International Student Requirements

Graduate program applicants must have the equivalent of the U.S. four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.  An academic evaluation by a NACES member (https://www.naces.org/members) is required from an international student who has studied outside of the United States. We highly encourage students to select a NACES member (https://www.naces.org/members) with electronic delivery capabilities.  We are currently able to receive evaluations electronically via WES ICAP (https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/wes-international-credential-advantage-package/). Students who have recently requested an academic evaluation to be delivered to our office via mail may provide unofficial transcripts/evaluation in the interim (via the GradCAS system or to hugsadmission@howard.edu).  All students (who have not previously made an official submission) will be required to submit an official evaluation at a later date.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required from all applicants from countries in which English is not the official language. The TOEFL test is not required if you received a degree in the U.S.


International applicants are encouraged to submit applications by February 1 (Fall) or October 1 (Spring) to allow sufficient time to obtain proper documents of eligibility and visas.

The Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (I-20) will be issued after the student has (1) been accepted by the Office of Admissions, (2) paid the required enrollment fee, and (3) submitted a financial statement indicating how expenses will be met while the students is attending the University.  Regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service require that all people on F-1 (student) visas pursue a full-time course of study at all times.  This means that graduate students must be enrolled in no less than 9 credit hours at all times.  Please contact the Office of International Student Services at 202-806-2777/202-806-2775 or pugbong@howard.edu.