International Admissions
As an international applicant, you will be required to submit a few supplementary items in addition to the program admission requirements. The steps below outline helpful information and guidance on the application process.
UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS FROM U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT:
The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations prohibit the issuance of a Form I-20 based on conditional admission, effective July 13, 2016. University officials can only issue a Form I-20 when students have met all standards for admission for the program of study listed on the Form I-20. These standards for admission include any English proficiency requirements.
Start your application at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
To review the admission requirements for the program of your interest visit the Graduate Programs page and select the program that you would like to apply to. Each of our programs have different admission requirements and deadlines so be sure to start your application, as soon as possible. The university application fee can be paid online by credit card or electronic check, within the online application. Application fees are nonrefundable.
Defer Admission for an Earlier/Later Semester: Your offer of admission into a graduate program is good for up to one year. If you're not able to enroll for the initial term you applied for, you may defer to a subsequent term. To defer your application, send an email to the Graduate Admissions Specialist who processed your application and your Program Director. After a year, you would need to re-apply.
International Application Deadlines
UTRGV established the following international student graduate application deadlines to allow students ample time to obtain a visa and make travel arrangements.
IMPORTANT: Some program-specific deadlines are much earlier than those shown below. In such instances, the program-specific deadlines supersede the international student graduate application deadlines. View the program specific deadlines on Campus-Based/Online Application Deadlines page.
| Semester | Semester Starts | Graduate Application Deadline |
| Fall | August | June 1 |
| Spring | January | October 15 |
| Summer I | June | April 1 |
| Summer II | July | May 1 |
International credentials (transcripts) must be evaluated through an approved evaluation service. The evaluation is the sole responsibility of the applicant and must be submitted for evaluation to one of the following credential evaluation services: World Education Services (WES), Foreign Credential Service of America (FCSA), SPANTRAN or International Education Evaluations (IEE). Applicants are required to select the course-by-course report option. General reports are not sufficient.
Credential Evaluation Services:
World Education Services (WES)
P.O. Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
(212) 966-6311
Foreign Credential Services of America (FCSA)
1910 Justin Lane
Austin, Texas 78757-2411
1-877-553-4285 or (512) 459-8428
2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 451
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 266-8805
International Education Evaluations (IEE)
7900 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd., Suite 1A
Charlotte, NC 28227
(704) 772-0109
You will need to get a Certified English translation of your educational records.
Official Transcripts must be submitted before the following deadlines:
| Deadlines to submit original transcripts: | |
|---|---|
| Admitted for Fall | October 1st |
| Admitted for Spring | March 1st |
| Admitted for Summer 1 | July 8th |
| Deadlines to submit original transcripts (with degree conferred): | |
|---|---|
| Students graduating in Fall | March 1st |
| Students graduating in Spring | July 8th |
| Students graduating in Summer 1 | August 24th |
| Students graduating in Summer 2 | October 15th |
Students not complying with this requirement will not be able to register for future semesters.
Students whose native language is not English will be expected to provide test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo or Pearson's PTE Academic. Below you will find more information on these exams, the minimum score requirements, as well as, exemptions.
TOEFL Minimum Scores
- 550 Paper-Based
- 213 Computer-based
- 79 Internet-Based
TOEFL Essentials Minimum Scores
- 8.5
IELTS Minimum Score
- 6.5
Pearson's PTE Academic Score
- 45
Duolingo
- 105
Applicants with a score of 105 or above may also be required to participate in a Zoom or Skype interview before receiving a final decision.
Duolingo English Test Information:
English Language Proficiency Exam Exemptions
Click here to find out if your country is exempt from taking the English Proficiency requirement.
- Other Exemptions:
- Students who have recently and successfully completed at least 30 credit hours of university level academic studies in one of the countries that is exempt from taking the English Proficiency exam.
- Lifetime residents of Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom, or the United States (other than Puerto Rico).
- Students who have completed the Advanced Level of the Intensive Program from the English Language Programs at UTRGV may submit their certificate of completion with their application.
Important Information
- Only test scores that are received directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) or from the UTRGV Testing Center are acceptable for admission purposes. Since it normally takes 8-10 weeks for test results to arrive at UTRGV from the ETS, you should plan to take the tests well in advance of the appropriate application deadline to insure that scores will arrive on time.
- UTRGV will not accept residual TOEFL scores from exams taken at another institution.
- Test scores are only valid for 2 years. If you took either of these exams more than two years ago you will need to retake it.
- The test bulletin of information and registration forms, for these exams are usually available at American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States Information Agency, or online at www.ets.org.
Test requirements such as the GRE and GMAT are program specific requirements that may or may not be required for the program you are applying to. Review the Graduate Programs page for details.
Request that official test scores from the testing agency to be sent to the UTRGV Graduate College. Below are the UTRGV school codes for the GRE and the GMAT exams.
GRE- 6570
GMAT- 9P3
GRE Additional Information
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. Scores are valid for five years after taking the exam. For more information or to register to take the GRE exam visit the Educational Testing Service website at www.ets.org/gre.
GMAT Additional Information
The Graduate Management Admission Test is a standardized assessment, delivered in English, that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. For more information or to register to take this GMAT exam visit the Graduate Management Admission Council website at www.mba.com.
You will be required to submit the following items if you fall into the criteria listed below. Please read carefully to see if any of these items apply to you.
Meningitis Vaccination Policy
All new students under the age of 22 must provide certified proof from a health practitioner that they have received a valid bacterial meningitis vaccination or booster within the last five years. Students must submit their proof of vaccination or a booster at least 10 days prior to the first day of class for the intended term of enrollment.
