Apply to Graduate School

International Graduate Applicants

To complete an application as an international graduate applicant, follow the steps below.

Once the Graduate School has received a complete application, it will be forwarded to the graduate program for review. Each program makes its own recommendation, but the final admission decision is the responsibility of the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies.

The NDSU Graduate School application procedure places responsibility on the applicant to gather all supporting credentials and verifying that the application file is complete. The deadline for submission is dependent upon the program. If no deadline is listed on the program's catalog page, all application materials are due on the following dates:

• Fall application deadline: May 1
• Spring application deadline: October 1
• Summer application deadline: March 1

Application and Fees

You are required to submit your online application and nonrefundable $35 application fee. The fee must be paid before the application will be processed or reviewed.

If you're a returning applicant, you can log in to your account here.

Statement of Purpose

A statement of purpose is required for admission consideration and must be uploaded to your online application.

Please include the following information in your statement:

• Reasons for pursuing graduate study
• Special interests within your chosen discipline
• Background preparation in your proposed field of study
• Relevant skills or experience that you have acquired

Some programs may have additional requirements. Refer to your intended program for more information.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from persons familiar with your academic achievements. Your letter must meet the following requirements:

• Recommendations must be submitted to the Graduate School via the online application system. Recommenders will receive an email with the link and instructions at the email address you provide for them on your application.
• Letters cannot be more than two years old.
• We do not accept recommendation letters by paper, fax, or email. If received in any of these formats, they will be discarded.

Some programs may have other requirements. Refer to your intended program for more information.

Transcripts (Statement of Marks)

Submitting your transcripts (statement of marks)

Submit one official transcript (statement of marks) from each college or university at which you have been enrolled or are currently enrolled. Include both undergraduate and graduate coursework, as well as continuing education credits (if applicable).

Official original transcripts (statement of marks) are required to be sent from each institution attended, whether or not a degree was earned, and even if courses were transferred to another university.

Requirements

• The transcript (statement of marks) and degrees must bear the original stamp/seal and signature of the school official responsible for issuing such records (such as the Registrar or Controller of Examinations) for that institution.
• Only degrees received from colleges and universities recognized by the Ministry of Education of a foreign country or regional/global accreditation bodies are accepted.
• Transcripts (statement of marks) from non-U.S. institutions must be in the official language of the country in which they were earned. English language translations are also required. We will accept literal (not interpretive) English translations from any qualified translator, and the translations must be sent in addition to (not in lieu of) the official academic record.
• Do not send High School/Intermediate/Secondary transcripts.
• A four-year Bachelor’s degree is required to be eligible for graduate admission. Any applicant with a two or three-year Bachelor’s degree must submit a transcript evaluation to determine eligibility for admission.

Official transcripts (statement of marks) may be sent in either of two ways:

• Transcript Evaluation: the Graduate School prefers that your educational credentials be evaluated by WES (World Education Services), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators), IEE (International Education Evaluations), TEC (The Evaluation Company), or another NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) member. Please Note: The evaluation must be on a course-by-course basis.
• Official Transcript: the other option is to have one official copy of your transcript (statement of marks), as well as a copy of the degree certificate (if applicable), from each college or university at which you have been enrolled or are currently enrolled sent directly to the NDSU Graduate School. Documents must be sent in the original sealed and stamped envelope, with the seal, stamp, or signature of the Registrar (or equivalent) over the flap closure of the envelope. An evaluation of an official transcript by Graduate School staff takes at least two weeks.
• Please note: If our staff is unable to perform an evaluation of your transcript(s), we reserve the right to require that you have a course-by-course evaluation completed and submitted by an approved NACES member. We will notify you if this additional requirement is needed.

We do not accept unofficial transcripts:

• Notarized, emailed, faxed, and scanned copies are not considered official.
• Transcripts are not considered official if stamped by the department or a faculty member.
• If a transcript has been opened or tampered with, it will be considered unofficial.

Request to have all official documents sent directly to the NDSU Graduate School at the appropriate address listed below.

