International Student Application
The international student application deadline is June 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.
International Applicant Overview
An international student is any citizen of a country other than the United States who has, or will need, a nonimmigrant visa to study at the university.
International students studying in face-to-face programs at TLU will need a non-immigrant visa to attend courses. Due to the nature of online programs, TLU cannot provide international students with a Form I-20 for international student visas. International applicants interested in online programs will need to participate from their home country, outside the U.S., or form within the U.S., if they have another visa or immigration status that allows for participation.
The merits of each applicant are considered on a case-by-case basis with a special emphasis on the quality of the academic work.
International Student Application Requirements
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International First-Year Application Checklist
- A completed application for admission through either:
- A personal statement describing personal goals, professional objectives, and reasons for wanting to study at TLU.
- The international student addendum to the application.
- Official transcripts from each secondary school and, if applicable, post-secondary school attended. These should include a listing of courses taken and marks/grades earned, and must be translated into English and evaluated for credit by a NACES accredited provider. Evaluated transcripts must be received directly from one of these evaluators: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., International Education Research Foundation, Inc., World Education Services, Inc. Payment for transcript evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant. Unofficial transcripts sent by email will not be accepted.
- Proof of financial solvency: This document must be submitted with supporting documentation such as bank statements, account statements or a signed bank letter. If submitting a signed bank letter, an account or bank statement must also be included.
- Completed Confidential Report of Proficiency in English form.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores. The scores must be sent directly from the corresponding testing service.
- Students whose native language is English may submit test results from the SAT or ACT scores sent directly to Texas Lutheran from the corresponding testing service. A score of 500 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section or a score of 21 on the ACT English and Reading sections may substitute for the TOEFL or IELTS.
- The minimum required scores are:
- TOEFL PBT – 550
- TOEFL CBT – 213
- TOEFL iBT – 80
- IELTS – 6.5
Third Country Nationals
- Any student (regardless of nationality) who completes secondary education or earns a tertiary degree from an accredited institution in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the Bahamas or the United Kingdom will be exempt from submitting English proficiency scores. Program requirements and details change frequently. Students should consult the TLU website for the most current information related to undergraduate and graduate education.
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International Transfer Application Checklist
- A completed application for admission through either:
- A personal statement describing personal goals, professional objectives, and reasons for wanting to study at TLU.
- The international student addendum to the application.
- Official transcripts from each secondary school and post-secondary school attended. These should include a listing of courses taken and marks/grades earned, and must be translated into English and evaluated for credit by a NACES accredited provider. Evaluated transcripts must be received directly from one of these evaluators: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., International Education Research Foundation, Inc., World Education Services, Inc. Payment for transcript evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant. Unofficial transcripts sent by email will not be accepted.
- Proof of financial solvency: This document must be submitted with supporting documentation such as bank statements, account statements or a signed bank letter. If submitting a signed bank letter, an account or bank statement must also be included.
- Completed Confidential Report of Proficiency in English form.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores. The scores must be sent directly from the corresponding testing service.
- Students whose native language is English may submit test results from the SAT or ACT scores sent directly to Texas Lutheran from the corresponding testing service. A score of 500 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section or a score of 21 on the ACT English and Reading sections may substitute for the TOEFL or IELTS.
- The minimum required scores are:
- TOEFL PBT – 550
- TOEFL CBT – 213
- TOEFL iBT – 80
- IELTS – 6.5
- International Student Transfer Form. Students transferring from a U.S. institution must have this form completed by their university’s PDSO or DSO. The form must be received directly from the PDSO or DSO completing the form.
Third Country Nationals
- Any student (regardless of nationality) who completes secondary education or earns a tertiary degree from an accredited institution in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the Bahamas or the United Kingdom will be exempt from submitting English proficiency scores. Program requirements and details change frequently. Students should consult the TLU website for the most current information related to undergraduate and graduate education.
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International Onsite Graduate Program Checklist
Students applying for a face-to-face graduate program (Master of Science in Data Science, Master of Athletic Training) are required to submit the following:
- Completed Application for Admission:
- A personal statement describing personal goals, professional objectives, and reasons for wanting to study at TLU.
- The international student addendum to the application.
- Official transcripts from each secondary school and post-secondary schools attended. These should include a listing of courses taken and marks/grades earned and must be translated into English and evaluated for credit by a NACES accredited provider. Evaluated transcripts must be received directly from one of these evaluators: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., International Education Research Foundation, Inc., World Education Services, Inc. Payment for transcript evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant. A transcript evaluation is waived for students transferring from a university in the United States.
- Proof of Financial Solvency: This document must be submitted with supporting documentation, such as bank statement, account statements, or a signed bank letter, dated within the last 90 days. If submitting a signed bank letter, an account or bank statement must be included. The relationship of the account owner to applicant must be documented.
- Confidential Report of Proficiency in English
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores. The scores must be sent directly to TLU from the corresponding testing service.
- The minimum required scores are:
- TOEFL PBT - 550
- TOEFL CBT - 213
- TOEFL iBT - 80
- IELTS - 6.5
- Graduate and doctoral students graduating from a regionally accredited institution within the United States are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency.
- The minimum required scores are:
- International Student Transfer Form. Students transferring from a U.S. institution must have this form completed by their university’s PDSO or DSO. The form must be received directly from the PDSO or DSO completing the form.
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International Online Graduate Program Checklist
Students applying for a 100% online graduate program (Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Education, and Master of Science in Business Analytics) are required to submit the following:
- Completed Application for Admission:
- A personal statement describing personal goals, professional objectives, and reasons for wanting to study at TLU.
- International Student Addendum
- Official transcripts from each secondary school and post-secondary schools attended. These should include a listing of courses taken and marks/grades earned, and must be translated into English and evaluated for credit by a NACES accredited provider. Evaluated transcripts must be received directly from one of these evaluators: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., International Education Research Foundation, Inc., World Education Services, Inc. Payment for transcript evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant. The transcript evaluation is waived for students transferring from a university in the United States.
- Confidential Report of Proficiency in English
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores. The scores must be sent directly to TLU from the corresponding testing service.
- The minimum required scores are:
- TOEFL PBT - 550
- TOEFL CBT - 213
- TOEFL iBT - 80
- IELTS - 6.5
- The minimum required scores are:
Graduate and doctoral students graduating from a regionally accredited institution within the United States are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency.
Preparing For Study At TLU
Learn more about what to expect when you arrive on campus.
Texas Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. David Ortiz, Title IX Coordinator, 830-372-8011. TLU's Title IX policies are outlined at www.tlu.edu/titleix. For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.