International Students

Click below to quickly navigate the information on this page:

• New Freshman Students
• Transfer Students
• English Proficiency Requirements
• Financial Abilities
• Instructions for Admitted International Students

To be considered for admission as an international applicant, you will need to demonstrate

• Strong academic qualification
• Evidence of competencies in English
• Proof of financial support
• Willingness to adhere to the Honor Code and the Dress and Grooming Standards

Official University Visa Policy:

The university does not participate in visa changes unless the candidate is returning to the home country. Applicants entering the United States on a "B" visa are not eligible to attend Brigham Young University. Students should not attempt to enter the United States to attend BYU as a full-time student without presenting an I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility) and a valid passport.

The information listed below is provided to assist you in determining whether you are competitive for admission. Admission requirements are subject to change at any given time. Applicants are not admitted on a trial or probationary basis.

New Freshman Students (without ANY post-secondary work—international or U.S.)

An entering freshman student must send secondary school marks and final diploma. BYU does not grant admission until the final official completion document is received. Admission decisions will not be made on predicted scores.

The following guidelines, listed by geographical area, describe minimum academic qualifications for applicants who have never attended a college or university internationally or in the U.S. Higher academic credentials will increase the chances for admission.

Students who have attended any college or university, either internationally or in the U.S., must apply as a transfer student. Declaring international work done previously will not affect your chances of being admitted or your choice of majors. You are required to submit a complete educational history for the committee to review.

All academic documents must be official. They may not be faxed. An official English translation of the documents is also required in the same format as the original document.

Note: University credit will not be granted for classes taken at the secondary school level.

Albania: Submit the Dëftesë Pjekurie (Certificate of Maturity) and earn average marks of at least 8.25.

Argentina: Submit the bachillerato transcript and earn an average score of at least 8.00 on the two years of the bachillerato program and the previous year.

Armenia: Submit the Diplom from a koledg (old system) or the Mijnakarg Yndhanur Krtoutian Attestat (new system). Marks should average at least 4.4.

Australia: Submit a certificate of education showing completion of 12 years of education and submit a Tertiary Entrance Rank Score (Northern Territory, South Australia, West Australia, and Tasmania) or a University Admissions Index (Australian Capitol Territory and New South Wales) or the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (Victoria) or an Overall Position (Queensland).

Austria: Complete 12 or 13 years of education and submit the Matura with an average of at least 2. No transfer credit is given for the Matura.

Azerbaijan: Submit the Certificate of General Education or Certificate of Complete Secondary Education (Attestat).

Bahamas: Submit a General Certificate of Education showing 2 advanced levels in solid academic subjects. "A" levels must be passed at a C grade or higher. Transfer credit is possible for some "A" levels.

Bangladesh: Submit the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Intermediate Examination Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and any other exam certificate awarded by the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education. Also submit the Mark Sheet/Result Card issued by the same Boards. Score in the Second Division with at least a 55% average on both the SSC and HSC.

Belarus: Submit the Attestat o srednem (polnom) obshchem obrazovanii or Attestat ab agul’naj sjarednjaj adukatsyi from a General Education School, Gymnasium, or Lycée after 11 yrs of education and have marks that avg. at least 4.4.

Belgium: Submit the Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs (Secondary Education Diploma)/Abschlußzeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts with at least three years of grades from secondary school. Achieve at least an average of 15 out of 20 (75%) or Avec distinction/Met onderscheiding (with distinction).

Botswana: Submit the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE). Must have a C+/B- (or 2.5) on the Botswanan scale.

Bolivia: Submit the Bachiller en Humanidades and earn an average score of at least 5.75.

Brazil: Submit the Diploma de Ensino de Medio Grau or Segundo Grau with an average score of at least 8.33.

Bulgaria: Submit the Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie and earn at least a 5.4 average.

Cambodia: Complete a 12-year secondary program and submit the Upper Secondary School Exam showing at least a B+ average (4.4).

