Admission is determined by a selective process that includes consideration of English language proficiency, academic achievements, financial resources, and student visa eligibility.

In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, ALL required supporting documentation listed below must also be sent to Admissions by the appropriate deadline.

Required Supporting Application Documents

• English Proficiency
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): taken within 2 years: Internet Based Test with a minimum score of 79
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): taken within 2 years: with a minimum score of 6.0 overall band
  • Duolingo minimum score of 100.
  • In some instances, international students who have earned a degree from an English-speaking university (where the primary mode of instruction is English) in the past 10 years may also be considered for English proficiency waiver. Students should provide a letter of proof from the institution.
  • In lieu of previously defined satisfactory performance on the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, international students who have attended formal education for three or more years in the U.S. may, at the discretion of the program, be considered for admission into the Graduate School with the recommendation of the program director who has been able to assess the students’ English proficiency through voice conversation.
• Academic Credential Requirements
  International applicants (except Canadians) are required to have all international college, university, or professional school statements of marks (transcripts) evaluated course by course by one of the following internationally recognized, comprehensive organizations approved by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education: 
  • American Education Research Corporation (AERC)
  • Education Credentials Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
  • World Education Services (WES)

Click on the links above to review their application procedures. The agency you choose to utilize will send an official evaluation to Minot State University along with copies of your transcript.

*Applicants who have attended Canadian colleges, universities, and/or professional schools, a credential evaluation is not required, official transcripts can be sent directly to the MSU Graduate School.  Applicants from MSU's formalized partner institutions are not required to provide a credential evaluation.

• F-1 Transfer Clearance Form [pdf]
  If you are transferring to MSU from a college or university within the United States you must submit the F-1 transfer form signed by you and the international coordinator at your current school in order to have your SEVIS record transferred to Minot State University.
• Application for Form I-20 and Certification of Financial Responsibility
  International students are not eligible for U.S. federal or state need-based financial assistance. Therefore, certification of adequate financial support to meet the needs during the period of enrollment at MSU is required of all international non-immigrant applicants.  Note:  The certification of finances portion of the I-20 is needed after accepting an admission offer and before the I-20 can be issued. 
• Photocopy of the page containing your personal information from your Passport.
  This information will be used to create your form I-20.

Notification of Application Status
The application packet must be complete before you can be considered for admission. You will be notified via email of the admission decision. In the meantime, please check out Steps for Admitted Students on the International Students Services page.

---

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

After you are fully admitted to Minot State University, visit the Office of International Programs webpages for information on visas, entry into the U.S., life in Minot, and more! MinotStateU.edu/international/services.shtml.

Visa Status

International and Canadian students in F-1 visa status must abide by regulations specific to their F-1 student visa status. An F-1 Regulations Overview is available on the Office of International Programs webpage at: MinotStateU.edu/international/pages/international-current/f-1-regulations-overview.shtml.

Financial Support

International students are not eligible for U.S. federal or state need-based financial assistance. Therefore, certification of adequate financial support to meet the needs during the period of enrollment at MSU is required of all international non-immigrant applicants. The student must be prepared to document on a yearly basis the ability to pay the following year’s tuition and fees as well as the cost-of-living expenses. To prove sufficient financial resources, international applicants should complete the Application for Form I-20 and Certification of Finances and include the appropriate supporting documents. Failure to submit supporting documents will delay admission review and the issuance of the appropriate immigration forms.

Before departing for the United States, students should become thoroughly familiar with their home governments’ regulations for exchanging and forwarding money abroad.

International Student Tuition

All students, regardless of residency, pay North Dakota in-state tuition for all classes. More detailed information regarding tuition rates can be found on the MSU website at: MinotStateU.edu/graduate/future_students/financial-resources.shtml/.

Tuition and fees for all students are due at the beginning of each semester and must be paid in full at the Business Office within the first 12 class days of the semester; MSU does not issue paper statements; students are responsible for checking their account in Campus Connection. Students who do not pay their tuition and fees in full on or prior to the 12th day of classes are withdrawn from their classes and will incur a reinstatement fee.

Please note that tuition policies are subject to change or suspension without advance notice by action of either Minot State University or the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.

Mandatory Health Insurance

Per the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) policy section 505, international students at Minot State University in F-1 or J-1 status are required* to be covered by the health insurance policy that has been designated by the Chancellor of the North Dakota State University System.

* Students from Canada and Norway are exempt from this requirement, however, students from Canada and Norway may opt to enroll in the NDUS Designated health insurance policy if they so choose.  Canadian students and parents should refer to the Current Students page for information regarding private and provincial health insurance considerations.

For further details found at MinotStateU.edu/international/services.shtml.

Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements

The state of North Dakota requires proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella prior to registration for courses. Additionally, effective in fall 2017, newly admitted students ages 21 and younger attending classes on campus must provide documentation of one dose of meningococcal vaccine given after age 16 years, per SBHE policy S06.1. Tuberculosis (TB) screening is also required of all international students. Students who fail to meet these requirements will have a “hold” placed on their institutional profile and account and will not be allowed to register for courses. To submit documentation, go to MinotStateU.edu/health/immunization.shtml. 

Student Visa Information

Minot State University is authorized by the U.S. government to issue SEVIS Forms I-20 to assist non-immigrants to apply for F-1 visas. The Graduate School will issue I-20s to international students who meet all of the entrance requirements.

Information about international students in the U.S. is tracked using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Students are assigned a SEVIS ID number which is located on the upper right-hand corner. The ID number begins with an N and has 10 digits. Students are required by Congress to pay for this tracking system, and this SEVIS fee is an additional fee, not to be confused with the visa application fee. All new students must pay the SEVIS fee after receiving the I-20 form from Minot State University, but prior to visiting the U.S. consulate for their F-1 visa interview. Students from Canada, who do not require a visa, must pay the SEVIS fee before their first entry to the U.S. and will be asked for a copy of the receipt at the port of entry. To pay the SEVIS fee, go to the following website: fmjfee.com/index.html.

American government regulations allow students to enter the U.S. only within 30 days of the start date indicated on the I-20 form. MSU campus housing is not available until just before the start of school, so if you arrive early, you are responsible for your own accommodations. New international students are required to attend a welcome orientation specifically for international students at the beginning of their first semester at Minot State University.

The I-20 form is first endorsed by a Minot State University’s Office of International Programs at the time it is issued and then must be re-endorsed at the end of each semester. These signatures confirm full-time student status and enable F-1 students and their dependents to enter and leave the country.

International students planning to travel outside of the U.S. during their entire length of study at Minot State University must bring their I-20 form to Office of International Programs for verification and signature renewal at least 24 hours prior to travel.

Students must be making satisfactory academic progress toward their major field of study in order to have their I-20 form endorsed each semester. ‘Academic progress’ means that the student must be taking course work that satisfies the declared degree requirements and maintain a satisfactory grade point average. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be eligible to have their I-20 form re-endorsed.