International Student Applicants

International Student Admission Requirements

All applicants must submit official academic records that show at least three years of academic performance to be considered, and if the documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by certified English translations. Course-by-course evaluations are required for all transfer students. 

The following additional items must also be submitted based on the applicant’s status as a first-year or transfer student.

International First-Year Applicants

An international first-year applicant is defined as a student who has not earned university level credit. The following must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:

• one official transcript, sent directly from the high school attended or authenticated by the Ministry of Education, and, if applicable, including official exam results and evidence of high school graduation

• evidence of English language proficiency

Students who are non-native English speakers and reside in a country where English is not the primary language must submit official scores  from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), PTE (Pearson Test of English), DET (Duolingo English Test), SAT, or ACT.

Students that graduate from a high school where the primary language of instruction was English should contact the Office of Admissions to verify whether the language proficiency requirements can be waived.

The English language proficiency requirement is waived if an international student has completed four consecutive years (grades 9 through 12) of college preparatory English (excluding ESL/ELL/ELD or remedial English courses) with grades of C or higher at a U.S. high school (excluding Puerto Rico).

International Transfer Applicants

An international transfer applicant is a student who has enrolled at another college or university in their home country or in the US after completing their secondary education. . The following must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:

• official transcripts, sent directly to Marymount from the college or university attended;
•  for applicants with fewer than 30 completed college or university credits, complete, official high school transcripts;
• official course-by-course evaluation for university work completed outside the U.S. from one of Marymount’s approved evaluation agencies — World Education Services, the World Educational Credentials Evaluators, or any agency approved by NACES or AICE; and
• evidence of English language proficiency.

Students who are non-native English speakers and reside in a country where English is not the primary language  must submit official test scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), PTE (Pearson Test of English), DET (Duolingo English Test), SAT, or ACT.

Students that graduate from a high school where the primary language of instruction was English should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to verify whether the language proficiency requirements can be waived.

Applicants who have completed 30 credit hours or more at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university and who have completed an English composition course equivalent to Marymount’s EN101 with a minimum grade of C at the same institution are exempt from the test score requirement.

Minimum Score Requirements for Non-Native Speakers of English

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is an option for international undergraduate applicants who meet all admission requirements except demonstrated English language proficiency.* Students seeking conditional admission must enroll in one of Marymount University's partner language institutes (listed below) and satisfactorily complete the stipulated level or levels, as described below. These programs help students develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to a level appropriate for university study. Completion of an intensive English program other than the programs listed does not meet the conditional admission requirement. If students satisfactorily complete the required level or levels at a partner language institute and are admitted to the university, they must earn a grade of C- or better in EN 101 at Marymount University within one academic year (two full, non-summer semesters) after entry. If students fail to meet this requirement, they will be withdrawn from the university. Under conditional admission, EN 101 cannot be fulfilled with either transfer or Consortium credit.

Note: SEVP regulation prohibits the issuance of a Form I-20 based on conditional admission. Marymount University can only issue a Form I-20 when students have met all requirement standards for admission for the program of study listed on the Form I-20. These standards for admission include any English language proficiency requirements.

ELS Educational Services' English for Academic Purposes Program: Students who successfully complete ELS Level 112 may apply to the university without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE score. More information about the program can be found at www.els.edu.

Georgetown University English Language Center: Students who successfully complete either the Advanced or Academic Bridge levels may apply to the university without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE score. More information can be found at scs.georgetown.edu/departments/52/english-language-center/.

Inlingua: Students who earn a Certificate of Completion of Level 8 intensive program and present an official transcript from Inlingua may apply to the university without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE score. More information can be found at www.idc.edu.

International Language Academy of Washington, D.C.: Students who successfully complete level 12 may apply to the university without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE score. More information can be found at www.ila.edu.

*Transfer nursing applicants and accelerated second-degree B.S.N. applicants are not eligible for conditional admission.

International Student Application Deadlines

For international students who reside outside of the US and must go through the Visa application process, admission applications and all supporting documents must be received no later than the date indicated for the corresponding semester:

• For fall semester (late August to mid-December): July 1
• For spring semester (mid-January to early May): December 1
• For summer semester (late May to early August — first-year students may not begin in the summer semester): March 15

Obtaining an I-20

An I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” from Marymount University is required before an admitted international student may apply for F-1 visa status from a U.S. embassy or consulate office or to USCIS for change of status.

Admitted international students who plan to obtain F-1 status must submit an enrollment deposit to confirm their attendance at Marymount before an I-20 may be requested. A nonrefundable deposit of $500 is required for both commuter and residential students. This deposit is credited to the student’s account.

After submitting the enrollment deposit, students must then activate their MU account, including establishing their MU email address, before they can be invited by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to request an I-20 from Marymount University. The ISSS Portal is Marymount University’s secure online platform for F and J visa holders to manage their immigration requests and record.

Within five business days of activating their MU account and after the date that Marymount University begins issuing I-20s for the admitted semester (whichever is later), students will receive instructions in their MU email account to login to the ISSS Portal and submit their request for an I-20.

 An I-20 may be issued once the student submits a completed I-20 application with all required supplemental documentation through the ISSS Portal, including:

• Copy of current passport identification/photo page, valid at least 6 months beyond the program start date;
• City of birth;
• Valid non-U.S. address (Note: students who plan to request change of status from a different visa to F-1 status through USCIS application must also submit their U.S. address); 
• Completed Declaration of Finances form for the academic year student will begin program; and
• Proof of funding to show sufficient funding to cover the estimated total cost of the student’s program for one academic year of study. Estimated total costs by program are provided in the Declaration of Finances form. Proof of funding documents must meet requirements specified on the ISSS website.

Students currently enrolled in a U.S. high school or another U.S. university must submit a completed I-20 application with required documents, as described above, and also submit a SEVIS record Transfer request within the ISSS Portal. In addition to required documents for I-20 issuance, SEVIS record Transfer students must submit:

• Current U.S. address;
• Copy of all previous I-20s; 
• Copy of all previous U.S. visas; and
• Copy of I-94 Record (Applicants may download their I-94 Record from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home).

Marymount University electronically issues and distributes I-20s through the secure ISSS Portal. Communication related to I-20 requests and issuance is through the student’s MU email account. Students will be required to retrieve, download, print, and hand sign the I-20 themselves. Marymount does not mail or courier hard copies of I-20s to students. For the most current and accurate information about immigration and visa requirements, please visit www.travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html.