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International Admission Requirements

International Admission Requirements

Pre-Admission Requirements

Admission to study at Northwest University is granted to applicants meeting the University admissions requirements. The University does not consider, sex, race, age, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability in making admissions decisions.

Undergraduate Requirements

In order to be admitted to Undergraduate study at Northwest University the international applicant must:

  • Be a high school graduate or be eligible for graduation prior to attending Northwest University.
  • Complete the Application form and pay a $30 USD non-refundable application fee.
  • Submit High School transcripts.
  • Submit transcripts from any previous College or University work in English. If a student wishes to transfer credit from a previous College to Northwest University the student must request a course-by-course evaluation by an NU-approved evaluator.
  • Please submit a proof of English proficiency. Proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways:
    1. TOEFL internet-based (iBT) score of 80,
    2. IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in each band),
    3. SAT 500 in Writing and Reading
    4. ACT 18 in writing.
    5. If you have completed 30+ semester credits at a regionally accredited college/ university in the U.S. with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
    6. CELE program completion
      • If you have competed Level 6 (bridge) of the ESL program at the Center of English Language Education (CELE) at Northwest University with a grade of 80% or higher and a GPA of 2.5 in NU Bridge Classes.
    7. Duolingo English Test score of 105

Health Insurance

All international students are required to purchase health insurance through Northwest University.

Graduate Requirements

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Graduate students are exempt from the English Language Proficiency Requirement if their native language is English, or if they have completed a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Holders of an equivalent degree from another English-only speaking country may also be exempt and should speak with their enrollment counselor.

Graduate students to whom the requirement applies must fulfill it via one of the following test scores in order to qualify for admission to Northwest University:

For admission to any graduate program (excepting doctoral programs):

  1. TOEFL internet-based (iBT) score of 90  
  2. IELTS score of 7
  3. Duolingo English Test score of 115
  4. Completion of Northwest University’s Center for English Language Education (CELE) program Level 6 Bridge with a grade of 85% or higher and a GPA of 3.0 in NU Bridge Classes

For admission to any doctoral program:

  1. TOEFL internet-based (iBT) score of 100  
  2. IELTS score of 7.5
  3. Duolingo English Test score of 125 
  4. Completion of Northwest University’s Center for English Language Education (CELE) program Level 6 Bridge with a grade of 85% or higher and a GPA of 3.0 in NU Bridge Classes

At the discretion of each program’s leadership, a waiver may occasionally be granted to a student who clearly demonstrates exceptional English language proficiency through other means.

Foreign Degree Requirements

Any college or university transcript which is submitted from a school located outside of the US and Canada must be supplemented by an official evaluation of the transcript for US degree equivalency and GPA, performed by an institution approved by NACES https://www.naces.org/members. (Course-by-course evaluations are not required unless the program you are applying to has prerequisite courses, or transfer credit is requested; for more information, please consult the enrollment counselor for the program to which you are applying.)

International Student Admission Requirement

In addition to program-specific admission requirements, international students (those on or seeking an F-1 student visa) must:

  • Have a valid passport
  • Have proof of adequate funds to cover all expenses as required by the U.S. government