Each year nearly 100 international students continue their higher education at Duquesne, which makes for a vibrantly diverse and academically motivated student body.

Admission to Duquesne University’s graduate programs is conducted within the different graduate departments. Therefore, all application materials should be sent directly to the appropriate school* and specific questions about admission criteria and application status directed to the Graduate School Adviser.

As an international student you may have questions that relate to your unique situation of continuing your education within the United States. Please feel free to contact the Office of International Programs with any international student questions such as: Visa and Immigration matters, English as a Second Language, International Student Organizations and opportunities for international students at Duquesne.

Step 1: Apply to the Graduate School

• Interested international students should submit the following:

1. Duquesne University Graduate Application specific to your desired program. More information can be obtained by visiting our Graduate Studies Website and the Graduate Majors Website for a complete list of programs.
   
   You may also access the International Graduate Online Application here, but we strongly recommend that you visit the website for the program in which you are interested to obtain complete admission and enrollment information as well.
2. Original or attested copies of all official academic records of prior university study. Credentials should be submitted in the native language with certified English translations and sent directly from the school and/or university. Photocopies are not considered official.
3. Mandatory International Student form (click on the link to download the .pdf document)
4. Letters of recommendation (forms and number of recommendations may vary).
5. A personal statement (essay).
6. Other items as directed by your program.
7. Application fee (varies depending on program).
   
   As an international student, if you are accepted, you will be required to obtain a visa to study in the US. The U.S. government requires that incoming students from outside the United States have sufficient funds for their studies. In order to accelerate your application process, we highly recommend that you send in the following financial documents to the Graduate School with your application:
   
   
8. Affidavit of support form and an official bank statement. The affidavit of support form is a legal document that a student’s sponsor must complete and have notarized and certified. The bank statement must be from the sponsor and show at least one full year of costs.
   
   Once proof of funding has been provided, the OIP will issue you a SEVIS I-20. This document will allow you to apply for a visa in your country at the United States Embassy or Consulate.

• GRE and GMAT Tests – All applicants are required to submit the appropriate graduate admissions test. Minimum score requirements may vary. More information can be obtained by visiting the
  Graduate Majors Website.
  
• TOEFL Exam – International applicants required to submit the TOEFL exam for entrance into our graduate programs. Specific information may be obtained by visiting our Graduate Majors Website.

Step 2: Accepted/Rejected

• If you are accepted to the Graduate School and have shown sufficient funding through an affidavit of support and bank statement, you will receive an official acceptance letter and I20 through the mail.
• If you are accepted to the Graduate School but have not shown sufficient funding, you will receive an email from OIP, confirming your acceptance but requesting proof of funding.
• If you are rejected, you will receive a letter through the mail.

Step 3: Visa and Immigration

• Once you have received your I20 from Duquesne, you can apply for a visa in your country at the United States Embassy or Consulate.
• You can make an appointment with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a visa interview. You must complete an application for a visa and pay a fee determined by your local Embassy or Consulate. In addition, you will also have to pay a SEVIS fee of $100. This can be paid on line at www.fmjfee.com with a valid credit card and a receipt can be printed once the transaction is completed. The Embassy or Consulate will determine whether you are issued a visa to enter the United States.

More information about the immigration process can be seen on our Accepted Student site.

Step 4: Questions and Inquiries

• Graduate programs at Duquesne University do have deadlines. Please consult our Graduate Majors Website for the appropriate deadline for your desired program.
• If you have a question about the status of your application, you should contact the individual graduate department.
• If you have a question about any other international matter, you should contact OIP at: oip@duq.edu

International Teaching Assistants - Pennsylvania state law and Duquesne University policies require certification of sufficient English language fluency for all faculty and teaching assistants. Teaching assistants whose first language is other than English are required to sit for additional language assessment conducted by the Duquesne University ESL Program and the Center for Teaching Excellence in cooperation with the teaching assistant’s academic department. If certification assessment indicates a need for assistance with English, the teaching assistant will be enrolled in required language classes to be taken together with or in place of major-related courses. Applicants for teaching assistantships should submit official scores on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) current to within one year.

*This applies to all Graduate Schools (including Nursing and their Second Degree Nursing program), except for Rangos School of Health Sciences. All Health Sciences Graduate applications should be sent to OIP.