International Student Admissions

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.)your resume or curriculum vita; (b.) contact information for three academic or professional contacts to later be invited to provide letters of recommendation; and (c.) a Purpose Statement of your career goals and degree objectives that is two-to-three pages double-spaced in length

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.

We recommend using one of the following service providers:

1. 1. International Education Research Foundation Inc.
   2. SpanTran
   3. World Education Services Inc.

Overview

Graduate students must possess sufficient knowledge of English  in order to study without being hindered by language problems, to understand class content, and to participate successfully in class discussions. The determination that the applicant has sufficient proficiency is made by the admitting department or school, subject to University-wide minimum standards determined by the University Council on Graduate Study.

If the applicant’s native language is not English, then scores must be submitted for one of the following language proficiency exams: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test.

Score Requirements for Master’s programs in Education Policy, Higher Education, and World and Heritage Language Education:

These scores are considered competitive for these programs. Please submit one of the following scores:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 on the internet-based test
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) band score of 6.5
• Duolingo English test score of at least 110. Please upload your scores in GRADCAS as part of your online application.

Score Requirements for All Other Programs

The following scores are considered competitive for all undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in the School of Education. Please see above for the different score requirements for the MA in Education Policy, MEd in Higher Education, and MEd in World and Heritage Language Education.

Please submit one of the following scores:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 100 on the internet-based test
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) band score of 7.0
• Duolingo English test score of at least 130.

Institutional Code and Submission Instructions

The TOEFL Institution code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927 and the department code for “Education” is 85.

IELTS results should be mailed directly to our office at: Admissions and Enrollment Services, 5900 Posvar Hall, 230 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Duolingo scores can be uploaded as part of your online application

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)
• Summer Term (February 1)

Pitt’s OIS will contact you directly regarding the student visa process

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.