Prospective Students

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    I am a Future International Student

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International Student: International Graduate

Am I an international master’s or post-baccalaureate graduate applicant?

An international master’s or post-baccalaureate graduate applicant is a student who wishes to study at our university on an F-1 (student) visa or J-1 (exchange) visa, and who is in the process of completing or has completed a post-secondary degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Graduate students may apply for admission to a master's or doctoral degree program at CSUN.

Please note: You can apply to as many campuses as you wish, each with a $70 application fee, but note you can only apply to one program per campus per admission term. Select only one graduate program in Cal State Apply. We are unable to issue a refund if you apply for two programs or submit two separate applications for the same term.

Two Application Processes

  • Applicants to master's and doctoral programs must typically apply to both the university and the academic department. Some departments may require a separate departmental application.
  • Please note that some graduate programs may have earlier filing deadlines than the university deadlines, or they may accept applications only for fall admission.

Master's or doctoral program applicants must meet any additional admission requirements for the specific graduate program. Please review these requirements by locating your program in the University Catalog (programs).

Application and Document Deadlines

Application and document deadlines for international applicants are shown in the table below. 

Table of our application and document deadlines
SemesterApplication DeadlineDocument Deadline

For Fall Admission:
The application filing period opens October 1.

May 31June 15

For Spring Admission:
The application filing period opens August 1.

October 31November 15

Items to Submit

International applicants to CSUN must submit the following:

  • Complete online application at Cal State Apply. Please read the instructions carefully and complete all appropriate sections. Please upload the following documents to the program materials section of Cal State Apply before submitting your application:
    • Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) (both pages) and bank statement.
    • Results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other acceptable test, unless exempt (see below)
    • Graduate examination results, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If you send scores directly to CSUN from the testing agency, use CSUN school code 4707.
    • A copy of your passport photo page.
    • Unofficial transcripts (not required but helpful to speed the processing of your application).
  • A $70.00 (US currency) non-refundable application fee. Due at the time you submit your Cal State Apply application and can only be paid by credit or debit card.
  • All OFFICIAL transcripts for any college or university courses you have completed in original language of issue. Your records must include official verification of degree completion. Applicants who have studied in the U.S. are also required to have the U.S. institution(s) send official transcript(s) directly to CSUN. Please find our mailing address below.
  • Official English translations of all academic records. Mail all OFFICIAL transcripts and translations directly to:

California State University, Northridge
Attention: International Admissions
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8207
U.S.A.

English Language Requirement

The English language tests and minimum scores listed in the table below are accepted by CSUN for graduate applicants. Some graduate programs require a higher score for admission to an individual program; please check the desired graduate program.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS AND MINIMUM SCORES
Test Name
and Website
Minimum Score Required for Graduate StudentsSend Score Directly To CSUN

Cambridge C1 Advanced English (formerly CAE)

180

Email “Confirmation of Entry” page to intladm@csun.edu.
DET – Duolingo English Test

105

Online through your Duolingo Account. See Sending Your Results.
EIKEN CSE – Common Scale for English

2630 (1)

Contact EIKEN online; they will send the score directly to us.
GTEC CBT – Global Test of English Communication Computer-Based Test

1200

Have GTEC send a copy of your "Official Score Certificate" to CSUN.
IELTS Academic - International English Language Test System

6.5

Have IELTS send a copy of your "Test Report Form" to CSUN.
iTEP Academic - International Test of English Proficiency4.0

Have iTEP send your score to CSUN.

PTE Academic - Pearson Test of English58

Online through your PTE Academic Account.
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

— Internet Based score: 79
— Paper-based score: 550

We do not accept TOEFL ITP.

Use CSUN School Code 4707.

Exception: If a graduate applicant has earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a college or university in the U.S., the TOEFL or other English language proficiency exam is not required.

If a graduate applicant has earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a college or university outside the U.S. where English is the principal language of instruction, the TOEFL or other English language proficiency exam is not required. Please note:

  • CSUN interprets "where English is the principal language of instruction" to mean that a school is located in a country where English is the daily medium of communication for the majority of residents, and that students receive academic instruction in English at all levels of education.
  • Countries currently meeting the above requirement are: Australia, Belize, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, plus a few nations in the Commonwealth Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago).

CSUN Intensive English Program and Conditional Admission

An in-person Intensive English Program (IEP) is offered through CSUN’s Tseng College of Extended Learning. The International Admissions Office works closely with the IEP office to offer "conditional admission" to academically eligible students enrolled in the IEP. Admission to the university is guaranteed once the student has completed the English language requirement. Learn more at Intensive English Programs.

After You Apply

We’re excited you've applied to CSUN!

As our admissions team prepares to review your application, here's a look at what to expect between now and when you receive your admissions decision.

  1. Authenticate your CSUN Portal and CSUN email accounts Watch for the “Activate Your CSUN Account” email from our Office of Admissions that you received after submitting your Cal State Apply application. You should receive the email 1 or 2 days after you apply. For help, see account activation instructions.
  2. Check your application status. Log in to the CSUN Portal and, under My Checklist, review your complete and incomplete tasks, such as missing transcripts. Helpful: My Checklist Guide
  3. Check often for CSUN correspondence sent to your CSUN email address, by regular mail, and in the CSUN Portal.

Your academic records will be evaluated and forwarded to the graduate department for an admission decision.

We will notify you as soon as the graduate program has notified the Office of International Admissions of your admissibility to the university.

