International Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

All International Students

To be considered for admission, ALL International Students must submit each of the following items:

Transfer Students:
See International Transfer Students section for additional requirements

Deadlines

For applicants outside of the US:

  • Fall (August start date): May 1
  • Winter (January start date): October 15

For applicants inside of the US:

  • Fall (August start date): July 1
  • Winter(January start date): December 1

Application

Complete the International application for admission.

Personal Statement

Students must write a 500 word personal statement on their goals and reasons for wanting to enter Grand Valley State University. 

Transcripts

Students will need to submit official copies of external exam scores, as well as official copies of internal grades. All transcripts must be sent directly from the academic institution.

  • Original, attested, or certified copy of all academic records from all secondary schools and/or universities you have attended
  • Diplomas or graduate certificates from all high schools or universities where you have earned a degree
  • National exit test results (if applicable)
  • Students taking the WAEC will need to submit an unused scratch card with their application.
  • These academic records must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.

Test Scores

For admission, all international students must take one of the approved English proficiency exams, complete Level 112 at ELS Language Center or take the ACT or SAT.  Students from an English proficiency exam waiver country do not need to take any exam for admission.

All test scores must be sent from the testing service.  We are not able to accept unofficial test scores.

  • TOEFL: 80 (we do not accept "My Best" score for admission)
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Duolingo: 105
  • PTE: 53

English proficiency exam waiver countries:

  • Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, North Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Christopher-Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Verification of Financial Support (to be submitted after admission)

Undergraduate students must have sufficient finances to cover tuition, fees, and housing costs for one year at Grand Valley. The minimum amount of support is $34,196.  You can find the estimated tuition and living expenses on the International Tuition and Fees website.

The financial verification form, bank statement and passport for your I-20 can be submitted here - https://apply.gvsu.edu/portal/international.

What are acceptable financial documents?

  • Personal bank statements indicating required currency amount in liquid asset form (business accounts are not accepted)
    • Cash deposits, certificates of deposit, savings accounts, term deposits and checking accounts are acceptable
  • Investment statements indicating liquid assets
    • Submissions need to include clear evidence of the fund’s liquidity and the cash surrender value
  • Athletic scholarship letter from a Grand Valley athletic team
  • Government funding
    • Letter must have contact information of the organization providing funding
  • Education loan confirmation letter

What information does my bank statement need to have? 

  • All financial documents must have at least three months of transaction history or proof that the account has been active for more than three months
  • All certificate of deposit and term deposit statements must include the maturity date
  • All financial documents must be in English. Documents not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation.
  • All financial documents must be printed on official bank letterhead and must be signed by the appropriate bank official.

Fall tuition and fees are set by the university in July and will be published on the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship website.


International Transfer Students

All transfer students are required to submit official transcripts from their university or college. Transcripts are considered official if they are sent directly from your university/college to Grand Valley. Students cannot personally send or scan their transcripts to Grand Valley.

  • Transcripts from U.S. institutions can be requested through the school's Registrar Office or Student Records Office. Official transcripts will be accepted by mail or electronically. Upon receiving transcripts, an official evaluation of transferable credit will be done. 
  • Academic records must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.

 

Transfer Credit 

If you attended a U.S. community college or university, you can find which classes will transfer into Grand Valley on the Course Equivalency Guide

If you attended a non-U.S. college or university, you can look through the equivalency guide to see if previous students received credit from your university. If you do not find your college or university on our list, you will need to send course descriptions, in English, to int[email protected]. You are not required to submit a course description, but we will not be able to award credit if we do not receive course descriptions for your coursework.



Page last modified December 15, 2023