International students must submit complete applications by March 15.
Academic Credentials
By the application deadline date, the admissions office must receive:
- A transcript/mark sheet in the original language must be uploaded into the online application. If your transcript is not in English, please also upload a transcript/mark sheet translated into English.
- Copy of diploma/degree received if this information is not listed on your transcript. If your diploma is not in English, please also submit a diploma translated into English. This documentation should be uploaded into the online application.
Applicants who have completed the full sequence of preparatory studies and examinations equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an approved institution and who have demonstrated high academic achievement will be considered for admission.
Translations should not be interpretive, and actual names of all degrees, diplomas, and certificates must appear in the translation. If you are in need of a translation service, a list of English translation companies can be found on this website.
For those with 3-year bachelor's degrees, you are eligible if you meet the following criteria:
- If you will be awarded a master’s degree by the time you begin graduate study at the University of Maryland, or your 3-year bachelor’s degree was earned in a country with 13 years of pre-university formal education, then you are eligible for graduate study.
- We will also consider those with a 3-year bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate diploma from a nationally recognized institution to be eligible.
- If your 3-year bachelor’s degree would qualify you for admission to academic graduate programs in the country in which it was earned, then you are welcome to submit an application which will be reviewed by the department to determine whether you are a strong enough candidate for an exception to be made.
- The 3-year bachelor’s degree must already have been earned at the time of application.
- The 3-year bachelor’s degree needs to be in a field closely related to the field of study that you are applying to with strong grades in order to be considered for an exception.
You are not eligible if your sole qualification is a 3-year bachelor’s degree from a country with 12 years of pre-university education, and your degree would not qualify you for admission to an academic graduate program in this country, then you are not eligible to apply to the Graduate School.
Financial Resources
Admitted international students who need an I-20 must show evidence of funding for the first year of their studies. The funding amount includes tuition, fees, housing, and miscellaneous expenses for one year. This financial documentation is not required until after a student is formally admitted. Additional information will be provided to international students after they are admitted to the University of Maryland.
Immigration Documents
International applicants admitted to graduate study will be issued student visas where appropriate. Foreign students should not leave their home country before obtaining an official offer of admission from the dean of graduate studies.
To enter the United States most foreign students will need a passport from their government and a visa from the U.S. Consulate. To apply for a visa, the student must provide evidence of a minimum of 48 graduate unit hours, or the equivalent of a full course of study. The accompanying spouse or child of an F-1 student enters the U.S. on an F-2 visa, which does not permit employment of any kind. Another commonly granted visa is the exchange visitor visa (J-1), generally for students sponsored by agencies, foundations, or their home governments. It is granted only with the presentation of a Certificate of Eligibility Form (IAP-66). The accompanying spouse or child enters the U.S. on a J-2 visa, which may in some circumstances permit employment with approval from the U.S.
For further information, please refer to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
It is important to note that, in many cases, an exchange visitor must leave the U.S. at the conclusion of the program, may not change visa status, and may not be eligible for any other visa until a two-year home country residency has been completed.
For further information concerning visas, please consult with the U.S. Consulate in your country.
Note: The visitor visa (B-2) is not appropriate for students intending to study in the U.S. Once an individual is in the U.S. on a B-2 visa, it is difficult to change to a student or exchange visitor visa unless that individual has previously discussed study plans with the U.S. Consulate and has been issued a B-2 visa designated “prospective student.”