Students who meet one of the following four specific exceptions permitted by the law do not have to provide proof of the vaccination:
- New students who are twenty-two years of age or older on first day of the semester
- New students who are enrolled only in on-line or distance classes
- New students who provide a medical excuse that states that the vaccination would be harmful to the student’s health
- New students who provide documentation of a moral or conscientious objection to the vaccine by using a form promulgated by the Texas Department of State Services. Learn more about the vaccine exemption for reasons of conscience.
*A student is considered a “new” student if they are enrolling for the first time at UTRGV or, if they have previously been enrolled at UTRGV and are now enrolling in a new undergraduate or graduate program at UTRGV.
Graduate students who do not meet the exceptions listed above will need to provide proof of vaccination to the Graduate College. In order to enroll, the vaccination must have been taken 10 days before the start of the semester. A registration hold will be placed on all graduate students that do not meet the exceptions. This hold will be removed once the Graduate College has received the required proof of the immunization.
Graduate students that are required to provide proof of the vaccination should submit copies of their immunization records, either in person or by postal mail, to:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Graduate College
Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, Texas 78541-2999
Students may also email copies of their vaccination to the admissions staff. Refer to the staff contact page to determine the admissions staff responsible for your graduate program.
To find the vaccine, check with your:
- UTRGV Student Health Services
- Family doctor
- Local public health department
Medical Insurance
The Board of Regents of the UT-System schools requires that all international students* be billed medical insurance every semester. The minimum coverage is: Major Medical-$50,000, Medical Evacuation-$7,500. Waivers may be requested if you have proof of your own insurance that is equal to or exceeds these minimums, and that will cover you while in the U.S.
- Mexican citizens may have medical insurance waived because of the proximity to the border.
If you have additional questions regarding this requirement, contact the International Admissions and Student Services Office at:
| Brownsville Campus: | Edinburg Campus: |
|---|---|
| International Admissions and Student Services MAIN Bldg. 1.308 One West University Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7092 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-882-6817 Hours of Operations: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
International Admissions and Student Services STAC Bldg. 3.128 1201 West University Dr. Edinburg, TX 78539 Phone 956-6652922 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-665-2281 Hours of Operations: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
After applying and submitting all additional requirements, please allow about 5 business days for the Graduate Admissions team to receive and process your application. After the Graduate Admissions team has processed your application, an Admissions Specialist will send your application over to the program where they will review and make a decision on your application. The timeframe for a decision on your application will vary from program to program.
To check on your application status, click on the link below:
Be sure to also take some time and fill out the UTRGV Scholarship Application and contact your Program Coordinator if you are interested in applying for an assistantship.
If you will be pursuing your degree as an *International Student, please complete the following steps with International Admissions & Student Services to finalize your admissions process.
*International Student is defined as someone who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident and has a visa status or will require one to pursue their studies in a U.S. higher education institution.
In accordance with immigration regulations, all international students are required to submit documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For the required amounts, please contact the International Student Services Office at international@utrgv.edu. See contact information listed below.
- Documentation must be in the form of letters from the bank or of statements showing specific dollar amounts available. These documents are not valid unless dated within six months of the date of acceptance.
- If funds are from a source other than the applicant or their immediate family, the sponsor must submit a letter of support, state the amount of funding pledged, and attach copies of recent bank statements. (Certification of Financial Responsibility (CFR).)
These documents are not valid unless dated within six months of the date of acceptance.
- If you have been offered a scholarship you will need to provide documentation and dollar amount of the scholarship.
- If you have been offered an assistantship by the university you will need to provide documentation and dollar amount of the assistantship.
- Mexican nationals may also apply for the Mexican Tuition Waiver and provide all financial documentation that it requires.
If you have additional questions regarding this requirement, contact the International Student Services Office at:
| Brownsville Campus: | Edinburg Campus: |
|---|---|
| International Student Services MAIN Bldg. 1.308 One West University Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7092 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-882-6817 Hours of Operations: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
International Student Services STAC Bldg. 3.128 1201 West University Dr. Edinburg, TX 78539 Phone 956-665-2922 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-665-2281 Hours of Operations: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
You must submit a current copy of your valid passport to ensure that the spelling of your name is consistent on all immigration and university documents.
- Once approved for admission the International Student Services Office will issue an I-20 which you will need to take to the nearest U.S. Consulate and apply for a student visa (detailed instructions will be included with the I-20).
- For students who plan to attend on a visa status other than F-1 or F-3 student status, proof of that status is required. Include copies of all immigration documents.
- If you have applied for U.S. Residency but have not yet received it you must attach copies of immigration documents.
- If you are in the U.S. but currently have no legal status (undocumented) please note so on the application. Please contact us as you may qualify for in-state tuition based on Texas Senate Bill 1528.
- Information and documents needed to obtain a student visa will be sent to you once you have been accepted to UTRGV.
If you have additional questions regarding this requirement, contact the International Student Services Office at:
| Brownsville Campus: | Edinburg Campus: |
|---|---|
| International Student Services MAIN Bldg. 1.308 One West University Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 Phone: 956-882-7092 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-882-6817 Hours of Operations: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
International Student Services STAC Bldg. 3.128 1201 West University Dr. Edinburg, TX 78539 Phone 956-665-2922 Email: international@utrgv.edu Fax: 956-665-2281 Hours of Operations: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Clery Act
The Campus Security and Fire Safety report includes information on security policies and crime data for the previous three years.
The report is available on the University Police website. You can request a hard copy of the report from the University Police Department located at
2671 FJRM Ave.
Brownsville, TX 78520
or
501 N. Sugar Road
Edinburg, TX 78539,
(956) 882-7777.