International Student Application Information
Graduate Studies administrates admission to programs in the following colleges, schools, institutes and departments:
- Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Morgridge College of Education
- Conflict Resolution Institute
- Graduate School of Professional Psychology
- Josef Korbel School of International Studies
- Natural Sciences & Mathematics
- School of Engineering & Computer Science
If you do not see the college, school or department of the program you are interested in applying, please see our complete list of graduate programs.
Graduate Application Materials
1) Items to be submitted with the Online Application
Online Application
To submit an online application click on "Apply for Admission" and select your degree, college, major and concentration (if applicable).The application and required admission materials should be submitted six weeks prior to the admission deadline for your prospective program. You will be able to check your application status upon submission by logging back into the application.
A printable confirmation page will appear after successful submission. Please include your confirmation page with the submission of your transcripts and other application materials.
Application Fees
There is a $60 nonrefundable application fee, which covers the cost of processing application materials. The application fee may be paid online with a credit card at the time of application submission. Otherwise, the application fee may be paid on a bank draft or personal check drawn on a U.S. bank and submitted by mail to the address listed below. Applications will not be considered for admission until this fee is paid. No waivers or deferrals are allowed.
Letters of Recommendation
Letter of recommendation requests are sent to your recommender via email within one business day of the submission of your online application. You will be asked to provide names and email addresses of individuals who will be writing your recommendations. Please ensure you have accurate email addresses for your recommenders prior to submitting your application. We suggest you let your recommender know the recommendation request will be coming from the University of Denver in advance. This will allow him/her to send a letter electronically and meet the application deadline if applicable. Instructions for an evaluation form will be included in the email for those departments with such requirements.
Essay/Personal Statement
The Essay/Personal Statement can be uploaded and attached to your online application before submission.
Please use specific instructions/guidelines given by the college, school or department that you are applying.
Copy of Passport
Please provide a copy of the photograph and legal name page of your passport. This can be uploaded and attached to your online application before submission. If you currently do not have a passport, you will need to make arrangements to obtain a passport before an I-20 can be issued by the University of Denver.
I-20 and SEVIS Instructions
The Financial Verification Form and SEVIS Supplement Form can be uploaded and attached to your online application before submission. All accepted international applicants must submit documentation for the I-20. You may submit this documentation when submitting your application or after an admission decision is made. Please note that if you decide to wait until a decision is made, it will take longer to prepare the I-20.
The Financial Verification form and other important visa information can be found here.
Additional Departmental Requirements
Please check your departmental website to verify if you are required to submit additional supplemental items. All supplemental items can be uploaded with the online application. Please use specific instructions/guidelines given by the college, school or department that you are applying.
2) English Proficiency
Submit official scores from an English proficiency test. Applications will not be processed until the required TOEFL or IELTS score is received. A TOEFL or IELTS score is required of all international graduate student applicants whose native language is not English. The minimum TOEFL score accepted by the University of Denver is 550 (paper-based), or 80 (internet-based) for most graduate departments. Alternately, students may submit a 6.0 on the IELTS exam. Our school code for the TOEFL is 4842. Please see chart for specific departmental test requirements.
Note: Those students with bachelor's or master's degrees, from institutions where English is the language of instruction and examination, are generally exempt from the English-test requirement (please submit proof with the application).
Conditional Admission
To insure that graduate international students will be well prepared for advanced study at the University of Denver, international students may be conditionally admitted to certain degree programs pending proof of English proficiency. This option is available to applicants only in certain departments who are academically admissible and who have sufficient proof of financial support. In order to begin a degree program, students must either present the minimum TOEFL/IELTS score or complete the University's English Language Center's full-time intensive language courses, which may take between 10 weeks and 18 months, depending on placement test results and the students' individual progress. Academic courses may not be taken while students are enrolled at the English Language Center. Please see chart to determine which programs will accept students under this option. If you are interested in pursuing conditional admission, please notify the Office of Graduate Studies after submitting your application. Please note, you must still be granted admission by your prospective department.
Graduate Teaching AssistantshipAny graduate applicant whose native language is not English (including US citizens and permanent residents), regardless of his or her educational background, who wishes to be considered for any Graduate Teaching Assistantship must demonstrate fluency in spoken English by scoring a minimum of 26 on the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) exam speaking section or an IELTS speaking score of 8.
3) Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Applicants must request that Educational Testing Services (ETS) to forward results to the University of Denver Office of Graduate Studies. The institution code for the University of Denver is R4842. Please consult the college, school or department that you are applying for test requirements.
For information concerning GRE registration please visit www.gre.org or contact:
Graduate Record Examination
Educational Testing Service
P. O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
(609) 771-7670Applicants should take the entrance exam well in advance of their intended application date. Please allow at least 14 business days for your general test scores and six weeks for your subject test scores to be received. Several departments and schools will not process applications until scores have been received. Entrance exam scores older than five years from the date of the application may not be acceptable for admission.
4) Transcripts
Applicants are required to submit one official transcript from each post-secondary institution they have attended, or are presently attending, where two quarter hours (or one semester hour) or more were completed. This includes transcripts for credit earned as transfer work, study abroad and college credit earned in high school. The transcripts must be in separate sealed envelopes and must be accompanied by certified English translations. Errors or omissions in English translations may be grounds for refusal or dismissal.
An official transcript must include the original signature of the registrar and/or the seal of the issuing institution, and must be enclosed in an envelope with the stamp or signature of the registrar across the sealed flap. Proof of a bachelor's and master's degree (if applicable) is required from a regionally accredited college or university.
Applications will not be forwarded to the department for review until official transcripts have been received. If you are unable to submit official transcripts at the time of your application, you may submit unofficial copies of your documents for initial review. You will be required to submit official materials upon matriculation.
5) Financial Verification
Prior to receiving an I-20, you must also provide an original bank letter showing cash availability and/or letter of sponsorship, as appropriate for your situation. No monthly bank statements will be accepted. No photocopies of financial verification documents will be accepted. The form must be completed with the student's and sponsor's signature. This requirement does not apply to permanent residents. For more information about the materials required to obtain an I-20, please visit here. All accepted international applicants must submit documentation for the I-20. You may submit this documentation now or after an admission decision is made. Please note that if you decide to wait until a decision is made, it will take longer to prepare the I-20.
All credentials submitted become property of the University of Denver and cannot be copied or returned to the student or any person(s).
Mailing Address
Mail transcripts and any additional items to:
University of Denver
Office of Graduate Studies
Mary Reed Bldg., Room 5
2199 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208-4802
Graduate Application Materials Checklist
Please submit:
1. Online Application.
2. Nonrefundable application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the University of Denver (unless payment was made by credit card during submission of online application).
3. One official transcript from each university or college attended.
4. Official scores from TOEFL/IELTS exam or proof of language of instruction.
5. Supplemental materials as required by the college, school or department.
6. Letters of recommendation.
7. Request entrance exam scores to be sent to the University of Denver. Institutional Code R4842 (if applicable).
8. Submit signed Financial Verification Form and required financial support documents.
9. A copy of your passport.
All checklist items must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies on or before the program deadline.