International Admissions
Discover Your Community
We welcome you to one of the Midwest’s most diverse public universities. Share and gain new perspectives as part of our highly engaged and encouraging community. Thrive in a setting built upon exploring and accessing unbound opportunities. NEIU embraces the drive and curiosity of our international student body — from what you bring to our campuses and who you grow into — and directs you to a vast array of resources.
Shape your future at a university wholly invested in your success — from your degree to research, internships and other opportunities that pave the way toward a career here or abroad. Learn more about how to apply, find requirements and information about obtaining a visa.
Our International Student Body
We embrace differences — from classroom discussions inviting out-of-the-box thoughts to your desire to spark change on and off campus. Our mission centers around diversity, equity and inclusion: our campuses reflect the greater Chicago metropolitan area and prepare our student body to compete and innovate in a globalized society.
Languages
Other than English spoken across our four campuses.
Countries
Represented in our student body, as well as a broad spectrum of cultures, religions, backgrounds and identities.
The most diverse Midwestern college or university
According to The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings
How to Apply as an International Student
NEIU accepts applications from prospective undergraduate first-year, transfer and graduate candidates intending to apply for an F-1 student visa or already living in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa. To start your application, review the requirements based on how you plan to apply, as well as supplementary documentation for international students.
Review Requirements
Find admission requirements based on how you plan to start your journey at NEIU: an incoming first-year student, a transfer with some undergraduate credit hours or a graduate candidate expecting to pursue a master’s or doctoral program.
Undergraduate Checklist
Go through our undergraduate checklist for international students before submitting your application. We list test score, transcript and other requirements for incoming international first-year and transfer students.
Graduate Checklist
We summarize all documents that those about to start master’s or doctoral studies need to submit with their application. Understand that your program may have additional or more selective requirements.
Reach out to the Graduate Admission Office or the program advisor for additional clarification.
Deadlines for International Students
NEIU’s application deadlines for undergraduate and graduate (i.e., postgraduate) admissions differ from those for domestic students. Please note the deadlines below:
- Fall admission: June 15*
- Spring admission: October 1*
- Summer admission: March 1*
*These deadlines do not apply to the graduate Counseling and Social Work programs. Some programs admit only for specific semesters. Please locate these program-specific deadlines in the “Graduate” section of the Admission Requirements web page.
English Proficiency Requirements
As an international applicant, you must demonstrate English language proficiency by achieving a minimum score on either the (TOEFL) or the (IELTS). You may be able to waive the requirement if you have completed your high school or college/university education in an English Medium school in your country. You can complete the English Proficiency Waiver, or you can reach out to the Office of International Programs at international-programs@neiu.edu to see if you qualify.
If you have no English proficiency and want to study in our Intensive English Program, ŷϷ Illinois University’s School for the Advancement of English Language and Learning (SAELL) provides training for international students to meet the English language proficiency requirement.
TOEFL**
Paper-based TOEFL: 500
Computer-based TOEFL: 173
Internet-based TOEFL: 61
IELTS**
Composite score of 6.0
**You are exempt from this requirement if you have completed more than 24 credit hours of college-level, non-ESL courses or if you have earned a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
TOEFL***
Paper-based TOEFL: 550
Computer-based TOEFL: 213
Internet-based TOEFL: 79
IELTS***
Composite score of 6.5
***Admission into the Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 95 or an IELTS score of 7.0.
International applicants who are interested in applying for undergraduate or graduate admission but who do not meet the English language proficiency minimum scores may be considered for conditional admission in conjunction with the School for the Advancement of English Language and Learning (SAELL). Learn more about conditional admission for international students.
For questions about eligibility requirements for non-immigrant student visa status and English language proficiency or about the School for the Advancement of English Language and Learning, contact:
Office of International Programs
(773) 442-4796
international-programs@neiu.edu
Admitted International Students
You received your acceptance letter to NEIU — what’s next? Follow the checklist for all admitted students, review additional requirements for international students and learn more about applying for your visa.
Steps for Admitted Students
Confirm your spot to officially start your journey to NEIU. Learn more about attending orientation sessions, placement testing and registering for your first semester of classes.
Resources for International Students
Gear up for a new adventure with resources from the Office of International Programs. Understand how to apply for your visa and how to find housing, and start getting acquainted with the Chicago area even before you set foot on campus.
Applying for a Visa
NEIU notifies international applicants of their admission by email and by mailed packet. The mailed packet contains the original Form I-20. After you receive email notification of your admission decision, you may email the Office of International Programs at international-programs@neiu.edu to check on the status of your Form I-20.
Learn more about this process and required documents:
To be eligible for non-immigrant student visa status, you must have sufficient funds for the first year of school and living expenses. To demonstrate this, you must submit the following documents:
Financial Statement
Complete either the Undergraduate Financial Statement or Graduate Financial Statement, and have the document notarized. Scan and email your Financial Statement to the Office of International Programs at international-programs@neiu.edu. If you are admitted to ŷϷ, you need to bring the original notarized Financial Statement to your appointment with the U.S. Consular Office in your country to obtain a non-immigrant student visa. Upon your arrival in the U.S., you will need to submit the original notarized Financial Statement to the Office of International Programs.
Select your form based on how you plan to enroll at NEIU:
- Undergraduate Financial Statement
- Graduate Financial Statement
- Saell Financial Statement - One Semester
- Saell Financial Statement - One Year
Official Bank Letter(s)
The financial institution of each sponsor identified on the Financial Statement must submit a notarized letter to ŷϷ. Scan and upload the notarized letter(s) into the online application portal. Alternatively, you can email the letter(s) to either admrec@neiu.edu (for Undergraduate Admissions) or graduateadmissions@neiu.edu (for Graduate Admissions).
If admitted to ŷϷ, you need to bring the original notarized letter(s) to your appointment with the U.S. Consular Office in your country to obtain a non-immigrant student visa. Upon your arrival in the U.S., you need to submit the original notarized bank letter(s) to the Office of International Programs.
If you are currently in the U.S., you must scan and email your valid Form I-94 and Form I-20 to either admrec@neiu.edu (for Undergraduate Admissions) or graduateadmissions@neiu.edu (for Graduate Admissions).
If you have been studying at another college or university in the United States on a non-immigrant visa, learn more about transferring your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to NEIU to continue your education. How to transfer your I-20.
The Office of International Programs
NEIU’s Office of International Programs (OIP) serves our diverse student body, including those attending on a visa or through an exchange program with one of our 40-plus partnering universities. Reach out to get support as you enroll at NEIU, find housing, register for classes or learn more about our welcoming community.
Contact Admissions
See why NEIU is for you as an international student. Have questions? Reach out to your respective admissions office:
Undergraduate Admissions
Admissions Office
(773) 442-4050
admrec@neiu.edu
Graduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions
(773) 442-6001
graduateadmissions@neiu.edu