Cameroon: Submit the Baccalaureat de l'Ensignement Secondaire with a 13 average or submit the Certificate of Education Advanced Level in two subjects with a C grade or higher.

Canada: Students should have strong academic (non-vocational) focus with above average marks. ACT or SAT is required. Students are required to submit grades 9–12. (Most provinces do not officially release grade 9 –refer to High School or Middle School where grade 9 was taken for grade report.) Transfer credits are not accepted from SAIT, NAIT, or other vocational based community colleges or institutes of technology. Quebec students must complete at least one year of the CEGEP program; those who have completed both years will receive transfer credit for the second year only. British Columbia students must submit their Permanent School Record.

Caribbean: Submit the Caribbean Examinations Council's Secondary Education Certificate showing at least a 1.8 average in core subjects.

Chile: Submit the Licencia de Educacion Media and earn an average score of at least 5.5.

China, People's Republic of: Submit a Graduation Certificate (transcript) from a senior upper middle school with average marks of B+ or higher and submit the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) with a score of at least 550. No other certificates of achievement are required.

Colombia: Submit the bachiller transcript and earn an average score of at least 7.25 from the two years of the bachiller program and the previous year (noveno grado).

Costa Rica: Submit the Diploma de Conclusion de Estudios de Educación Diversificada. Grades should average at least 85%, and courses should be strong academic subjects.

Côte d'Ivoire: Submit the Baccalauréat with at least an overall mark of 13 (mention of Assez Bien).

Czech Republic: Submit the Maturitní Vysvedcení with a 2 minimum.

Denmark: Submit the Studentereksamen with average marks of 9 or higher.

Dominican Republic: Submit the Bachillerato en Cincias y Letras with minimum average of 86–89%, depending on grading scale.

Ecuador: Submit the Título de Bachiller. Grades should be well above average in strong academic subjects. Student must submit individual transcripts for each of the last three years of grades on official transcripts from the Ministerio de Educación de Ecuador (showing primer, segundo, y tercer cursos del ciclo diversificado).

El Salvador: Submit the Bachiller in an academic field with an average of at least 8 of 10. Also submit grades from the year before the Bachiller (Noveno grado).

England, and other British patterned systems: Students must submit a full record of work done at the GCSE level and earn a General Certificate of Education showing two Advanced levels in solid academic subjects, e.g. math, science, history. "A" levels must be passed at a C grade or higher. Transfer credit is possible for some of the "A" levels.

Estonia: A Gümnaasiumi Lõputunnistus is required with at least a 4.4 average.

Ethiopia: Submit the Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Examination with a B+ average.

Fiji: Submit the Fiji Seventh Form Examination & achieve an aggregate score of 260 or higher on the top four scores, English being one. Must score a minimum of 55 in each subject. Credit can be given for the Seventh Form.

Finland: Submit the Ylioppilastutkintotodistus/Studentexamensbetyg with an average of at least 5.

France, and other French patterned systems: Submit the Baccalaureate with a minimum mention of Assez Bien with a 12 or 13 avg, depending on the country.

Georgia: Submit the Certificate of Completion, General Secondary Education with at least a 4.4 average.

Germany: Submit the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife from a Gymnasium with a Durschittsnote between 1 and 2.5 on the Abitur examination. Transfer credit is possible for some of the Abitur exam subjects.

Ghana: Submit the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination results with at least three C’s and 3 B’s on the three core and three best elective subjects.

Greece: Submit a Certificate of Completion awarded by a lyceum with an average of at least 17.

Guatemala: Submit the Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras transcript. Grades should average at least 75% or 85% in strong academic subjects from the two years of the bachiller program and the previous year (noveno grado). The minimum average required depends on the grading scale used.

Haiti: Submit the Baccalaureat (Reform system) or the Baccalaureat I and II (Certificat de fin d'Etudes Secondaires Classiques, Premiere/Deuxieme Partie - traditional system). Submit government-issued transcripts and government-issued graduation certificates for both parts with an average minimum score of 65. The required average for all post-secondary work is at least 75.

