UMass Amherst welcomes you to apply for admission as an international student if you are not a United States citizen or a permanent resident of the United States.
If you have completed high school (secondary school) and have not yet enrolled in a regular session at a college or university, you should apply as a freshman (see instructions below). If you have completed high school (secondary school) and have been enrolled in a college or university, you should apply as a transfer student.
Please note: we are unable to admit international students for the spring semester unless they are currently enrolled in a U.S.-based school with a valid student visa.
Application materials needed for a international freshman student:
1. A completed Common Application. Find all deadlines here!
It is critical that applicants use their own email address, phone number, and mailing address on their application to ensure that all communication from UMass Amherst is delivered in an accurate and timely manner. Missing any important communication from us may delay an applicants’ application process and admission decisions.
For students interested in one of our selective majors--Computer Science, Engineering, Isenberg School of Management (Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations & Information Management, and Sport Management)--we recommend that you also choose a second choice major on your Common Application that is not one of these selective majors.
2. Application Fee
International students must verify that they have adequate finances to pay for their education -- requesting a fee waiver indicates that they do not have adequate finances and therefore would not be able to enroll. For this reason, we do not waive application fees for international students.
3. Official High School Transcript or Secondary School Exams
Official transcripts showing all secondary (high school) and post-secondary (if applicable) coursework, with official translations. Note: Attested or notarized copies of original foreign transcripts are permitted for the admission decision; however, if admitted, the student must present the original document(s) upon request. (Please see our page regarding International Freshman Transcript Requirements.)
Secondary School Exams
If an applicant’s high school (or secondary school) is in a country outside the United States that requires national or state exams in order to progress to higher educational levels, then we require a copy of official exam results for any exams completed prior to applying for admission. Examples include: IGSCE, GCSE, O Level, AS, CXC, CBSE Class X, and IGSCE Class X with school transcripts. Admitted students will need to submit official proof of completion of senior (or higher) secondary school prior to enrollment. Examples include: A Level, CAPE, CBSE Class XII, and ISC Class XII. (Please see our page regarding International Freshman Transcript Requirements.)
4. Official SAT or ACT score report
We require either the SAT or ACT. We will accept both redesigned and old SAT results. The SAT essay and ACT writing component are recommended, though not required. All scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. The UMass Amherst SAT code is 3917 and the ACT code is 1924. We are unable to process “rush” test score reports. Test scores are not required for students who have been out of high school for five or more years.
5. Academic Letter of Recommendation
6. English Language Proficiency
UMass Amherst seeks to admit students who will contribute fully to campus life, inside and outside the classroom. Therefore, all non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The following are ways in which you can satisfy the English language proficiency requirement:
- TOEFL: A minimum composite TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL with minimum of 17 on each subscore (code #3917)
- IELTS: A minimum composite IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test with minimum of 6.0 on each subscore (We will not accept paper IELTS test report forms)
- English education: Entire secondary education (four years) is at a school where English is the primary language of instruction and the British or American curriculum is followed
- Unscripted interview: While not required for admission, all international students may choose to submit a third-party unscripted interview. If you choose to submit an interview, companies that provide this service include InitialView
If you are providing proof of English language proficiency based on one of the test scores listed above, please note that the score reports must be less than two years old and come to Undergraduate Admissions directly from the testing service. Also note that we do not superscore language tests (e.g. we do not accept MyBest scores from TOEFL.)
The University of Massachusetts Amherst downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account:
University of Massachusetts Amherst
534 Goodell Building
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9333
Please note: Waiver of the English proficiency testing requirement will be granted only after our verification that the applicant has satisfied one of the above waiver criteria, based on official documentation contained in the student's application materials. The official verification process will be conducted after the student's application has been submitted and reviewed.
7. Interruption in Education History
If applicable, you should report any interruptions (gaps) in your education history. There is a section on the Common Application to both indicate and summarize why a gap occurred, and importantly, to report whether you took courses at another institution during that time.
8. Audition or Portfolio
Architecture, art, dance, and music majors should file an admission application with the Admissions Office early to facilitate the audition or portfolio review process. See Special Requirements for Selected Majors for more information.
9. Optional Interview
While not required for admission, all international students may choose to submit a third-party unscripted interview. Because many students come from educational systems that are different from that of the United States, we find it valuable to view an unscripted interview where applicants may discuss their unique backgrounds and goals. A third-party company will conduct the interview, record the conversation, and send it directly to our admissions team for review. If you choose to submit such an interview, companies that provide this service include IntialView. (Interviews are optional and must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered. Applicants must contact the company to set-up and pay for the interview. Submission of an interview does not waive any application requirement nor in any way guarantee admission.)
Applicants also have the option to provide additional information about their English ability by submitted a score on the Duolingo English Test (DET). This is an optional supplement that may assist us in evaluating your application for admission or a specific major. Important: the DET will be used as a supplement only; applicants must still demonstrate English language proficiency as noted in #6 above.
A note on financial and visa information: Applicants needing an F-1 student visa will receive email instructions on how to submit their financial documents after an offer of admission has been made. For more about finances and visa processing for international students please see this page. If you are currently living in the United States and believe your visa status will qualify you as a domestic student, please be sure to include your U.S. visa information in the "Geography and Citizenship" section of the Common Application.
