International Student Resources

I-20 Form Information

• International students may not enter the United States for graduate study without a U.S. Immigration (I-20) form. The International Program Office will issue this form after the student is approved for admission by the Dean of the Graduate School. International students are urged to remain in their own countries until they receive notice of acceptance. 
• Online programs: Please note, international students enrolled in online graduate programs are not eligible to receive an I-20 for a student Visa. International students admitted to an online program must complete the program from their home country. Students are encouraged to contact the program directly to confirm whether an in-person option is available.

Financial Requirement Information

• As a step toward obtaining a U.S. Visa, international students must submit a financial statement to the Graduate School verifying that they will be able to support themselves financially for a minimum of one year while attending Idaho State University. 
• This document must consist of a statement or letter from a bank indicating that funds are available and accessible. The amount of money available to the student must be listed on the financial statement. 
• A graduate assistantship or fellowship awarded by a department or college/division may be used as part of this amount.
• A signed Declaration of Financial Support Form from any sponsor providing financial support covering your first-year tuition and living expenses. 
  • Applicants being sponsored by their government, embassy, or educational agency need only submit a financial guarantee OR letter of sponsorship from their relevant authority.
• For any more questions or concerns please reach out to the International Programs Office at ipomail@isu.edu

Graduate School Application

• Application for admissions is available online at isu.edu/apply
• Before applying applicants should review the list of graduate programs to check application deadlines, admission requirements, and start term dates. 
  • Applicants may contact the Graduate School Office for inquiries regarding the application process. 
  • Applicants may contact their program of interest directly for inquiries regarding the specific program.
  • International students who are applying to an online program are not eligible to receive an I-20 for a student Visa.

Upload Transcripts and Test Scores

• Applicants must list all previous colleges, universities, or post-secondary education experiences on the application for admission, beginning with the most recent. This includes institutions from which you have received or expect to receive credits or a degree. You can use the "Search for College or University" button on the application portal to find and enter each school.
• If you want to upload your transcripts, the Graduate School will review these for admission. Uploaded transcripts will be considered "UNOFFICIAL." Unofficial transcripts must contain the institution name, student's name, grades (course credits) if a degree was awarded, and conferred date. If your transcript is security-enabled, please request to send your official transcripts to gradadmissions@isu.edu. If admitted, you must submit OFFICIAL transcripts before attending or registering for classes.
• Transcripts must be sent in English
  • 3rd Party translators are required for these to be accepted. Follow this link to an NACES member that translates transcripts.
  • Transcripts must be sent to a credential evaluation service. These services generate a report used by the registrar's office to evaluate the credit and grade associated with it. Below are the agencies that Idaho State University uses.
    • IEE 
    • WES 
    • ECE
    • View full list of NACES Members
• GRE/GMAT/MAT may be required for degree-seeking applicants at the department's discretion.
• International students who have not graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States and whose native language is not English typically must submit official test scores from one of the following exams: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.

Upload Supplemental Items

• Some programs require additional materials (e.g., letters of recommendation, program-specific application fees, etc.); please contact the specific department and review individual departmental sections of the catalog for additional requirements.

Pay the Application Fee

• Applicants must include a non-refundable processing fee of $65 for master's and doctoral applications, $35 for certificates with each application form. Please note that specific degree programs may have an additional application fee.

Check Application Status

• Materials Needed 

• • Applicants are encouraged to monitor their application status to confirm they have uploaded all their transcripts from each institution where they have earned college credit and test scores, including GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc. (if required).

• Letters of Recommendation

• • Applicants may also need to monitor letters of recommendation. Recommenders will be asked to upload a letter through the submission portal link that they receive by email. If needed, applicants can log back in to send a reminder or update their recommenders.

• Graduate School Evaluation 

• • This status indicates that the student's application is complete and that the Graduate School has received all required application materials. Before forwarding the application to the department for review, the Graduate School must assess the applicant's GPA and academic transcripts. The application will be sent to the department for review following the Graduate School Evaluation.

• Ready for Review 

• • This status indicates that the program and department are reviewing the application. Applicants are encouraged to contact the program directly for any updates regarding their application status during this phase. 

• Decision Rendered 

• • Applicants will receive an email notification once a final decision is made about their admission. Applicants must log back into the portal to access their admission decision letter. If admitted, the applicant must submit their decision to either accept, decline or request a deferral.

• Check your status! 

Check Program Specific Requirements

• Visit the specific program’s requirements to see if they have any additional requirements outside of the Graduate School Requirements

• International applicants who have not graduated from an accredited institution in the United States (at the undergraduate and/or graduate level), and whose native language is not English, typically must achieve satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test.
• TOEFL: a total score of 80 with a score of at least 20 on each Section. Graduate teaching assistants who teach courses must score 23 or above on the Speaking Section. 
• IELTS: a total score of 6.5 or higher on the total band score. Graduate teaching assistants must score 6.5 or above on the speaking test component. 
• Duolingo: 110 or higher. Graduate teaching assistants must score 110 or above on the Conversation subscore. 
• Exceptions exist for students from countries where English is the official language. Examples of these countries include:
• Australia
• Canada
• Commonwealth Caribbean countries
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• The Republic of Ireland
• The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• New Zealand
• An international student may also meet the English language proficiency requirement by achieving a Level 112 from an ELS Language center, or satisfactory completion of the Intensive English Institute courses at Idaho State University 
• Graduate students may be exempted from the English Proficiency Conditions stated above if they have successfully completed ISU’s Intensive English Institute’s program of study with a grade of B- or better in each of the Advanced English II courses, receive a recommendation from an IEI instructor, and fulfill all other requirements from the department in question. Graduate teaching assistants whose native language is not English may also be required to submit a filmed presentation and a writing sample to the desired department for approval.

