Frequently Needed Information
I am a first name user; my family name does not appear on my passport. OR I am a family name user; no 鈥榝irst鈥 name appears on my passport. How should I indicate this on the application?
In both cases, you should enter a period 鈥.鈥 for your first/given name, and the entirety of your name into the 鈥渇amily/last鈥 name field. We follow the听听in doing so. If you registered for a test (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, etc.) under a different variation of your name, please provide us with your registration information by email to听intlgrad@colorado.edu.鈥
Does 黑料社区网 accept graduate international applications and materials from third-party organizations or individuals?
黑料社区网 does not accept applications or materials from third party organizations or individuals.听Academic documents must be submitted via approved official听sources.听There are a few exceptions to this, which include (but may not be limited to) IIE, Fulbright, and certain branches of overseas governments.
Do you offer conditional admission?
At this point we do not offer conditional admission. Some departments do not require you to provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo results as part of the application process, but if you are offered admission, you will be required to provide sufficient and official English proficiency scores before we can finalize your admission. If you are admitted, but have not yet met the English proficiency requirement, you may continue to take the tests and submit results as you attempt to get the necessary score. If you are not able to obtain a sufficient score, you can inquire about an admission deferral from your department. You may also consider applying to our .
Please note that we do not accept completion of an English language program as 鈥減roof of English proficiency.鈥 Only scores from a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test will satisfy this requirement.
What is a transcript?
A transcript is a year-by-year academic record which should include ALL post-secondary academic work completed to date, including courses appearing as transfer credit on other transcripts, credits earned in study abroad programs, and courses taken for college credit while in high school.
What is the difference between an official and an unofficial transcript?
- Official transcripts听are those that bear the facsimile signature of the registrar and seal of the issuing institution. They are sent to the 黑料社区网 directly from the issuing institution either as electronic documents by email or as hard copy documents delivered by post. Submission of official transcripts is only required if you are admitted.
- Unofficial transcripts听include the same information as official transcripts, but are lacking the signature and seal of the institution. An unofficial transcript may be a transcript that was opened by the student; a copy or a scan of an official transcript; a downloaded copy or one that was not issued directly from the school; or a translation of the transcript by a student or a translation service.
Do I need to provide an unofficial transcript from every post-secondary institution I have attended?
We require one copy of the scanned unofficial transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution you attended to be uploaded in the application for admission. This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.
Do I need a translation of my transcript?
If documents are written in a language other than English, complete and official English translations must be uploaded together WITH the original language records. Each transcript (mark sheet) should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued (i.e., the subjects taken and grades/marks earned in each subject), as well as any legend. We will not accept grade reports.
For the following countries and regions, only the English language transcript is required:
Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Botswana, Canada, Commonwealth Caribbean, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, (The) Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
For all other countries, all records should be submitted in the native language with original stamps.
All credentials written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a literal certified English translation.
Should I provide a transcript evaluation?
We have trained and experienced professional staff in our office who evaluate your records, including converting your GPA. Additionally, we do not accept third party credential evaluations from companies like WES or ECE.
What kind of transfer credits will you accept from my non US school?
Please see the Transfer Credit information on the Graduate School FAQ page.
Who is an international student?
We distinguish international from domestic students based on their immigration status鈥攖hat is, whether they will be attending CU on a valid visa. Anyone who plans to study at CU while on a valid visa of any sort is considered an international student.
I have applied for permanent residency, but have not yet gotten it.听Am I a domestic or international student?
If you (or your family) have a receipt for the submission of your I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence) form, you should indicate 鈥減ermanent resident鈥 on the application, even if your permanent residency has yet to be granted. You would be considered a domestic applicant. If your application for permanent residency is later denied please let us know immediately at intlgrad@colorado.edu.听
You are a Graduate School Applicant if you have completed or will complete the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's or master's degree and you wish to pursue further education (a master's or doctoral degree).
You are a Transfer Undergraduate Applicant if听you have enrolled at another college or university since graduation from secondary school, but have not completed a bachelor's degree. Preparatory years do not count as university-level work.
