Graduate International Applicants

Admission to a graduate program as an international student is a two-stage process. First, your academic background is reviewed by the academic department to determine if you meet the admission criteria for your program choice. If you do, then, the International Programs Office reviews your documents to determine if you qualify for the Form I-20 (Student F1 Visa).

• English proficiency for international students
• Graduate international application checklist

Graduate international application deadlines

Applicants should submit the application and supporting documents to the college by the following deadlines:

Fall admission: April 1
Spring admission: Sept. 1

Applications are reviewed on a rolling admissions basis, so decisions may occur prior to the deadlines. We continue to review applications until we fill our class quota. In addition, some programs have limited enrollment and may “close” for admission prior to others.

English proficiency for international students

SUNY Cortland does not offer an English Language Institute, so international applicants whose primary language is not English must show English proficiency by submitting test scores. Listed below are the acceptable tests and preferred scores:

TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language: iBT 79

IELTS International English Language Testing System: Band 6.5

EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency: Pre-1

Duolingo English Test: 100

PTE Academic: 55

Some other forms of English proficiency may be used on a case-by-case basis. Such forms include graduating from a college or university in the United States or attending an English Language Institute located in the United States.

If you have questions concerning English proficiency, you can contact the Graduate Admissions Office.