International students find the city of San Francisco a cosmopolitan and welcoming place to live and study. International students are an essential and valuable part of the richly diverse community at USF. Of the 9,600 students at the university, approximately 1,025 students are international students.
For application instructions unique to your graduate program, please read the "How to Apply" section on your individual program's website.
As an international applicant you need to submit the same items as a U.S. applicant, and these additional items:
- Certification of Finances form or Letter of Support from your sponsor(s). Click here to download the Certification of Finances form and instructions. Complete the appropriate sections of the Certification of Finances form, and sign it.
- Bank statement(s) that indicate funds for the total costs (or more) of your graduate program for the first year as detailed on the Certification of Finances. The Certification of Finances or Letter of Support, and bank statement(s), must be submitted before your application will be reviewed by your graduate program.
- Official TOEFL, IELTS or PTE English language exam scores that are less than two years old at the time of admission review. Please see more details below.
- Copy of Passport Photo/Information page.
- Official, sealed transcript (record) from your university in English translation and, if applicable, in original language. Also, please provide a copy of a diploma or diploma certificate that indicates a Bachelor's Degree was completed, unless the conferral date for your Bachelor's Degree is posted on your university record. Three-year Bachelor's Degrees are accepted for admission review.
- An international address must be provided on your application form.
If mailing application documents, please send to:
University of San Francisco
Office of Graduate Programs, Arts and Sciences
2130 Fulton Street, HR 240
San Francisco, CA 94117
USA
If emailing documents, send to asapplication@usfca.edu. (Documents MUST be in PDF format. Transcripts, TOEFL scores and Certification of Finances will not be accepted through email; these documents must be mailed).
- Certification of Finances form or Letter of Support – Please complete this form with your name and contact information. If you have a sponsor they need to complete and sign the "Parent's Funds or Sponsor's Funds" section. Or, they can submit a short Letter of Support where they indicate the following: your full name; their full name and signature in English characters; that they are willing to provide financial assistance for your first year of studies; and a copy of the supporting bank statement(s).
- Bank statements – Submit one or more bank statements that indicate enough financial funds for the total costs of the first year of studies in your graduate program. Please download the Certification of Finances form below for first-year costs (both tuition and living expenses). Bank statement(s) must show money being held in checking, savings, certificates of deposit, or money market accounts. Checking accounts, stock/investment accounts and lines of credit cannot be used. Scholarships provided by your government or other agencies can be used for the Certification of Finances (include scholarship documents/letter provided by your government or other agency).
Click here to download the Certification of Finances form and instructions.
The TOEFL/GRE school code for USF is 6996 (select "Univ San Francisco Arts Sci Grad"). The TOEFL/GRE schools code of 4850 can also be used for USF.
The following scores are minimum English language test scores for Arts and Sciences graduate programs:
Asia Pacific Studies, Biology, Biotechnology, and Public Affairs Programs:
- 100 for TOEFL internet-based exam
- 600 for TOEFL paper-based exam
- 7.0 for IELTS exam
- 65 for PTE exam
Chemistry and International Studies Programs:
- 90 for TOEFL internet-based exam
- 575 for TOEFL paper-based exam
- 6.5 for IELTS exam
- 61 for PTE exam
Economics, Environmental Management, International and Development Economics, Sport Management and Writing Programs:
- 79 for TOEFL internet-based exam (each section score for Speaking, Listening, and Writing must be 17 or higher)
- 550 for TOEFL paper-based exam
- 6.5 for IELTS exam
- 53 for PTE exam
Computer Science and Web Science Programs:
- 71 for TOEFL internet-based exam
- 530 for TOEFL paper-based exam
- 6.0 for IELTS exam
- 48 for PTE exam
TOEFL section scores for Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing must be 17 or higher, unless if an individual graduate program grants an exception. In addition, these graduate programs - Economics, International and Development Economics, and Sport Management - require that students with scores between 79 and 100 on the TOEFL iBT (550 and 600 on PBT) complete a Graduate Writing/Speaking course at USF in the first semester of graduate studies at USF. This information is included in the admission letter.
All international applicants must request that their testing agency send an official test score to USF's Office of Graduate Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Exception Policy for English language test scores that are up to the discretion of each graduate program:
- Applicants who have completed a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree or one year or more of studies in a degree program in English at a higher education institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
- Applicants who completed a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree or one or more years of studies in a degree program at an institution where the institution's medium of instruction is English. Documentation of English instruction needs to be provided by the student to the Office of Graduate Programs, College of Arts and Sciences. For example, the student's official academic record from the university may indicate that the medium of instruction is English – or the institution's website may indicate that the medium of instruction is English.
- Students from countries where the government requires 11 years of mandatory English instruction may be exempt from providing English language test scores according to the discretion of an individual graduate program. These countries include Norway, and may also include Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, among others.
- Exceptions for English language test scores are decided by each graduate program. If an exception is granted, students may be required by their graduate program to successfully complete an ESL graduate writing/speaking course or other Intensive English Program at USF.
Students who require an F-1 student visa must demonstrate that they (and/or other sponsors in their home country) can fund all or a significant amount of their educational and living expenses in the United States. To verify this requirement, the Certification of Finances form and supplemental bank statements must be completed and submitted with the application form for the program. Even when a graduate program awards financial assistance, students still must verify the remaining funds of their own in order to qualify for an F-1 student visa.
All international students are considered for scholarships, fellowships or teaching assistantships offered by the individual graduate programs. There is no separate application necessary for scholarships and teaching assistantships, except for the graduate fellowships offered by the Asia Pacific Studies program.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is an excellent resource for international students. ISSS provides valuable information and advice to international students who are admitted to the university, and to international students currently enrolled at USF. This information includes the visa application process, immigration documents, immunization requirements, pre-departure information and orientation for international students each spring and fall.
Health Insurance for Students
International students who enroll at the university for classes will also be enrolled in a university-sponsored health insurance program. For details about student health insurance, visit the Student Health Insurance office website. Student Health Insurance can be contacted by email at studentinsurance@usfca.edu or by phone at 415.422.6809.
International Student Orientation
New international students are required to attend the International Graduate Student Orientation in spring (late January) or fall (late August). Please visit www.usfca.edu/isss/orientation for the latest details. International students are highly recommended to arrive at USF at least 10 days before the first day of classes in the fall and spring to finalize housing arrangements and attend International Student Orientation. Contact International Student and Scholar Services for details and dates about International Student Orientation at isss@usfca.edu .
If your graduate program begins in June, July, early August or at another time that differs from the regular start of classes at the university, then contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to arrange an individual International Student Orientation upon your arrival at USF.
In addition, most graduate programs also hold an orientation/advising session for the individual program. All new students are required to attend their program orientation as well as the International Student Orientation.
International students should note that the earliest arrival in the United States that an F-1 visa allows is 30 days before the start date on the I-20 form issued to you.
Contact Information
Office of International Student and Scholar Services
Phone: +1 415 422 2654
Location: University Center, 5th Floor
Email: isss@usfca.edu
Web: www.usfca.edu/isss