If you are denied admission to the university, you may appeal this decision by contacting the graduate program to which you applied.

After You are Admitted

Admitted Graduate Students

Here are your next steps.

You've been admitted to CSUN. Well done! Here are your next steps:

Step 1 - Obtain your Form I-20.

You will receive your Form I-20 by email based on your location as follows:

  • If you are transferring from a U.S. school: As soon as you receive our email offering admission, ask your college or university advisor to transfer your SEVIS record to CSUN. Once you have completed your classes there and about three to five business days after your school releases you in the SEVIS database, our International Admissions Office will email your CSUN Form I-20 to you.
  • If you are living outside the U.S. when admitted: Once you have sent us your financial documents, our International Admissions Office will email your CSUN Form I-20 to the email address you provided in your Cal State Apply admission application.
Form I-20 Delivery Options:

If you prefer one of the following options other than receiving your I-20 by email, please contact us at intladm@csun.edu as soon as possible:

  • Pick up your CSUN Form I-20 from our International Admissions Office at CSUN.
  • Ask us to hold your I-20 for a friend or family member to pick up.
  • Ask us to mail your I-20 to you or a friend or family member.

Step 2 - Complete visa and immigration advisement.

Upon admission, all new F-1 students must complete the online Six-Step
Immigration Requirements for New International Students, including the mandatory Reporting Session with CSUN's International and Exchange Student Center (IESC). These steps allow you to maintain your visa status and register for CSUN classes.

IESC will email you instructions, but you can start now at Immigration Requirements for Newly Admitted International Students.

IMPORTANT! 
If you are outside the U.S. at the time of your admission, please arrange an appointment at a local U.S. Embassy to secure your F-1 student visa. This can be a long process, so please make the appointment as soon as possible.

If you are unable to enter the U.S. for the spring or fall semester of your admission, please contact the International and Exchange Student Center.

Step 3 - Attend New International Student Orientation.

During this required orientation before classes begin, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the CSUN campus and community, meet other students and discover resources for student involvement and belonging, academic success, information technology and more!

For the most current orientation information, including dates and registration, visit New Student Orientation – International Students.

Please note: The Office of Graduate Studies holds a separate orientation. Both of these orientations are required. Learn more in Step 4 below.

Step 4 - Learn about the Office of Graduate Studies.

The Office of Graduate Studies organizes special events that promote graduate student academic success, such as:

  • Advancement to Graduate Education Conference (AGE)
  • Graduate Records Exam (GRE) Workshops
  • New Graduate Student Orientation*
  • Student Success Series
  • Graduate Student Handbook

Graduate Studies also encourages research and scholarship by funding several awards and programs for masters and doctoral students. Learn more at Funding Programs and Student Funding.

*Attend New Graduate Student Orientation, designed by Graduate Studies to increase your awareness of special events, financial opportunities and academic policies pertaining to graduate programs.

  • Graduate Student Orientation is separate from the International Student Orientation in Step 3 above. Both orientations are required.
  • Graduate Student Orientation is held before the fall semester begins. You may also review the online slide presentation anytime during your first semester.

Step 5 - Explore your program. Seek advisement.

Explore your graduate program in the CSUN University Catalog, where you will also find your graduate program coordinator/academic advisor’s name and contact information to request guidance with course selection.

If you are majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics — the STEM fields — ask your advisor if taking a math or chemistry placement test is recommended. Placement tests do not affect your admission but place you into a class that matches your skill level.

Step 6 - Prepare to enroll in classes.

If you have completed Steps 2 and 5 above and cleared registration holds (see below), you may enroll in classes online through your CSUN Portal.

  1. Look for your enrollment appointment date and time in the CSUN Portal under My Checklist each semester. This is when your access to online, self-service registration begins. (If no appointment displays, you may be able to enroll right away.)*
  2. Check your CSUN email inbox for a new student registration message with instructions for your first semester of enrollment. You will receive a similar email each semester before registration begins.
  3. Before you can enroll in first-semester classes, you must complete the following online processes to clear your advisement and registration holds:

Any other registration holds will display in your CSUN Portal Checklist.

  1. The following tutorials are helpful for registration:

IMPORTANT! If you are currently outside the U.S., you cannot register for classes until:

Upon arrival, you will need to arrange a meeting with an advisor in the IESC.

Step 7 - Pay for your classes.

Please see the Tuition and Payment Deadlines section below.

Best wishes for your first semester at CSUN!

Tuition and Payment Deadlines

You and your family should take time to understand what your costs will be so you can make informed choices when preparing for this next step in your education. Please note that our international students pay basic tuition as well as nonresident tuition. All students pay additional mandatory campus fees.

The resources below will help you to estimate the cost of attending CSUN:

  1. CSUN Cost of Attendance
  2. CSUN Net Price Calculator
  3. Complete the Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF)Note: Submit this form together with your bank statement if you did not already upload them to Cal State Apply. Please see instructions on the form.

Although the university does not offer financial aid to international students, other resources can assist you with the cost of attendance. Please visit Scholarship Opportunities for International Students.

For the most up-to-date information regarding tuition and other fees, refer to the Student Financial Services website.

How to pay for your classes

To view tuition and other fees:

  1. Log in to the CSUN Portal.
  2. In the list of links below the Top Tools icons, select Make a Payment.
  3. On the Student Account Information page, review your Current Balance Outstanding.
  4. Select the CSUN Payment button.

Important payment information:

Please be aware of the student disclosure regarding the Schedule of Tuition and Other Fees.

Helpful guides: