International Admission

International students are required to submit their application and all supporting documents to the Office of Admissions six months prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment.

First Year Applicants

International applicants who have not enrolled in any postsecondary institution since graduating high school should apply as first years.

How to Apply

Apply Online*
  1. Pay a $45 non-refundable application fee online by credit card. If you are eligible to use an application fee waiver, please refer to the WCU Fee Waiver Policy.
  2. Complete the application for admission.
  3. Arrange for official (translated) transcripts and exam results to be sent to the Office of Admissions.
    • If in English, transcripts/exam results should be sent directly by your school to the Office of Admissions. Official translations would also need to be sent to the Office of Admissions if transcripts/exam results are not in English. Test results - IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, or Duolingo need to be sent directly by the testing agency to the Office of Admissions.
  4. Proof of English language proficiency via one of the following options:
    • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
      Applicants must score a minimum of 80 on the internet based test (ibt) or a minimum of 550 on the written test. SAT or ACT scores can also be submitted and will be considered as a supplement to the TOEFL. The TOEFL institution code for West Chester University is 2659.
    • IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)
      Applicants must receive an overall IELTS score at band 6.0 or above, and minimum scores of 6.0 for speaking, listening, reading and writing are preferred.
    • Duolingo
      Applicants must receive an overall Duolingo score of 105 or above.
    • Completion of ELS Level 112
      WCU is proud to partner with ELS Language Centers to offer conditional admission to eligible students. Once ELS Level 112 is successfully completed, enrollment at WCU as a degree-seeking student is possible.
  5. Applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT must arrange for official scores to be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Attention Education Majors: In order to become certified as a teacher in Pennsylvania, you must be a US citizen or US permanent resident.

*It is the applicant's responsibility to supply the Office of Admissions with the necessary documents to complete their application. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to withdraw an application if the required information is not received.

Transfer Applicants

International applications who have been enrolled in any postsecondary institution(s), and/or have attended West Chester University as a non-degree student after graduating from high school, should apply as transfers.

How to Apply

Apply Online*
  1. Pay a $45 non-refundable application fee online by credit card. If you are eligible to use an application fee waiver, please refer to the WCU Fee Waiver Policy.
  2. Complete the application for admission.
  3. Submit a credential evaluation for your studies via a NACES-approved company, a few of which are listed below, including subjects listed and marks earned from the following acceptable evaluation services:

    *The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at West Chester University is not in a position to evaluate qualifications undertaken by students outside of the United States. Therefore, please arrange for a course-by-course credential evaluation of your previous studies be completed by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member. Here is full list of NACES-approved evaluation companies. Each company has its own requirements and guidelines, so once you select a company to use, you will need to follow their instructions.

    Please note: It is the student's responsibility to contact one of the approved credential evaluation services, as well as to pay for the translation services. Applications will not be considered without this information.

  4. Students who have completed at least 24 academic credits at a US college or university only need to provide a credential evaluation of foreign credentials if postsecondary education was pursued outside of the US. High school level study does not need to be evaluated if at least 24 credits have been completed at a US higher education institution.
  5. Proof of English language proficiency via one of the following options:
    • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
      Applicants must score a minimum of 80 on the internet based test (ibt) or a minimum of 550 on the written test. SAT or ACT scores can also be submitted and will be considered as a supplement to the TOEFL. The TOEFL institution code for West Chester University is 2659.
    • IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)
      Applicants must receive an overall IELTS score at band 6.0 or above, and minimum scores of 6.0 for speaking, listening, reading and writing are preferred.
    • Duolingo
      Applicants must receive an overall Duolingo score of 105 or above.
    • Completion of ELS Level 112
      WCU is proud to partner with ELS Language Centers to offer conditional admission to eligible students. Once ELS Level 112 is successfully completed, enrollment at WCU as a degree-seeking student is possible.
  6. If applicable, students who have taken the SAT or ACT and have fewer than 24 college-level credits should arrange for official scores to be sent to the Office of Admissions.
  7. Applicants who have college credits from US institutions must arrange for all official transcripts to be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Attention Education Majors: In order to become certified as a teacher in Pennsylvania, you must be a US citizen or US permanent resident.

*It is the applicant's responsibility to supply the Office of Admissions with the necessary documents to complete their application. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to withdraw an application if the required information is not received.

Program of Study Special Notes


Non-FAFSA Based Merit Scholarship

Though international students are not eligible for US government financial aid programs and cannot file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), some first year merit scholarships offered by West Chester University do not require FAFSA submission. In order to be considered for non-FAFSA based merit scholarships, students should apply for admission early in the fall of their senior year and be accepted no later than January 15th. Applicants eligible for scholarship consideration will be notified with further information. International students often receive awards from outside organizations, including merit-based scholarships and tuition benefits from employers, government agencies, or other sources. Common scholarship search engines include International Education Financial Aid and EduPass

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