Information for International Students

Before a foreign applicant’s file can be evaluated, the following items must be submitted to Graduate School.

1. Completed application form and non-refundable application fee of $35.00 U.S. dollars.
2. Three completed recommendation forms. Three letters of recommendation are required of applicants to most graduate degree program; five letters are required for application to the Ph.D. program in Counseling and Psychology in Education through the School of Education and only two letters are required for application to the Beacom School of Business. Recommendation forms are available on The Graduate School website at http://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/how-to-apply.cfm.
3. One official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels (with English translation stating a 2.7 or better undergraduate grade point average based on a 4.0 system). The USD Graduate School and/or academic departments retain the right to require an Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES) evaluation for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
4. Any required test for the program in which the student is applying.
5. Supplemental application materials for department if required.
6. Proficiency Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) by scoring a 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT), 213 on the written TOEFL, or 550 on the computer-based TOEFL. The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) Exam is also accepted with a minimum score of 6.0 as is the ELS for students with scores at or above 112.

Students from English-speaking countries are not required to submit a TOEFL score if their academic records indicate that English was the classroom language for the majority of their schoolwork. Foreign students who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from an American college or university are not required to submit a TOEFL score. However, certain programs may have more strict requirements regarding students who have English as a second language.

Once the student has been accepted to The U, financial ability must be proven to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form). The Financial Ability Form (form available at http://www.usd.edu/isso) and certified bank statement or sponsor’s letter showing that student is financial self-supported are required before the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form) can be issued. *To avoid delays, the Financial Ability Form and bank statements should be sent with application materials.

The Graduate School will send a letter of notification of the students’ admission status to the International Services Student Office (ISSO). The Graduate School will notify the student directly of admission or rejection into the program to which the student applied. The ISSO will send the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form) if proper documentation has been provided, and other information to the student who will use these materials to obtain a visa.

A foreign student should not depart from home to attend The University of South Dakota until notification of admission has been received and the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form) has been issued to the student.  All non-United States citizens must report to the International Student Services Office, Muenster University Center 219B, upon initial arrival to the campus. You can reach the International Student Services Office by calling 605-677-5332. (http://www.usd.edu/isso)