International Student Admissions



International students must follow the same undergraduate admissions process and graduate admissions process as all other applicants but must also submit additional materials. Completed applications must be submitted by the following deadlines. These deadlines are at least two (2) months before the deadline for the submission of complete visa request and financial certification paperwork to the GW International Services Office (ISO).

Fall Admission Deadline:

• May 1 (Initial - Outside US)
• June 1 (Transfer - Inside US)

Spring Admission Deadline: 

• September 1 (Initial - Outside US)
• October 1 (Transfer - Inside US)

International admitted students who accepted their offers of admission must submit their complete visa request and financial certification paperwork by the following deadlines to request an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at [email protected].

Deadline to submit I-20/DS-2019 request paperwork for Fall Admission:

• July 1 (Initial - Outside US)
• August 1 (Transfer - Inside US)

Deadline to submit I-20/DS-2019 request paperwork for Spring Admission:

• November 1 (Initial - Outside US)
• December 1 (Transfer - Inside US)

In-Person Undergraduate Programs Requiring International Student Visas

International students who enroll in either program need a visa qualifying document, either an I-20 form for an F-1 visa or a DS-2019 form for a J-1 visa.

• Bachelor's Degree Completion Program in Cybersecurity
• Bachelor's Degree Completion Program in Information Technology
• Bachelor's Degree Completion Program in Paralegal Studies

In-Person Graduate Programs Requiring International Student Visas

International students who enroll in these programs need a visa qualifying document, either an I-20 form for an F-1 visa or a DS-2019 form for a J-1 visa.

• Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management 
• Homeland Security
• Legislative Affairs
• Paralegal Studies
• Political Management
• Strategic Public Relations
• Sustainable Urban Planning MPS

Online Programs

International students are also eligible to apply for our online programs, as long as they intend to stay outside of the U.S. These students are not required to obtain student visas, as they will attend online courses from outside of the U.S.  

Visa Request & Financial Certification

International applicants requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW must submit the following materials in addition to an admissions application:
•    A completed Visa Request Form (PDF) signed by the applicant and/or any sponsor(s)
•    Financial support documents showing proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational costs and living expenses for the full length of your academic program
•    A legible copy of the biographical page of your current passport
•    Copy of the Dependent Information Form and biographical page of current passport of dependent (if you are bringing a dependent)

Applicants currently in the US must also submit the following:
•   A legible copy of the front and back page of your I-94.
•   If you are on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), you must submit your employment authorization card and an OPT forfeit letter.
•    If you are or were in F-1 or J-1 status within the past year, copies of your I-20 or DS-2019.
•    Copy of your U.S. Visa.
•    Completed SEVIS F-1 Transfer Verification Form (if you are currently in the U.S.).

For more information about the international student application process and related resources, please visit the GW Graduate Admissions website. 

English Proficiency Requirements

Submission of the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearsons Test of English (PTE) academic, or Duolingo English Test (DET), is required of applicants who are not citizens of countries where English is the official language (PDF). 

Exceptions to this policy may be granted to applicants who hold an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree:

• From an institution in which English is the language of instruction and the official language of the country in which the university is located; or
• From an accredited institution (PDF) by a U.S. regional accrediting agency.

Exceptions to this policy may also be granted to transfer undergraduate applicants, who have completed two consecutive English Language Composition courses at the college level at the time of application.

English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and DET) may not be more than two years old. To ensure TOEFL scores are sent to GW, please use institutional code 5246. An institutional code is not required to send IELTS, PTE, or DET scores to GW.

To be considered for admission, the minimum required scores are:

• TOEFL
  • On-Campus Applicants: Paper-based – 550; Internet-based – 80
  • Online Program Applicants: Paper-based – 600; Internet-based – 100
• IELTS
  • On-Campus Applicants: 6.0 overall, with no band score below 5.0
  • Online Program Applicants: 7.0 overall, with no band score below 6.0
• PTE
  • On-Campus Applicants: 53
  • Online Program Applicants: 68
• Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • On-Campus Program Applicants: 110
  • Online Program Applicants: 120

English for Academic Purposes

Some international students are required to register for an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in their first semester at GW. The required course will be indicated in the student’s letter of admission. Those who are assigned EAP courses should anticipate additional tuition expenses as well as a possible extended period of time required to complete their degree.

Students with minimum English language test scores or higher are exempt from the EAP course requirement:

• TOEFL
  • Paper-based – 600
  • Internet-based – 100
• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with no band score below 6.0
• PTE: 68
• DET: 120

Regardless of your test score, the College retains the right to require an EAP (English for Academic Purposes) course during your first term of enrollment if it is deemed necessary by the admissions committee. 

International Credentials

All international transcripts must be submitted to an approved, accredited independent evaluation agency prior to submission.  A list of acceptable foreign credential evaluation services is available through National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Be sure to request a detailed course-by-course evaluation showing all course titles, credit hours, grades, recommended United States degree equivalency, grade point average (GPA) and date of degree conferral.

Official transcript evaluations should be sent to:

The George Washington University
College of Professional Studies Office of Admissions
805 21st Stret, NW, Suite 301
Washington, D.C. 20052

We also accept transcript evaluations sent directly by the evaluating agency, NACES or AICE, to [email protected]. They will be considered unofficial if forwarded. If your transcripts or academic credentials are in a language other than English, a certified English language translation must be provided.