International Admissions
International applicants must complete all parts of the application detailed on our Application Process page. The MSU Graduate School website has useful information and the Office for International Students and Scholars is a great resource for application and Visa information.
If you are an international applicant, you must also provide the following information.
Official Transcripts
Due to the circumstances of COVID-19, there are temporary rules in place for official transcripts. If you are unable to request an official transcript, please visit our Graduate School website to learn how you can still apply to our program.
Emailed transcripts will not be accepted for international applicants. You must request official hard copies of your transcripts – as soon as possible – from all of your previous University coursework.
Official means, signed, sealed and delivered by your academic university to the School of Social Work.
Transcripts must show courses taken and grades earned, and must be translated into English if the original records are in another language. If a document is translated, it should be certified as accurate and correct by an appropriate public or school official, or sponsoring agency or government.
Emailed transcripts will not be accepted for international applicants.
In addition, if you are pursuing or have earned degrees from universities in China, the Office of Admissions requires you submit not only transcripts and graduation certificates from China, but also verification of these documents from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) in English. All documents should be sent to:
Graduate Programs – School of Social Work
655 Auditorium Road, Office 239 Baker Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Passport (International applicants only)
You must upload a photocopy of your passport in the student portal.
English proficiency examinations
International applicants are required to submit TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, IELTS Indicator, or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition scores. The Testing center must electronically submit your scores directly to the Office of Admissions. Scores submitted by you will not be considered official. The Michigan State University code is 1465.
In order to be admitted, you must meet minimum scores as detailed at grad.msu.edu/english-language-competency.
Affidavit of Support
In order to comply with U.S. Government regulations, you must complete the Affidavit of Support, which can be found under Financial Proof at grad.msu.edu/internationalapplicants. Final admission cannot be granted until the Office of Admissions is satisfied that all documents are complete and correct.
The deadline for submitting your application is January 10, however, government or agency sponsored international students may have additional or other applications to complete with their own deadlines.