Application Deadline Dates

Summer Semester: February 15

Fall Semester: June 1

Spring Semester: October 1

April 15th Resolution

The Idaho State University Graduate School complies with the Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistantships, also known as the “April 15 Resolution.”

The April 15 resolution is an agreement among the signatory graduate schools to provide applicants until April 15 to consider offers of admission that also include financial support. Applicants are not obligated to respond to offers of financial support before April 15; earlier deadlines for accepting such offers violate this Resolution's intent.

Graduate School Admissions

Phone Number: 208-282-2150

Email: gradschool@isu.edu 

Address: Idaho State University 921 S. 8th Ave, Mail Stop 8075 Pocatello, ID 83209-8075

Meet the Graduate School Team 

International Programs Office

Phone Number: 208-282-4320

Email: ipomail@isu.edu

Address: International Programs Office 921 South 8th Avenue Stop 8038 Museum Building 12, Room 426 Pocatello, Idaho, USA 83209-8038

Application Fees and Waivers

• Degree-seeking: $65*
• *Some programs may require an additional application fee
• Certificates: $35
• Reduced Fee: If an applicant submits a second application within one year of their first application, the application fee will automatically be reduced to $35.
• Contact Department: Applicants may contact their program directly to inquire about other application fee waiver options.

Book Bundle

• You are automatically opted-in to the book bundle. You should have received an email regarding this. Here is a link to Frequently Asked Questions. 
• You have to opt-out, no matter what degree level you are working towards.
• If you did not receive an email, you are still opted in and should contact the bookstore at 208-282-4289 for help opting out and any other questions.

Housing and Utilities

• On-Campus Housing
• We encourage on-campus housing, particularly for your first year.  For details on ISU's on-campus housing options, go to the ISU Housing page. 
• While there is no designated graduate housing, graduate students are given priority at all ISU on-campus apartments.
• Off-Campus Housing
• There are many off-campus housing options around and close to the ISU campus, including student complexes and privately owned rental properties.  Download our Housing Resources List (PDF) for a list of apartments in the Pocatello area.  The following resources may also be helpful in finding off-campus units:
• ISU Off-Campus Housing Marketplace
• Off-campus Housing Guide
• BengalCreek
• Dwellsy
• ApartmentList.com
• ApartmentGuide.com
• Trulia.com
• Zumper.com
• Zillow.com
• hotpads.com

Are there additional requirements for international students?

• Yes
• International students transferring from a school within the United States must be in status with Immigration and Naturalization Services to be issued an I-20 form from Idaho State University.

Does ISU require an English Proficiency exam?

• International students who have not graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States and whose language is not English must achieve satisfactory scores on the: 
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 
• Scoring must be a total of score 80 with a score of 20 on each section on the TOEFL
• the International English Language Testing System test (IELTS), 
• Must be a 6.5 or better
• or the Duolingo English Test
• Must be a score of 110 or higher
• Graduate assistants who teach courses much score 110 or above on the conversation sub-score
• ISU's Intensive English Institute (IEI) provides English language instruction for international students who wish to study in a comprehensive, academically rigorous program. 
• All classes are taught by instructors with advanced degrees, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) credentials, and relevant experience.
• Exceptions exist for students from countries where English is the official language. Examples of these countries include:
• Australia
• Canada
• Commonwealth Caribbean countries
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• The Republic of Ireland
• The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• New Zealand
• Please reach out to the International Programs Office if specific Questions arise 

What is an I-20 form and how do I obtain one? 

• An I-20 form is an immigration form required for international students wishing to enter the United States for graduate study. To receive an I-20 form, please visit the International Programs Office Document Request page.

What financial assistance is available for international students?

• Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant positions may be available for qualifying international students. 
• ISU also awards a limited number of non-resident tuition waivers (NRTWs) to select students based on academic merit. 
• Your application to the Graduate School will be considered as your application for the NRTW. Graduate student NRTWs are non-renewable awards, so students must reapply each year.

Health Insurance Information

• While Idaho State University does not require you to have health insurance, we strongly encourage you to have it. U.S. medical costs are very high and can be financially devastating if you have a medical emergency.  Following are just a few insurance companies that provide insurance plans specifically for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars:
• ISO Insurance (for ISU students)
• Visit International Health Insurance
• Compass Student Insurance
• International Student Insurance
• BETiNS International Health and Travel Insurance
• For help please reach out to the International Programs Office