Who is considered to be an international student at the University of Missouri?

Anyone who needs a visa to enter the United States is considered an international student. Permanent Residents (green card holders) are processed as domestic students.

I am a U.S. citizen living and attending school internationally. Do I apply as a U.S. student or an international student?

You will apply as a U.S. student. Please visit the How to Apply page for information on applying as a domestic student.

I am a dual citizen with U.S. citizenship. Do I apply as an international student or a U.S. student?

If you have dual citizenship and the U.S. is one of the countries, indicate ‘U.S. Citizen’ and you will be processed as a domestic student. If the U.S. is not one of your citizenship countries, please select the country whose passport you’ll be using to apply for your visa.

I have applied for U.S. permanent residency but I have not yet been approved. Do I apply as an international student or a U.S. student?

You will apply as an international student. Once you receive permanent residency please send us documentation to change your student status.

I am undocumented or a Dreamer/DACA student. Do I apply as a U.S. student?

Our application system will route undocumented/DACA applicants to International Admissions for holistic review. We suggest you contact our office at inter@missouri.edu before you apply.

What are the admission requirements for the University of Missouri?

To be eligible for admission to Mizzou, you must:

• complete the required core coursework with the required grades,
• meet the English language requirements, and
• submit all of the required application materials

All requirements are listed on the International Admission Requirements page.

What materials are required?

You will need to submit:

• Official Academic Records: including transcripts from all high schools attended (9th-12th grades) and/or transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
• Diplomas (National, IGCSE, IB, AP,…)
• English proficiency exam scores
• SAT or ACT scores (these scores are not required for admission consideration, but they are required for scholarship consideration)

Find more details about required materials on our Application Materials page.

Do you require an essay, letters of recommendation, summary of extracurricular involvement, and/or an interview?

No, we do not require any materials beyond what is listed on the Application Materials page. Admission to the MU Honors College or consideration for some scholarships may require additional materials, and you will be notified if that is the case.

Do you require SAT or ACT scores?

SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission consideration, but they are required for scholarship consideration.

Can I apply with IGCSE or A-Levels?

You are welcome to submit IGCSE and A Levels. We will be looking for five passing subjects in IGCSE with a grade of C or better and three passing subjects in A Levels with a grade of C or better.

How should I send my national examinations (IGCSE, A-Levels, etc.)?

In order to be considered official, national examination certificates must be submitted directly by the testing agency, verifiable high school counselor, or verifiable school registrar. High school officials may send results to inter@missouri.edu. Emailed results from students or parents are not accepted as official.

How do I apply?

You can access our applications online. We have a Mizzou application as well as we accept a Common Application. Learn more on our Apply as an International Student page. Below, watch a short video about how to apply to Mizzou.

When should I apply?

Our application for fall terms always opens on August 1. Our spring term applications open May 1. It is suggested to students to apply at least six months prior to wanting to study at MU. Please be aware of other deadlines you want to meet therefore the sooner is better.

What are the deadlines?

Mizzou works on a rolling admission and applicants can typically expect an admission decision within five days of their application materials being received. Our soft deadline for the fall semester is June 1. Learn more on our Apply as an International Student page.

What applications do you accept?

We accept either our Mizzou Application or the Common Application. We have no preference on which of these applications you choose to submit.

What materials do I need to submit?

You can find information on required materials in the Admission Requirements section of this page, and on our International Application Materials page.

How do I send my materials to you?

Your unofficial transcripts can be emailed as PDF attachments to inter@missouri.edu.

Please request your official test scores to be sent from their respective testing services, if applicable.

• SAT: If you plan to send your SAT scores, please send through College Board (SAT) using our institution code: 006875.
• ACT: If you plan to send your ACT scores, please send through ACT using our institution code: 2382.
• TOEFL: Please contact ETS services to send your official TOEFL results. Your TOEFL results are unofficial until received from ETS services.
• Duolingo: Scores can be sent from your Duolingo account to the University of Missouri.
• IELTS results can be verified by sending us your unofficial copy of results or your TRF number to inter@missouri.edu.

How many years of academic work should I submit?

Official transcripts should include the equivalent to US grades 9-12. Four years of academic work will be required. The last year of work can be in progress, but transcripts should still include the coursework that the student is currently enrolled in. For students applying from academic systems which comprise three years of secondary school, the final year of work from an official middle school transcript will be required.

Do you offer an application fee waiver?

An application fee waiver is offered to high school students who meet the criteria described below. We do not offer an application fee waiver to transfer students.

How do I submit an application fee waiver as a high school student?

The application fee can be waived for students who have demonstrated financial need through submission of a completed ACT, SAT, or NACAC fee waiver form by their high school counselor. Your high school counselor can download one of the linked forms, complete it and email it to us at inter@missouri.edu.

How do you evaluate my transcript? Should I convert my GPA for you?

We will evaluate all international transcripts in-house, and we will convert grades from any educational system into an equivalent U.S. grade point average (GPA). You will not be required to do this yourself. MU does not accept transcript evaluations from any external credential evaluation services.

Do I need to translate my academic records into English?

If your school or university has issued your transcript in a language other than English, you must have a certified, literal English translation of your transcripts included in your application documents.

How do I check my application status?

You can check your Application Status Page at any time. If you applied with a Mizzou Application, please use the email address and a password you created when submitting the application. If you applied through the Common Application, you should have received an email with information about how to access the application status page.

When will I hear back with an admissions decision?

An admission decision can typically be made in approximately five business days after we have received all required application materials. Processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications received.

What are the estimated costs to study at the University of Missouri?

