International Undergraduate Requirements

Join our global community! You’re considered an international student if you’re not a U.S. citizen, a dual citizen or a permanent U.S. resident.*

The following are the application requirements for international students applying to Syracuse.

Begin your application

Credentials

If you have completed academic work outside the U.S., you must provide official academic credentials as well as English translations of the documents. If only one document is available, we will accept notarized or certified copies of the original document. If translations are needed, it is your responsibility to have the credentials translated by a reputable translation and evaluation service. Syracuse University will not provide translations for you. A key to the marking system or grading scale should also be included if it is not indicated on the transcript.

Please note that students completing the British curriculum are not eligible to apply upon completion of the IGCSE/GCSE; we require at least one additional year of education. Additionally, we do not accept the BTEC for admission at this time.

View international credentials requirements

English Proficiency

Syracuse University’s rigorous academic environment challenges students to take on opportunities to transform, lead and innovate. Wherever our students are—in the classroom, lab or internships—the expectation is students must be proficient in the English language.

Who?

All first-year and transfer applicants who reside outside the U.S. and whose first language is not English or are international students studying in the U.S. must submit English language proficiency exam results. Syracuse University will consider the test results in combination with other application materials and documentation to gain a holistic understanding of your English language proficiency.

When?

Testing for English language proficiency is recommended to be completed prior to the application deadline and your results submitted along with other application materials. The test results are considered valid for two years prior to the application deadline.

If you have not submitted exam scores prior to the application deadline, your application review may be significantly delayed or be considered without the benefit of completed supporting materials.

Waivers

The English proficiency exam requirement may be waived in certain situations at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. Your supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine your qualifications for a waiver. If approved, it will be reflected accordingly on your application checklist in your applicant portal.

Waiver approval is not guaranteed, and we strongly recommend you take an English proficiency exam as part of the application process if your first language is not English.

Required Exams

The following English language proficiency exams are accepted by Syracuse University:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
TOEFL At Home
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Cambridge English Language Assessment
PTE (Pearson Test of English)
Duolingo English Test (DET)

English proficiency exam score reports must be sent directly to the University from the testing service.

Use ID code 2823 when requesting your official TOEFL scores from ETS.

Please note that Syracuse University does not accept:

TOEFL Essentials or ITP exam
TOEFL My Best Score
IELTS Indicator

Preferred TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge and Duolingo Scores

College	Preferred TOEFL	Preferred IELTS	Preferred Cambridge	Duolingo (2024 applicants)
College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs , College of Visual and Performing Arts (Communication and Rhetorical Studies program)	85+	6.5+	176+	130+
Martin J. Whitman School of Management, School of Architecture	90+	7.0+	185+	130+
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications	102+	7.0+ (7.5 preferred)	185+ (191 preferred)	135+
School of Education, College of Engineering and Computer Science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, School of Information Studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts (Departments of Art, Design, Drama, and Transmedia, Setnor School of Music)	80+	6.5+	176+	120+
All colleges	No TOEFL subscore under 20	No IELTS band under 6.0	No Cambridge subscore under 176	No Duolingo sub score under 95

Minimum TOEFL Subscores

Writing: 21
Speaking, Reading and Listening: 20

Minimum IELTS Bands

Writing: 6.0
Reading, Listening and Speaking: 6.5

Minimum Cambridge Subscore

Minimum Duolingo Subscores

Literacy: 120
Conversation: 110
Comprehension: 130
Production: 95

Financial Requirements

If you are an international applicant who requires an F-1 student visa to come to Syracuse, you must submit documentation that demonstrates the ability to fund your education for one full academic year.

International students intending to apply for an F-1 student visa must complete the Visa/Financial Support Information Form (found in your applicant portal) and submit it along with a bank statement or letter indicating proof of liquid funds. Photocopies of financial documentation are acceptable. Please include a copy of your passport with the financial documents that you upload. Be sure to write your name, date of birth and name of the program to which you are applying on all documents that you upload.

