Graduate international applicants

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Learn about requirements and materials you'll need to provide as an international graduate applicant.

Application overview

The instructions on this page are for international graduate applicants, including non-immigrants who are currently residing outside of the U.S. and plan to come on an F1 or J1 visa and non-immigrants currently residing in the U.S. under a visa. If you are a domestic undergraduate applicant, to include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees/asylees and undocumented students, please find your application path in the graduate section of this site.

Before you get started, here’s what you need to know as an international applicant.

  • Applicants for admission to VCU graduate programs must hold the academic equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
  • You must complete any special departmental requirements in advance, including standardized tests, and the appropriate testing agency must send your official test results to the Office of Admissions.
  • The Graduate Bulletin provides information about VCU’s schools and their available graduate programs, including those offered through VCU health sciences schools. The Graduate Bulletin lists the type of degree awarded, terms of entry, application deadline dates, test and other admission requirements for each of these programs.
  • Program requirements and deadlines vary by department, so pay close attention to those that apply to your chosen field of study.
  • Depending on your academic history, you may be required to take additional coursework to strengthen your academic preparation for graduate study.

The admission process for international graduate students can take six to eight weeks, depending on how soon the applicant can provide the necessary materials.

Be ready to pay the application fee

A $70 state-required application fee must accompany all applications. The application fee is nonrefundable and must be submitted online using a credit card. Applications may not be processed if submitted without a fee.

Deadlines and admission decisions

Applications must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the individual department or school’s deadlines as stated in the Graduate Bulletin. Admissions decision notification dates vary by graduate program. To check on the status of your application, please contact VCU’s international admissions staff at vcuia@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6016. 

How to apply

In addition to the online graduate program application, applicants must provide a copy of their passport or visa document and submit the following materials listed below — all of which are required for application processing.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the online application to upload and submit these materials (personal statements, resumes and letters of recommendation). The online application allows links to be sent to people you wish to provide recommendations on your behalf.

Choose your application

If you’re applying for graduate study for a term in 2024, please select one of the application links below:

Application materials

Supplemental materials

All supplemental application materials may be sent in PDF format to globalfiles@vcu.edu. Please make sure the applicant’s full name and/or Virginia Commonwealth University ID number are included in the text of the email.

Supplemental materials may also be mailed to:

Virginia Commonwealth University — International Admissions
Grace Street Center, 5th Floor
912 West Grace Street
Box 843012
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043 
USA

Review guidelines for corresponding with VCU via mail.

Find support from the Global Education Office

From student visas to immigration advising and support finding your on-campus community, VCU's Global Education Office is here to help.

Go to GEO's site