Graduate College

Application Process

The deadline for international student applications is March 1^st for fall admissions, unless the department has an earlier deadline.

The deadline for spring admissions is October 1^st, unless the department has an earlier admissions deadline.

Students applying under the F-1 or J-1 visa status may only attend programs on the main Flagstaff campus.

Please submit the following:

Application for Graduate Admission (Follow this link to begin the application process)
$65 non-refundable application fee
An official and sealed transcript, or grade mark sheets from each higher education institution attended. An official transcript is the academic credential issued and certified, bearing the original raised seal or stamp, by the institution attended. It must be received by the Graduate College in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution. Official transcripts must include verification of graduation. If the degree/diploma is not posted on the transcripts, a separate degree certificate must be included and indicate the degree awarded and date awarded. Transcripts must be in the original language of the country with an English translation attached that is officially verified by the issuing institution. Photocopies of official transcripts certified by a notary public are not official and will not be accepted.
Official scores on the TOEFL exam, unless the student is a native speaker of English. The University requires a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test. Some programs require a higher TOEFL score (see below). The TOEFL is waived for applicants who earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. university. The minimum IELTS scores is 7.0.
- Students are exempt from this requirement if English is recognized as the official language of their country, or
- If English is the primary language of instruction at the institution where the student received his/her degree.

Please send all official transcripts and supporting documentation to:

Physical Address for UPS, DHL, or Fedex

Graduate College
Northern Arizona University
Attn: Karen Cornelius
624 S. Knoles Dr., Suite 107
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4125

Standard Mailing for Domestic Mail

Graduate College
Northern Arizona University
Attn: Karen Cornelius
PO Box 4125
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4125

Application Review Process

After all the required application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, the studetn file will be forwarded to the appropriate graduate program for review. Admissions to most graduate programs is competitive, so not all qualified applicants can be admitted. If the program recommends admission, official notification of admission will be sent from the Graduate College with the appropriate immigration document (Form I-20) for acquiring a visa to the United States.

Financial Guarantee

Upon admittance to a program, students must submit one of these forms to the Graduate College:

Completed Financial Guarantee Statement, certified by a bank official, or
Letter of Financial Sponsorship, certified by a bank official

Please note that at least $36,000 (US dollars) should be available annually to international students planning to study at NAU.

Graduate Programs with TOEFL Requirements above the Graduate College Requirement

Some departments require a higher minimum score and only accept the TOEFL:

Program	Internet-based test	Computer-based test	Paper-based test
Business Administration	83	213	550
Clinical Speech Pathology	100	250	600
Mathematics and Statistics	89	250	570
Physical Therapy	100	250	600
Political Science	93	230	580

The English programs in Applied Linguistics (PhD) and Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL) accept both the TEOFL score (internet-based only) and the IELTS scores:

Program	Section	TOEFL iBT	IELTS
Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL)	Reading	25	7
	Listening	22	6.5
	Speaking	22	6.5
	Writing	24	7
	TOTAL	92	7
Applied Linguistics (PhD)	Reading	27	7.5
	Listening	24	7
	Speaking	22	7
	Writing	27	7.5
	TOTAL	100	7.5
English Teaching Assistantship Eligibility	TOTAL	104	7.5

TOEFL and IELTS Scores for all other programs

TOEFL Internet Based	TOEFL Paper Based	TOEFL Computer Based	IELTS Equivalency
113-120	625-680	263-300	7.0-9.0
100	600	250	7.0
90-91	575	232	6.5
79-80	550	213	6.0
69-70	525	196	5.5
59-60	500	173	5.0
49-50	475	152	4.5
39-40	450	133	4.0
29-30	425	113	3.5

TOEFL and IELTS scores must be submitted directly to the Graduate College from the testing agency. Please use code 4006 for submission of TOEFL scores from ETS.

Program in Intensive English (PIE)

Applicants who receive scores between 500-550 may be required to complete the PIE program or other remedial English instruction to ensure success in their graduate program or as a condition of admission.

Please contact Karen Cornelius with any questions regarding the international graduate student admission process.