International Graduate Admissions

Your path to an array of academic and professional opportunities.

  1. Admissions & Aid
  2. International Admissions
  3. International Graduate
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Pursue Your Master's or Doctorate in Our Top-Ranked Programs

For a seamless application experience, we've laid out basic requirements for admission, clear steps to help you navigate the admissions process, and key dates and deadlines to ensure your application stays on course.

See Your Admissions Requirements

We will assume responsibility for an evaluation of required academic records for applications for completed coursework outside of the United States. The evaluation is not an English translation of the academic records, but a separate document determining if the degree received outside the U.S. is equivalent to a U.S. degree, and a GPA is calculated.  

An official original set of transcripts, degree certificates and/or graduation certificates must be submitted to Seattle University upon admission. Documents are considered official only when they arrive in the original envelope from the issuing institution or sent electronically via a secured institution to institution system. 

Mailing Address for Transcripts & Materials 

Seattle University
Office of Graduate Admission
901 12th Avenue 
P.O. Box 222000
Seattle, WA 98122-1090

Applicants seeking an F-1 student visa must also submit the International Student Declaration of Finances form.

Applicants for whom English is a non-native language must demonstrate English proficiency regardless of English language studies, academic history, residence in the United States or an English-speaking country or immigration status. English proficiency may be met with the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo Score.

Graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants who received a baccalaureate degree or higher from Seattle University or a recognized college or university in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Bahamas, Jamaica, Kenya, Singapore, Belize, Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago will not be required to submit English proficiency test scores. Students earning a degree in a country other than those listed above may provide official documentation from the degree-granting institution verifying that all instruction was in English. A minimum of three years of enrollment at the university is required.

Seattle University maintains the right to require English proficiency testing when deemed necessary.

The chart below outlines the English proficiency requirements for general admission as well as admission to the English Culture and Language Bridge program. For more information on what the TOEFL consists of and a list of official testing centers visit the ETS website. Both score requirements are listed below.

Exam Description Graduate, General Admission Graduate, ELCB Program
TOEFL (Internet) SU Code: 4695 86 68-85
IELTS   6.5 6
Pearson Test of English   58 48-57
Duolingo   120 105-115

Some graduate programs are not able to accommodate ELCB students in the curriculum as designed, so admitted students would need to complete ELCB prior to starting their graduate studies.

Alternative method to meeting the English proficiency requirement:

English Language and Culture Bridge Program

The courses offered in the English Language and Culture Bridge are highly advanced, with a specific focus on university-level reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. In addition, the course work concentrates on the American academic culture and the specific preparation for requirements at Seattle University. For more information, call 1-206-296-6064 or consult the English Language Learning Center website.

Students with English proficiency scores in the ELCB range will take a placement essay test upon arrival at Seattle University. Some students may have their ELCB requirement waived based upon the results of the placement essay test.

Application Process for Your Master’s Degree or Doctorate Degree

Begin Application

We use an online application during our admissions process. Some graduate programs may require essays, resumes and recommendations as part of the online application—others may not.

Please consult your program page for more information on what to prepare for your online application. Find your program.

Create your account and start your online application:

Application Guide

Learn how to apply to graduate programs at Seattle University through this guide.

See Graduate Application Guide

See Application Checklist

Explore what you need to include in your graduate application.

Please note that applicants to the Seattle University School of Law have a different set of admissions requirements. Please see Law School Admissions for more details.

The following should be sent directly to Graduate Admissions:

  • Completed application for Graduate Admission: Apply Now.
  • Transcripts: Official or unofficial copies of transcripts, degree certificates and exam score reports for every school attended as well as any post-baccalaureate credits. You may upload the unofficial transcript(s) for your institution(s) within the Academic History tab of the application. You may also upload the transcript(s) following the submission of your application via your Status Page. Upon an offer of admission, you will be required to submit official copies of provisional documents within your first quarter of enrollment. Exceptions to the policy are noted with the degree requirements.
  • Test Scores: Students who have earned degrees from institutions issuing non-graded transcripts or a three-year degree must submit official results from GRE (Code 4695) or GMAT (Code 5613). An admission test is optional for all other programs so the applicant determines if test scores will strengthen the competitiveness of their application. Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. Some programs will require that specific documents be sent directly to the department.
  • Program-Specific Requirements: All other documents required by your program of interest. Please consult the program page for your program of interest for more specific application requirements.
  • A dated International Student Declaration of Finances signed by your sponsor and verified by the bank of deposit.
  • Proof of English proficiency

Students with government sponsorship should submit embassy letters confirming the sponsorship.

Mailing Address

Unless otherwise noted by the program you’re applying to, all application materials not submitted through the online application should be sent to the following address:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Seattle University
901 12th Avenue
P.O. Box 222000
Seattle, WA 98122-1090
grad-application@seattleu.edu

Admissions Deadlines

All application materials should be received by specific program application priority deadlines to receive full consideration. Late applicants will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Priority Deadlines

Submit Application

When your online application is complete, you can officially apply to Seattle University! You may submit the application before documents from outside sources are submitted, for example, recommendations, official exam scores, official transcripts etc.

See Where Your Application is in the Review Process

Congratulations! You’ve applied to Seattle University, and we are carefully reviewing your application. You can check your application status by logging into the student application portal.

We consider your application complete and ready for review when we receive all required documents.

We’ll reach out if we need more information.

Find Your Application Deadlines 

In order to allow for application processing, overseas mailings and visa processing, international applicants living overseas should submit an application six months prior to the quarter they wish to enroll or the program deadline, whichever is earlier.

While you may submit applications after the deadlines, those who submit complete applications by the following dates will receive priority consideration.

If applications are submitted with insufficient time for processing and enrollment for the requested term, you may be asked to update your application to a later term.

  • Fall Quarter (September): April 1
  • Winter Quarter (January): September 1
  • Spring Quarter (March): February 1
  • Summer Quarter (June): February 15

Seattle University STEM-Approved Programs

Seattle University offers several programs approved by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that fall within the definition of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). 

If you are an F-1 nonimmigrant student who has completed 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training, receiving a degree in a DHS-approved STEM program means you are eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. To learn more, please speak to a Seattle University international admissions counselor.  

Graduate STEM-Approved Programs: 

19%

OF SU GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE INTERNATIONAL

Join a community of graduate students who share the international student experience.

99%

OF GRADUATE STUDENTS FIND OPT EMPLOYMENT

Meet the requirements for Optional Practical Training employment with ease.

Get in Touch

We’re here to help.

International Graduate Admissions
Phone: 1-206-220-8010
Toll-free: 1-800-426-7123
Email: grad-international@seattleu.edu