Mailing Address (if using postal service):
NDSU Graduate School
Dept 2820 PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108

Delivery Address (for courier deliveries):
NDSU Graduate School
106 Putnam Hall
1349 12th Avenue NW
Fargo, ND 58102

If you have previously attended (or currently attend) NDSU, we will obtain a copy of your NDSU transcript. You do not need to request an official NDSU transcript to be sent to our office.

Test Scores

English proficiency

All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship or residency, must demonstrate proficiency with the English language before they will be considered for admission to a graduate program.

This requirement may be met by applicants who have:

• Been raised in a recognized country where English is the only official language
• Earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized institution in a recognized country where English is the only official language
• Achieved a satisfactory TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Duolingo score (see details below) or PTE (Academic) – Pearson Test of English (Academic)

*Please note that applicants meeting either of the first two criteria listed above may need to contact the Graduate School to ensure that the test of English proficiency requirement is waived.

TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo

Minimum score requirements:

• TOEFL: 71 (internet-based) or 525 (paper-based)
• IELTS: 6.0 (academic version)
• Duolingo: 105 (internet-based)
• PTE Academic score of 50

Some programs require a higher minimum score. Refer to the program's catalog page for more information.

The official score must be received by the Graduate School before an application will be considered.

• Official TOEFL test scores must be sent electronically to NDSU (institution code 6474). A specific department code is not required.
• Official IELTS test scores must be sent by mail to the NDSU Graduate School. Please note that the academic version is required. The general training version will not be accepted for admission.
• Official Duolingo scores may be sent electronically to NDSU Graduate School.

The language test date must be within two years of the date of application to the Graduate School.

Your specific graduate program may require different minimum scores. See the minimum required scores for your program of interest by selecting your program in the Graduate Catalog.

Countries Exempt from the English Proficiency Examination Requirement

If you have been raised in one of the following countries or have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized institution in one of the following countries you do not need to provide a foreign language examination score.

• Applicants from the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Please note that applicants meeting the criteria above may need to contact the Graduate School to ensure their exemption from the test of English proficiency requirement.

English Language Test Score Requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants

To be eligible for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), applicants must meet higher English language test score minimums. View GTA score minimums for TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo here.

GRE and GMAT

Some departments require an admission test as part of the application. Please see the individual program pages for test requirements. All official test scores must be within five years of the date of the application to the Graduate School.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) – Official GRE test scores should be sent electronically to NDSU (institution code 6474). A specific department code is not required.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) – Please arrange to have official test scores sent directly to the Graduate School.

Graduate Certificate Applicants

Application to a graduate certificate program requires submission of the following materials. All the materials are submitted to the Graduate School.

1. A completed NDSU Graduate School application.
2. A nonrefundable $35 application fee.
3. Official copies of your transcript (grade report) from each college or university you’ve attended or are attending, including all undergraduate and graduate work.
   • Transcripts are considered official only if they arrive in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
   • For international students, certified English translations must also be included.
   • You do not need to submit transcripts for prior NDSU coursework; the Graduate School will obtain NDSU records already on file.
4. A statement of purpose that outlines your reasons for pursuing graduate study, including special interests within your chosen discipline and any relevant skills and experience you have acquired.
5. A TOEFL or IELTS test score — required of all applicants whose native language is not English.
   • The score must be submitted before your application will be considered.
   • To be considered for admission, you must have achieved a minimum score of 525 (paper-based), 197 (computer-based), or 71 (internet-based) for the TOEFL, or a minimum score of 6 for the IELTS.
   • The test date must be within two years of the date of your application to the Graduate School.

Non-Degree Graduate Applicants

Individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution of recognized standing may enroll as non-degree students. This category is for individuals who desire to pursue study beyond the baccalaureate degree for personal growth and improvement of skills but not in order to work toward an advanced degree objective.

General Requirements

To become a non-degree student, individuals must complete an application form and submit the appropriate fees. Students must have the prerequisite courses or background/experience necessary for the course or courses in which they desire to enroll. This may require consultation and approval from course instructors. In courses with limited enrollment, preference will be given to degree-seeking students.

