requirement may be waived if:

1. An applicant was awarded a Master's degree at an accredited college/university in the United States and has been in residence in the United States continuously prior to application to SIU (not out of the country for more than one calendar year).
2. You have a minimum of 60 graded (A, B, C) hours of recent coursework completed at an accredited college/university in the United States with continuous residence in the United States prior to application at SIU. Pass / Fail, Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory, or Proficiency credit is not acceptable.
3. Here is a current list of countries and territories that are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: EXEMPT LIST.

Please note: English language requirements vary according to individual situations. What will satisfy the requirement is always determined by the Graduate School Admissions Office, not the program. Please include a photocopy of your TOEFL/IELTS Examinee score report with your program application materials.

Submit Official Documents

1. All final, official transcripts from all institutions that were attended. Degrees must be conferred/awarded on the transcript. Diploma/Degree Certificate showing the degree received is also accepted. Third-party evaluations, such as WES, can be used for initial review, but final, official transcripts must be provided to the Graduate School prior to registering for the second term. Important: Third-party evaluations, such as WES reports, are not considered final, official transcripts.
2. Official English Proficiency and testing scoresheets directly from the service, e.g., TOEFL, GRE (if required by the program), IELTS, etc., must be provided to the Graduate School prior to registering for the first term.

Application processing times vary greatly according to the program. Some degree programs with very selective admission procedures may require that you apply 9 months to a year in advance in order to be considered, while others may require a much shorter period of time. To ensure adequate time for consideration of your application and for consideration for funding, apply well in advance of your desired starting date. Nine months to a year is not too early to apply, especially if you are hoping to obtain funding from your program.