Skip to content

International Students

Home » Applying/ International Students
A group of students posing for the camera atop the tower of Rish Rhees Library.

Global university

The world at Rochester

The University of Rochester prides itself on being a global institution. We’re home to more than 4,800 international students and scholars from around the globe. As a Rochester student, you’ll join a welcoming and diverse community that embraces students from all backgrounds and more than 120 different countries.

Who is considered an international student?

You are considered an international student if you are not a United States citizen or a permanent resident.

A group of students entering a building.

Applying as an international student

To become an undergraduate student at the University of Rochester in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, you must apply either as a first-year or a transfer applicant.

If you’re interested in studying solely at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music for a bachelor of music degree, you must apply directly through the Eastman School application.

International first-year applicants

The following required materials must be submitted to us directly by your school, testing site, or family member, depending on the document:

You can also sign up for an interview (highly recommended) and/or submit the following optional materials:

Combined degree programs allow you to fast-track your master’s or other advanced degree, or enroll in multiple University of Rochester schools at once.

There is no separate application supplement for any of the combined degree programs.

To be considered for one of these programs, indicate the program you’re applying for in the application portal you’ve chosen. Counselors will consider your entire application along with any additional supporting materials (e.g., transcripts, recommendations, etc.).

International transfer applicants

The following required materials must be submitted to us directly by your school, testing site, or family member, depending on the document:

*If you have completed at least one year of full-time college coursework, you may request this item to be waived after applying. 

An advisor speaking with a student at a counter.

Scholarships and financial aid

We understand that there are numerous factors that impact a student’s ability to finance their university education. We are committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students. The University provides a combination of merit and need-based aid in an effort to make enrollment affordable. Financial need is a contributing factor, however, for international applicants. As a result, admission is highly selective for students with financial need.

During the application process, international applicants are required to demonstrate they have the financial means to attend Rochester (through private funds or sponsorship) or apply for need-based aid. The documentation you must submit as a part of the application process will depend on whether or not you require need-based financial aid.

Applicants who are able to meet the full cost of attendance must submit a completed International Financial Support Form (IFSF) with their application for admission.

  • Your application will remain incomplete without a completed IFSF on file.
  • Acceptable sources of funding are listed on the IFSF.
  • Applicants securing funding from their government, a private sponsor, or other source of funding not listed on IFSF should submit a copy of a sponsor letter as supporting documentation.

Questions about this form can be directed to international@ur.rochester.edu.

If you are unable to meet the full cost of attendance for Rochester without need-based aid or sponsorship from the University, you must submit the CSS Profile.

The CSS Profile is used to determine your potential eligibility for need-based University of Rochester grant funding and must be completed each year of attendance. Due to limited resources, only a small number of international applicants will qualify for need-based financial aid from the University.

Applicants unable to secure the needed funding to cover the cost of attendance either through private funds or sponsorship cannot be admitted to the University.

Questions about the CSS Profile can be directed to international@ur.rochester.edu.

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, are considered for merit scholarships. No additional documentation is required to compete for a merit scholarship. Since merit scholarships are awarded independent of a student’s need, you must still submit the appropriate documents with your application as described above to complete your application for admission.

English language exams

All international students are required to submit proof of English language proficiency. Students can demonstrate proof of English language proficiency through English language proficiency exams or by submitting an English Proficiency Waiver Request Form.

If your native language is not English and you are attending secondary or higher education institutions in a non-native English speaking country, you must take one of the following English language exams:

English language proficiency test scores must be submitted officially. DET scores must be sent directly from Duolingo. There is no cost to send these scores. Preferably, IELTS and TOEFL scores will also be submitted directly from the testing agencies. If, however, cost is a barrier to sending these scores to Rochester, you may have your school counselor submit a copy of your results.

You may submit test scores from one or more exam types (eg. one DET and one IELTS score). You may also submit more than one exam results (eg. results from two sittings of the TOEFL iBT). Please note, however, that we do not super-score or combine sub-scores from different test sittings. We also do not accept TOEFL My Best Score results. We will look at your sub-scores and totals from each individual test sitting.

Exam Recommended score
Duolingo English Test 120
IELTS 7.5
TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition (School Code: 2928) 100
Writing=25
Speaking=24
Reading=26
Listening=25

Admission to the University of Rochester is based on a holistic review process. Applicants whose test scores fall outside of the ranges displayed above are still encouraged to apply. If we evaluate your English proficiency to be at a level that would benefit from additional support to succeed at Rochester, you may gain admission through the English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP).

EAPP is a two-semester program that gives students additional time to focus on critical reading, reasoning, writing, and research skills. Students in EAPP begin coursework for their Rochester degree and EAPP in their first semester. Applicants to Rochester cannot apply directly to EAPP.

You can submit an English Proficiency Waiver Request if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You are a native speaker of English.
  • You completed at least three years of high school where English was the primary language of instruction.
  • You are a transfer applicant who has completed a year or more of college-level courses taught in the United States, including at least one writing-intensive course.

Waiver requests will be reviewed after the submission of an application and transcript. If approved, your application status will automatically be updated. International applicants must submit English proficiency exam scores or request a waiver by their application deadline.

Let's Connect

Have a question?

We’re here to help—and no concern is too big or too small. Feel free to reach out to our International Admissions team via email.

For questions about data privacy view our GDPR notice.

Return to the top of the page