Language Requirements

A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo score is required of ALL applicants whose native language is not English

Exclusions

Students enrolled with non-degree status are not eligible for graduate assistantships, graduate tuition waivers, or federal title IV student financial assistance. Students in this category are affiliated with the Graduate School and not an academic program.

No more than 10 credits taken under the non-degree status with a grade of B or higher can be transferred to any official program of study should there be, at any future date, a decision to seek degree classification. Professional development graduate courses (numbered 600) are not eligible for graduate degree programs and may be taken without formal admission to NDSU.

How to Apply

Non-degree graduate applicants must submit the following:

1. Online Application – Create an application account or log in to submit your application
2. Application Fee – You must submit a nonrefundable $35 application fee before your application will be reviewed
3. TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score (if English is not your first language)

Accelerated Degree Applicants

Accelerated degree (Undergraduate to Graduate) programs allow qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in a related subject area in approximately five years. A maximum of 15 graduate student credits may be applied to the undergraduate degree (contact your undergraduate advisor for program details).

Accelerated Master's Programs

Programs being offered in this accelerated format are listed in the online University Catalog.

General Requirements

Undergraduate students must have completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. Some accelerated programs do require a higher cumulative GPA for participation. Students should meet with their undergraduate advisor or the department chairperson/head in their major to learn whether an accelerated program is a good fit. If so,

1. Students will complete the Combined/Accelerated Degree Program Declaration Form

• This form requires the student to obtain the signature of the participating departments chairperson/head and to identify the graduate courses (up to a maximum of 15 credits) that will be taken and used as a substitute for undergraduate courses.
• The declaration form does not automatically register you for the courses indicated. You will have to register for them in your graduate career per the usual process in Campus Connection.

2. If declaration is approved, the student will make formal application to the NDSU Graduate School for the intended master’s degree program.

Accelerated Programs and Federal Financial Aid

Until you have earned a bachelor’s degree and moved on to the graduate portion of your program, you are viewed as an undergraduate for financial aid purposes. With that said, it is highly recommended that accelerated students receiving financial aid take a minimum of six credits (half-time) toward their undergraduate degree to be eligible for financial aid. Students who take more than six credits toward their undergraduate degree may maximize their financial aid eligibility in a given term. The credits that count toward the undergraduate degree may include credits listed on the declaration form as courses being used towards the graduate and undergraduate degrees.

It is important to plan which courses you will take in your last year of your undergraduate program to ensure you take at least six credits towards your bachelor’s degree each semester.

Dual Career Impact on Tuition and Fees

Students enrolled in multiple careers (e.g., both undergraduate and graduate) may be billed separately for each and the tuition cap does not apply across careers. Mandatory student fees do cap across careers. Exception: Architecture students in multiple careers will have their tuition capped at the graduate tuition rate. Students on a Graduate Assistantship should refer to their academic college for tuition waiver eligibility.

What to know before Applying to the Master's Degree Program

• Accelerated students are admitted to the graduate program in conditional standing. To move to full standing, students must:
  • Complete the bachelor’s degree (Note: a student must complete a bachelor’s degree at least one semester prior to the term in which a graduate degree is to be conferred. Students cannot earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees in the same semester.)
  • Maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA in graduate classes
  • Complete any other conditions outlined in the graduate admission letter.
• Accelerated students must meet all requirements that would ordinarily be expected of those enrolled in the master’s program.
• No undergraduate courses can be counted toward a master’s degree.
• Students MUST enroll in graduate courses on the graduate record. No graduate courses can appear on the undergraduate record. If graduate courses appear on the undergraduate record they will not count toward the master’s degree.
• Only a maximum of 15 graduate credits may count toward the bachelor’s degree.
• Graduate courses will not be considered for undergraduate Dean’s List or undergraduate Graduation with Honor eligibility.
• Before receipt of the bachelor’s degree, the graduate credit included on the declaration form will appear on the undergraduate record as NDSU transfer credit for inclusion on the undergraduate record for degree totals. A transcript note will be added to the NDSU graduate transfer credit to indicate this credit is applied to the undergraduate degree totals.

Students in an accelerated program cannot earn their bachelors and masters in the same semester. They must earn their bachelors at least one semester prior to the masters being earned.