Honduras: Submit the Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras transcript with at least an average of 85 from the two years of the bachiller program (ciclo diversificado) and the previous year (noveno grado).

Hong Kong: Students must submit a record of work done at the HKCEE level and complete the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) with high marks. Transfer credit is possible for the "A" levels in solid academic subjects passed at C grade or higher. Additional certificates of achievements are not required.

Hungary: Submit the Gimnáziumi Érettségi Bizonyítvány earning an average of a least 4.4.

Iceland: Graduate from an upper-secondary school (Fjölbrautaskolar or Menntaskolar) and submit the Studentsprof certificate with at least an average of 6.0. Transfer credit may be granted for the certificate.

India: Submit the All India Senior Secondary School Examination Certificate awarded by the State or Central Board of Higher Secondary Education at the end of Standard XII. Marks should be in Division I. Additional certificates of acheivement, character references, or letters of recommendation are not required.

Indonesia: Submit the Surat Tanda Tamat Belajar Sekolah Menegah Umum certificate with an average mark of at least 8.

International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma: Must achieve an aggregate score of 25 on final test scores.

Iran: Submit the Diplom-Metevaseth along with results from the National Entrance Examination (the Emtehan-Voroodi-Sartasari). Scores in the 14 to 15 range out of 20 are required.

Ireland: Submit Leaving Certificate with two to four Higher level subjects with a B/C average (or 70%).

Israel: Submit the Teudat Bagrut (Matriculation Certificate) with marks averaging at least 8.

Italy: Submit the diploma issued by the Ministry of Education, University and Research. This diploma must show a score of at least 80/100 on the state exam (maturità) in classical, scientific, or linguistic secondary education. No other transcript from secondary school is required, and no advance credit is given for the state exam.

Japan: Submit the Diploma of Graduation from an upper-secondary school with an overall average of at least 4.4. Students must complete all 3 years before an application can be considered.

Jordan: Submit the General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) with an average score of at least 75%. Or submit at least 2 A-level results on official certificates from the British GCE program with a C grade or higher.

Kazakhstan: Submit the Atestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Cert. of Complete Secondary Education) with marks that average at least 4.4 of 5 to be admissible.

Kenya: Submit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with marks that average at least B+.

Kiribati: See South Pacific.

Latvia: Submit Certificate of General Secondary Education after 12 years of education with at least 8 average.

Lithuania: Submit the Brandos Atestatas after completing secondary school with at least an 8 average.

Malaysia: Submit Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM). No credit is gained from the STPM.

Mali: Malian Baccalaureat with a minimum mention of Assez Bien.

Mexico: Submit the bachillerato transcript and earn an average of 8.50 or above in the three years of preparatoria (secundaria transcripts and grades are not accepted).

Middle East: Complete 12 years of education and earn the General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi). Grades should be well above average with a strong emphasis in academic subjects.

Mongolia: Submit the Secondary School Leaving Certificate from the Ministry of Science and Education with marks averaging at least 4.4. Student will need to complete 1 year of university work if secondary school is not 11 years.

Morocco: Submit the Baccalauréat de l'Enseignement Secondaire and copies of mark sheets for the last three years of secondary school with a minimum average of 13.

Mozambique: Submit the Certificado de Habilitações (the Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with an average of 13.

Nauru: See South Pacific.

Nepal: Submit the School Leaving Certificate Examination (SLCE) after 10 years and the Higher Secondary Education Board Examination after 12 years. Need an overall average of 70% (first division) or higher on each exam.

Netherlands: Submit the VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) transcript with a grade average of at least 7 out of 10. Postsecondary scale is the same. The HAVO Diploma (Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs) is insufficient for admission.

New Zealand: Submit transcripts for Level 3 NCEA achievement. Provisional Award of Level 3 is also acceptable. Proof of the University Bursary Examination scores with either the "A" or "B" Bursary is also satisfactory. Must gain a grade of C or better in three subjects on this examination. Transfer credit is not granted for this work.

