International Admissions

International Admissions is located within the International Programs and Global Engagement office.

Library 1001, open 8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday

(916)-278-6686

intlinfo@csus.edu

www.csus.edu/international-programs-global-engagement/

The CSU must assess the academic preparation of foreign students. For this purpose, “foreign students” include those who hold U.S. temporary visas as students, exchange visitors, or in other nonimmigrant classifications.

The CSU uses separate requirements and application filing dates in the admission of foreign students. Verification of English proficiency (see the section on the English Language Requirement for undergraduate applicants), financial resources, and academic performance are each an important consideration for admission. Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file by the campus deadline for document submission for the first term and if not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

All international applicants whose native language is not English and whose preparatory and post-secondary education was principally instructed in a language other than English must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following standardized tests.

Test Undergraduate Graduate
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required if your native language is not English1 Score of 510 (paper based test) Score of 5501 (paper based test)
TOEFL Score of 64 (internet based test) Score of 801 (internet based)
IELTS (Academic) Overall band score of 6.0 Overall band score of 6.51
PTE Academic Score of 50 Score of 651

Those who have graduated from an accredited secondary (high school) or four-year U.S. college or university (obtained an undergraduate an/or graduate degree) where English is the primary language of instruction or who come from countries where English is the primary language need not submit an English language proficiency test.1

1

Note: Sacramento State interprets “where English was the principal language of instruction” to mean that a school is located in a country where English is the native language (the daily medium of communication of the majority of residents is English), and that the students receive academic instruction in all subjects (except foreign language courses) at all levels of education in English.

International Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

International students requiring F-1 or J-1 visas to study at Sacramento State must file the Cal State Apply online international application.  Applications received during the initial filing period of each undergraduate admission cycle receive priority consideration for admission. Undergraduate international and non-California resident students may not be admitted to some impacted programs.

International students graduating from U.S. high schools after three years of attendance will be admitted as freshmen under the same requirements as graduates of California high schools by use of the eligibility index. Those graduating from foreign high schools (or from California high schools after less than three years of attendance) may be admitted if their achievement is equivalent to that of eligible California high school graduates. They also may need to submit an English language proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson's) if English is not their native language.  

Undergraduate applicants with foreign academic work are required to submit official copies of academic records from their school, college, or university in officially sealed envelopes, along with a certified English translation. Academic records should include:

  1. secondary school records;
  2. yearly records from each college or university attended, indicating the number of hours per semester or per year devoted to each course and the grades received (only if applying as an international transfer student); and
  3. English Language Proficiency exam meeting the undergraduate requirement.

International Graduate Admission Requirements  

International graduate students requiring F-1 or J-1 visas to study at Sacramento State must file the Cal State Apply online international application during the posted filing period for respective graduate programs. Graduate programs may require supplemental applications and other supporting documents. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a degree requiring at least 16 years of prior education is required for graduate standing.

At the graduate level, a TOEFL score of 550 (or 80 internet based test) is required for international applicants. The following graduate programs require higher scores:

  • Audiology, Au.D
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering
  • English
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Applicants with foreign academic work are required to submit official copies of academic records from their school, college, or university in officially sealed envelopes, along with a certified English translation. Academic records should include:

  1. Yearly records from each college or university attended, indicating the number of hours per semester or per year devoted to each course and the grades received;
  2. Official documents that confirm awarding of a degree or diploma, with the title and date, if the applicant has already graduated; and,
  3. English Language Proficiency exam meeting the graduate requirement.

Additional Information for International Applicants

All official documents submitted become the property of the University. The University will determine acceptability of any foreign coursework towards University degree programs.  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires F-1 and J-1 foreign visa students to enroll full-time, defined as follows:

• a minimum of 12 semester units for credit for undergraduates
• a minimum of 9 semester units for credit for graduate students.

International students must comply with all University and USCIS regulations, provide evidence of financial resources, and be enrolled in the mandatory CSU system student health insurance.