International Student Admission

The University of Maryland (UMD) seeks to enroll international students who demonstrate strong academic performance with records suggesting potential for success at the university. Admission to UMD is competitive. Typically, admission is offered to applicants whose academic credentials indicate marks of "very good" to "excellent". Due to space limitations and the competitive nature of undergraduate admission at UMD, an international applicant should submit a complete application as early as possible, and always before the deadlines listed in this section. Evaluation of an applicant's credentials will take place only after all application materials are received. 

Students who are non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent U.S. residents should apply as international applicants. Please refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website for more information regarding English proficiency requirements. 

Freshman Admission - International

You are considered a freshman applicant if you have completed fewer than 12 semester hours of university-level credit beyond secondary school at the time of applying to UMD. Successful freshman applicants demonstrate satisfactory completion of diverse college-preparatory subjects in secondary school, proficiency in English and evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses. Due to space limitations, we are unable to offer admission to all students who have the ability to be academically successful at UMD.

The early action deadline for fall admission is November 1 and for spring admission the deadline is August 1. Applications are considered complete when the online application and all required documents, including English language proficiency test scores, have been submitted. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their application by the early action deadline when applicable.

For a listing of required documents, please review the International Application Checklist.

Transfer Admission - International

You are considered a transfer applicant if you have graduated from high school/secondary school and subsequently completed a minimum of 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours during a regular term (excluding summer school) at a regionally accredited college or university. Students who have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours are expected to submit high school/secondary school records and SAT and/or ACT scores for review. (Please note that UMD is currently test optional. This means that students applying between now and Fall 2025 will not be required to submit standardized test scores. Students can decide whether or not to include SAT/ACT scores with their application.) If you've attended more than one institution, a cumulative average for all previous college/university work attempted will be computed and included in the review process. To be considered, coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university. 

Admission is competitive. Successful transfer applicants demonstrate better than average grades in strong academic courses, proficiency in English and evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses. Due to space limitation, we are unable to offer admission to all students who have the ability to be academically successful at UMD. 

The early action deadline for fall admission is March 1 and for spring admission the deadline is August 1. Applications are considered complete when the online application and all required documents have been submitted. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their applications by the early action deadline when applicable.

For a listing of required documents, please review the International Application Checklist.

Non-U.S. Academic Credentials

UMD requires all students with non-U.S. academic credentials to submit additional information. Depending on your application type and the associated requirements, you may need to submit some or all of the following:

High school/secondary credentials - 

  • Official copies of your high school transcript(s), from each institution you've attended, sent in the native language along with a certified English translation.
  • Official results and certificates of completion from national secondary school examinations such as GCSE/GCE (where appropriate).

Post-secondary/university credentials - 

  • Official copies of your college transcript(s), from each institution you've attended, sent in the native language along with a certified English translation.
  • A third-party academic evaluation from one of the approved evaluators.

Review the International Application Checklist for specific details on the required materials for freshman and transfer applications, as well as information on approved third-party evaluation services.

English Proficiency

Non-native English speakers (regardless of citizenship) who seek admission to UMD must verify their proficiency in English by taking and submitting an official score report from one of the following English proficiency exams: Duolingo English Test (DET), International English Language Test System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). While scores from one of these exams are required to satisfy proficiency in English, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will conduct a full file review considering all application materials submitted to make a determination about the student's level of English proficiency. Please refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website for more information regarding English proficiency requirements. 

Visa Requirements

Admitted Students Residing Outside of the United States: To enter the U.S., international students residing abroad will need a valid passport from their country of citizenship and a visa from the U.S. Consulate. To obtain a visa for the purposes of studying in the U.S., students must first be admitted to the university and confirm their enrollment. Admitted students who have submitted proof of funding to cover the cost of their program of study at UMD will be issued the Certificate of Eligibility Form (I-20) to obtain an F-1 Visa (Academic Student). Admitted students who are sponsored by agencies, foundations or their home government, or are participating in an established exchange program may be issued the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (DS-2019) to obtain a J-1 visa.

Admitted Students Currently Residing in the United States: Admitted students currently holding F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor status need to submit a photocopy of their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, visa stamp and current I-20 or  DS-2019 form, along with proof of having sufficient funds to cover the cost of their study. Students holding another type of non-immigrant status need to submit a photocopy of their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record and visa stamp, and must indicate if they intend to change to F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor status. Upon admission and submission of the appropriate financial support documentation, the university will then issue the appropriate Certificate of Eligibility Form (I-20 or DS-2019) to the student.

For more information, please visit the Office of International Student and Scholar Services website.

International External Exam

UMD awards credit for some Advanced Level/Advanced Subsidiary Level (A-Level/AS-Level) Exams taken through Cambridge International Exams (CIE) or other recognized organizations. There are other types of college-level exams that may be awarded credit on a case-by-case basis. For additional information on the transferability of these exams, please see the Prior Learning Credit section of this catalog.