International Student Admissions

Application Requirements for International Students

Thank you for your interest in our school. The Pitt School of Education offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for international students. Our students and faculty come from all over the world, and are striving to create educational equity for a global audience. Our alumni live in nearly 90 countries around the world. 

Admissions Deadlines

Admissions deadlines vary by program at the Pitt School of Education. However, it is important that international students submit their application a minimum of six months prior to the desired start term of the program. 

Admissions Guidelines

International students must follow the admissions procedures outlined on this page. There are additional guidelines for international students, including for transcript verification for institutions outside the United States and the verification of language proficiency. Please review the information on this page and contact our Admissions and Enrollment Services Office with any questions: soeinfo@pitt.edu or 412-648-2230.

Online Application

1. Applications are submitted through the Pitt Education Online Application Form
    
2. There is a non-refundable application fee of $50 (USD) to be paid by credit card
    
3. Your online application must include (a.) a Purpose Statement of your career goals and degree objectives that is two-to-three pages double-spaced in length, (b.) your resume or curriculum vita, and (c.) contact information for three academic or professional contacts to later be invited to provide letters of recommendation

Transcript Submission

For transcripts from U.S. institutions previously attended:

In the Academic History section of the online application, please request that official transcripts from all U.S. institutions attended are sent to GRADCAS. If your previous institution is unable to send transcripts electronically, please contact an Admissions & Recruitment Manager at 412-648-2230 or soeinfo@pitt.edu.

For transcripts from institutions from outside of the United States:

1. Applicants who have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree at an institution outside of the United States are required to provide official third-party evaluations of those academic credentials.
    
2. These evaluations must be completed by an accredited organization and must be sent directly from the organization to GRADCAS.
    
3. The evaluations must be course-by-course credential evaluations in order to satisfy our school's admission requirements.  
    
4. We recommend using one of the following service providers:
    
   1. International Education Research Foundation Inc.
   2. SpanTran
   3. World Education Services Inc.

Verification of Language Proficiency

1. Official score reports are required for all applicants whose native language is not English and/or who have not completed an academic degree from a college or university in the United States where the method of instruction is English.
    
2. The following scores are considered competitive for most School of Education graduate programs:
   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 100 on the internet-based test, with sub-scores of 21 or above
   2. International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) band score of 7.0, with sub-scores of 6.0 or higher
   3. Duolingo English test score of at least 120. Please upload your scores in GRADCAS as part of your online application.
       
3. Certain programs at the Pitt School of Education may require different TOEFL/IELTS scores than the scores listed above. Please check with your specific program's admissions requirements for more information.
    
4. The TOEFL Institution code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927 and the department code for "Education" is 85.
    
5. IELTS results should be mailed directly to our office at: Admissions and Enrollment Services, 5900 Posvar Hall, 230 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Student Visa Documents

1. The Pitt Office of International Services (OIS) is responsible for issuing your visa document (I-20 or DS-2019). In order to allow for sufficient processing time, you must accept your offer of admission to the Pitt School of Education by the following deadlines: Fall Term (May 1), Spring Term (October 1), and Summer Term (February 1)
    
2. Pitt's OIS will contact you directly regarding the student visa process

Need-Based Fee Waiver

Applicants may be eligible for a need-based application fee waiver due to:

• Pell eligibility within the last three years
• Recent participation in federal, state, or local programs that aid students from low-income families
• Qualification for public assistance
• Otherwise demonstrable financial hardship, including emergency expenses or unexpected medical bills

If you believe that you are eligible for a need-based fee waiver, please submit your request HERE. Our admissions staff will review your request, and reach back out to assist you in completing your application. The School of Education reserves the right to request any necessary documentation.

Additional Info for Applicants to PhD Programs 

1. Submission of a professional writing sample in the form of a previously completed term paper, master's thesis, article, etc. that does not exceed 20 pages in length. The paper can be uploaded as part of your online application

Additional Info For the Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Program

1. International students may only apply for the Foreign Language Teacher Certification program as part of the Master of Arts in Teaching program

Frequently Asked Questions

In this video, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the international admissions process. 

• 00:11 - How and where should I send my third-party transcript review reports to?
• 02:10 - How do I apply/start my application?
• 04:32 - Where can I learn more about visa information and who can I contact?
• 06:07 - How do I add letters of recommendation? Do they need to be in English?
• 09:21 - Is a language proficiency test required even if my last degree program’s primary instruction language was English?

If you have additional questions, please contact Sing Zhang, Admissions and Recruitment Manager, at sing.x.zhang@pitt.edu.