What are the international requirements for admission to PLU graduate programs?
To qualify for admission to graduate programs at PLU, international applicants with foreign coursework and degrees must meet the following criteria:
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U.S. Bachelor’s Degree Equivalency: Must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher, with a minimum of 120 completed semester credits. Applicants holding a 3-year bachelor’s degree may be admitted at the discretion of the specific graduate program, and subject to the total number of semester credits completed.
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Official Degree Evaluation: Applicants must submit an official, course-by-course degree evaluation from an approved credential evaluation service to verify degree equivalency.
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English Language Proficiency: Proof of English proficiency is required and must be demonstrated by submitting an official English language test score report (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo).
Applicants with academic transcripts and degrees from institutions outside the United States must submit all additional required documents outlined in the sections below.
International Transcript Requirements
Copy of Degree Diploma
Official Transcripts & Credential Evaluation
- You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. International transcripts must be translated to English, and must be submitted for international credential evaluation by any organization on the AICE list or NACES list before being sent to PLU.
- The Evaluation Company (TEC) is listed as a NACES-approved international credential evaluator and has created a custom application for Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: Evaluation Request Form – Pacific Lutheran University.
- International Education Evaluation (IEE) is a member of NACES. You can use their custom application for Pacific Lutheran University applicants to receive a discounted evaluation within 3 business days. Here is the custom application: International Credential Evaluation – Pacific Lutheran University
- PLU reserves the right to request further evaluation by an approved credential evaluation agency.
English translations provided by PLU approved translation services if the transcripts and documents are in a language other than English.
Proof of English Proficiency
All applicants to Pacific Lutheran University graduate programs must demonstrate English language proficiency to ensure academic success. If your native language is not English, you must provide proof of proficiency through one of the following official standardized tests with the submission of an official score report:
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TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
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IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
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Duolingo English Test
English Proficiency Requirements
| Program | TOEFL-iBT | IELTS | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business - Master of Business Administration | 83 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Creative Writing – Master of Arts in Creative Writing | 80 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Education – Master of Arts in Education with Certification | 80 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Education – Master of Arts in Education Alternative Routes | 80 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Education – Master of Arts in Education Non-Certification | 80 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy – Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy | 80 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Nursing – Master of Science in Nursing | 86 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Nursing – Doctor in Nursing Practice | 86 | 6.5 | 120 |
| Nursing – Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Certificate | 86 | 6.5 | 120 |
- A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution in the United States.
- A baccalaureate degree or higher from a recognized college or university in an English-speaking country or region, including United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Malta, Monserrat, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Turks & Caicos Islands, Vanuatu.
- Secondary school diploma from an institution in countries where English is the general medium of instruction as listed above.
- A recognized Intensive English Program (IEP) in the United States and received an English proficiency level equivalent to the required minimum TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores of the applied program.
Other waiver conditions may be allowed subject to the discretion of the specific graduate program.
Note: International students who do not meet the English language proficiency requirements are encouraged to join the University community through the International Pathways Program (IPP).
I-20 Processing
An I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) will be issued only after the student has been admitted and paid the non-refundable $300.00 tuition deposit and has returned all required acceptance forms.
The I-20 form should be taken to the U.S. Consulate when requesting a visa to come to the United States for a graduate program. The following items are not required for the application to be considered for admission, but are required prior to issuance of an I-20.
To expedite admission processing, applicants should consider submitting the following with application documents:
- Copy of passport picture page
- Address and associated phone number to which to send the I-20 via courier service
- Declaration of Finance Form (sent to the student after tuition deposit has been paid). This process requires proof of financial support dated within 12 months. English translation is required if the documents are not issued in English. Certification of finances from banks or embassies is permissible.