International Students

The University admits students living outside the continental United States to all degree programs. The student must be able to correspond with the University and respond to course instructions in English.
 

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited Institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English through one of the following:
 

• Undergraduate Degree: A minimum score of 500 on the paper-delivered Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), or 61 on the Internet Based Test (iBT), a 6.0 on the International English Language Test (IELTS), or 44 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic Score Report.
   
  A high school diploma completed at an accredited/recognized high school (where the medium of instruction is English).
   
• Master's Degree: A minimum score of 530 on the paper-delivered Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), or 71 on the Internet Based Test (iBT), a 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS) or 50 on the PTE Academic Score Report.
   
• A minimum grade of Pre-1 on the Eiken English Proficiency Exam.
   
• A minimum score on the College Board Accuplacer ESL Exam Series:
       - ESL Language Use: Score of 85
       - ESL Listening: Score of 80
       - ESL Reading: Score of 85
       - ESL Sentence: Meaning: Score of 90
       - ESL Writeplacer: Score of 4
       - Comprehensive Score for all exams of 350
  
• A minimum B-2 English proficiency level identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CFER) standards and assessed through various ESOL examinations, including the University of Cambridge.

TOEFL and IELTS scores are not required from:

• International students who have completed two years of study in which English was the language of instruction, or
• International students whose English language transcripts have been accepted by institutions domiciled in the U.S. and Canada.

Important Notes:

• Written proof of successfully completing (2.0 GPA or higher) at least 30 academic credits of college/university level courses that are transferable and that were taught completely in English.
• Transcripts not in English must be evaluated by an appropriate third party and translated into English or by a trained transcript evaluator fluent in the language of the transcript. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an approved translating service. Please visit www.nacesw.org for more information.
• Students who cannot meet the above requirements because of exceptional circumstances may petition to be accepted on a conditional basis. If accepted, the student will be permitted to take a maximum of four courses on a non-degree seeking student basis. If after taking four courses, the student has a 3.0 GPA or higher, the student may be accepted as a degree seeking student. If the student's GPA is lower than 3.0, the student's enrollment at Southwest will be terminated.
• Credit earned at most foreign schools will be accepted toward fulfilling the degree requirements. Official transcripts are required. All tuition and fees must be paid in U.S. currency and all checks drawn on a U.S. bank. Students are responsible for all customs duties. Refer to postage/handling for charges.

Other admissions policies:  Non-Discrimination  ·  Licenses / Credentials  ·  Time Requirements  ·  Denial of Admission
 

For a full description of all our admissions policies, please refer to our catalog.