Admission Requirements for International Graduate Students University of Dayton
If you are an international student applying for admission to any of our graduate programs, you must meet certain educational criteria. Specifically, you need to have completed a minimum of 16 years of education, which should include the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an institution that is regionally accredited. Please note that coursework from technical or non-university affiliated institutions may not be considered for academic credit. Additionally, your home country’s education ministry must officially recognize each institution you attended as a degree-granting one.
To begin the application process, you should submit the appropriate application form for the graduate program you are interested in:
- Graduate application (for master’s degree programs, graduate certificates, licensures, and endorsements).
- Doctoral application (for Ph.D. and D.E. programs).
When completing your address on the application, your permanent address should be your home country address, even if you are currently residing in the United States. Your mailing address should reflect your current location. Please do not list the U.S. address of a friend or relative. After submitting your application, the admission evaluation and review process typically takes about four to six weeks for most programs, although certain programs like physical therapy may have longer processing times.
Application requirements and entry terms can vary depending on the program you choose. To find specific information about application requirements for your desired program, please review the details provided for that program.
Most programs will require the following
- Application submission (no application fee is required).
- A graduate entrance examination.
- Letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement or writing sample.
- Transcripts from your previous educational institutions (see additional information below).
- Proof of English Proficiency (see additional information below).
- Evidence of financial support to obtain your study (F-1) visa (see additional information below).
Transcripts
Official academic records should be issued directly by each institution you attended. We also accept admission documents via email. Please send your documents as .pdf attachments in a single email message to goglobalgraduate@udayton.edu. These records should include dates of attendance, subjects studied, and grades earned. If the documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Specific academic document requirements for selected countries are available for review. Documents should be sent directly from the institution to the following address:
Office of Recruitment and Admission University of Dayton 300 College Park Dayton, OH 45469-2713
English Proficiency Options
If English is not your native language, you are required to provide proof of English proficiency by submitting one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 80 on the Internet-based (IB) test or 550 on the paper-based test for full admission.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum band score of 6.5 for full admission.
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 60 for full admission.
- DuoLingo (DET) with a minimum score of 110 for full admission.
Some graduate programs may require a higher proficiency score for full admission, so please check with your department for specific requirements. When requesting your scores, please use our institution code of 1834 to have them sent to the University of Dayton.
If you are academically qualified but have submitted a TOEFL or IELTS score below the minimums mentioned above, you may be conditionally admitted to the University. In this case, you would be required to attend our Intensive English Program (IEP). Students admitted to the IEP must take a placement exam to determine the appropriate level for their current English language skills. While attending the IEP, you may be permitted to participate in academic classes as a part-time student based on your placement exam results.
To transition from conditional admission to full admission into your graduate program, you must pass all IEP classes with approval from IEP instructors. Additionally, you must meet all other requirements specified in your acceptance letter for your chosen program.
F-1 Visa Requirements
Both the University of Dayton and the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement require that students meeting the academic admission requirements and planning to enter the U.S. on F-1 (student) or J-1 (scholar/exchange visitor) visas provide proof of financial support before receiving immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019). To do this, you must demonstrate your ability to cover the first year’s educational costs, living expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses.
To meet this requirement, submit your financial documents during the application process along with all other supporting documentation. Applications submitted without these financial documents may be considered incomplete and may experience delays in processing. Please note that we do not accept emailed, scanned, or photocopied versions of these documents.
Financial documents should include
- An original bank statement issued within the past six months showing the account number and balance.
- A statement of sponsorship, if you are not self-funded, indicating the extent and duration of support.
Additionally, the following documents can help facilitate the processing of your immigration record:
- A photocopy of your passport containing your official name, birth date, and other pertinent information.
- If you are already in the U.S., a photocopy of your visa and I-94, which indicates your entry into the country.
Please be aware that government-sponsored students should include a letter from their government indicating support and billing information.
If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please reach out to the Office of Recruitment and Admission at:
Phone: (800) UD-PRIDE Email: goglobalgraduate@udayton.edu