International Student Admissions

New International Students

To be fully admitted to Northwest, students must submit each of the following items to the Northwest Office of Admissions, Northwest Missouri State University, 800 University Drive, Maryville, Missouri, 64468-6001, USA. Forms are available by request from the Northwest Office of Admissions.

1. Application for admission (as appropriate).
2. Official academic transcripts from each secondary and post-secondary institution attended. If students are currently enrolled in a college or university, they should send official partial transcripts. Transcripts in a language other than English must have official translations attached to the official transcripts. All transcripts become the property of Northwest and cannot be released. Syllabi (course descriptions) must be submitted for all courses taken at universities outside the United States. Transcripts will not be evaluated until syllabi have been received.
3. Application fee of $50.00 in U.S. currency. This is a non-refundable fee.
4. Score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). Undergraduates should have a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based TOEFL, a 173 on the computer-based TOEFL, a 61 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a 5.5 on the Academic IELTS or a 44 on the PTE Academic. Graduates should have a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, a 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a 6.5 on the Academic IELTS or a 53 on the PTE Academic.
5. Copy of passport.
6. Students who wish to apply for scholarships must have official SAT scores sent to North-west.

International Application Deadlines

All documentation noted above must be received by the Office of Admissions prior to the deadline noted; applications not complete by the deadline will be considered for the next admission session.

I-20 Form

A Statement of Support completed and signed by the student’s family, sponsor, or government and a certified bank statement are needed before an I-20 can be issued. Student visas should be obtained before entering the United States, as converting from a tourist visa to a student visa is not assured.

An I-20 Form will be prepared for the applicant after the application and all necessary information have been received and the Office of Admissions has taken favorable action on the application. The I-20 Form cannot be prepared before the application is officially reviewed.

Freshman International Student Admissions

Freshman admission for international students is evaluated on an individual basis. Admission is offered to those students who possess academic qualifications equivalent to those required for domestic first-time freshmen. Consideration is given to the courses taken and grades received in secondary school, as well as to results of school leaving examinations and certificates. The integrity of the student’s native educational system is respected in regard to the university entrance requirements in the native country; students not eligible for university admission in their native country will not likely be granted admission to Northwest.

For comparison purposes, admission requirements for domestic first-time freshman must include the following:

1. A minimum high school grade point average of 2.00 or “C” average and;
2. A college-preparatory curriculum in secondary school, including courses in mathematics, science, language and social studies.

International Transfer Students

In addition to items one through six listed previously, undergraduate and graduate international students who are transferring to Northwest from another American university should also submit a Transfer Form to the Northwest Office of Admissions. To be admitted to Northwest as a transfer student, students must also meet all the standards and requirements of American transfer students. Students who have less than 24 transfer hours completed will be considered for admission on the basis of freshman admission requirements.

International Graduate Students

Whether the undergraduate degree is from a foreign university or from an American university, graduate students should also submit items one through five listed previously. The prerequisites for admission to graduate school are:

• A baccalaureate-level degree from either a regionally-accredited American university or foreign institution.
• A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale, depending on the program requirement. Students who have a cumulative GPA between 2.20 and 2.49 may be admitted on a conditional basis if other admission requirements are met.
• Each graduate program has specific admission policies in addition to the policies for admission to graduate study. These may include the GRE or GMAT test scores, or alternative admission requirements. See the appropriate program section in the online Graduate Academic Catalog for complete admission requirements.

The maximum graduate credit accepted for transfer is nine semester hours in no more than four courses. In order for graduate transfer credits to be evaluated, the prospective graduate student must also file an Approved Program Form with the Northwest Office of Graduate Studies.

For more information on graduate policies, procedures, and requirements, see the current Northwest Graduate Catalog, available online at www.nwmissouri.edu/academics/catalog.htm.