Application Process for International Students

Welcome to graduate studies at FSU! We are here to support you and wish you the best of luck as you begin your graduate journey.

FSU’s international student application looks at three things: your academic qualifications, your English language skills, and your financial support.

Deadlines

Each graduate program has its own deadline. Check the Graduate Catalog or Graduate Programs website for details.

International students should apply early because of extra steps like visas and financial documents.

If your program has rolling admission (no set deadline), send your application and documents at least 2 months before classes begin so there is enough time to process everything.

International Student Applicant Packet

This packet has the forms you need:

• Application checklist
• International Student Certification of Financial Support
• Health Insurance Acknowledgement Form

Download the International Student Applicant Packet (PDF)

How to Apply

• 1. Check your intended graduate program for exams and additional criteria.

  Most programs require you to take an entrance exam, such as the GMAT or GRE. Some programs require additional application materials, such as a resume, interview, professional reference or writing sample.

  Check your program in the graduate catalog or on the website for program requirements.

• 2. Complete an online Application for Graduate Admission and submit your application fee.

  You can pay your one-time $45 (USD) application fee at the end of the online application, by credit card online or with a check or money order (make payable to Frostburg State University). Do not send cash. Please send checks or money orders to FSU Billing Office, 101 Braddock Rd. Frostburg, MD 21532.

  If you pay with a check or money order, please be sure to include your name with any payment.

• 3. Send your official academic transcript.

  Request an official academic transcript from all colleges/universities you have attended. Your transcript(s) should include courses taken, grades, annual mark sheets, examination sheets and leaving certificates, as they apply in your home country.

  If your school cannot provide a transcript in English, your transcript must be accompanied by an official English translation by a licensed translator.

• 4. Send a course-by-course evaluation of any non-U.S. transcripts.

  If you graduated from a university outside the U.S., you must also submit a professional course-by-course evaluation with GPA of your transcript(s). This will determine your academic level within the American system of education. You may send your transcript(s) to any of the following evaluation services:

  • Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
  • International Consultants of Delaware, Inc.
  • Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
  • World Education Services, Inc. (WES)

• 5. Provide a photocopy of your passport identification page.

  If you are already in the United States, please also include clear photocopies of all immigration documents issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

  • Most recent visa (even if expired)
  • I-94 card
  • Any I-20 documents from previously attended U.S. universities
  • Any Notices of Action
    
    

  Note: If you are a B1/B2 Visitor in the U.S., you must be approved by the USCIS for a Change of Status to F-1 International Student. Contact FSU's Center for International Education at 301.687.4714 or FSUinternational@frostburg.edu for more information or assistance.

• 6. Pass an English proficiency exam.

  If your native language is not English, you must submit an English proficiency score. FSU will consider scores from:

  • TOEFL – passing score of 550P/213C/79iBT
  • IELTS – passing score of 6.0
  • ELS Language Centers – successful completion of ELS Level 112
  • Inlingua Language Center – successful completion of Level 8
  • The Language Company – successful completion of Level 9
  • LADO International College– successful completion of LADO Level 10
  • iTEP – passing score of 4.5
  • EIKEN – successful completion of Grade Pre-1
  • DuoLingo passing score of 100

  If you choose to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam, we recommend that you take it at least six (6) months before the start of the semester for which you are seeking enrollment.

• 7. Send an International Student Certification of Financial Support.

  You or your financial sponsor must show you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition, fees, room and board, books, health insurance and personal expenses for at least the first full year of academic study.

  The form has two parts – one for a bank official, and one for you or your sponsor – and requires a bank statement.

  • The name of the account holder on the bank statement must match the name of the person signing the Certification of Financial Support.
  • The bank statement must be less than 6 months old at the time FSU issues your DS-2019/I-20.
  • The bank statement must include the bank’s address and phone number.
  • Any bank letters must be signed by a bank official and printed on official letterhead paper.

  Copies of financial documents will be accepted during the application process; however, ORIGINALS must be submitted upon your arrival to campus.

  Visit the Office of Financial Aid website to view a summary of tuition and expenses.

Health Insurance Coverage

All F-1 and J-1 international students are automatically enrolled in a group health insurance plan. The cost is added to your bill at the start of each semester. Summer coverage is required if you stay in the U.S. during that time.

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