International Student Admission Requirements

Who is an International Student?

Minot State University is authorized by the U.S. government to issue SEVIS form I-20s to assist non-immigrant international students to apply for F-1 student visas. The Office of Enrollment Services will issue I-20s to degree-seeking international students who meet all of the entrance requirements outlined below.

Admission Components

Admission is determined by a selective process that includes consideration of English language proficiency, academic achievements, financial resources, and student visa eligibility. For information regarding admission to specific graduate programs, please refer to the graduate catalog or contact the Minot State University Graduate School at MinotStateU.edu/graduate or 1-800-777-0750 (Ext. 3250).

Prospective international freshmen and transfer international students may apply online at: MinotStateU.edu. Once the online application is submitted, the following supporting documentation must also be submitted by the appropriate deadline:

  • A $35 non-refundable application fee
  • Official academic records demonstrating prior academic achievement
  • Official Entrance Exam Score
  • Completed application for the Form I-20 and Certification of Financial Responsibility
  • Supporting financial documents
  • International Transfer Student Form (if applicable)
  • Biographic Page of Passport

Deadlines for Admission

Fall semester: June 15 for application and all supporting documentation. Spring semester: Oct.15 for application and all supporting documentation.

First-Year International Students (Freshmen)

International students who have not already completed more than 24 credit hours of university level coursework are considered first-year students. If you are transferring fewer than 24 semester hours of college or university credit, you MUST submit documents as a first-year student and official academic records of the credits earned at the university level (if those university level credits were earned outside of the United States, they must be evaluated with the same procedure outlined under transfer international students).

Current Academic Records – International high school credentials must be submitted to one of the three evaluating services that Minot State accepts as per the evaluator’s request. The student will need to request a professional course-by-course evaluation and English translation to be completed by one of the following: World Education Services, Education Credential Evaluators, or American Education Research Corporation. Information about the evaluation services can be found at www.wes.org, www.ece.org, and www.aerc-eval.com.

Transfer International Students

International students who have previously attended a college or university and have completed at least 24 semester hours are considered transfer students. Students who have completed 24 or more credit hours of university level coursework MUST apply as a transfer student. International transfer students should follow the admissions procedures described above for international first-year students, but must also submit the following:

  • Transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended. Students transferring from a university outside of the United States must submit an official transcript from the institution reflecting all courses attempted and grades received, attached to a professional course-by-course evaluation and English translation completed by World Education Services, Education Credential Evaluators, or American Education Research Corporation. Information about the evaluation services can be found at www.wes.org, www.ece.org, and www.aerc-eval.com.

    Students must also provide an English translated copy of the institution’s catalog or a copy of the course descriptions or course syllabi from the catalog to aid in the evaluation of transfer credit. Since the evaluation of transfer credits from foreign institutions can be lengthy, please be aware that the results of the evaluation may not be available prior to your arrival and registration at Minot State University.

    Regardless of the number of credits transferred, students must meet all general and specific graduation requirements of the university.

    Transfer students should have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Transfer Clearance Form If you are transferring to Minot State from a college or university in the United States, you must submit a transfer form signed by you and the international coordinator at your current school.
     

Credit Transfer

Post-secondary coursework completed prior to attending Minot State is subject to review and approval by the department of the student’s chosen major and the Registrar’s Office. Evaluation of transfer credit normally will not be complete until the applicant has arrived on campus and has enrolled for coursework. Applicants seeking transfer credits for higher education work completed outside the United States may be asked to bring with them a detailed syllabus for each course, and they must be prepared to provide a full description of prior coursework to their academic adviser to facilitate the evaluation of transfer credits.

Entrance Exams

Academic success at Minot State University demands strong English language skills. Minot State requires all international students to provide an official Entrance Exam before being accepted as a student. To be considered for admission, undergraduate applicants must submit one of the following:

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Scores taken within two years:
    • IBT Minimum Score of 71 or
    • Paper-based minimum score of 525
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) taken with two years:
    • Minimum score of 6.0 overall band
  • SAT Exam
    • Subscores: Writing and Language of 25 AND SAT Total of 920
  • ACT Exam
    • Composite score of 17 and English sub test score of 18
  • ACCUPLACER Exam
    • WritePlacer of 5
    • NextGeneration Writing of 256 or higher
  • Duolingo Exam
    • Minimum score of 95
  • Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE-A)
    • Minimum score of 50
  • Transferring from a regionally accredited or nationally recognized U.S. college or university after two years of study, in good standing, OR completion of Composition I and II with a grade of at least a B.

Academic Achievement

Applicants should have completed their secondary education and obtained their high school diploma or school-leaving certificate. Minot State University will review all secondary and university-level coursework (if applicable) for academic rigor and trends in academic performance.

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 Minot State 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 Statement of Financial Responsibility form and submit it with the required documentation proving sufficient financial support to cover the entire cost-of-living and studying in the U.S. for every year of the student’s program of study. Documentation allocating support for at least one full year must be provided before admission is offered. Additional information regarding this requirement can be found on the Minot State Office of International Programs website: www.MinotStateU.edu/international.

Mandatory International Student Fee

Please check with the Office of International Programs regarding any international student fees.

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.

The insurance policy enrollment fee is automatically charged to an international student’s Minot State financial account at the beginning of each semester, and it must be paid with other tuition and student fees. This coverage is required from the time of registration at Minot State until termination or completion of program objectives. Any student who is not properly insured will be prohibited from participating in their program.

*Under NDUS Policy/Procedure 505, students from Canada and Norway are exempt from this requirement. However, students from Canada and Norway may opt to enroll in the NDUS designated policy if interested in obtaining coverage from a U.S. based insurance provider. Canadian students and parents should refer to MinotStateU.edu/international for information regarding private and provincial health insurance considerations.

Other students might also be eligible for a waiver of the NDUS designated insurance if they are able to provide proof of comparable coverage. Waivers are granted in only a few exceptional situations. Instructions and a waiver form are provided at MinotStateU.edu/international/ for those who wish to learn more about the process and requirements.

Health Records

Proof of two immunizations as required by the State Board of Higher Education: (Not required for admission consideration) Appropriate proof may be a copy of your childhood immunization records, school immunization records, or documentation by your medical provider (personal physician, pediatrician, or county health department) that you had the respective disease(s) or the immunization and the dates.

  • Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella requires two doses of vaccine given no less than one month apart, or positive serologic tests.
  • Students ages 21 and younger must provide documentation of immunity against meningococcal disease given at or after age 16.

You can be immunized at a private health care provider or the Minot State Student Health Center. To submit your health records, please see MinotStateU.edu/health/immunization.shtml. A hold will be placed on the registration process of non-compliant students attempting to register for their next term at Minot State.

Tuberculosis

All students must complete the tuberculosis questionnaire at Minot State University. To submit your health records, please see MinotStateU.edu/health/immunization.shtml. A hold will be placed on the registration process of non-compliant students attempting to register for their next term at Minot State.

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.