To be eligible to apply to the 黑料社区网, graduate applicants must meet the Minimum Admission Requirements. This includes听holding a baccalaureate level degree from an institution that is recognized by the Ministry of Education of the country where the institution is located. Three-year degrees meeting such criteria can be considered.听It is acceptable to apply if such a degree is currently in progress, but will be awarded before attendance at the 黑料社区网.
Up-to-date tuition information and rates are available on the听.
How do I get an I-20?
In order for our office to generate an I-20 for you, you need to complete the online application, submit all required materials, be reviewed for and offered admission by the department to which you are applying, and meet all immigration regulations (which include proof of English proficiency and proof of funding).
When do I need to provide my financial statement?
You do not need to provide the financial statement until you have been admitted to the 黑料社区网.
If I live off campus, do I still need to demonstrate living expenses funding?
Yes. While the estimate for living expenses is based on rates for living in campus housing, you should expect to pay at least a similar amount (if not more) if you鈥檒l be living off campus.
My source of funding has changed, should I get a new I-20 to reflect this?
Yes, you should get a new I-20 to reflect the funding change. Please let us know this information immediately so we update it in the SEVIS system. Whenever any information that appears on your I-20 changes, please let us know immediately at听intlgrad@colorado.edu
The major that appears on my I-20 is not the exact name of the major/department to which I was admitted. Is this an error?
The major on your I-20 is known as the .听Not all majors at CU have the exact name of the CIP Code used on the I-20. This is not an issue.
I received the I-20 but there鈥檚 an error on it. What should I do?
Please communicate any issues with your I-20 to听intlgrad@colorado.edu.
Please refer to the Tuition & Money Matters page听for more information.
Employment Eligibility
International students may verify their employment eligibility and restrictions through听.
Teaching &听Research Assistantships
The main form of funding through CU-Boulder for international graduate students is from the听department听to which you are applying. Many departments provide graduate students with teaching or research assistantships. These appointments provide a salary and tuition waiver, as well as a partial insurance benefit. To find out more about assistantships opportunities, you must contact the听department听to which you are applying. You may also find more information about funding on the department鈥檚 website.
Fellowships
Some departments offer support in the form of graduate fellowships. Check with the department to which you are applying to see what opportunities may exist.
Training Grants
Departments may provide students with funding through training grants, providing graduate students the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with mentors and other graduate students on specific, long-term research projects. Primarily science, engineering, and social science departments offer this type of grant. Students should consult directly with their home department to find out what opportunities are available in this area.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is defined in part as U.S. government assistance for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. If you are neither of those you will not qualify for it. You should check with your own government as to whether they offer financial aid, scholarships or grants to students studying abroad, but you would need to secure that support independently.
Loans
Educational loans from U.S. banks are generally not extendable to non-citizens and non-permanent residents, because they are considered part of financial aid, as they are backed by the U.S. government. These types of educational loans may be available in your country, but you would need to seek out that support independently.
Student Employment
International students can sometimes secure small jobs around campus, but it鈥檚 important to note that these types of positions would never be enough to pay for tuition and room and board. 黑料社区网's听听posts an average of 600 part-time, on-campus and off-campus jobs for students on听. Many domestic U.S. graduate students who qualify for federal financial aid also qualify for federal work-study awards. Call the Student Employment Office to find out at 303-492-7349 or stop by Regent 205.
Additional Funding
Additional funding may be sought from national, international, industrial, or foundation sources. A partial list of such sources is available on the听Graduate School听website. Other avenues to learn about these opportunities include career counseling offices and directories of funding sources such as the听Annual Register of Grant Support听and the听Grants Register听in university libraries.
Online Resources
听(external website)
As a foreign national, you will need to obtain a temporary听visa from the United States in order to be allowed entry to the country. The two most common types of visas for students attending the 黑料社区网 are the听F-1 student visa听and the听J-1 exchange visitor visa.
The F-1 student visa is used by most students. If you are admitted, and after we receive proof of funding for your studies and proof of your English proficiency, the 黑料社区网 Office of Admissions will send you a Form I-20, which is the application for the F-1 student visa. Information from the I-20 will allow you to pay the government visa fee (online) and thus to make a visa appointment at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. You will also be required to pay a visa fee. In addition to your application materials, passport, and admission offer, you鈥檒l need to bring this I-20 to your visa appointment. Both the F-1 student visa (stamped into your passport if approved) and the I-20 Form are necessary to enter the US. If you are an F-1 student already studying in the United States, you must complete the F-1 immigration transfer form and arrange to have your current F-1 immigration record transferred to us before your 鈥渢ransfer pending鈥 I-20 can be issued. A link to this form is included in your formal admission email.
