UMass Students
Undergraduate Admissions

FAQ for International Applicants

For the purpose of undergraduate admission, UMass Amherst defines “international applicants” as those who hold, or will need to obtain, a non-immigrant visa, including students who hold or who intend to hold F-1, J-1, H-1, H-4 etc. visa/status as well as those awaiting adjudication of their Permanent Resident status (i.e. pending Permanent Residents).  Applicant classification as an international or domestic applicant for admissions purposes is independent of classification as “resident” or “non-resident” of Massachusetts for tuition purposes.  However,  international students will be considered out-of-state for tuition residency purposes.  For more information, please see the residency page.

Fall (September) Semester:

  • First-Year Early Action – November 5

  • First-Year Regular Decision – January 15

  • Transfer – March 1

Spring (January) Semester:

  • First-Year and Transfer – October 1

Supporting credentials must be submitted as soon as possible following each of the above deadlines.

UMass Amherst uses the Common Application.

First-Year applicants:
Read the Checklist for First-Year Applicants

Transfer applicants:
Read the Checklist for Transfer Applicants
NOTE: Transfer applicants from China must submit verified transcripts directly from CHESICC. Non-English transcripts must also be submitted with a certified translation.

Secondary school exams:
If an applicant’s high school (or secondary school) is in a country which requires national or state exams in order to progress to higher educational levels, then we require an official copy of exam results for any exams completed prior to applying for admission. Some examples are: GCSE ordinary, advanced subsidiary, and advanced level exams; Indian secondary school certificate, higher secondary school certificate, or intermediate examination certificate; Caribbean secondary education certificate (CSEC) or Caribbean advanced proficiency examination (CAPE).

Beginning with the spring 2021 term, and continuing for each spring and fall term through spring 2023, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is making standardized tests optional for its first-year entering applicants.

Please refer to our test-optional policy page for more information.

All first-year transfer applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.

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. Please see here to learn about ways in which you can satisfy our English language proficiency requirement.

No, since 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.

Some official secondary school examination score results may yield transfer credit, which may be used towards a degree program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Advanced Placement (AP) and SAT II Exams

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

GSCE advanced subsidiary and advanced level exams:
Official copies of exam results must be submitted.

Caribbean advanced proficiency examination (CAPE):
Official copies of exam results must be submitted.

Some French baccalaureate, German abitur, Italian maturita, and Swiss maturite examination results may yield transfer credit. Official copies of exam results must be submitted.

Due to the time involved in international transfer credit evaluations, we do not evaluate international transcripts for prospective students. The Undergraduate Admissions Office evaluates international transcripts during the admissions review and students receive preliminary transfer credit evaluations as part of their admit package.

United States student visa regulations require that newly admitted students show advance proof of all funding sufficient for either a full 9-month academic year (Undergraduates), or 12-month calendar year (Graduate students) depending on the specific degree program.  This financial information will need to be confirmed before the UMass IPO can issue the I-20 form (F-1 visa) or DS-2019 form (J-1 visa).  Please be sure to read the important notes at the bottom of each expense estimate page for further explanation of all expenses and fees.

International Student Expense Estimates

First-Year admits: International first-year students may qualify for financial awards based on academic merit. Students are considered for these awards as part of the admissions process -- there is no separate application process.

Transfer admits: There are no scholarships for international transfer students.

In most cases, no.  For dependent students, tuition residency is determined based on the residency of the parents. If both parents reside outside Massachusetts, then international students will be classified as out-of-state students for tuition residency purposes. Relatives or friends of the family who serve as support contacts in the U.S. do not qualify international students for in-state tuition residency. Residing in Massachusetts as a full-time student will not later qualify a student for in-state tuition residency. Students on F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visas will not qualify for in-state tuition.

Exceptions: Students residing in Massachusetts who have applied for permanent residency or asylum and who can submit INS documents verifying their application has been received and/or is in process may qualify for instate tuition residency if their family meets other in-state tuition residency requirements. In addition, students residing in Massachusetts on some visas (A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N, O, R, S, T, U, V visas) and who can submit documentation of their visa status may qualify for in-state tuition residency if their family meets other in-state tuition residency requirements. In these cases, students may contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 1-413-545-0222 after applying for admission to obtain more detailed information about how to pursue an in-state tuition residency review.

For More information, please see the residency page.

The International Programs Office (IPO) works with admitted students on visa-related matters.  Once you have received an letter of admission, an email form IPO will follow in about two weeks time with all relevant details.  You may also refer to the IPO website.
 

We are excited to welcome you and your unique contributions to UMass Amherst!

Please see our webpage for admitted international undergraduate students.