International Admission Requirements

International students seeking direct admission must satisfy all application requirements for incoming freshmen, transfer students, or graduate students, including the application fee, as well as the additional requirements listed below. Additional Pathway and Academic English programs are available for those needing extra support with their English skills. 

The University requires the following documentation for all international students:

  • Official academic records, from all schools attended (in original language and an official word for word English translation)
  • English proficiency score

Additional Documentation

If accepted to the University, we will also require a copy of your passport to ensure correct spelling on official immigration materials.

Freshmen

International freshman students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores unless they have attended a U.S. high school for three or more years. However, submitting SAT or ACT scores may make you eligible for scholarships at the University.

Transfer Students

Graduate Students

  • GRE or GMAT scores, if applicable to your program
  • Degree certificate and/or diploma, if applicable in your country
  • Additional supporting documents, if applicable to your program

View more information about your intended graduate program and the requirements.

Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts

Students interested in majors within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts should review additional admission requirements for those specific programs. 

View Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Admissions Requirements

Declaration of Finances

Federal regulations require proof of financial resources to pay for the first year of study at Illinois State. An electronic bank statement or letter dated within 6 months of acceptance is required.

Submit Declaration of Finances

English Proficiency

Duolingo English Test

In response to the temporary closings of testing centers in countries impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, Illinois State will temporarily accept Duolingo English Test examination results, as an alternative to TOEFL or IELTS, for fall 2020.

A minimum score of 105 will be required for admission. Some graduate programs may have higher requirements. If you submit the minimum score, you will be re-tested when you arrive on campus to verify your English placement.

The Duolingo English Test does not provide sub-score breakouts and cannot be used to satisfy the English proficiency requirement for teaching assistants. Students who submit a Duolingo score for admission will need to take the TOEFL/IELTS at a later date and either:

  • meet the minimum speaking score of 26 or overall IELTS score of 8
  • submit the results of a passing score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) prior to arrival on campus; or
  • be evaluated on campus/video meeting directly through the department

Duolingo English Test Information:

Non-Native English Speaking Countries

If your country of origin is from a non-native English speaking country, you must submit either the  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  or the  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  from a test you’ve taken within the past two years.

We require the following minimum scores:

  • TOEFL internet-based (iBT): 79
  • IELTS overall band score: 6.5

Some  graduate programs  require higher minimum scores for admission.

Scanned test scores can be sent electronically to the Office of Admissions for an admissions decision. If accepted, your official test scores must be sent to Illinois State directly from the TOEFL or IELTS website or confirmed official by the Office of Admissions. 

English Waiver Guidelines

To determine if you are eligible to receive a waiver, refer to our English Waiver Guidelines. For assistance with English Waiver Guidelines contact InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu.

Waiver Eligible Anglophone Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Irish Republic
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales)
  • African (Anglophone): Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leon, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • Commonwealth Caribbean (Anglophone): Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago

Acceptance of Three-Year Degrees from India

The University will accept three-year degrees from universities in India if:

  • The degree is from an A or better NAAC accreditation CGPA and an average percentage mark at graduation of 55 percent or higher
  • The degree is from an B or better NAAC accreditation CGPA and an average percentage mark at graduation of 60 percent or higher (i.e., second division or higher)
  • The student has completed a post graduate year in the same field or a master’s degree in any field.