International graduate student admission

To be eligible for admission, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from an internationally recognized institution.

Competitive applicants typically have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a “B” average).  If you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement your application may still be considered by the department based on your overall qualifications.

View the Center for International Education website for steps on how to apply as an international graduate student.

When a program is offered fully online, international students are welcome to pursue NAU degree programs while staying in their home country.  Because these programs do not require study in the United States, a student visa is not needed.

International students may pursue in-person degree programs only at NAU’s Flagstaff or Yuma campuses.

International students may only pursue in-person Graduate Certificate programs when combined with an eligible degree program.

Explore degree programs available to international students by following this link.

All international applicants must provide official proof of English proficiency. Your application will not be evaluated until NAU receives valid scores from one of the approved testing agencies:

• IELTS: Email a copy of your Test Report Form (TRF) to gradinternational@nau.edu
• Duolingo: Request official scores to be sent to NAU through the Duolingo portal
• TOEFL: Request official scores to be sent to NAU through ETS (school code 4006)

English Proficiency Waivers

Proof of English proficiency may be waived if:

• You hold a passport from an approved English-speaking country, or
• You completed a university degree from one of these English-speaking countries (official transcript is required).

Minimum scores for most programs:

Score Validity:
Test scores must be taken within two years of the term in which you plan to begin your studies.

Note:

• Some programs have higher requirements or require minimum section scores.
• Not all departments accept all exam types. Check program-specific guidelines.

Applicants who do not meet English proficiency requirements may be eligible for the Program in Intensive English.

The Program in Intensive English (PIE) meets the academic needs of NAU international students by providing academic English preparation and support.  PIE teaches skills that are essential to successful academic performance at the university.

The privileges and responsibilities of a foreign national in the United States of America depend on the type of visa held. Therefore, is important to ensure that international graduate students obtain the appropriate visa.

Obtaining an F-1 or J-1 Visa

New international graduate students are required to apply for a non-immigrant F1 (degree-seeking) or J1 (exchange) visa to enter the United States for academic study. It is important that you start the visa process as soon as possible. Therefore, we recommend starting the visa application process as soon as you have received the I-20 or DS-2019 immigration documents from NAU.

After being admitted to your program, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your educational expenses and living costs while studying in the United States.  To do so, you must provide documentation showing that funds are available to meet the estimated cost of attendance.

Acceptable documentation may include one or more of the following:

• Personal funds: Submit a recent bank statement
• Government, employer, or educational institution sponsorship: Submit an official sponsorship letter confirming financial support.
• Third-party sponsorship: Submit documentation from the individual or organization providing financial support.

In addition, all international students must submit a completed Financial Verification Form.

Please note that some graduate programs have additional program-specific fees.  For more information, review the Graduate Program Fees by College.

All international students on a F1 or J1 visa are automatically enrolled in the NAU Student Health Insurance Plan as required by the Arizona Board of Regents policy.  The health insurance coverage requirement cannot be waived unless you meet one of the waiver requirements and submit the request to International Student & Scholar Services by the deadline.