Nicaragua: Submit the Diploma de Conclusión de Ciclo Diversificado del Bachillerato en Ciencias, Letras, y Filosofia (Diploma of Conclusion of the Diversified Cycle of the Baccalaureate in Science, Letters, and Philosophy) with at least an average of 85.

Nigeria: Submit the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination with an average mark of 3.75.

Northern Mariana Islands: See U.S. academic requirements.

Norway: Submit the Vitnemål with a minimum of 4.

Pakistan: See India. Additional certificates of achievement, character references, or letters of recommendation are not required.

Panamá: Must submit the Bachiller in Ciencias or Letras certificate after three years of secondary education with at least an average of 4.4.

Papua New Guinea;: Submit the Higher School Certificate with at least a B+ average.

Paraguay: Submit the Bachiller after 3 years of diversified cycle of upper secondary education with an overall average of at least 4.4.

Peru: Submit the Certificado Oficial de Estudios de Educación Secundaria or bachiller, and earn at least a 14 average on the last three years of grades. The Certificado Oficial de Estudios is printed by the Ministerio de Educación.

Philippines: Complete 11 years of education. Overall marks should average at least 1.75. If 10 years of education are completed, must submit official post-secondary transcript showing at least two semesters of full-time college or university credits. It is not possible to transfer credits for the first two semesters of college or university if secondary education was completed after 10 years.

Poland: Submit the Świadectwo Dojrzałości with at least a 4.5 average.

Portugal: Submit the Certificado de Fim de Estudos Secundarias transcript with an average of at least 15.

Quebec: Must complete at least one year of the C.E.G.E.P. program. If entire program is completed after 13 years of total education, transfer credit may be possible. The TOEFL is required.

Romania: Submit the Diploma de Bacalaureat and earn at least a 7.25 on the Situatia la Bacalaureat.

Russia: Submit the ATTESTAT showing completion of Secondary General Education with average marks of 4.4.

Samoa: See South Pacific.

Scotland: Submit proof of completion of SCE-Standard Grades in five subjects with a minimum average of 3 and proof of completion of five Highers with a B/C average.

Serbia: Submit the Diploma o Završenoj Srednjoj Školi or Uverenje/Diploma o Završenoj Srednjoj Školi from a 4-yr. grammar school program (after 12 total years of education) with an average of at least 4.4 of 5.

Singapore: Complete two Advanced level examinations in solid academic subjects at a C grade or higher. Transfer credit is possible for "A" levels in solid academic subjects passed at a C grade or higher. Additional certificates of achievement are not required.

Slovakia: Submit Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej Skúške (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with high school transcript with minimum average of 3.4 or higher.

Solomon Islands: See South Pacific.

South Africa: Submit the Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement. Five different passes are required (three in higher grades and two or more in standard grades). Grades should be at least 60 percent or higher.

South Korea: Submit the Senior High School Diploma with marks of B+ (3.4 GPA out of 4.0) or higher. A Student must complete all 3 years before an application can be considered.

South Pacific: (Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu): Submit the South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC) scores issued by the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment and achieve an aggregate score of 290 or higher. Transfer credits can be given for the SPFSC. If the SPFSC has not been completed, students must submit a transcript from a completed university preparatory or preliminary year, the one-year Foundation Program at the University of the South Pacific, or one year of studies at another college or university from which BYU accepts transfer credits.

Spain: Submit the bachillerato transcript and earn marks that average at least 7.00 from the two years of the bachillerato program and the previous year (décimo grado).

Sri Lanka: Must submit A-level examination scores.

Swaziland: Submit the School Certificate with at least an average grade of 4.

Sweden: Submit the Slutbetyg Från Gymnasieskola from an upper secondary school (gymnasium) with scores averaging in the Väl Godkänd (VG) range.

Switzerland: Submit the Federal Maturity Certificate with high marks.

Taiwan: Submit the Senior High School Leaving Certificate. Grades should average at least 3.4 GPA. Students must complete all 3 years of secondary school or all 5 years of the combined junior college program before application can be considered. Additional certificates of achievement are not required.

