International Transfer Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

October 1 for spring (January) semester
March 1 for fall (August) semester

Complete Transfer International application for admission

University/Post-secondary Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution attended. A certified translation of each transcript must be provided if the document is not already in English. Students who have attended a university in the U.S. must have their transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions from that institution in a sealed envelope.

A certified external course-by-course evaluation must be submitted for all post-secondary level studies completed outside of the U.S. We recommend WES and AACRAO but you may use any NACES recognized service.

English Proficiency

Mason students participate in rigorous graduate coursework as part of their university educational experience. Therefore, students at Mason must have a full command of academic English at the in order to be successful throughout their studies. All new students are expected to accurately comprehend written English, clearly understand rapidly spoken English in classroom lectures and in professional settings, write with proper grammar and syntax, and be able to respond quickly in English using a vocabulary appropriate for collegiate settings.

For this reason, Mason has a high standard of English proficiency for admission. Mason requires applicants to meet that English proficiency standard. Students who have completed a full high school degree/diploma program from a regionally accredited university in the United States, Canada (excluding province of Quebec), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand are considered to have met that standard. All other applicants are required to show further evidence of English proficiency either by scoring at the prescribed level on an English proficiency examination, scoring at the prescribed level of the SAT I/ACT verbal section, or by taking college level English courses in the United States and meet minimum scores set by Mason in order to be considered for admission.

Decisions regarding English proficiency are the sole discretion of Mason Admissions offices.

Examinations

Listed below are the English proficiency examinations that Mason accepts and the corresponding minimum score requirements and submission procedures. Individual programs reserve the right to set higher minimum scores:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A minimum score of 88 or higher on the internet-based exam, 230 or higher on the computer-based exam, and 570 or higher on the paper-base exam. Scores must be sent directly to Mason from ETS and can not be more than two years old. Our testing code is 5827.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A minimum score of 6.5 on the academic exam. Scores must be sent to Mason directly from the test center. Please contact the IELTS test center where you took the IELTS test and request that your official test scores be sent directly to the Mason Admissions Office. The test center may submit your scores electronically. An institutional code is NOT required.
  • Pearson Academic Test of English: A minimum score of 59. Some academic departments may require a higher score. Please be sure to verify minimum test score requirements with your academic program.
  • SAT I Critical Reading/ACT-English: A minimum score of 450 or higher on the SAT I critical reading section or an ACT-English score of 20 or higher. Official scores must be sent directly from College Board or ACT. Mason’s SAT testing code is 5827 and our ACT testing code is 4357.

Official test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. Please make sure you have your scores sent to the Mason Office of Admissions

College-Level English Courses

Completion of English Composition I & II with grades of C or higher in each course at a regionally accredited college or university, where instruction was delivered in the United States. ESL and remedial English courses are not accepted. The University Admissions Committee makes the final decision about the acceptability of all English composition courses used in lieu of a TOEFL/IELTS requirement.

For those not achieving English proficiency at the time of admission, Mason now offers both provisional and conditional admissions.

Provisional Admission is available for first-time freshman students through our ACCESS program. ACCESS is designed for academically qualified undergraduate international students who need additional English language proficiency assistance. Students enrolled in this program can work on their academic English language skills while taking a full-time academic course load toward their Bachelor’s degree. A minimum TOEFL score of 68 on the internet-based exam or a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 and a strong academic record are needed in order to qualify.

Conditional Admission may be available for applicants who do not meet our minimum English proficiency requirements but are otherwise academically qualified for admission. An offer of conditional admission means that once you have met one of our English proficiency requirements, we re-evaluate our decision and offer you admission to our ACCESS program or full admission to an academic program. Conditionally admitted students may apply to our English Language Institute and study English at Mason. Students who complete the highest level of study at ELI and receive an appropriate recommendation for advancement to academic studies will be considered as having met our English Proficiency requirement.

Transfer applicants who have not completed the equivalent to 30 university credits will also be required to submit:

  • Official SAT/ACT scores sent directly from College Board or ACT.
  • Secondary/high school transcripts, results from leaving certificates or national university entrance exams, and a certified English translation if the documents are not already in English