International Graduate Students Application Information

1. Start Your Application

2. Send Transcripts

Applicants who possess a foreign transcript and require an I-20 student visa should request official copies of foreign transcripts be sent directly from all previously attended institutions to Shenandoah upon application to the University. Transcripts can be sent electronically, mailed or emailed by a school official. All foreign transcripts must be in English. Certified translations are accepted.  Foreign transcripts must also be NACES or AICE evaluated. An admission decision cannot be made without an evaluation even if all original transcripts are on file.

Applicants using the Shenandoah Graduate Application can upload unofficial transcripts directly to the application form for initial admission. If admitted, students will need to provide official transcripts from each institution which they previously supplied unofficial transcripts. Applicants who already have a completed NACES or AICE evaluation can upload an unofficial copy of their course-by-course evaluation to serve as his or her unofficial transcript from that institution. If choosing to upload an unofficial evaluation, please contact the evaluating agency to ensure the same official version can be sent at a later date. Unofficial and official evaluations must be conducted by the same evaluation company to ensure consistency.  If the evaluation was completed more than five years ago, a new evaluation may need to be issued from the agency and the updated, official version should be sent in those cases. 

An official evaluation must be sent with the official transcript after the student is admitted. Please note: I-20 visas cannot be processed until official copies of all transcripts from institutions of higher education are on record for a student. Due to the processing time for academic credential evaluations, if you will need an F-1 visa issued from Shenandoah, we recommend submitting official transcripts at the time of application to avoid delays with visa paperwork.

When applying, CAS system applicants must submit certified copies of original documents from each college or university previously attended. If an institution is unable to send original documents, you must have an appropriate school official certify that the copy is an official copy with a stamp and signature. Documents must include courses completed, grades or marks earned, and certificates or degrees awarded. All transcripts must be received in unopened envelopes that have been stamped or signed by an authority at the sending institution across the envelope seal. See your specific CAS application for more details on how to submit official transcripts and accepted evaluation companies.

3. Submit Academic Credential Evaluations of Non-U.S. Transcripts

All transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must also be submitted for an academic credential evaluation to obtain equivalency information regarding courses, credits, grades and degrees earned. For most programs, a course-by-course report including  U.S. equivalent grades and GPA is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make arrangements for the evaluation. Please note that each company may have different requirements regarding document submission. An official copy of the completed evaluation should be sent from the company directly to Shenandoah University. For convenience, several companies who evaluate international credentials are noted below, but a complete list of qualified companies may be found at www.naces.org and http://aice-eval.org. Please note that some CAS systems require applicants to utilize specific evaluation companies. See your specific CAS application system for more details. 

4. Send Evidence of English Language Proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

1. Completion, or pending completion, of a high school diploma (or equivalent) from the following countries:

2. Completion of a post-secondary degree (or equivalent) with a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or higher from the following countries:

3. Completion of the equivalent of Shenandoah’s ENG 101 with a grade of B or better at a regionally-accredited U.S.-based institution.

4. Successful completion of an approved English Language Program.

5. Receive one of the following scores:

6. For some graduate programs, including NonTraditional PharmD and Transitional Physical Therapy, Shenandoah University can hold a license as proof of English proficiency.

• For Nontraditional PharmD applicants, all U.S. licensed pharmacists can submit their active license as proof of English proficiency.
• For Transitional Physical Therapy applicants, most states require licensed PTs to provide a TOEFL score when sitting for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). If applicants hold a license in one of those states, the language proficiency requirement will be met. If an applicant is licensed in one of the few states that does not require a specific TOEFL score, he or she must demonstrate proficiency in the English language when applying to Shenandoah University. These states include (as of August 2018): Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

5. Provide Financial Documentation to Obtain an I-20

To be eligible to receive a SEVIS I-20 form from Shenandoah, please send financial information and documentation explaining how you plan to cover your educational and living expenses while a student at Shenandoah. To document your financial resources, you may complete the F-1 Visa Information Form and include support materials such as a signed affidavit of support and a copy of a recent bank statement.

International Student Scholarships & Financial Aid

A limited amount of scholarships and financial aid is available to international students. You should expect to pay the full costs of your educational and living expenses. The estimated total cost for tuition, books, health insurance, a residence hall room and food service for one full year (excluding summer) is $22,000 for full-time graduate study. Costs may vary by program.

6. Send Official Transcripts and Evaluation to Enroll

Have all universities send an official transcript(s) directly to the  Office of Graduate Admissions. Shenandoah will accept verified transcripts from your NACES or AICE evaluating agency in place of official transcripts sent from your institution. If your institution is unable to send original documents, you must have an appropriate school official certify that the copy is official with a stamp and signature. All transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must also be submitted for academic credential evaluation. An official copy is required with the official transcript after admission. Until all official transcripts are received, students will have a hold placed on their account that prevents registration for the semester following their first semester.