International Students

Students Whose Previous Academic Work Was Not in the United States

The following guidelines apply to students whose previous academic work was not in the United States:

• U.S. citizens or resident aliens whose previous academic work was from an institution outside the U.S. are required to have their high school transcripts and/or undergraduate transcripts evaluated by one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies
• Graduate applicants with a baccalaureate degree or college coursework from an institution outside the U.S. are required to have their undergraduate transcripts evaluated by one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies verifying degree equivalence to a U.S. institutionally accredited baccalaureate degree
• The NLU Office of Admissions and Records will examine foreign transcript evaluations and make a determination of suitability for undergraduate and graduate admission

Nonimmigrant International Students

NLU is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. If you are a resident of a foreign country who wants to study at NLU, please note that you must satisfy the following requirements before your I-20 can be issued. NLU faculty and staff will be there to help you on your way to getting an NLU education.

• Complete and submit your NLU Application.
• Be certain that you meet the admission requirements for your program of study.
• You must have all of your secondary, college and university foreign transcripts evaluated by one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies. The course-by-course evaluation must verify degree equivalency of a level of education equivalent of a baccalaureate from a school with institutional accreditation of higher education in the U.S.
• Proof of English language proficiency is required if English is not the applicant's native language and /or high school degree was earned outside the United States. Applicants must have official results of a TOEFL or other University-approved examination sent to the Office of Admissions.
  • Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Scores: Undergraduate applicants: A minimum score of 72 for the Internet-based test (iBT) or a minimum of 533 total for the TOEFL paper test (PBT). Graduate applicants: A minimum score of 80 for the Internet-based test (iBT) or a minimum of 550 total for the TOEFL paper test (PBT). TOEFL scores are only valid for two years. 
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Scores: Undergraduate applicants: 6.0, with no individual band below a 5.5. Graduate applicants: 6.5, with no individual band below a 6.0. IELTS scores are only valid for two years. 
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE). Scores: Undergraduate applicants: A minimum score of 50. Graduate Applicants: A minimum score of 54. PTE scores are valid for two years.
  • Duolingo English Test (DET). Scores: Undergraduate applicants: A minimum score of 95. Graduate Applicants: A minimum score of 105. DET scores are valid for two years. 

  The English Proficiency requirement may also be considered as met for students who are U.S. Citizens and/or who satisfy any of the following criteria:

• Completed at least three years of education at a high school or secondary school, where English is the language of instruction.
• Completed at least two years (48 semester credits or 72 quarter credits) of education at a college or university where English is the language of instruction.
• Completed an ESL program accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), or any of the six regional accrediting bodies for higher education institutions in the US within the past three calendar years
  

• The person(s) paying your tuition and living expenses while you attend NLU must complete and sign an affidavit of support, or a letter of support, in the presence of a Notary Public or First Class Magistrate. You or your sponsor(s) must also provide a financial statement, on business stationery, indicating the amount of funds available in U.S. currency. If the sponsor(s) are U.S. citizens, or self-employed resident(s), they will need to send NLU a copy of the latest income tax return they filed.
• You or your sponsors(s) must submit documented proof of sufficient funds to defray all living and school expenses during the first year that you anticipate studying in the U.S.
• You must submit a copy of your passport and, if you are currently residing in the U.S., a copy of your U.S. visa stamp and I-94 card as well, if you were issued one.
• For F-1 visa related questions, please contact Maria Lammy, Designated School Official, DSO, at mlammy1@nl.edu or 312-261-3888.