• Early Action Admission Program
  
• Regular Decision Admission Program
  
• 10 Step Process
  
• Advanced Placement Credit
  
• Advanced Standing
  
• Apply Online
  
• Freshman Requirements
  
• Stockbridge School
  
• Transfer Students
  
  The Application Process
  Transfer Credit
  Declaring a Major
  Transfers to Commonwealth College
  Transfer Orientation
• International Students
  
• Veterans
  
• Out of State Students
  
• Application Process FAQ
  
• Accepted Students
  

The Transfer Student Application Process

While freshman and transfer applicants to UMass Amherst use the same application form, there are some different steps for transfer students.

What to Send

You must submit your application with official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended (whether or not credit is desired). Photocopies and student copies are not acceptable. If you apply with fewer than 27 completed credits or from colleges with non-standard grading systems you must also submit official high school transcripts, including SAT scores. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $40 for Massachusetts residents, $50 for other U.S. citizens, and $60 for international applicants. If you are accepted, you must send a nonrefundable enrollment fee of $400 to confirm a place in the entering class.

You must also submit a brief written statement with your application. This is an ideal opportunity to provide further information not apparent in your transcripts and other materials.

English Language Proficiency

If you are not a native speaker of English, you are required to demonstrate your English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

SAT-I verbal score:
Non-native speakers with a SAT-I verbal score of 400 or higher do not need to take the TOEFL or ELPT.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or English Language Placement Test (ELPT):
You must submit official copies of scores. For the TOEFL, a minimum score of 550 or better (213 or better on the computer-based TOEFL) is required, although achieving this score does not guarantee admission. For the ELPT, a minimum score of 968 or better is required, although achieving that score does not guarantee admission.

Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA):
If you are a freshman, Stockbridge, or transfer applicant applying directly from Puerto Rico, you may take the TOEFL, ELPT, or the PAA, and must submit official score reports.

TOEFL/ELPT/PAA Exemption:
If you are a transfer applicant currently studying in the U.S. and have completed two (non-ESL) English composition courses with grades of B or better, you may be exempt from the TOEFL or ELPT requirement. This exemption is not automatic but is based upon a review of your complete academic history, which must include above-average performance in several humanities and social science courses.

Go to the TOEFL website for more information on that test.

If you have any special concerns about the transfer process, you may request an interview with a transfer counselor through the Admissions Office.

Deadlines

Admissions Deadlines

Admissions must receive your completed application (including all official college transcripts, required essay, fee, and related documents) no later than April 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.

Financial Aid Deadlines

We recommend that you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after Jan. 1, but before February 15, in order to meet the March 1 deadline.

When Will You Find Out?

Fall transfer admissions decisions are generally mailed from March through May. Spring semester applicants will be notified by December 15.

International Students Info

If you are an international student, you are eligible only for fall admission unless you are currently enrolled at a U.S. college and have completed a non-ESL English writing course. You must also submit TOEFL scores, a certified affidavit of financial support, and a bank statement.

Go to the International Students section for more information on your application process.