International Transcript Requirements

Students applying with coursework and degrees from institutions outside the U.S. must submit the following documents:

Official Transcripts & Credential Evaluation

  • You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. International transcripts must be translated to English, and must be submitted for international credential evaluation by any organization on the AICE list or NACES list before being sent to PLU.
  • PLU reserves the right to request further evaluation by an approved credential evaluation agency. We recommend World Education Services (WES). Request your schools to send official transcripts directly to either WES. If your schools send official transcripts to WES, they do not need to send the transcripts to PLU. Then request WES send their transcript evaluation with the verified transcripts and English translation (if applicable) directly to PLU.
  • You can also use SpanTran, it has created a custom application for PLU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application – Pacific Lutheran University.

Copy of university/college degree diploma

English translations provided by PLU approved translation services if the transcripts and documents are in a language other than English.

Proof of English proficiency

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at Pacific Lutheran University. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Proficiency can be demonstrated by the official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). See below for the minimum requirements for each graduate program.

English Proficiency Requirements

Minimum TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo requirements are as follows:

Detailed School of Nursing Requirements

The English proficiency requirement can also be met if applicants have completed one of the following:

  1. A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution in the United States.
  2. A baccalaureate degree or higher from a recognized college or university in an English-speaking country or region, including United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Malta, Monserrat, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Turks & Caicos Islands, Vanuatu.
  3. Secondary school diploma  from an institution in countries where English is the general medium of instruction as listed above.
  4. A recognized Intensive English Program (IEP) in the United States and received an English proficiency level equivalent to the required minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores of the applied program.

Other waiver conditions may be allowed subject to the determination of individual graduate program.

Note: International students who do not meet the English language proficiency requirements are encouraged to join the University community through the International Pathways Program (IPP).

I-20 Processing

An I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) will be issued only after the student has been admitted and paid the non-refundable $300.00 advance tuition payment and has returned all required acceptance forms.

The I-20 form should be taken to the U.S. Consulate when requesting a visa to come to the United States for a graduate program. The following items are not required for the application to be considered for admission, but are required prior to issuance of an I-20.

To expedite admission processing, applicants should consider submitting the following with application documents:

  • Copy of passport picture page
  • Address and associated phone number to which to send the I-20 via courier service
  • Declaration of Financial Support Forms, including proof of financial support dated within 12 months. English translation is required if the documents are not issued in English. Certification of finances from banks or embassies is permissible.

Declaration of Financial Support Forms