Graduate

SIUE applicants who hold or require non-immigrant visas are reviewed for appropriate academic requirements, English language proficiency, and adequate financial resources. Admission to the SIUE Graduate School requires that an applicant hold an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Items required for a graduate application (described in detail below):

• Application fee
• English language verification
• Official academic transcripts/records
• Bank statement
• SIUE Financial Form
• Copy of the biographical page of you passport
• Any additional requirements listed by graduate program (see listings below)

Please make sure your application is complete by the application deadline.

Application Fee

A $30 application fee will be assessed to students applying for graduate admission. There are three ways to pay your application fee:

Credit Card — You may pay by Visa or MasterCard. A convenience fee of $0.85 is added for this service.

Wire Transfer — You may wire $30 to SIUE through your bank or debit card.

Check — Mail a $30 check (or demand draft) one of the addresses listed below. Checks should be made payable to SIUE. Please include last name, first name, date of birth and application number, if available.

English Language Proficiency

All international graduate applicants are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) to demonstrate English proficiency. Official test score reports must be sent directly from the Testing Service (ETS/IELTS) to SIUE, Office of Admissions. The institutional code for SIUE is 001759. No department code is needed. Copies of score reports are not accepted.

Score requirements are:

TOEFL

• 79 or higher on the Internet Based Test (iBT)
• 550 or higher on the Paper Based Test (PBT)
   

IELTS

• overall band score of 6.5 or higher

Some graduate departments may require a higher score. The TOEFL or IELTS must be taken within two years before the term for which admission is sought. Please check the program listing at the bottom of this page for departmental test score requirements and information.

We can not process applications without an official score report from TOEFL or IELTS. It can take up to six weeks for score reports to arrive to SIUE, so please plan accordingly so that application deadlines are met.

TOEFL/IELTS examination requirement will be waived under the following circumstances:

• the applicant has completed a baccalaureate or master’s degree in the United States.
• the applicant has completed a baccalaureate or master’s degree in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand or the United Kingdom.
• the applicant takes the SIUE-administered Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency and meets internal indicators of college entry-level competence in English. The test is administered on campus. You must submit an SIUE application and pick up a referral from the Graduate Admissions office before you will be permitted to take the examination.

Academic Records

Applicants must make all appropriate arrangements to provide official academic records attesting to their post-secondary education.

Secondary and post-secondary transcripts (including certification of graduation when appropriate) must be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions by the registrar or principal for each university attended. Each transcript must bear the original, official signature and certification of the registrar of the institution awarding the degree, as well as the university’s official seal, and/or the examination board stated on the original document. Credentials not available in English must be submitted with an original, attested, and professionally prepared English language translation. Notarized copies of credentials are not considered official.

Please note: Applicants holding three-year undergraduate degrees are not eligible for graduate admission.

SIUE does not require an outside evaluation of full degrees. However if you choose to forward an external evaluation to SIUE, it will be used as a guideline in verifying appropriate degree. SIUE does not automatically honor any accredited service (ex. WES, ECE) evaluation of complete degrees without additional review.

If you have in your possession original documents (issued to you upon graduation), you may have them attested to and copied by an EducationUSA office. We will accept these verified documents as long as they are submitted in a sealed, unopened envelope bearing the name and address of the verifying EducationUSA office. Credentials not available in English must be submitted with an original, attested, and professionally prepared English language translation.

University graduate-level academic work may be considered for transfer of credit if reviewed and approved by the graduate program and Dean. Course descriptions and/or syllabi are required to determine appropriate transfer credit.

If you have completed course work at a U.S. institution, you must have an official copy of your transcript sent to SIUE Graduate Admissions.

Financial Verification

SIUE complies with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations that govern the financial eligibility of international students. Under current regulations, international students must provide evidence of sufficient financial resources to support all their living and education expenses for one academic year. Financial requirements are updated annually.

To receive financial approval for admission and a Form I-20 or DS-2019 (the forms necessary to get a student F or J visa), a student must submit a current bank statement or letter, on bank letterhead, bearing the original signature of an authorized bank official, and indicating the applicant’s or sponsor’s available balance in U.S. dollars. The statement must be dated within 90 days from the date it is received by the Graduate Admissions office. The student also must complete and submit a Financial Form that reflects at least the minimum required funds.

Please note: International applicants who have filed an application for United States Permanent Residency, but have not yet been granted approval, are considered international applicants, but are not required to provide financial documentation. International students who are in the United States on H-1 or H-4 visa types and who plan on remaining on the same visa are not required to provide financial verification documents.

Copy of Passport Biographical Information

International applicants are required to submit a copy of the biographical page of their passport to verify their legal name. If the applicant does not have a passport, a copy of the birth certificate (in English) will be accepted.

Mailing Address
Admissions materials should be mailed to:

Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Box 1047
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1047

Physical Address for Express Mail Service:

Office of Graduate and International Admissions
70 Hairpin Drive
Rendleman Hall Room 1207
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1047

Telephone: (618) 650-3785

Admission requirements vary by graduate program. We offer a broad range of graduate programs with a corresponding broad range of entry requirements. Click the link to your program of choice below to view the requirements of that program as listed in the Graduate Catalog. We also have listed contact information for each department in case you have questions about the requirements, and links to the departments’ admission requirements websites.

• Accountancy
• Art Studio (admit once a year for fall term only, deadline February 1)
• Art Therapy Counseling (admit once a year for fall term only, deadline February 1)
• Biological Sciences
• Biotechnology Management (admit once a year for fall term only, deadline February 28)
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Management and Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Economics and Finance
• Education Administration (program intended for Illinois educators)
• Electrical Engineering
• English (Specializations are American and English literature, Teaching of English as a Second Language, Teaching of Writing and Creative Writing)
• Environmental Science Management
• Environmental Sciences
• Geographical Studies
• History (admit once a year for fall term only, deadline February 1)
• Industrial Engineering
• Instructional Design
• Kinesiology
• Learning, Culture and Society
• Literacy Education
• Marketing Research
• Mass Communications
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Music
• School of Nursing (deadlines vary by specialization)
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Secondary Education(program intended for Illinois educators)
• Social Work (admit once a year for fall term only, deadline February 15)
• Sociology
• Special Education(program intended for Illinois educators)
• Speech Communication
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Teaching (program intended for Illinois educators)