GSAS International Students

You are welcome here

Fordham University welcomes applications from international students from around the world.

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Applicant Requirements

Fordham University welcomes applications from international students from around the world. We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow extra time for international mail and preparation of visa documents.

Eligibility to Apply
To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must possess a degree or must complete a degree prior to the start of studies that is verified to be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Academic Transcripts
Official transcripts from previously attended post-secondary institutions must be submitted in English or with a certified English translation. For academic transcripts from institutions outside the United States, applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain a course-by-course credential evaluation. Most applicants provide credential evaluations from World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators, but you may use another service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Evaluations should be uploaded directly to the application along with the original transcript from the issuing institution. Please note, GSAS Admissions reserves the right to require a credential evaluation from an applicant if deemed necessary to proceed with our admission review process.

English Proficiency Requirements
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test score results from one of the following accepted English language competency exams:

Official TOEFL, IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic scores should be sent directly by the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences – code #2259. Some applicants may qualify for an exemption of this requirement. Please consult the English Proficiency web page for additional information.

Students admitted with Fordham English Language Test (FELT) condition
If you were admitted with a condition that you must take the Fordham English Language Test (FELT), the test is given at the Institute of American Language and Culture (IALC) located at 45 Columbus Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10023. For more information or to schedule a time to take the exam you may email [email protected] or call their office at 212-636-6353. 

Additional Application Information
International applicants need to follow the same processes and requirements as all other applicants to GSAS programs. Please see How to Apply for general application information and visit our Graduate Degree Program pages for specific program admissions information and requirements.

For assistance with any questions about the application process, please contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Admissions Office at [email protected].

Immigration and Visas

Visit the Office of International Services webpages for detailed information about: 

  • Immigration and Visa Information
  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Health Services
  • Social Security Numbers
  • Banking
  • Driving

Visa Requirements
International students must obtain a form I-20 or form DS-2019 from the Fordham Office of International Services in order to apply for an F-1 Student Visa or a J-1 Exchange Visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The I-20 is the U.S. immigration document certifying that an F-1 Visa Student has met admission requirements and verified the necessary financial resources to support their studies. The DS-2019 is the equivalent document for J-1 Exchange Visa students. See the Study and Exchange section of the U.S. Department of State website for information about visas for study and exchange programs.

Please note, GSAS Admission does not issue the I-20 and DS-2019 forms. These forms can only be issued by the Designated School Official (DSO) in the Fordham Office of International Services.

International applicants who accept an offer of admission will be instructed to upload the completed and signed Affidavit of Support (AFCOE), accompanied by original documentation that supports the information on the affidavit, directly to their application to GSAS. This will include a copy of the applicant’s passport identification and supporting financial documentation (bank statement, bank letter, scholarship award letter, etc.). Financial documentation must verify the applicant has adequate financial resources to meet the tuition, fees, and living expenses of the full-time program. (Note: International applicants accepting an offer of admission as J-1 Exchange Students with an official institutional exchange agreement can obtain an AFCOE specific to the exchange program by contacting GSAS Admissions at [email protected].) Any document not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Admissions will transfer all uploaded documents to the Office of International Services for processing to issue the SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.

Avoiding Visa Delays
It is vital to submit the completed AFCOE and supporting documents for the I-20 or DS-2019 as soon as possible after accepting an offer of admission to avoid visa delays.

In order to expedite the Visa process and avoid delays, we recommend that admitted international applicants accepting offers of admission submit their completed AFCOE and documents by the following dates:

  • Spring Admission: Submit by November 15, 2023
  • Fall Admission: Submit by July 1, 2024 

Please monitor the Fordham Forward website to remain up-to-date with university announcements regarding COVID-19. 

The travel.state.gov website is the primary source of information for travel delays, alerts, and warnings. Please use these key webpages:

Important Contact Information

For questions relating to visas and immigration:

For questions relating to financial aid and registration:

For questions relating to university housing:

For questions regarding your application and the admissions process:

Additional Information

  • Fill out only what you can. When you arrive at Fordham please visit the Office of Academic Programs and Support (Keating 216) where you will receive instructions. The deadlines in these specific forms do not apply to foreign students.

  • Before you can be matriculated, you must complete the test of English as a Second Language (ESL) and test at a required level. To accomplish this, please visit the Institute of American Language and Culture’s website at www.fordham.edu/esl. There you will have access to the Institute’s programs and contact information.