International Students
What does a complete application consist of?Entering Your Personal Information
GPA
Transferring to Rutgers
Credentials
Test Scores
Forms
Additional Information
What does a complete application consist of?
For most Rutgers graduate programs, a complete application consists of the following:
- Online application
- $65 non-refundable application fee
- One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Current test results, as required, TOEFL score
- Additional supporting materials, as required by the program
Consult the Index of Graduate Programs to review specific program requirements. Please note that decisions cannot be made on incomplete applications. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents are available for review by the program's stated deadline.
Entering Your Personal Information
Complete your application using the same biographical data as it appears on your passport.
Last Name/Family Name
First Name/Sur Name
Middle Name
Additional Other Name
(any other name that may appear on your supporting materials).
Date of Birth in the format of month/day/year.
You are required to provide a copy of your passport and of all dependents that will accompany you to Rutgers.
Most international applicants will not have a GPA that is based on a 4-point scale. If this is the case, please enter 0.00 on the electronic application. GPA information is used for statistical purposes and your transcripts will clarify your academic achievement.
Your electronic application must be complete in order to be reviewed by the committee including your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and GRE test scores, if required, along with TOEFL scores by the program's deadline. Refer to the Index of Programs for the applicable deadlines for each program. International applicants currently studying in U.S. school will need a Foreign Student Advisers Form, as well as a current financial documentation form (see below).
TOEFL or IELTS
Rutgers New Brunswick School Code 2790
TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose undergraduate education was completed in a non-English speaking country. Even if you hold a master's-level degree from a U.S. or other english-speaking country you must still take the TOEFL or IELTS test. Scores must be current within 2 years of the applied semester.
The only exemptions are for U.S. trained undergraduates and international applicants coming from English-speaking countries with a minimum of 3 years undergraduate education where the mode of instruction was English.
Applications missing required scores may not be reviewed by the admissions committee.
The minimum Paper based TOEFL score is 550.
The minimum Computer based TOEFL score is 213
The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows:
Writing 22
Speaking 23
Reading 21
Listening 17
The acceptable IELTS score is bandwidth 7.
Individual programs may have higher requirements for language intensive areas such as History English Psychology and others.
What are the minimum GPA and GRE scores required for Rutgers?
There are no universitywide minimum GPA and GRE scores. There are many factors in determining admission, only one of which is scores. Some programs will value high verbal GRE scores more than high quantitative scores, and the reverse is also true. All GPA and score requirements vary by program and individual circumstances. Consult the inidividual program website or contact the program office for additional information.
Please note that GRE scores are valid for 3 to 5 years at the descretion of the department.
Forms for International Students
(Adobe Acrobat required)
Financial documentation is not usually required until admission is offered.* Because many programs offer international students funding and documents must be current, no older than 9 months prior to the term of admission, it is recommended that you wait until admission is offered to submit them.
* Exception: The Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick requires financial documentation before admissions is offered. Submit financial documentation with your application credentials.
Financial Statement - Certification of Funds
International applicants recommended for admission by academic programs must submit a completed Financial Documentation Form demonstrating financial resources before an official Certificate of Admission and Eligibility (I-20 and DS-2019) can be issued by the Graduate Admissions office.
If recommended for admission, first-year funds for educational and living expenses must be documented. Funding for subsequent years must be projected and their source(s) identified. Current funding amounts are listed on the Financial Documentation Form.
Tuition and fee amounts vary by school and are updated each July. Refer to our page on funding, tuition, and fees.
Certificates of Admission and Eligibility (I-20 and DS-2019) are provided after the financial documentation has been satisfied. Single students awarded assistantships and fellowships by Rutgers generally satisfy the financial certification requirements for admission.
If you are currently attending a school in the U.S. but wish to attend Rutgers, you must first apply and be admitted. The transferring of credits is completely at the discretion of the program. Decisions about credit transfer will take place after an offer of admission has been made. The program will want to verify that the course or courses in question are equal in quality to those that would have been taken at Rutgers.
Foreign Student Adviser's Report
A Foreign Student Adviser’s Report is required of international students recommended for admission who are presently attending a university in the United States and are transferring their SEVIS ID to Rutgers. This also pertains to international students on CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training).
Traveler's Advisory
Information for new international students and scholars.
NJ Residency
International students on H, F or J visas are not eligible for in state tuition rates. To be eligible for in state tuition you must be a Citizen of the United States or a permanent resident, (hold a green card), while residing in New Jersey for a minimum of 1 year.
DHS SEVIS Fee
In addition to Rutgers Administrative SEVIS fee, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) increased its SEVIS fee to $200 for F1 students and $180 for J1 students effective October 27, 2008. The fee is required by SEVIS regulations and is to be used to defray DHS’s costs in operating the program. Access additional SEVIS information and the I-901 fee payment form on the website.
Expenses
For students who will be registering for academic coursework, payment of tuition, fees, and (where applicable) housing and dining charges for that semester is due upon arrival. You should be prepared to bring a bank draft for approximately one-half of the amount required to support your first-year educational and living expenses. You should bring at least $1,000 for initial purchases (more if you plan to live off campus). It is advisable to use traveler’s checks or an ATM card compatible with U.S. cash machines; bank drafts take at least 14 days to clear for payment. It is also advisable to carry at least $125 in paper currency and two or three dollars in coins for telephones, baggage lockers, bus fares, and tips.
Students admitted with university financial assistance in the form of teaching and graduate assistantships should also arrive with sufficient personal funds to cover immediate expenses.
Can I register
online?
You may register online. You need your Rutgers identification number (RUID) and PAC code to register. By default, your PAC code is your month and day of birth in MMDD format.
Housing
Visit the websites for On-campus Graduate Housing and
Off-campus Housing Information.
Immunization
Complete information on immunization requirements is available on the Rutgers University Health Services website.
Nondegree
International students on F visas are not eligible for part time nondegree study.
