Additional International Requirements (Freshman and Transfer)
Additional Required Materials
We consider international students to be any student who does not have American citizenship or permanent residency status. Whether applying as a freshman or transfer student, all international students must complete the following requirements.
To complete the application process, in addition to the basic freshman application requirements or transfer application requirements, you must submit the following to International Admissions:
- Declaration and Certification of Finances form and bank statements if you need to obtain, or are currently studying in the US on, the F-1 or J-1 student visa
- Official transcripts in original language with certified English translations, and certified true copies of external exam certificates
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores, if required
- $50 application fee
Students from countries that have a military service requirement upon completion of secondary education should not apply until that obligation has been met. We will not defer admission for these students.
Financial Requirements
In order for the Certificate of Visa Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019) to be issued, federal regulations require that you submit complete and accurate information regarding your sources of financial support. The University of Illinois does not award any form of need-based financial aid to international students.
Confirmation of sufficient funds and sources of support must be demonstrated with the following documentation, which must be dated no more than one year prior to the date classes begin:
- A completed University of Illinois Declaration and Certification of Finances form, including the original signature of your sponsor. Neither photocopies nor facsimile copies of this form are acceptable.
- An official bank statement or letter showing sufficient funds for at least one year of study ($48,500). Photocopies of this statement are not acceptable. The account holder name on the bank statement must match the name of your sponsor as listed on the Declaration and Certification of Finances form. The statement must also be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
The evidence of financial resources we are requesting you to present is frequently required by US embassy or consular officials before a visa is granted. Therefore, we recommend that you make and maintain for your personal use copies of all documents submitted. We do not return or provide you with copies of these documents.
Range of SAT and ACT Scores
See overall selectivity under freshman admission requirements.
Official Academic Transcripts / Documents
Applicants must present official academic records for all secondary school and post-secondary school study, including official copies of all secondary school certificates and external examination results. Records not issued in English must be accompanied by an English translation that is certified by an appropriate school official, official translator, or US embassy or consulate official.
Records are considered official if they meet one of the following criteria:
- The issuing institution sends them directly to the University of Illinois.
- They are certified as true copies by an official of the educational institution, an embassy official, or an appropriate government official.
English Proficiency Requirements
English language proficiency must be demonstrated by one of the following:
- A score of at least 550 on the paper-based (pbt) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 on the computer-based test (cbt), or 79 on the internet-based test (ibt). If applying to the College of Business, the College of Engineering, or the College of Media, the minimum score is 600 pbt, 250 cbt, or 100 ibt.
- An SAT I critical reading score of at least 560, or an ACT English score of at least 25.
- Completion of two academic years of full-time study immediately prior to the proposed date of enrollment in a country where English is the primary language.
- Minimum 6.5 total score on IELTS with minimum subscore of 6 on all four modules.
Students who meet the minimum requirements but demonstrate the need for further English language instruction will be required to take the ESL Placement test upon arrival to campus.
Applicants should ask ETS to send TOEFL scores directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (institution code #1836).
Students who would like to improve their English proficiency should consider enrolling at the Intensive English Institute (IEI) on the University of Illinois campus. The IEI accepts students independently of the University; therefore, acceptance by the IEI does not guarantee admission to the University of Illinois. Please visit the IEI's website for more information.
Visa Information
Students residing outside the United States
You should present the I-20 or DS-2019 to the U.S. Consul or Embassy official to obtain the appropriate student or exchange visitor visa. Citizens of Canada do not need a U.S. entry visa, but will be required to show the I-20 or DS-2019 upon entry to the U.S. For more information, please visit www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.
Students in the United States in B-1/B-2 visitor status
Homeland Security regulations do not allow visitors in B status to study in the United States. You must apply for admission and acquire the student visa outside the United States.
Students currently in the United States on another dependent visa
Many dependent visa types (A, L, E, and H visas, for example) allow study in the United States without changing status to F-1 or J-1. Please contact our office if you have questions about your particular situation or need to change your status to F-1 or J-1.
Students transferring from a United States high school or college
Your SEVIS record must be released from your current school to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before the new transfer I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued.