International Applications
All admitted international graduate students must possess the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. In addition, international applicants should have achieved an excellent academic record that includes at least sixteen years of primary, secondary, and college-level education.
International graduate students essentially follow the same procedure and use the same application form as all other graduate students applying to Sacred Heart University; however, the following additional documentation must also be submitted:
- Certified official copies of all university/college academic transcripts
- Proof of a bachelor’s degree completion from an accredited university or college including semester-by-semester mark sheets, academic transcripts, grade reports, final examination results, diplomas and degree certificates from every college or university attended showing dates attended, course titles, grades obtained, credit hours if any, and the conferral of a bachelor’s degree
- An explanation of your university/college grading system to be provided along with transcripts
- Non-native English speakers applying for graduate study must submit an official English language proficiency examination. Scores must be sent directly from the testing service to Sacred Heart University. The following examinations and minimum scores are accepted: TOFEL score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the TOFEL iBT, IELTS - 6.5, SHU ELI online placement exam - 80%, PTE - 62, iTEP - 5, ELS English for Academic Purposes - Level 112, Education First (EF) - C1, Cambridge Advanced English - 58, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - 5.5, Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE) - 5.5
- For all university-level academic work completed outside the United States, an official course-by-course foreign credential evaluation is preferred with some graduate programs requiring submission. Please contact the Office of International Admissions for a list of approved evaluation companies.
- Copy of passport, specifically the page(s) containing identification data and signature of bearer
- An official certified bank statement or government financial guarantee in English and U.S. dollar figures, signed by a bank or government official and dated within six months of enrolling at Sacred Heart University verifying the student, the student's family, and/or the student's sponsor's ability to pay the full cost required to attend SHU for one year (tuition, room, board, books, travel expenses, health insurance, miscellaneous)
NOTE: Materials that are received by fax and email will be used as working documents only and are considered to be unofficial. Such documents may be used for making an admission decision; however, original or photocopies with a school seal and signature are required when a student enrolls at Sacred Heart University. Submission of falsified documents is grounds for denial of admission or dismissal from the University.
- Additional documentation as specified per graduate program
Upon acceptance to a graduate program, receipt of the student’s passport and proof of the student’s ability to afford the cost to attend Sacred Heart University for one year must be received as well as a non-refundable enrollment deposit and the student’s payment for shipping an I-20. The Office of International Admissions will work closely with the University’s PDSO to issue the student’s I-20 for the purpose of obtaining an F-1 Visa. For more information on international admission, contact the Office of International Admissions at internationalenroll@sacredheart.edu.