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 15 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. SHU accepts 3-year undergraduate programs (15 year degrees) common in India, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
- 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. For unconditional admission to an academic program, the following minimum scores are required: TOEFL score of 550 on paper-based test or 80 on the TOEFL iBT or Home Edition Test, IELTS – 6.0 (some programs may require a higher score - please see program specific pages); Duolingo - 105 (some programs may require higher - please see program specific pages); PTE – 62; iTEP – 5; Completion of English Language Programs such asL ELS Level 112 English for Academic Purposes, EF Level C1, Talk Level 7, UCSD 109, YUELI; EIKEN: pre-1; GTEC 1200; Other exams/ESL programs may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- 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
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, students must provide the following:
- 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 calendar year (tuition, room, board, books, travel expenses, health insurance, miscellaneous)
- Receipt of the student’s and/or family member’s passports
- Non-refundable enrollment deposit
- Students are responsible for the payment to ship visa documents (such as the I-20).
The Office of International Admissions will work closely with the University’s Office of International and Immigration Services 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 intl@sacredheart.edu.