International Graduate Admission

Begin your profile registration and tell us some basic information. Then proceed to complete each tab within the application form. After creating an application login, you may check your status anytime.

Your reflective essay should summarize:

• Why you are interested in studying in the United States
• Why you are applying to Valparaiso University
• Your interest in the degree program
• How this program impacts your professional development

Applicants to our Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A. program must submit a 4-6 page, double-spaced, essay describing their (1) academic background; (2) potential success in forming effective interpersonal relationships in individual and small-group contexts; (3) aptitude for graduate-level study; (4) career goals and objectives and their relevance to the program; and (5) openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development.

Request two professional or academic recommendation letters to be submitted through our online recommendation form (application login required).

Welcome! If you’ve completed your education outside the United States, please follow the steps below to ensure your transcripts and academic records are properly submitted and evaluated.

Step 1: Upload Documents for Admission Review

Before your application can be evaluated, please upload the following:

• Official transcripts, individual mark sheets, or an electronic transcript issued by your institution’s registrar
• If your degree is complete, include your original degree certificate or provisional certificate

English Translation Requirement:
All documents must be in English. If your institution does not issue transcripts in English, you must provide a certified English translation.

Once submitted, the Graduate Admission Office will begin evaluating your materials.

Step 2: Submit Official Records After Arrival

After arriving on campus, you must submit official academic records directly from your institution. These can be sent:

• Electronically from your institution’s registrar, or
• In a sealed envelope mailed to the Graduate Admission Office

Step 3: Meet the 30-Day Deadline

All official records must be received within 30 days of the first day of classes.

Important:
If your documents are not received by the deadline, a hold will be placed on your student account. This will prevent you from registering for the next semester until your records are submitted.

We recommend requesting your official documents as early as possible to avoid delays.

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Email: 
Phone: 219-464-5313

Valparaiso University requires all international applicants to demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants may meet this requirement through the methods outlined below.

English Proficiency Exams

Applicants must submit an official score report from one of the following exams. Test scores are considered valid for two years from the testing date.

English Proficiency Exemptions

Applicants may be exempt from submitting English-proficiency test scores if they meet one of the criteria below.

• Degree from an English-Speaking Country  
  Applicants who completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in: United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Belize, Australia 

• Three Years of Study in English
  Applicants who completed 3 or more years of full-time study at a school or university where English is the primary language of instruction. Documentation must be provided to confirm English-medium instruction.

• U.S. High School Graduates
  Applicants  who completed 2 or more years at a U.S. based high school and earned a diploma.

• U.S. College English Coursework 
  Completion of College Composition I and II (or equivalent) at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Citizens or Graduates of English-Speaking Countries
  Applicants from the following countries are exempt: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand; Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago; Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

English Proficiency Waiver Options

Applicants whose previous education was completed in English may be eligible for a waiver of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test requirement.

The Office of Graduate Admission may accept:

• A Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter
• Institutional confirmation of English proficiency.
• CEFR-based documentation (such as B2 or higher)
• Other official documentation demonstrating English proficiency

Documentation Requirements

All documentation must:

• Be issued by the institution attended
• Include the student’s name, 
• Include the program of study, and 
• Include official institutional information (letterhead, stamp, seal, school official signature)

Review Process

English proficiency waivers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additional documentation may be requested if needed.sued.

Valparaiso University is required by the United States Department of Homeland Security to determine that international applicants have sufficient financial resources to cover their expenses while in the USA. All international applicants must complete:

1. The financial support form (found on this page under the New Students tab OR a letter of sponsorship from the person(s) assuming responsibility for all of applicant’s fees.

2. A sponsor’s original or official bank statement of sufficient funds or official scholarship notification letter from a governmental or private sponsoring agency (some restrictions apply).

These documents can be turned in before an admission decision is made but it’s not mandatory. It is mandatory that the Office of International Programs receive Proof of Financial Support before they create the I-20. If the document’s original creation date exceeds 12 months, they are not valid.

Important: US immigration regulations require that students provide evidence of financial resources to be used to cover all expenses during the student’s proposed course of study. Please submit documentation of liquid funds for the first year of study. An I-20 or DS-2019 will not be issued without complete and official financial documentation.

For MSPA and OTD programs, please contact international@.valpo.edu for more details.
Fees are subject to change and will be adjusted annually.
*Living expenses are tentative and can fluctuate due to the cost of: housing, health insurance, food, books/supplies, and personal expenses.
**Students participating in year-round (12-month) programs will need to allow additional costs. Please contact your department for details.
***Additional fees may apply based on your individual program, please contact your department for details.

Provide a scanned copy of both sides that is legible and clearly shows your picture.

International applicants must submit ALL application materials before each date in order to receive consideration for the corresponding entry term. If the application materials are not submitted before the deadline date, the application will automatically get deferred to the next available semester intake.

Please note: The only graduate programs that offer a Summer intake for international students are Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Public Health.

Fall Semester Deadline – May 1

*Instruction for the Fall Semester begins in August. Please click here for the exact date. 

Spring Semester Deadline – October 1

*Instruction for the Spring Semester begins in January. Please click here for the exact date.

• Housing Information

• New Graduate Student Orientation

• Academic Support Systems