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​International students can obtain a degree at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø (NEIU). Depending on the type of visa you have or plan to apply for, there may be a different process from the one described below for F-1 students:
- If you are applying from outside the U.S., AFTER you have received an admission letter to NEIU, you will need to apply to a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain an F-1 student visa.
- If you are already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa and have an active I-20, we can help you transfer your record in SEVIS.
- If you are already in the U.S. on another type of visa, you may be able to study while on that visa or you might need to apply for a Change of Status.
For more information on F-1 visa regulations you can visit the .
​If you want to improve your English you can apply for the Intensive English Program through the School for the Advancement of English Language and Learning (SAELL). For this program you must demonstrate sufficient self-support funding during the first year of the program.​
Check out all the academic programs that NEIU offers!
Find out more on obtaining an I-20 and visa procedures.
Timeline/Deadlines
ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø uses a semester-based calendar, and has sessions for the Fall, Spring and Summer.
You must submit all documents by these dates below to be considered for the appropriate semester.
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Fall – June 15 (Classes start in August and end in December.)
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Spring – October 1 (Classes start in January and end in May.)
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Summer – March 1 (Classes start in May and end in August.)
Three Ways to Begin Your Education at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø
1. Undergraduate Study/Bachelor's Degree
​Are you coming to start -- or finish -- your Bachelor's degree? The Office of Admissions accepts and reviews all applications and supporting documents that you submit. The Office of Admissions will notify you of the admission decision.
- To apply for admission, start your application .
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Upload the following required documents into your online application:
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Transcript : At NEIU, we require an evaluation of your non-US academic studies to make sure the degree you earned is equivalent to one in the U.S. This is required because it helps NEIU make an admissions decision. You must choose only one of the following two options for obtaining a transcript evaluation:
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Option #1: You may contact a NACES-approved transcript evaluation agency to prepare your evaluation and send it directly to NEIU at adocs@neiu.edu. These agencies are reputable, trustworthy businesses that prepare transcript evaluations. If a NACES-approved evaluation company prepares your evaluation, you will have ownership, and be able to see and share the evaluation.
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Option #2: You may request a free transcript evaluation prepared by NEIU's Office of International Programs. NEIU's Office of International Programs will guide you to submit official academic documents for your evaluation.
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English proficiency: You must provide a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or Cambridge B2 score. The testing company must send your scores directly to NEIU at adocs@neiu.edu. Minimum acceptable scores can be found . Students who have completed a previous degree all in English and students who have studied more than 24 credits in a U.S. academic institution are eligible for a .
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​2. Graduate Study/ Master's Degree
Are you advancing your education with a master's degree?
The Office of Admissions accepts and reviews all applications and supporting documents that you submit. Admissions will notify you of the admission decision.
- Apply for admission: Start your application . If you are applying for the MBA or MSA program, please use the application.
- Pay the $30 application fee ($80 for BusinessCAS applicants).
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Upload the following required documents into your online application:
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: At NEIU we require an evaluation of your non-US academic studies to make sure the degree you earned is equivalent to the one in the U.S. This is required because it helps NEIU make an admissions decision. You must choose only one of the following two options for obtaining a transcript evaluation:
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Option #1: You may contact a NACES-approved transcript evaluation agency to prepare your evaluation and send it directly to NEIU at adocs@neiu.edu. These agencies are reputable, trustworthy businesses that prepare transcript evaluations. If a NACES-approved evaluation company prepares your evaluation, you will have ownership, and be able to see and share the evaluation.
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Option #2: You may request a free transcript evaluation prepared by NEIU's Office of International Programs. NEIU's Office of International Programs will guide you to submit official academic documents for your evaluation.
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- English proficiency: You must provide a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or Cambridge B2 score. The testing company must send your scores directly to NEIU at adocs@neiu.edu. Minimum scores can be found . Students who have completed their previous degree all in English and students who have studied more than 24 credits in a U.S. academic institution are eligible for a .
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3. English as a Second Language
Do you need to improve your English? Then apply to SAELL, ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø's intensive English program. Some students enroll only in SAELL. However, while in SAELL you have the option to apply for undergraduate or graduate programs. In fact, one of SAELL's purposes is to prepare you for further studies.
To find out more about the program and how to apply, check out the Intensive English Program (SAELL) page.
