The applicant must provide a personal statement discussing reasons for pursuing graduate study. 

All applicants must present grades (marks) that reflect superior ability and serious effort.

Original or officially certified copies of all grade reports for all secondary and higher school studies — as well as original or officially certified copies of all academic diplomas, certificates and national or other major examination results — must be submitted in the native language along with an official English translation. Notarized copies will not be accepted.

Photographic copies or other duplications are only acceptable if the copies have been signed and sealed by the appropriate school or government official.

Your school records must include:

• Dates of attendance at each institution
• A complete list of courses taken and grades received at each institution, including the number of weeks and hours per week in lecture or laboratory for each course
• Degrees and diplomas earned from each school or university, indicating class or division of diploma (if appropriate)
• Names of examinations passed, grades received and minimum/maximum possible grades (if appropriate)

Once your application has been submitted, any other documents may be sent electronically to globalfiles@vcu.edu, or by postal mail to:

Virginia Commonwealth University – International Admissions
408 West Franklin Street
Box 843012
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043
USA

Students transferring from within the U.S.

If you are transferring from a university-level institution within the U.S., you must apply online and submit your secondary school records, as well as university transcripts.

Admission will be based on your U.S. records only if you have completed more than one year of full-time study.

Transfer students from within the U.S. must be in good academic standing and eligible to return to the last college or university attended. You must fill out the first section of the Immigration Transfer-In Clearance Form and comply with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

Your U.S. school’s foreign student adviser should then complete the Immigration Transfer-In Clearance Form PDF and send it to the Office of Admissions.

To ensure maximum benefit from academic study at VCU, all non-native English-speaking applicants, regardless of immigration status, must provide evidence of English language proficiency before enrollment.

English waiver:

• Completion of a degree (bachelor's or higher) from a university or college within the U.S., Canada, UK or Australia.

• Completion of six semester hours of college-level English composition with a grade of C or better (excluding ESL classes) from a U.S. university or college.

• Residing in the U.S. for 10 years or more (domestic applicants).

• Successful completion of VCU's English Language Program.

Examinations and test scores: VCU's testing code is 5570

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The best TOEFL score is accepted and all scores making up the MBT score should be submitted. Scores are valid for two years.

• 80 IBT for graduates (some graduate programs may require a higher score)
• 8.5 TOEFL Essential

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Scores are valid for two years.

• 6.5 for graduates (some graduate programs may require a higher score)

Pearson Test of English: Scores are valid for two years.

• 65 for graduates

Duolingo Test Score: Scores are valid for two years

• A minimum score of 120 

Individual departments or schools may have special requirements such as the Graduate Record Examination or Graduate Management Admission Test.

Visit the VCU Graduate Bulletin for details on specific program requirements.

All programs require three letters of recommendation.

International students on F-1 visas studying in the United States may not take more than 25% of their total semester course load in any online, distance or hybrid class. For example, if an F-1 student is enrolled in 12 hours, no more than three hours may be taken in an online, distance or hybrid course.

The applicant must provide proof of adequate funds to live and study full time at VCU by submitting an I-20 DS Request Form accompanied by an original bank verification letter.

The U.S. government requires this certification before VCU can issue the appropriate U.S. government forms necessary for obtaining a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The immigration officials at the U.S. port of entry also may request it.

You are required to certify that funds are available for the first year of study at VCU. In addition, you are expected to provide evidence that all money necessary for your travel, educational expenses and personal needs will be provided for the entire period of enrollment at VCU.

Because of the rising cost of living in the U.S. and variations in individual spending habits, the university cannot predict individual expenses exactly.

The amount that must be certified on your financial statement is shown for a nine-month program of study as a single student. For each dependent that may be coming to VCU with you, we require an additional $5,000 per dependent on the bank statement. Information on dependents must be clearly indicated on the completed financial statement.

For complete and official information about university costs, please contact VCU Student Financial Services. For questions about I-20 requirements, please contact GEO Immigration Services at GEOIS@vcu.edu.