Application Process
Please submit the following:
- Our Application for Graduate Admission (Follow this link to begin the application process).
- $65 application
fee (non-refundable) submitted with application.
- Completed
Financial Guarantee Statement certified by a bank official or letter of
financial sponsorship certified by a bank official. At least $34,380 (U.S.) should be available to international students planning to study at
NAU.
- An official
transcript, or grade mark sheets, from each higher education
institution you have 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 the date of award. Transcripts must be in the original language of the country with an
English translation that is officially verified by the issuing
institution. Photocopies of official transcripts certified by a notary public are not official.
- Official scores
on the TOEFL exam, unless you
are a native speaker of English. The university requires a minimum TOEFL
of 80 on the Internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test, although some programs require a higher score
(see below). The TOEFL is waived for applicants who earned a bachelor's
degree from a U.S. university. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. Please note that you are
exempt from this requirement if English is recognized as the official
language of your country. You are also exempt if English is the primary language of instruction at the institution where you received your degree. Some departments require a higher minimum score:
Graduate Programs with
TOEFL Requirements above the Graduate College Requirement
Equivalency Table for TOEFL and IELTS Scores
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 |
The Program in Intensive English (PIE) meets the academic needs of NAU international
students by providing academic English preparation and support. PIE teaches the
skills that are essential to successful academic performance at the university.
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.
The specific plan for English
instruction will be finalized upon arrival at NAU
and will include the degree program advisor and the PIE director. A final
copy of the plan must be on file in the Graduate College.
Please note that many programs
have TOEFL requirements that are higher than the university minimum of 550.
These programs do not allow exceptions to their minimum score requirements.
Required TOEFL scores are listed in the table above.
If applicants do not meet the
TOEFL requirement as described in the above paragraph, they must apply a
undergraduate students for the PIE program and be admitted to the PIE for
intensive English training. Upon successful completion of the PIE
program, a TOEFL must be taken and submitted to the Graduate College, Code
4006. While enrolled in PIE, students are entitled to all university
privileges.
Most graduate programs require
additional materials such as GRE scores, letters of recommendation, a
goal statement, resume, or writing sample. These requirements will vary
with each program.
After all of the required application materials
have been received by Graduate Admissions, your file will be forwarded to the
appropriate graduate program for review. Admission to most graduate programs is
competitive, so not all qualified applicants can be admitted. If the program
recommends admission, official notification of admission by the Graduate College
will be sent, with the appropriate immigration document (Form I-20) for
acquiring a visa to the United States.