International Graduate Student Application Process
The Application Process
Consideration of an application for admission cannot be given until all required educational and immigration documents, as indicated below, are received by the Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 6928, Radford, VA 24142 USA. All documents become the property of the University and cannot be sent elsewhere or returned. Applicants must provide the following information to be considered for admission:
You can apply online. This requires a $50 non-refundable application fee. All materials must be submitted in English.
Application Fee
A non-refundable fee of $50 must be sent. The fee must be paid in U.S. dollars in the form of U.S. or international money order. A check written on a U.S. bank must be a foreign bank with a U.S. affiliate. An application will not be processed without this fee.
Required Educational Documents
All documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations alone will not be accepted.
- Diplomas, Certificates - Students must submit attested copies of their diploma or school leaving certificate. Report of scores on school leaving examinations must also be sent.
- Transcript or statement of marks - Applicants must submit an official record for each college or university attended to the Graduate College. All records from non-U.S. institutions must be certified and translated into English by an evaluation service. International applicants are required to use one of the following credential evaluation services: World Education Services (WES), Foreign Credential Service of America (FCSA), International Educational Equivalency Evaluation Services Inc. (IEEES), or Transcript Research. Applicants are required to select the course-by-course report option from the preferred credential evaluation service. General reports are not sufficient.
- Syllabus of university study - For transfer students, a description of each course or subject studied must be submitted accompanied by a certified English translation. An evaluation of your transfer credit cannot be made without the course descriptions.
- For students enrolled at a U.S. college, the Transfer Eligibility Form must be completed.
- If you have been out of school for any period of time, other than school breaks, please send a letter that explains if you have been working, attending school, etc., along with the application for admission.
- Confidential statement of Financial Support (see required immigration documents).
- TOEFL/IELTS - (see English Proficiency).
Required Immigration Documents
In addition to the Supplemental International Student Application, to have an I-20 prepared, the following documents must be submitted with the application. The I-20 will not be prepared before the application is complete and officially reviewed and the Office of Admissions has taken favorable action on the application.
- Official bank statement - An original and certified statement dated no more than 12 months prior to the term of entry which states the specific amount of money (in U.S. dollars) immediately available for your first academic year of graduate study must be submitted. The official funds estimate required for I-20 processing for the 2016-2017 academic year is $35,370. This amount includes tuition, fees, and living expenses. Please note that if you will be participating in either the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.), or the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program, the estimates are different. The official funds estimate required for I-20 processing for the 2016-2017 academic year is $37,574 - $45,954 for D.N.P., $53,459 for M.O.T., and $63,782 for D.P.T. Please note that these amounts are subject to change.
- Letter of Support or Confidential Statement of Financial Support - An official letter of support from your financial sponsor stating the specific amount the sponsor will provide dated no more than 12 months prior to the term of entry.
- If you are transferring from an institution within the U.S., you must have a Transfer Eligibility Form completed by the appropriate Immigration Official or Foreign Student Advisor at the institution you are attending or attended. This form is included with the application.
English Proficiency
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency prior to admission to the University. Radford University has established levels of proficiency for students whose native language is not English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is the primary evaluation tool to test your knowledge of English. English language proficiency is demonstrated by:
- TOEFL 550 or higher (paper-based); 213 or higher (computer-based); 79-80 or higher (internet-based)
If you have taken the TOEFL, have the results sent directly to Radford University (code 5565) from the Education Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08541. Information on the TOEFL is also available from U.S. embassies and consulates.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test that measures the language proficiency of people who want to study in environments where English is used as a language of communication.
IELTS provides a valid and accurate assessment of the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. An easy to use 9-band scale clearly identifies proficiency level, from non-user (band score 1) through to expert (band score 9).
A minimum score of 6.5 is required for admission to the College of Graduate Studies & Research.
Deadlines
All students are considered for admission on a rolling admission basis. This means that the earlier you apply and supply necessary materials, the earlier you will be notified of a decision. You can expect an admissions decision six to eight weeks after your completed application is received in Radford University's Admissions Office. It is important that you allow adequate time prior to the deadlines for your credentials to be received in the Admissions Office.
The following are deadlines to complete your application. This includes all academic credentials and immigration documents.
Summer Sessions - February 1
Fall Semester - April 1
Spring Semester - October 15