International Admission Requirements | Office of Admissions and Scholarships

International Admission Requirements

 

In addition to the complete online application and the $60 non-refundable application fee, international students must also submit officially from the institution:

Freshman Students

  • Certified, translated copies of all transcripts, mark sheets, and diplomas from your school. Mississippi State recommends all school credentials from non-U.S. institutions be submitted through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member (NACES member agency, https://www.naces.org/members) for a course-by-course evaluation with grade point average calculation. MSU's preferred transcript evaluation service is SpanTran or MyIEE.
  • An official ACT score of 20 or higher, or SAT score of 1030 (only if your GPA is below 3.0 based on our evaluation of your transcripts OR if you are applying for scholarships).  
  • English Language Proficiency (See below for details.)
  • Once you've been admitted, go to the International Institute website for additional requirements:  https://www.international.msstate.edu/

Transfer Students

  1. Official transcripts from all recognized colleges. Mississippi State requires all school credentials from non-U.S. institutions be submitted through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member (NACES member agency, http://www.naces.org/members.htm) for a course-by-course evaluation with grade point average calculation. MSU's preferred transcript evaluation service is SpanTran or MyIEE.
  2. OPTION A: One year of successful study in a foreign university and appropriate English Language Proficiency test scores.

    OPTION B: Meet freshman requirements and hold a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all college courses attempted, as evaluated by Mississippi State University. An appropriate English Language Proficiency test score is required.

    OPTION C: Thirty (30) hours of transferable credit from a regionally accredited U.S. college, with a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, as evaluated by Mississippi State University, including all of the following credits:

    NOTE: Students who meet option C requirements will be considered to have demonstrated English language proficiency.

    • 6 semester hours of English composition;
    • 3 semester hours of college algebra (or higher mathematics);
    • 6 semester hours of natural science;
    • 9 semester hours of humanities and fine arts; and
    • 6 semester hours of social or behavioral sciences.
  3. English Proficiency Requirement (See below for details.)

  4. Once you've been admitted, go to the International Institute website for additional requirements:  https://www.international.msstate.edu/

 

 


Graphic highlighting TOEL iBT Test. Shows that TOEFL iBT Test accepts a min score of 71 and how to register

English Language Proficiency

  • International undergraduate students applying to Mississippi State University must demonstrate English language proficiency in order to register for academic courses. The following methods of a demonstration are approved:
    • Acceptable score on the TOEFL exam 71 (some departments require a higher score)
    • An acceptable score on the IELTS exam 6.0 (some departments require a higher score)
    • An acceptable score on the English section of the ACT: 19
    • An acceptable score on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT: 510
    • Duolingo English Test score of 120
  • Although applicants may meet general language requirements to the university, some departments have established higher English language proficiency requirements. Please view the Departmental English proficiency requirements for additional requirements. 

TOEFL/IELTS Requirements

Forms:

  • Certification of Finances
  • You will find your I-20/DS-2019 in your admitted portal once you have been admitted.
  • Transfer-In Form is required for students transferring from other US institutions to MSU. You will find this in your admitted portal once you have been admitted.

A. Exemption from English Language Proficiency Requirement

Completion of intensive English training may not waive the IELTS/TOEFL requirement. Only students who are citizens of Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Wales are automatically exempt from this requirement. Citizens of Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland are only exempt if English is listed as the first language on the Senior Certificate.

• International applicants who apply for admission as degree-seeking freshmen and who have completed two years minimum of high school education and earned at least a C in English courses and graduated from an accredited high school in the US. Such applicants must, however, comply with the admission standards for domestic (i.e. US) applicants.

• International applicants who apply for admission as degree-seeking transfer students and who have completed at least one English Writing/Composition course at an accredited institution of higher education in the U.S. Such applicants must, however, comply with the admission standards for domestic (i.e. US) applicants.

B. Admission with English Language Deficiency

International students who wish to enroll in academic courses but fail to demonstrate English language proficiency using one of the approved methods will be required to enroll in the English Language Institute (ELI). Students who successfully complete the ELI program will be considered to have demonstrated English language proficiency and will then be allowed to register in academic courses offered through the colleges. Admission to the English Language Institute is an additional process. Please visit the International Institute’s website for details concerning the English Language Institute.