This pertains only to F-1 students currently attending a US school or college in the United States. The immigration transfer process is an electronic F-1 record transfer from your current school to the 黑料社区网. If any of these steps or items are missing, we cannot begin the immigration transfer process or issue a 黑料社区网 transfer-pending I-20. You must be eligible for an academic I-20 from 黑料社区网. This means that you have applied, been admitted to, and have confirmed your intent to enroll. You must complete the first page of the 黑料社区网 F-1 immigration form and give, fax, or email it to the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current school (other than 黑料社区网). You and the DSO at your current school must agree on a SEVIS release date. This is the date that the DSO at your current school will transfer your electronic record to 黑料社区网. The date may not be until classes are over for the semester, or even after graduation (if you are finishing a degree at your current school).
The DSO at your current school must complete the rest of the form and fax or email it to us. Information on how to complete this form is on the form itself. On the SEVIS release date, your record will appear in our Transfer In list in the SEVIS database. We can issue the transfer-pending I-20 only on or after this date, but not before the date. If your record does not appear on or after the SEVIS release date, check with the DSO at your current school to make sure that your record was released to the University of Colorado 鈥 Boulder. Sometimes it is mistakenly transferred to the International English Center at 黑料社区网. On the SEVIS release date, and if your record appears in our Transfer In list, we will issue a transfer-pending I-20. If your current F-1 visa is not expiring, you can travel in and out of the US with that visa and your transfer pending I-20 from 黑料社区网. If your current F-1 visa is expiring, you can use the 黑料社区网 transfer pending I-20 to apply for a new visa without having to repay the SEVIS fee (other visa fees may still apply). If you are not leaving the US before starting your 黑料社区网 program this semester, it may be easiest for us to hold on to your I-20 until you arrive in Boulder. You can pick up your transfer pending I-20 from our front desk in Regent Hall room 125. When you arrive on the 黑料社区网 campus you must check in with International Student and Scholar Services. To do so, go to their website and .
The J-1 exchange visitor (student category) visa is designed for certain non-privately sponsored students, such as those whose funding comes from their government. If you are admitted, 黑料社区网's International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS) office or your sponsoring organization will send you the DS-2019 form necessary to obtain this visa. Information from the DS-2019 will allow you to pay the SEVIS fee (online) and thus to make a visa appointment at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. You will also be required to a pay a visa fee. In addition to your application materials, passport and admission offer, you鈥檒l need to bring this DS-2019 to your visa appointment. Both the J-1 student visa (stamped into your passport if approved) and the DS-2019 Form are necessary to enter the US.
Students here on other visa types (or who have come as dependents on another person鈥檚 visa) are generally permitted to study full time at the university. This includes H-4s, L-2s, and E-2s, among others. If you have one of these visas already, please indicate such on your admission application. U.S. Immigration law prohibits any full-time study for students who enter the U. S. on the visa waiver program or on B1/B2 tourist visas or F-2 visas. If you鈥檙e here already and unsure of your visa type or immigration status, please indicate 鈥淥ther鈥 as your US citizenship on the CU-Boulder admission application.
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, please take note of your program start date.听All F-1/J-1 students MUST arrive no later than the program start date which is reflected on your I-20/DS-2019.听Note:听You may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days prior to this date.
Pre-Arrival Information for International Students can be found on the ISSS website including information about:
Due to current restrictions imposed by U.S. Department of Treasury鈥檚 Office of Foreign Assets Control,听web course delivery cannot be provided to the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Region of Crimea. Students who are resident, or may be a resident听in any of these countries during their CU study听may require prior U.S. Government approval. Students resident in a sanctioned country should not enroll or begin an academic program at CU. CU can seek prior U.S. Government approval on a case by case basis. If you are interested in seeking prior approval,听contact the Office of Export Controls at听exportcontrolhelp@Colorado.edu.听