Additional Application Requirements for International Students

International graduate student applications

In addition to the standard required application materials, international students applying to 91社区 who hold, or who hope to obtain, F-1 or J-1 visas need to submit the materials listed below as part of the application process, in addition to Proof of English Proficiency Scores. These materials are required for immigration and visa purposes.

Review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for International Graduate Applicants

Required materials for international graduate applicants

1. Passport

You will be asked to upload the page of your passport that includes your name, citizenship, and date of birth. Including this page of your passport at the time of application will expedite the issuing of the I-20 if you are offered admission. 

2. International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form

Download the  International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form  and follow the instructions. This form will ask you to attest that you have enough funds for all tuition, fees, and personal expenses for at least one year of graduate study at 91社区. If you are receiving University funding, you are still required to submit the ISFS form.

3. Supporting financial documentation

In addition to the ISFS form, you must provide financial documentation that supports what you have indicated as your source of funding on the ISFS form. Most often, this means providing official bank statements or official scholarship/sponsorship letters from agencies or governments. If you are receiving University funding, your funding offer letter will be uploaded on your behalf. However, additional documentation will be required if the amount of funding offered by the University is less than the amount that you are required to certify. If you have questions on what documents are acceptable as supporting documents, please refer to the first page of the ISFS form. 

4. Proof of English proficiency

  • International applicants may demonstrate English Language Proficiency using TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, Pearson PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test. 
  • All Proof of English proficiency test scores should be delivered to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically from the official examiner. Scores should not be sent directly to the academic department.
  • Some academic departments require higher minimum scores than listed below. View program-specific admission requirements pages for details. Be sure to schedule your test with consideration for your academic program's application deadline. Note that it can take up to 2 full weeks for the testing agency to process your order and deliver your scores to 91社区.
  • English Language Proficiency waivers may be available to applicants who meet one or more Waiver Eligibility criteria detailed below. 

English proficiency test score guidelines for international graduate applicants

  • TOEFL iBT

    91社区 requires a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-Based Test (iBT). As of January 21, 2026, any new TOEFL test takers will receive a score on the new 0-6 score scale. 91社区 requires a minimum TOEFL score of 4, with no band below 4. 

    • TOEFL iBT MyBest scores are accepted. 
    • The following TOEFL iBT tests are accepted:
      • TOEFL iBT test (taken at a test center)
      • TOEFL iBT Home Edition
      • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition** 

    **Note: The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is no longer offered, however will continue to be accepted. 

    To learn more or to register for the test, . To submit a score report, use 91社区's code: 2535. 

  • TOEFL Essentials

    91社区 requires a minimum TOEFL Essentials score of 9. 

    • TOEFL Essentials MyBest scores are accepted

    To learn more or to register for the test, . To submit a score report, use 91社区's code: 2535.

  • IELTS

    91社区 requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with no band below 5.0.

    • The IELTS Online option and IELTS Skill Retake are also accepted. 

    To learn more or to register for the test, visit the . Requests for IELTS score delivery to 91社区's Graduate Admissions Office must be submitted directly to the test center where you took the IELTS test.

  • Pearson PTE Academic

    91社区 requires a minimum Pearson PTE Academic score of 53. 

    • The PTE Academic Online option is also accepted. 

    To learn more or to register for the test, visit the . To submit a score report, select "91社区 - State University of New York" from the score delivery menu.

  • Duolingo English Test

    91社区 requires a minimum Duolingo score of 105. 

    To learn more or to register for the test, visit the . To submit a score report, select "91社区 (SUNY)" from the list of institutions.

Waiver eligibility

A waiver for the proof of English proficiency requirement is available to applicants who meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria at the time of enrollment into a graduate degree program at 91社区:

  • The applicant is a citizen or permanent resident, from a country in the waiver list, where English is the official language and where English is the language of instruction. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces.
  • The applicant is expected to receive (or has received) a bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher from an institution located in a country on the waiver list. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces.
  • The applicant has completed at least two years of full-time study at an accredited higher education institution, from a country in the waiver list, where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces. For applicants in this category please contact the Graduate Admissions Office to receive a waiver, as you may be required to certify that high school education was completed from an institution wherein the medium of instruction was English.
  • The applicant is a current 91社区 student.

Applicants who have not met one of these criteria, but will become eligible for a waiver of the English Language Proficiency requirement at the time of enrollment into a graduate degree program at 91社区, have two options:

  1. Certify their English proficiency by submitting official scores from one of the tests listed above, or
  2. Apply without certifying their English Language Proficiency. If an applicant is admitted without certifying their English proficiency, their offer of admission will be provisional until they submit qualifying scores or they have confirmed with the Office of Graduate Admissions that they are eligible for a waiver. Once eligibility is verified, the admission will be switched from provisional to regular status. Note: Applicants in provisional admission status are not eligible to receive an I-20/DS-2019 immigration document.

If you are unsure whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for a waiver for the proof of English Language Proficiency requirement, email the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Uploading your documentation

Uploading your documentation to the online application is recommended and will expedite the processing of your I-20, if you are admitted. However, these documents are not required to submit your application. If you prefer to provide this documentation after an admission decision is made, or if you do not have sufficient funds to cover your educational expenses and will rely on funding from the graduate program, you may submit this documentation later.

The graduate admissions committee does not have access to your financial documents and holistically makes admission and funding decisions based on merit alone. Graduate assistantships are competitive and are awarded to the most academically qualified students. No additional materials are required to be considered for assistantships, unless outlined by your academic program. Should you have questions regarding departmental funding, reach out to your academic program directly.

Read more about cost and funding opportunities.