Fordham GSAS International Student Admissions Guide

## Introduction Fordham University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) accepts applications from international students globally. Applicants residing outside the U.S. are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by their program's earliest deadline to allow sufficient time for the visa process. ## Applicant Requirements To be considered for admission, applicants must hold an undergraduate degree (U.S. baccalaureate or equivalent) from an accredited institution prior to enrollment. International applicants with a three-year bachelor's degree from a Bologna Process member institution are eligible to apply to GSAS programs. ### Academic Transcripts and Credential Evaluations Transcripts from previously attended post-secondary institutions must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. For institutions outside the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, a course-by-course credential evaluation is strongly encouraged. A course-by-course credential evaluation is required for applicants to the PhD programs in Psychology. If an institution is not part of the Bologna Process, an official course-by-course evaluation of higher education history from an international credential evaluation company that is a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators) is necessary. Evaluations typically take 2-4 weeks. Waivers for credential evaluations may be considered on a case-by-case basis for programs where they are not required, provided the transcript meets specific criteria: it must be from a four-year program, written in English, include a comprehensive list of courses and credits with grades, and contain an explanatory key for the grading and credit system. The decision for a waiver rests with the Office of Admissions. The credential evaluation requirement for PhD programs in Psychology cannot be waived. ## English Proficiency Requirements International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test scores from one of the following accepted English language competency exams: TOEFL (iBT, Home Edition, Essentials, or Paper Edition if less than two years old), IELTS, Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams). Minimum score requirements vary by program: * **General GSAS Programs:** TOEFL iBT 100 (before January 21, 2026) or 5.0 (on or after January 21, 2026), IELTS 7.0, DET 130, PTE Academic 68, Cambridge English Qualifications 185. * **Specific Programs (PhD Computer Science, MS Computer Science, MS Cybersecurity, MS Data Science, Advanced Certificate in Data Science for Cybersecurity):** TOEFL iBT 85 (before January 21, 2026) or 4.5 (on or after January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.5, DET 115, PTE Academic 59, Cambridge English Qualifications 176. Official scores should be sent directly by the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admissions (Fordham's ETS TOEFL score is #2259). ### Exemptions to the English Language Requirement Exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for applicants who are native English speakers from countries where English is an official language, or who have completed, within the past five years, at least two years of study at an undergraduate or graduate institution in the United States or a country where English is the official language of instruction. An exemption may also be considered for applicants who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in India, though language proficiency test scores may still be requested in some cases. GSAS reserves the right to require a language proficiency evaluation from any applicant. ### Fordham English Language Test (FELT) Condition Students whose English proficiency scores do not meet GSAS program requirements may be required to take the Fordham English Language Test (FELT), administered by Fordham's Institute of American Language and Culture (IALC). Additional coursework may also be recommended by the IALC. Students admitted with this condition are permitted to register for two GSAS courses during the academic term in which they are completing IALC-recommended coursework. ## Funding and Costs Tuition costs associated with the learning of English as a second language are the responsibility of the student and are not covered by GSAS tuition scholarships. GSAS merit-based tuition scholarships are not applicable to the costs of additional coursework recommended by the IALC. ## Immigration and Visas International students must obtain a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 from the Fordham Office of International Services to apply for an F-1 Student Visa or a J-1 Exchange Visa. GSAS Admissions does not issue these forms. Upon accepting an offer of admission, international applicants will be instructed to upload a completed and signed Affidavit of Support (AFCOE), accompanied by original supporting documentation (e.g., passport identification, bank statements, scholarship award letters), directly to their application. Financial documentation must verify adequate resources to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses for the full-time program. Any document not in English must have a certified translation. Admissions will transfer these documents to the Office of International Services for I-20 or DS-2019 processing. ### Deadlines for Visa Processing To avoid visa delays, it is vital to submit the completed AFCOE and supporting documents as soon as possible after accepting an offer of admission. Recommended submission dates are: * **Spring Admission:** No later than December 1 * **Fall Admission:** No later than July 1 ## Important Contact Information * **Visas and Immigration:** `[email protected]` * **Course Registration, Payroll Forms, Social Security Numbers for GSAS Merit-Based Financial Aid:** `[email protected]` * **Application and Admissions Process:** `[email protected]` ## Unknowns and Source Limitations The provided source text does not include a specific list of countries accepted for English language requirement exemptions. While it recommends applying by the earliest program deadline, specific program application deadlines are not detailed within this text. Exact costs of attendance are not specified, though applicants are required to demonstrate financial capacity to cover them. The source mentions external websites for visa information but does not provide direct links or guarantee the accuracy of information found on those external sites. Source: https://www.fordham.edu/graduate-school-of-arts-and-sciences/admissions/international-students/ Checked: 2026-09-25T09:15:35.355085+00:00 Confirm details with the official institution before applying.