International Graduate Admission

Before you apply, keep these things in mind:

• Apply through Cal State Apply. Check out our Application Tips webpage for help getting started.
• Upload unofficial academic records with your Cal State Apply application. Have them ready before you begin.
• Graduate/post-baccalaureate programs is a two-step process. You will need to meet both university and program admission requirements. Some programs may also require exams like the GRE or GMAT.
• Some programs require a separate supplemental application. If yours does, it must be submitted by the same deadline as the Cal State Apply application. Check the Admissions Deadlines webpage for program-specific requirements.
• International applicants: A foreign credential evaluation is required. Submit your non-U.S. transcripts to International Education Research Foundation (IERF), World Education Services (WES), The Evaluation Company (TEC) or a NACES member agency with your official transcripts.

Explore our Graduate Studies webpage to learn more about available Degrees and Programs and the University catalog.

• Aviation Administration BS (effective Spring 2024)
• Civil Engineering BS (effective Fall 2022)
• Communicative Disorders BA (effective Fall 2024)
• Electrical Engineering BS (effective Fall 2022)
• Mechanical Engineering BS (effective Fall 2022)
• Nursing BSN

NOTE: Not every program accepts applications every term. Check the Admissions Deadlines webpage to see if your program is open for your intended start term.

To be eligible for admission, you will need to meet both university requirements and your program's specific admission criteria.

General University Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Earn a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university before the start of your intended term.
• Good Academic Standing: At your last college or university.
• Minimum GPA:
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in a completed bachelor’s degree, or
  • A 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units.
• English Language Proficiency: Required if your bachelor's degree was not earned at an institution where English is the only language of instruction

Additional Requirements for Doctoral Programs:

• Doctor of Audiology Programs
• Doctor of Education Programs
• Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs

Additional Requirements for Second Bachelor’s Degree Applicants:

• Nursing BSN programs: These programs are highly competitive and have additional requirements. Please review the Patricia A Chin School of Nursing (PACSON) for full details.

Keep in mind: Admission may be competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Be sure to review your program's admissions page for complete requirements.

Submit all required application materials by your program's deadline. Each graduate program has its own admissions review process, and applicants must meet both program and university admission requirements to receive an offer of admission.

Important: If you are still completing your bachelor's degree, any admission offer will be provisional until your official transcript confirms your degree has been awarded. If degree verification is not received by the required deadline, your admission offer will be withdrawn.

STEP 1: Apply through Cal State Apply

• Submit your application by your program's deadline. Application filing opens July 1 for Spring admission and October 1 for Fall admission.
• Upload unofficial transcripts with your application. They should include your most recently completed term:
  • Fall admission: Through the previous Fall term
  • Spring admission: Through the previous Summer term
• You will receive an email confirming we have received your application.

Step 2: Complete any supplemental application

Some graduate programs require a separate supplemental application. If your program does, submit it by the same deadline as your Cal State Apply application. Check the Admissions Deadlines webpage to see if your program requires one.

Step 3: Submit your official documents

Within 3 weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application, send all required documents to the Cal State LA Admissions Office, including:

• Official transcripts
• Test scores (if required)
• Foreign credential evaluation report (if applicable)

International applicants: If you completed coursework outside the U.S., have your official transcripts evaluated by a NACES member agency (e.g., IERF, WES, TEC) for a Detailed, Course-by-Course Evaluation Report. Evaluation. Request that the agency send the report directly to Cal State LA. Visit Foreign Evaluation Reports for details. 

Do not wait: This process can take 4–6 weeks so start the process as early as possible.

Transcripts from institutions in the United States do not need to be sent to an International Credential Evaluation agency. They must be sent directly to the Cal State LA Admissions Office. For more info, see Submitting Documents.

English Language Proficiency: If your bachelor's degree was not earned at an institution where English is the only language of instruction, you'll also need to submit official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores. Test scores are valid for two years from the exam date.

Stay Connected

We will send important updates about your application by email, so be sure to:

• Regularly check the email you used for your Cal State Apply application.
• Keep your email address up to date in your GET Student Center.
• Check your inbox (and spam/junk folder) often.
• Review your GET To Do List regularly for any outstanding requirements.

To help ensure you receive our emails, add @calstatela.edu as a safe sender.

Using one of these email providers? We recommend switching to another email service (such as Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud), as these providers may block Cal State LA emails:

• qq.com
• 126.com
• 163.com
• yeah.net

If You're Not Admitted

Graduate admission is competitive, so we encourage you to apply to more than one university. Having backup options can give you more flexibility during the admissions process.

Here are some important items to consider if you are offered admission and decide to attend Cal State LA:

Admitted Student Information: If you have already been offered admission, refer to the Information for Newly Admitted Graduate Students.

Applying for your I-20 or SEVIS transfer: To prepare for the process, please have the following items available: (1) copy of your Passport Biographical Page and (2) Financial Sponsor information and a copy of their recent bank statement (or other official letters of financial support/guarantee/scholarship). If you are currently already studying in the US, please also plan to submit: (1) copy of current Visa stamp; (2) copy of I-94; and (3) copy of I-20 or DS-2019, and Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if applicable.

If you have any questions about the I-20/SEVIS transfer process, please contact the International Students & Scholars Office at (323) 343-3170 or [email protected].

Submit your Final Transcripts: Final, official transcripts with Bachelor’s degree posted, as well as all post-baccalaureate coursework, must be submitted to the Admissions Office. For fall admission, the official final transcript with the posted degree must be submitted by September 1; for spring admission, the final transcript is due by February 1.

Campus Housing: Living on campus offers numerous opportunities for students to build lifelong friendships, develop as leaders and achieve academic success. We offer graduate student apartments that are a short walk to class, the University-Student Union, and various campus resources. To learn more, visit the Housing and Residence Life webpage.

Orientation, Advising, and Registration: Newly admitted international graduate students will be contacted by their departments regarding orientation, advising, and registering for classes.

Click on the picture above for the Graduate Application Process at a Glance pdf.