International Application

International Student Admissions Application

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

We are pleased that you are applying for admission to MSU Denver and look forward to helping you during this process!  Please read the following information carefully before completing the application. We will not process an application until all documentation has been received, including the application, application fee, proof of completion of secondary schooling (translated and evaluated, if necessary), essay, financial documentation, and proof of English proficiency.

International Admissions Counselor

The International Admissions Counselor is generally available to help prospective students from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  However, it is highly recommended to call or make an appointment in advance to confirm availability.  The International Admissions Counselor is located in the MSU Denver Admissions Office, room 180 of the Student Success Building on 9th Street and Auraria Parkway.  Click here for a campus map. 

Ms. Kirsten King, International Admissions Counselor
kking47@msudenver.edu
Phone: 303-556-5714
Fax: 303-556-3362

How to Submit an Application

You may fill out and electronically submit the online application below, or complete a paper application to be mailed or delivered in person.  Supplemental application materials must be delivered in person to the office listed above or mailed to: 

Metropolitan State University of Denver
International Admissions
Campus Box 16, P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362

Application Deadlines

All application materials must be received by the appropriate application deadline in order to be considered for admissions.  There are two different deadlines for international applicants, depending on whether you need to apply for the F-1 visa or if you are currently studying in the U.S. and are in-status on the F1 visa.

For students who need to apply for the F-1 visa (including applicants currently in the U.S. who need to apply for a change of status):

 For students who are currently studying in the U.S. and are in-status on the F-1 visa:

If you are ineligible for admission, or if you are admitted but do not enroll for the stated term, your file will remain active for one year from your original term of application.  After that time, a new application, fee, and all required credentials must be resubmitted for continued admission consideration.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION

APPLICATION STATUS

Select Initial Application if you have never taken courses at MSU Denver.  The Readmission Application is only for those students who previously applied and have taken at least one course at MSU Denver.

PERSONAL/DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

1. Use your complete legal name as it appears on your passport. Do not use nicknames.
2. If you have a U.S. social security number, please provide it here; it will be used for identification purposes only.  If you have previously applied to or attended MSU Denver, please provide your former student identification number (beginning with 900).
3. Per SEVIS regulations, a foreign mailing address's required for all F-1 visa-holding students.  Please provide your permanent address in your country of citizenship.
4. A complete birth date is required.  Note that in the U.S., dates are listed with the month first, then the day, and finally the year (i.e., someone born on January 3, 1984, would write 01/03/84).

ACADEMIC PLANS

Indicate the major field you intend to study, as we are unable to issue a Form I-20 without a declared major.  If completing a paper application, place the appropriate three-letter major code in the boxes.  You may change your major after you arrive on campus; however, you must discuss any changes in your academic plans with the International Student Advisor.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Applicants are required to show official proof of English proficiency through one of the following ways:

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):  Obtain a minimum score of 72 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or 533 on the paper-based TOEFL (PBT).  An official score must be sent directly from TOEFL services; MSU Denver's institution code is 4505.  Scores older than two years old are not acceptable.
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System):  Obtain at least an overall band score of 6.5.  An official score must be received directly from the testing company.  Scores older than two years are not acceptable.
3. Completion of the highest level of intensive ESL training.
4. Proof of English proficiency is not required for applicants who:

• have graduated from a U.S. high school that they attended for at least two years;
• have passed a U.S. General Education Development (GED) test;
• hold an associates degree from a U.S. community college;
• have completed at least 30 credits at a U.S. college or university and completed both of the required English composition courses (the equivalents of English 1010 and 1020) with grades of C or better; or
• are lifetime residents of Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom (at this time, exceptions are not granted to citizens of other predominantly English-speaking countries).

Note that you may be required to take English and reading placement tests before registering for classes.  If your scores are too low, you will not be allowed to study at MSU Denver and we will instead refer you to a local community college.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

1. As a publicly supported university, MSU Denver does not offer any academic scholarships or financial aid to students on nonimmigrant visas.  Most students on nonimmigrant visas will pay out-of-state-tuition.
2. Before we can issue a Form I-20, applicants must show proof of financial support for one academic year to cover tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, health insurance, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.  See below for current costs.  Note that only some of these expenses are paid directly to MSU Denver.
3. An Affidavit of Financial Support and bank statements are required for any applicant not on a government scholarship.  The bank statement should indicate a minimum balance of $33,892 and the currency, it must be original (no faxes) and current (no more than 6 months old from the day classes begin).  The Affidavit of Financial Support is to be completed by yourself and your financial sponsor.
4. If you will live with a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident and this person signs a statement that you will not be charged room and board expenses, the amount of financial support documentation will be reduced by $5,000.
5. If you will be accompanied by dependents, additional living expenses in the amount of $10,000 for your spouse and $10,000 for each child must be documented.
6. F-1 visa-holding students who are not on government scholarships are required to pay their first semester tuition and fees in full after being admitted but prior to registering for courses.  However, you should not pay this advance tuition until you have been officially admitted to the university.  Additionally, this payment can only be made in person with a check, money order or credit card in the Bursar's Office, located in the Student Success Building.
7. For possible athletic scholarships, please contact the appropriate coach.  These scholarships normally cover only tuition and occasionally fees and books.  Additional financial support documentation for the remainder of the total expenses for the academic year will be required as detailed above.

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

Note that these amounts may change without notice.  A $50.00 matriculation fee is charged to all students for their first semester of classes; this amount is reflected in the tuition & fees.

2013-14 Fall & Spring Semesters Combined:  $33,892

SECONDARY EDUCATION

1. All students must submit proof of completion of secondary (high school) education.  This documentation must include a graduation date; if not, additional evidence will be requested.  The only exception is for students who have completed at least 30 transferable credits from an accredited U.S. college or university and who submit their college/university transcripts to MSU Denver.
2. Acceptable documents include transcripts, certificates, and/or diplomas.  Unless the document is issued in English, both the original language and a certified English translation of each document are required.  We may also request that your documents be evaluated by a professional evaluation service.
3. If possible, please have your school or Ministry of Education send official transcripts directly to MSU Denver.  If this is not possible, you may send certified copies of the documents.  When you arrive on campus, you must present the original, official documents for verification.
4. If you graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED, your official transcripts or GED results must be sent directly from your school or agency to MSU Denver.  Note that if you graduated from a U.S. high school and are under 20 years old, you must take either the ACT or SAT exam.  If your English and reading scores are too low, you will not be able to begin studies at MSU Denver and will instead be referred to a local community college.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

1. Indicate the complete name(s) of the college/university.  Do not abbreviate.  If the foreign college is part of a larger university, also indicate the name of the university.
2. College/university transcripts may be required if your foreign secondary school education is not considered equivalent to U.S. high school graduation.
3. U.S. transcripts will be required to waive the TOEFL requirement if claiming exemptions 4c or 4d listed under the English Language section, or to waive the proof of completion of secondary education requirement. 
4. Students with foreign transcripts should provide official transcripts in their original language for verification; these will be photocopied and returned.  Additionally a professional course-by-course evaluation completed by a transcript evaluation service is required.  Read Professional Evaluation Requirement for a list of possible services.
5. U.S. transcripts must be sent directly to MSU Denver from your previous college/university.
6. If possible, please have foreign colleges/universities send your transcripts directly to MSU Denver.  If this is not possible, send certified copies of the documents.  When you arrive on campus, you must present the original, official documents for verification.

CERTIFICATION/SIGNATURE

1. All applicants currently in the U.S. on the F-1 visa must provide information on their current/last school and, if applicable, occupational practical training (OPT).
2. Your electronic signature, date, email address, and box check certification are required for submission.
3. Payment of the nonrefundable $40 application fee is required of all applicants. The only exception is for readmission applications; only those applicants who have previously studied at MSU Denver qualify.  To submit the application online, you must include credit card information.  If you are unable to pay by credit card, you may complete a paper application and mail it to the International Admissions Counselor with a check or money order for $40.  Applications that are submitted without payment of the required $40 application fee will not be processed.



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 

CHECKLIST OF MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED

• International Student Application
• $40 nonrefundable application fee
• Secondary education records indicating a graduation date, translated and evaluated by a professional evaluation company, if necessary
• 250-word personal essay on the topic, "Why I chose MSU Denver."
• Financial support documents, including the Affidavit of Financial Support (303 KB) and bank statements
• Proof of English language proficiency
• When applicable, college/university transcripts, translated and evaluated by a professional evaluation service, if necessary
• Copy of current passport, along with current visa, I-94 and Form I-20, if applicable
• When applicable, copy of current passport for any dependents

Documents may be submitted following the application and fee. However, all required materials must be received by the appropriate deadline before an admissions decision can be made. Only after you are accepted to MSU Denver will you be sent either the Form I-20 or SEVIS Transfer Form (for currently in-status transfer F-1 students). If you are applying from abroad, please read Applying for a Nonimmigrant Student Visa for more information on the visa application process. If you are in the U.S. and need to change your visa status, please read Checklist for Changing to F-1 Student Status.

HOW TO PAY THE APPLICATION FEE

We cannot accept online payments at this time. The $40 application fee can be paid by check or money order, made payable to MSU Denver, and sent in with your application materials. If you prefer to pay by credit card, you must first submit all of your application materials. Once your application is processed, you will be able to call the Cashier's Office to make the payment by phone with a credit card. You will not receive an acceptance packet until your application fee is paid. Please do not mail cash with your application materials.

AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED

To learn more, please read Steps to Success for International Students (25 KB). You may also wish to read the FAQ. If at any point you have questions, please contact the International Admissions Counselor.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the highest form of recognition for American colleges and universities. MSU Denver also holds accreditation/approval from various agencies for individual and professional programs.

Print Applications

International Undergraduate Admissions Application ( 276 KB)

International Graduate Application ( 243 KB)