We post our estimated costs on our International Costs and Scholarships page.

What scholarships do you offer for international students?

Mizzou offers scholarships for international students that you will be automatically considered for when you apply. Learn more on our International Costs and Scholarships page.

Do you have additional departmental or other scholarships beyond your automatic merit-based awards?

Scholarship Universe is an application for general and departmental scholarships from Mizzou. View our Dates & Deadlines page for scholarship deadlines.

The Curator’s Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is an award for continuing students. International students are eligible for consideration after completing two regular, full-time semesters at MU.

Do you offer a full scholarship?

The Stamps Scholars program at Mizzou is considered a full scholarship. This scholarship is highly competitive and is awarded to a handful of incoming freshman students in the overall applicant pool, including both international and U.S. students.

Do you offer need-based financial aid?

Mizzou does not offer need-based financial aid for international students. The CSS Profile or other need-based financial aid forms are neither required nor accepted.

What do I need to submit for scholarship consideration?

SAT or ACT are required for Freshman Awards and an official college/university transcript is required for Transfer Awards.

Do you offer scholarships for continuing students?

The Curator’s Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is an award for continuing students. International students are eligible for consideration after completing two regular, full-time semesters at MU.

The Mizzou Alumni Association offers a Global Tiger Scholarship. Learn more on the Mizzou Alumni Association’s scholarship page.

Scholarship Universe is an application for general and departmental scholarships from Mizzou. View our Dates & Deadlines page for scholarship deadlines.

Can I receive a non-university scholarship as an international student?

Some students find aid and scholarships through government institutions and agencies. The Institute of International Education (IIE) has a list of current sponsors and partners. Meeting with the nearest Education USA Advising Center can also be helpful for guidance on financing your studies in the U.S.

Do you offer Athletics scholarships?

The MU Athletics Department offers scholarships to student-athletes. All decisions on athletic scholarships are made by the coaching staff of the specific sport and the Athletic Department. Mizzou competes in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I, which is the highest level of university competition in the U.S. International student athletes selected for athletic scholarships typically compete at the national level in their sport in their home country. Find all of Mizzou’s varsity sports teams at mutigers.com.

Is there a deadline for accepting my offer of admission?

The National Confirmation Deadline (“Decision Day”) is May 1. You can accept your admission offer after this date, but it is strongly recommended that you accept and pay your enrollment fee before May 1 to make sure your enrollment process goes smoothly.

Do I need to pay an enrollment fee?

Yes. Paying your $300 enrollment fee confirms that you will be attending Mizzou. Once it is paid we will process your immigration documents and you will start pre-arrival preparations such as signing up for housing and Orientation.

How do I apply for a student visa?

After your enrollment fee is paid, we will review your immigration materials and issue you a certificate of eligibility, which is used to apply for the appropriate visa status to enter the United States (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019). Learn more on the International Student & Scholar Services site.

How do I sign up for housing and dining?

Housing is a multi-step process at Mizzou. You will complete each step using the Application Status page. You can learn more about the housing process at housing.missouri.edu.

Am I required to live on campus?

First-time college students (freshmen) are required to live in university housing their first year. National research shows that freshman students who live in university housing are more successful. We know from our own data that students who live in Residential Life facilities are more likely to stay in school and graduate in four years than students who do not. There are a few exceptions to the housing policy for students who meet certain criteria. Transfer students can decide to live on-campus or off-campus.

How do I pay my bill?

Visit the Cashiers Office website for details on paying your bill. Mizzou partners with TransferMate to provide international students with an easy and secure method to make international payments.

Am I eligible for in-state tuition?

Students who currently live in the U.S. and hold visas other than F-1 or J-1 may be eligible to pay the Missouri resident tuition rate. Visit the registrar.missouri.edu/residency to learn about Missouri residency requirements.

Can I get a job as an international student?

International students can work on campus up to 20 hours a week. The $mart Work Mizzou fellowship program provides on-campus employment opportunities for international undergraduate students during their first year at the University of Missouri. In addition to helping cover some student expenses, the program provides an immediate connection within the campus community. You can also explore any on-campus, part-time job openings at hiremizzoutigers.com.

When do I register for classes?

During your new student orientation, you will meet with your academic advisor and finalize your class registration. You might already see some courses on your schedule prior to your orientation as an advisor might pre-register you in some courses.

Do I need to take any placement exams?

English Language Exam (ELE): All new, degree-seeking international undergraduate students are required to take the MU English Language Exam before they register for classes. This test helps MU place students in the correct level of English classes.

Other exams: All incoming freshmen (including students with IB/AP or dual credit) are required to take a math placement test and the Missouri Civics exam. You’ll complete these placement exams as part of your pre-orientation activities. Learn more about placement tests at newstudent.missouri.edu/placement.

When do I need to arrive on campus?

Once you have obtained your visa, you may enter the United States. F and J visa holders may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their I-20/DS-2019. International students need to be on campus a week prior to the first day of classes to participate in International Student Welcome.

Where do I find information about pre-arrival preparations?

Arrival checklist is available on the International Scholars and Students Services at international.missouri.edu.

What immunizations am I required to have?

MU requires all students to comply with a mandatory immunization policy, so please bring your medical records, in English, with you to campus. Learn about which immunizations are required at wellness.missouri.edu.

Can I defer admission or take a gap year?

The University of Missouri allows admitted applicants to delay their first-year application for up to one year. A student who is approved to take a gap year does not need to submit a new application to the Office of Admissions, nor do they need to pay an additional application fee. Visit admissions.missouri.edu/gapyear for more information.