What's the difference between an “international student” and having “international credentials”?
We consider students to be “international students” if they require a student visa (example: F-1) from the University.
Students with “international credentials” are those that have completed a degree outside of the U.S. These students may require a student visa from the university, but this encompasses anyone who has completed any degree from an institution located outside of the United States, regardless of citizenship or visa status.
Any student who has studied outside of the U.S. is required to submit additional materials with their application. Please review the list of additional materials required.
Where can I find information for international students?
Please review the list below and the associated groups/websites.
How do I contact the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS)?
The email contact you should reach out to is gradi20@gmu.edu.
I am a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, but I completed my bachelor's degree outside of the U.S.; does that mean that I have international credentials?
Yes, regardless of citizenship or visa status, if you received your degree from an institution not located in the U.S. you would qualify as someone with international credentials. You would be required to have your transcript and diploma evaluated, and if applicable, complete an English language proficiency test.
I am a citizen of another country (not U.S.) but studied at a U.S. institution. Do I need to submit additional application materials?
No, if you are an international student, but completed your bachelor’s at a U.S. university – you would not need to submit any additional materials.
What is required for international students for the admissions process?
We have additional requirements for applicants who have international credentials. For an extensive breakdown of requirements that you would have to meet, please visit our International Applicant Requirements page. We understand the application process for students with international credentials can lead to many questions, and we encourage you to reach out to us at schargr@gmu.edu and we will work with you.
I’m an international student. Which tuition rate applies to me?
International students on F1 or J1 visas are considered out-of-state students.
I’m in the U.S. on a nonstudent visa. Can I qualify for in-state tuition?
Yes, students that are on nonstudent visas (ex: A1, H1), can be eligible for in-state tuition rates. Please see the residency website for more information. Students on a nonstudent (A1, H1, etc.) visa who are domiciled in D.C. or Maryland can be eligible for the DMV Regional Pricing Policy.
Can the Schar School issue I-20s for student visas?
Yes, admitted students pursuing full-time, in-person programs are eligible for an I-20 to apply for an F-1 visa
I am an international student and have questions regarding my visa; who do I contact?
The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) can assist international students with visa information, as well as other issues relevant to international students.
Can F-1 visa students take any online classes? If yes, how many?
Yes, F-1 students at GMU can take only one online course (or three credits) toward their full-time enrollment requirements each semester. Our Office of International Programs and Services is always the best point of contact related to anything about visas and student status.
Are students with a student, university issued visa (F-1 or J-1) eligible for our certificates?
No, unfortunately if you require a student visa and need an I-20 issued by the university, you would not be eligible for our certificate programs.
Can I submit unofficial documents at the time of application?
Yes! An unofficial copy is an official transcript/diploma that you received as a hard copy from
your institution and then scanned and sent to our office electronically. In order for us to accept these documents, they should display all of the following items:
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All credits earned, including all passing or failing grades for courses completed and attempted.
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The full name of the degree earned or in-progress along with the major or area of study (Ex. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology) and dates of conferral and/or graduation.
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The official university logo or name of the degree granting institution with the official seals and signatures of the Registrar, Controller of Examinations or other institutional authority.
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Simply getting documents notarized is NOT acceptable even for unofficial copies.
Documents We Cannot Accept
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Documents attested or verified by local notaries.
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Print-outs or screenshots of transcripts from student portals
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Documents stamped as unofficial or with unofficial watermarks
Where do I send my transcripts if I studied outside of the U.S.?
Applicants with international credentials (if you have received a bachelor's degree from an institution outside of the U.S.) may upload unofficial documents to the application portal.
Official documents can either be sent electronically via TrueCopy or via postal mail in a sealed, university issued envelope and sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. For more information, please review the International Applicant Requirements page.
Mailing address:
Office of Graduate Admissions
4400 University Drive, MS 4C8
Fairfax, VA 22030
My school only issues one official diploma to the student. Can I submit a scanned copy?
Unfortunately, to be considered official, they must be sent via TrueCopy or by postal mail in a sealed, university issued envelope sent to our Office of Graduate Admissions directly. If you are working with your institution or TrueCopy to have these sent to us, please get your communications in writing.
My transcript and diploma are not in English. Do I need to have them translated?
Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Office of Admissions.
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We require all documents (transcripts, marks sheets, degree certificates or diplomas) to be submitted in the original language, accompanied by an English translation of each document.
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Some institutions ONLY issue original/official documents in English. These are acceptable if that is the case.
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We accept translations issued by the institution or a professional translating service.
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Translations must be original.
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Self-translated documents are not acceptable.
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For information on qualified translators in your area, please contact the American Translators Association, or University Language Services
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Translations must be literal (word-for-word) complete translations of each document. The translations must include a certification statement with the following information:
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A statement of the translator’s status and qualifications to translate into English
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A statement affirming the completeness and accuracy of the document
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Identification of the translated document and language
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The translator’s name, signature, and date
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The translator should give you your translations in sealed envelopes. You should then send these sealed, unopened envelopes to your Mason admissions office when you submit your official copies. Mason reserves the right to reject any translation if it does not meet requirements.
Do I need to have my credentials evaluated if I have studied outside of the U.S.?
Yes! If you have studied internationally, we will need to have your transcripts and diploma/degree certificate evaluated. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts.
Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a George Mason evaluation. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. Suggested NACES evaluation services include:
What documents do I need to submit to have Mason evaluate my credentials for free?
We require that you upload both your transcript and diploma/degree certificate in English and original language, if applicable. We require these documents (transcript and diploma/degree certificate) in order to evaluate your credentials. Not submitting these documents could cause a delay in providing an admission’s decision.
How do I demonstrate English language proficiency for my application?
Per George Mason University’s policy, all Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship or visa status. For more information on university requirements, we encourage you to visit the English Proficiency Requirements page and our International Applicant Requirements page.
The language of instruction was in English, can the English language proficiency requirement be waived?
We do not waive this requirement based on the language of instruction. Students are waived of this requirement based on the country where the university is located; review the list of waiver-eligible countries to learn more. If your institution is in one of the waiver-eligible countries, then you would not be required to submit English language proficiency test scores. That is the only exception to our policy.
I have an English language proficiency test score that almost meets the minimums, can I still apply?
A passing test score is required to have your application reviewed by our admissions committee. You must already have a passing English language test score to be considered for admission. We do not make exceptions to this policy. We accept test scores from Duolingo, IELTS, Pearson Test of Academic English, and TOEFL – you can review the minimum score for each test for the specific requirements for Graduate admissions.
How long are English Language proficiency test scores valid?
Scores are valid for two years from the test date by the time of application. GMU will not accept scores older than two years.
Have a question that isn't answered on this FAQ page? Contact the Schar School's Office of Graduate Admissions at schargr@gmu.edu - we're here to help!