Admissions – International Applicants

Admitted into the IA program and have questions? Click here

International students are important to us – we value your insights and perspectives in our program, both inside and outside of the classroom! International students bring diversity and richness to our programs, which encourages our domestic students to explore topics and ideas outside of their comfort zones, enriching the depth and scope of our programs. Through meaningful program connections, professional development workshops, and various opportunities for specialized academic pursuits, our students acquire the academic knowledge and skillsets to become effective, global citizens after graduation!

Deadlines

	Best Date for VISA & Financial Aid/Assistantship Consideration	Final Deadline
Fall Semester	January 15	July 1
Spring Semester	July 15	November 1

Basic Requirements:

• Earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution.
  • Please note: ALL international applicants or degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through the SpanTran pathway portal, or from another NACES approved evaluator. Florida State University recommends SpanTran as our preferred credential evaluation because it offers an easy way to streamline the application process. For more information regarding FSU’s transcript requirements, please visit our Graduate Admissions page.
• A minimum of 3.0 (on a 4.0) in all work attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student (the semester you earn 60 credit hours).
• *WAIVED UNTIL 2026* GRE scores with a percentile ranking of 50 or higher on the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections. This equates to about 150 in both the verbal and quantitative portions and a 4 in the writing section.

Please note that all applications are reviewed holistically to determine the applicant’s eligibility. Applicants who do not meet one (1) of these criteria are still eligible to apply and are encouraged to address these issues in their statement of purpose.

Materials Needed:

Statement of Purpose

We consider all of your admissions documents when evaluating your qualifications to earn a graduate degree in our International Affairs program. Your statement of purpose is one of the most important parts of your graduate admissions application. Be sure to read over your statement prior to submission! We take grammar, spelling, writing style, and tone into consideration. Your statement of purpose should be:

• Double-spaced
• 12 pt. font, and
• No more than two (2) pages in length
• Address all of the following prompts:

Letters of Recommendation:

We do not accept letters of recommendation sent directly from applicants. The online application will prompt you to submit an email address for your references in the “Recommendations” section. All letters of recommendation are considered part of your admissions file. They will only be used for admissions consideration and will not be disclosed to any unauthorized individual without your consent.

A minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation are required to complete your graduate application. At a minimum, all applicants need to submit at least one (1) academic reference if the applicant graduated within the last three (3) years. If an applicant graduated more than three (3) years ago, you may substitute professional references in place of academic references.

Academic letters should come from instructors who can speak to your performance as a student and your ability to complete graduate-level coursework.

Professional letters should come from supervisors who can speak on your work performance and who can discuss your abilities, competencies, and personal character while recommending you for admission.

1. It is always a good idea to have the person writing your letter describe how they know you.
2. Do not have a relative, friend or personal counselor write a letter for you.

Transcripts:

Please upload your unofficial transcript(s) to your application. We do NOT need official transcripts to make an admissions decision. You only need to send your official transcripts if you are admitted and choose to attend. Official Transcripts should be sent electronically from your institution to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu (preferred) or mailed from your institution directly to FSU Office of Graduate Admissions at:

Please do not send official transcripts to any other address. Transcripts sent to another email or mailing address will not be accepted and must be re-ordered by the applicant. Transcripts are considered official if they are received directly by Florida State University by the sending university/college.

GRE Requirements

The GRE is waived for the International Affairs Graduate Program until the end of 2026. This requirement will automatically be waived in your online application.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. The following are the minimum scores required for admission to Florida State University:

• TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80
• Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550
• International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): 6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
• Michigan Language Assessment (MLA): 55
• Duolingo: 120
• Cambridge C1 Advanced Level or C2 Proficiency: 180
• FSU CIES: Successful completion of Level 8

The English Language Proficiency requirement can be waived, at the University-level, for applicants who have earned a minimum of a BA or higher in the US or in an English-Speaking Country. Please find the countries and territories exempt from the ELP Requirement: Exempt Countries.

What if I don’t have the required English Proficiency Score?

That is ok. You may still apply to the program and we can work with you to strategize a plan to establish English proficiency!

Conditional Admission

Even if you do not have the required English Proficiency score, you may be eligible for Conditional Admission! If you are granted Conditional Admission to the program, you will need to:

• Study at the Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) for two 7-week sessions (1 semester) and cover the costs of attendance.
• Maintain at least a “B” average in each class while enrolled in the Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES).
• After the semester at CIES, you are required to re-take the TOEFL, or another English Proficiency Entrance Test and receive minimum requirements. However, if you complete the top level (Level 8) at CIES in all of your classes, you do not have to take the TOEFL or IELTS. Completion of Level 8 at CIES meets the English requirement for FSU and our program.
• Receive a letter of recommendation from CIES Director, Dr. Patrick Kennell.

For more information about the Center for Intensive English Studies, please visit their website at cies.fsu.edu, or talk with a CIES staff member at cies@fsu.edu or 1.850.644-4794. 

FAQ’s:

Can my documents be reviewed by the department prior to me formally applying to the program?

All applicants must submit a completed application online, including the application fee and all required supporting materials, prior to the graduate program’s admissions committee ability to review and make a decision on an application.

Can the application fee be waived?

Unfortunately, the Office of Admissions is unable to waive the application fee payment for graduate applicants.  In order to complete your application for review, you must submit the application fee payment by logging in to your Application Status Check, along with any other documents required by the department.

Can I defer my admission to a future semester?

No. Unfortunately, the Graduate Admissions Office does not allow applicants to defer their admission to a future semester. If you are unable to attend the university in the semester you were admitted, you will need to reapply to the program for the semester you wish to begin taking classes.