Tanzania: Submit both the Certificate of Secondary Education Exam (CSEE) and the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education. Students must achieve a minimum of a C average on the CSEE in the best seven subjects. On the Advanced Certificate, students must have three principal level passes at a C average or higher.

Thailand: Complete 12 years and receive the Matayom VI certificate with an average of 3.4.

Tokelau: See South Pacific.

Tonga: Submit exam results on the Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate (PSSC) or the South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC). Students must achieve an average of 3 on the PSSC or a B+ average on the SPFSC. College credit can be given for the SPFSC exam.

Tuvalu: See South Pacific.

Uganda: Completion of at least five passes on the Uganda Certificate of Education at the “O” level and two passes at the “A” level on the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.

Ukraine: Submit the Certificate of Completed Secondary Education with Matriculation Examination. Grades should average at least 4.25 on a 2-5 scale or a 9 on a 1-12 scale.

Uruguay: Submit the Bachillarato Diversificado de Ensenanza Secundaria with a minimum 9 average.

Vanuatu: See South Pacific.

Venezuela: Submit the bachiller transcript with average marks of at least 14 from the two years of the bachiller program (ciclo diversificado) and the previous year (noveno grado de educación secundaria).

Vietnam: Submit the Ban Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc after 12 years of education with at least 7.5 average marks. Additional certificates of achievement are not required.

Zambia: Zambian School Certificate required. An average score of 3 is required.

Zimbabwe: Submit two A Level exams at a C grade or higher.

Note: For the TOEFL paper exam, a minimum score of 550 is required. See the New English Proficiency Requirements below.

If your country is not listed here, please e-mail intladm@byu.edu.

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Transfer Students

A transfer student must send grades or marks of all previous university and college work done either internationally or in the U.S. If the applicant has fewer than one year's work at a university, secondary school marks will also be needed. All academic documents must be official. They may not be faxed. An official English translation of the documents is also required in the same format as the original documents.

All international credits and grades for transfer students will be posted to a student's BYU record. Upon admission all hours and grades will be converted to their U.S. equivalent.

Note: Transfer students who have completed three years or more of college or university work are not competitive for admission. In addition, students who have already received a baccalaureate degree or higher from any institution, including BYU, are not eligible for admissions consideration to pursue another baccalaureate degree or major.

Click here for transfer student guidelines.

Click here for instructions on requesting international transfer evaluation.

English Proficiency Requirements

Non-native English speakers, including United States citizens and permanent residents, are required to submit official scores for either the TOEFL iBT or for the IELTS.

TOEFL

The TOELF iBT is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based test (iBT). Students who have no access to the iBT may take the paper-based TOEFL test.

The TOEFL exam is administered by the Educational Testing Service numerous times each year throughout the world. For more information about testing centers, click here to access the TOEFL Web site.

IELTS

The IELTS is the International English Language Testing System.

The IELTS is administered numerous times each year throughout the world. For more information about testing times and locations, click here.

English Language Help

BYU offers an intensive English language program to help students improve their English proficiency. Students in this program are not regular matriculated university students but do have access to university facilities. If you would like to receive information about this program, click here.

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Financial Ability

We are required by U.S. immigration law to verify every international student's ability to finance the length of time necessary to pursue an education in the United States. Evidence of financial ability, exclusive of travel expenses, may be furnished in one (or a combination) of the following ways:

• Proof of personal funds
• A contract of support from a parent or sponsor and proof of funds (i.e. bank statement)
• Government/Scholarship Funds, etc.

Instructions for Admitted International Students

Registration and Completion Requirements: All international students in attendance must register for and complete at least 12 hours of daytime credit per semester or 6 hours per term.

All international students must report to International Services at 1351 WSC, PO Box 25520, Provo, UT, 84602 or (801) 422-2695 within one week after arrival on campus.

For further inquiries, you may contact the International Admissions Office at intladm@byu.edu, or call (801) 422-7535.

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