If you have questions or would prefer to email your documents, please contact us at orange@syr.edu.

Details

Please refer to the cost of attendance for international students. The estimated cost of attendance for the 2025-26 academic year will be finalized in Spring 2025. Students applying for Spring or Fall 2025 must show sufficient funds to meet your first-year expenses at Syracuse University per the University's current estimate of $92,963 for the 2024-25 academic year.
The amount that applicants must show is the total cost of attendance for the semester to which they are applying. Please note that you will also be responsible for all costs associated with your additional years required for completion of your degree.
If you are a privately or personally sponsored applicant, acceptable proof of finances may be a bank statement or signed letter of support from a bank that states the account holdings meet the minimum total cost of attendance to fund your first-year expenses at Syracuse University.
It is not necessary for the bank statement to show the amount in U.S. dollars; however, the currency does need to be clearly indicated.
The print date of the statement must be within a year of the start of the term to which you are applying.
A statement of income or earnings does not constitute proof of sufficient funds.
If you are a government-sponsored applicant, you must submit a certified copy of the award letter that includes the U.S. dollar amount of the award per year, the duration of the award and a list of expenses covered by the award.
In addition to the above expenses, you should plan on expenses for the winter break and summer months. If you are returning to your home country or are traveling to another location, you should anticipate those additional expenses.
International applicants will also be considered for merit scholarships.

Personal Interviews (Optional)

Interviews are not a requirement for admission to Syracuse University. Students who would like the opportunity to add an interview to their application portfolio can schedule a virtual interview via our registration page.

Students in Asia can also arrange for an interview with Vericant. Syracuse University, in partnership with Vericant, provides in-person interview opportunities for international applicants interested in showcasing English skills and professionalism to the admissions team. We also accept InitialView interviews.

Conditional Admission

You may be granted conditional admission to Syracuse University if the academic requirements for admission have been met, but there is insufficient English proficiency and/or insufficient financial support to be fully admitted to your program. Only those students who have submitted an official TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge or PTE Academic score may be considered for conditional admission.

Conditionally admitted students are not considered fully admitted to the University and will not be issued the SEVIS I-20 form (the form that is needed to obtain the F-1 student visa) until the University receives the necessary official English proficiency credentials and/or the necessary proof of sufficient funding. It is not guaranteed that space will still be available at the time a student meets the condition.

Student Visas and Immigration

Upon admission

If you are at another institution in the U.S. in F-1 immigration status:

Your school will need to transfer your SEVIS record to Syracuse University by “Releasing Your Record.” This would happen on a date that you and the international student advisor at your current school agree upon.
Most importantly, to maintain your legal status you must be released from your current school and Syracuse University must issue a “Transfer Pending I-20” no later than 60 days after your program end date (likely the last day of final exams or the graduation date at your previous school).
You and your current international student advisor can notify Syracuse University of your intent to transfer by accessing the “Transfer-In Form” which has to be completed by you and your advisor at your current school.
It is also important to remember that if you are going back to your home country between the time you finish at your current school and the date you are coming to Syracuse University, you need to enter the U.S. with the I-20 of Syracuse University. If you are going home and your current F-1 visa is valid, you do not need to apply for a new visa. However, if your F-1 visa is expired and you are leaving the U.S. and re-entering, you do need to apply for a new F-1 student visa. See the directions below for applying for a nonimmigrant visa.

If you have been studying outside the U.S. prior to coming to Syracuse University:

You will need an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) in order to apply for your student visa at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. When you receive the I-20 from the Center for International Services, directions will be provided on exactly how you apply for the visa and what documents you need. For further information, visit the Center for International Services.

*For DACA students or those who may be undocumented, please contact the Office of Admissions at orange@syr.edu with questions on how to apply.

College-Specific Requirements

Prospective students of the School of Architecture, some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts have additional application requirements to be aware of.

Learn about the requirements

Cost of Attendance for International Students

The cost of attendance is an estimate of what it will cost for an international undergraduate student to attend Syracuse University for an academic year.

Learn about the cost