Required Credentials for International Applicants

Regardless of U.S. residency status, an English proficiency examination is required of all students whose secondary schooling has been outside the U.S. in a country where English is not the principal language. Score reports must be from tests taken within the past two years and submitted directly to us from the testing service.

English proficiency examination requirements may be waived for students who have attended an English medium school. Students will be evaluated for a waiver on a case-by-case basis. To request a review of your completed admissions application for a waiver, please contact us at RUinternational@admissions.rutgers.edu.

Please note: Students who have earned a grade of B or better in a college-level English Composition course at an accredited U.S. college (not a foreign affiliate) are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement. English courses that are designated ESL, non-native, or which require a special support component, or any courses taken outside the US, are not acceptable. Please also note that Rutgers does not accept correspondence or online courses for the language proficiency requirement.

Rutgers accepts the following standardized tests to determine the English proficiency of its international applicants.

* Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and Rutgers School of Nursing require scores of 100 on the internet-based test.

# The Rutgers TOEFL Code is 2765.

^ The minimum score for the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing is 130.

^^ The minimum IELTS score for Rutgers University–Newark is 6.5 as of January 1, 2024.

If you plan to study in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa or are currently in the U.S. on a student visa, you will need the Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status. Rutgers will issue your I-20 once you accept our offer of admission and provide us with the required documentation. After your I-20 is issued, you may schedule an appointment at your nearest American embassy or consulate to apply for a student visa. Please review the information below about required documentation for I-20 issuance.

To obtain your I-20 from Rutgers, you must first accept our offer of admission on your Rutgers CommunityID account. To initiate your I-20 application process, make sure you have completed the following steps:

• Complete all required items and forms on the Rutgers Global portal. Note you will need to activate your NetID to log in.
• Upload a copy of your passport picture page in the personal information section.
• Upload a completed Rutgers International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) and accompanying financial document(s) on the Rutgers Global portal.
• F-1 students currently studying in the U.S. only, complete the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) transfer information section.

Federal government regulations require students who hold an F-1 student visa to prove to the university that they will be financially supported while they are enrolled. For this purpose, you must submit the International Student Financial Statement (ISFS).

• The ISFS and all supporting documents must be signed and dated no more than six months prior to the date when we receive your completed I-20 application.
• Section C of the ISFS must be completed in its entirety. You must document financial support for the first year you plan to attend Rutgers. You may preview a completed sample form for assistance.
• Your sponsor(s) must submit a bank letter/statement from their financial institution stating the amount of funds available in the account(s) that will be used to sponsor you. This amount must be greater than or equal to the amount outlined on the ISFS form.
• Documentation of financial resources must be on bank letterhead. Please retain the original bank letter/statement for your visa interview.
• You will upload your completed ISFS and financial documents to the Rutgers Global portal.

• You are required by the Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to notify your foreign student adviser of your departure.
• You must complete the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Transfer Information section of the Rutgers Global portal.

Internal Transfers at Rutgers University (not for enrolling first-year or external transfer students)

• Rutgers–New Brunswick Undergraduate students who have already been enrolled as a student at another Rutgers Campus (Rutgers–Camden, Rutgers–Newark) are required to transfer their SEVIS records to Rutgers–New Brunswick before starting classes in NB. These students should contact Rutgers Global for information on how to get their SEVIS records transferred. Please email isss-students@global.rutgers.edu if you have any questions.

1. Visit U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement for important next steps.
2. Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee, mandated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
3. Apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Students enrolling at Rutgers–New Brunswick, prep for your student visa interview with this helpful guide.
4. Prepare for your arrival in the U.S. and plan to attend Rutgers' International Student Orientation.