Do you admit international students?

Yes, at least half of our entering class over the past few years has consisted of international students. We consider applications from all countries and undergraduate institutions, though the quality of the undergraduate institution is a factor in our admissions decision.

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. The office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students. International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer and contact them with related questions.

The University of Maryland Graduate School offers admission to international students based on academic information; it is not a guarantee of attendance. Admitted international students will then receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents. 

I am an international student. Where do I send the Certification of Finances Form?

Please send the Certification of Finances Form to:

University of Maryland

International Education Services

3116 Mitchell Building

College Park, Maryland 20742

I am an international student and am having trouble obtaining official transcriptsfrom my overseas educational institutions. What do you suggest I do?

Please check the UMD graduate FAQ page for more information.

I am an international student. Am I required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores, and is there a minimum score that I must receive in order to be considered for admission?

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English language proficiency.  Applicants are automatically deemed to have met this requirement if they hold a degree from a university in the United States or in an English-speaking country included on the UMD Graduate School’s list, which can be found at the bottom of this page:  https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/english-language-proficiency-requirements.   Note that such exemptions are based solely on the country in which you were educated, and not on your citizenship.  

All students who do not meet the conditions described above must meet an English language test score threshold to be fully enrolled, and another, more stringent threshold to receive assistantship funding.  The first set of thresholds, for full enrollment, are determined by the Graduate School and not the Department of Economics.  They are described here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/english-language-proficiency-requirements.  

The second set of thresholds, for assistantship funding, are set and subject to change by the Maryland English Institute and the Graduate School, and are described here:  https://marylandenglishinstitute.com/english-programs/international-teaching-as….    A score below the threshold on any section precludes a student from receiving a teaching assistantship (TA) position and necessitates taking an English course that would interfere with enrolling in the standard first year course sequence in Economics.  Therefore, we require applicants to meet these more stringent thresholds at the time of application in order to be considered for assistantship funding.  Unfortunately, we are unable to make conditional offers.

Applicants who meet the requirements for full enrollment but not for receiving a TA position and who have secured external funding for their studies may be offered admission, but will not be offered funding by the Department, do not automatically become eligible for TA positions in future years, and are not guaranteed Department funding in subsequent years.  

How long are my TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores valid?

TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores are valid for two years. If, however, an applicant requests ETS to send the TOEFL,IELTS or PTE scores to our University before the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE expires, it should not be a problem. The applicant should call ETS and request that a score report is sent to our institution, code 5814. ETS only keeps TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores on file for two years. Once the 2-year deadline passes, the applicant will no longer be able to request a score from ETS.