Read the admission requirements needed to apply as an international student.​
International applicants who do not meet the English language proficiency requirement for admission to their chosen degree program, but who meet all other academic requirements, may be considered for International Conditional Admission (ICA) in conjunction with the SAELL Intensive English Program. SAELL provides training for international students to meet the English language proficiency requirement.
ICA students must study in the SAELL Intensive English Program until they achieve a minimum score on one of the English proficiency tests that NEIU accepts, or until they pass Level 4 of SAELL in all three core classes with a grade of 80% or higher. (, and click here to learn about the levels of SAELL).
ICA students study for at least one semester in SAELL, and sometimes they study in SAELL for multiple semesters until they meet the English proficiency requirement.
After the English proficiency requirement has been met, the student will be fully admitted into the degree program and can begin studying in the degree program the next semester. In some cases of graduate admission, the decision may be provisional or conditional, depending on prerequisites or cumulative GPA.
ICA students are not permitted to take classes in the degree program until after they have met the English proficiency requirement and they have been fully admitted to the degree program.
Transfer Students
Students who are currently in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa can apply as an international student and transfer their I-20 to NEIU. You can apply for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or the SAELL Program. You will need to apply and be admitted to the program. We require that you and the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current institution fill out the I-20 Transfer Verification Form. This will allow us to identify your current status and when they will release your record in SEVIS to ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø. The I-20 must be transferred before you enroll.
Find out more about how to transfer your I-20 from another U.S. institution.
The ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø calendar goes by semester sessions during Fall, Spring and Summer.
You must submit all documents by these dates below to be considered for the appropriate semester.
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Fall – July 1. (Classes start in August and end in December)
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Spring – October 15 (Classes start in January and end in May.)
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Summer – March 15 (Classes start in May and end in August.)
Funding Your Education
There are many ways to help you fund your education. Some of our current students have funded their education using the following methods.
- Family/Friend Sponsorship
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Many of our international students are financed through their family, friends or relatives that live in the U.S. Living with family can lower the amount of cash funds you must show to the U.S. government when applying for an F-1 visa. See NEIU's Financial Form or contact the Office of International Programs.
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Bank Loans
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U.S. students and many international students now use student loans to finance their education. Check with banks in your country to see if these are available to you.
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Scholarships from your home country
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Your government may have some scholarship opportunities.
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Corporations, local business and faith-based organizations in your country may also provide scholarships.
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Scholarships from ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø
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Graduate Students
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Most Graduate Assistants are hired by the department in which they are studying and assist faculty, staff, and other graduate students on campus. To be eligible, you realistically need a Grade Point Average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. You should ask your department about these opportunities. General information can be fund here.
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However, some supervisors look for candidates on a list maintained by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Eligible International graduate students may submit an online Application for Graduate Assistantship here. Students on this list may be contacted by the hiring department when an opening that matches your skills, experience, and field of study becomes available.
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International graduate students are also eligible for Merit Tuition Scholarships. To be eligible, realistically you need a Grade Point Average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. The Graduate Merit Tuition Scholarship is awarded based on student academic advisors' nominations and there is no application. You can ask your advisor about the scholarship, and if you want more information about it, it can be found here.
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Undergraduate Students
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NEIU is offering Provost and Dean Scholarships to high-performing undergraduate freshmen whose first semester at NEIU will be Fall 2024 (or any semester thereafter). Students with a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), which is 75%, will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher (87.5%) will receive $2,000. The scholarship will be awarded automatically to those who qualify. Students will be informed of the award either in NEIU's admission portal and/or on NEIUport. Students who then maintain a high GPA while taking classes at NEIU are eligible to receive additional merit scholarships in subsequent semesters. This is especially true for students who join the Honors Program after they are admitted.
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If you are looking for scholarships or other ideas for financial support, you may want to check out the website for , or go to an in your country.
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You may also want to visit to search for a list of scholarships available for additional international students.
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Contact Us
Undergraduate:
If you have questions about your application or uploading your documents online, send an email to admrec@neiu.edu
Graduate:
If you have questions about your application or uploading your documents online, send an email to graduateadmissions@neiu.edu
International Programs:
If you have questions about submitting your English proficiency test and/or about your I-20 processing, send an email to international-programs@neiu.edu.