UMass Graduate School | International Student Completing Application

Prospective Students | Application Information | International

I International* Student Information
* Non-U.S. citizens who do not hold U.S. Permanent Resident Status

The University of Massachusetts Amherst appreciates and welcomes your interest. We take pride in the large number of students here from other countries, whose contributions to this state university and to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are recognized and appreciated. This introduction provides information about the Amherst campus of the University useful to prospective international students interested in admission as graduate students. For additional information, applicants should address specific questions concerning graduate admissions procedures to the Graduate Admissions Office. Questions about curriculum and graduate assistantships should be taken up directly with the graduate program in which the applicant is interested; questions about visas should be directed to the International Programs Office.

More international student Information can be found here.

II Application

Completing the Application: International Applicants

Send All Application Material Directly To:
Graduate Admissions Office
530 Goodell Building
University of Massachusetts
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9333

Application: If you are completing the paper application be sure that you type or print clearly. Applicants may be considered for admission to master's or doctoral degree programs if they have attained the baccalaureate degree at an American college or university, or possess an equivalent degree "Equivalent" means four years of University undergraduate work, preceded by at least 12 years of elementary and secondary school studies. Most foreign four-year degrees are recognized as being equivalent; however, the three-year Indian Bachelor of Arts, Science, and Commerce degrees and other three-year Asian degrees are not considered to be equivalent.
Application Fee: For international applicants, the application fee is $65. The fee is non-refundable and can not be deferred or waived. This fee can be paid by check drawn on a U.S. bank or paid by credit card, (MasterCard or VISA only).
Personal Statement: Begin the Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose on the second page of the Application and continue it onto subsequent pages, if necessary. One can also print their entire Statement on separate sheets of paper, there by, allowing the applicant to use word processing packages in preparation of the document. Be sure that your name appears at the beginning along with the name of your desired program. If you are completeing the on-line application, you have the option of submitting your Personal Statement at that time or mailing it via surface mail within two days of the electronic submission of the application.
Transcripts: Two copies of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where 6 or more credits were taken are required. We would prefer them submitted in sealed envelopes submitted with the application but will accept them mailed directly from the college/university. If the official transcripts and/or degree certificate(s) are not in English, notorized English language translations in duplicate must be submitted. Do not list colleges/universities where 5 or fewer credits were taken.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Tests: Official score reports must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The Institutional Code for the University of Massachusetts Amherst is 3917. Most graduate programs require the GRE General Test and a few require a Subject Test in addition to the General Test. Click here for those requirements. Test scores are valid for five years from the date of anticipated entrance.
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): All applicants to Management; Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration; and Sport Studies must submit an official copy of their GMAT scores. The institutional code for the University of Massachusetts Amherst is 3917. GMAT scores are valid for five years from date of anticipated entrance.
Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of two (Psychology and Sociology require three) letters of recommendation are required from individuals best suited to assess the applicant’s quality of academic performance and ability to perform scholarly research. Although the use of our Recommendation Form is not required, we do however, ask that the applicant complete the top portion of the form and give it to the referee. All recommendations will be considered non-confidential unless the applicant waives his/her right of access.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Since all students are expected to read, understand, speak and write English fluently, all applicants whose native language is not English, including those from India and the People's Republic of China, must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants taking the paper-based test must score 550 or above; those taking the computer-based test must score 213 ore above; those taking the Internet-base test must score 80 or above. A TOEFL score is valid for two years from expected entrance date.
The Institution Code for the University of Massachusetts Amherst is 3917.

TOEFL is not required if an applicant satisfies one or more of these conditions:
a. Citizenship of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Guyana, Ireland, New Zealand, United States, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English speaking country of the Caribbean. b. A college or university degree earned in the United States or in one of the countries listed above. c. A degree earned from the American University in Beirut, American University in Bulgaria, American College in Greece or from Bogazigi University. d. Current enrollment as a full-time student who will have completed two academic years of college/university work in the United States prior to the date of anticipated entrance at the University of Massachusetts.
International Student Financial Statement: Every international applicant must complete this form and submit it along with the application. The information contained in this statement will be used to determine if the University will be able to provide you with a visa scholarship if you are eventually offered admission.