International Transfer Requirements
We recognize that attending college in another country can be both thrilling and intimidating, so we want to do everything we can to answer your questions, guide you through the application process, and introduce you to International Student Life at Florida State University.
More than 2,600 international students from 125 different countries are enrolled at FSU. While our students represent a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, they are all participants in the university's community of scholars. As a student at FSU, you'll have the chance to learn from distinguished faculty in more than 170 different academic programs. Most importantly, you'll be a 'Nole'.
Application Process
| Step 1 | Apply online. |
|---|---|
| Step 2 | Submit an official or certified copy of all secondary and post-secondary records and/or examination results. All credentials from non-U.S. institutions must be evaluated by a foreign-credential-evaluation agency, preferably a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. All academic records must be issued in the native language and be accompanied by a certified English translation. High school documents need to include a US equivalent grade point average. College documents need to include a course-by-course evaluation. |
| Step 3 | Submit official ACT (#0734) and/or SAT (#5219) results, if entering as a freshman or sophomore transfer student. It is recommended that junior and senior transfer applicants also submit test scores. |
| Step 5 | Submit official English Proficiency Test Scores if your native language is not English. |
| Step 6 | Check if your major/program of interest has additional requirements including a supplemental application deadline, prerequisites, audition, portfolio, etc. |
| Step 7 | Submit a personal statement if you will have attempted 90+ hours of college credit (see details below under Satisfactory Academic Progress). |
| Step 8 | Use the Application Status Check to monitor the status of your application and materials. |
Deadlines
The University deadlines* are listed below; however, some academic programs have earlier deadlines than those established by the University, or may admit only for a specific term. Prospective applicants should refer to the Academic Program Guide for program application deadlines.
All information used to make an admission decision must be received by the published deadlines.
| Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 | March 1 | June 1 |
*If the University deadline falls on a weekend, applicants have until the following Monday to submit their applications and all supporting documents. In addition, the University reserves the right to close transfer admission earlier if warranted by enrollment limitations and the number and quality of applications.
University Requirements
College-Level Proficiency Skills in English and Mathematics
All transfer applicants must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English and mathematics by having successfully completed (with a grade of C or higher) a minimum of three semester hours of approved college-level English composition AND a minimum of three semester hours of approved college-level mathematics.
Note: Many majors will require that you complete six credit hours in each of these areas. Please refer to the Academic Program Guide for major specific requirements.
World Language Admission Requirement
All transfer applicants must have satisfied the State of Florida's world language admission requirement by having earned two sequential units in one world language or American Sign Language in high school (e.g. Spanish I and Spanish II) OR having completed through the second elementary/beginning course in one world language in college (or documented equivalent proficiency).
Junior/Senior Level Applicants (60+ hours / AA Degree)
Junior and senior applicants (60+ semester hours of transferable credit as determined by the Office of Admissions) must:
- have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all attempted college courses. In calculating your GPA, we use all attempted courses (including D's, F's, and WF's) from every college you have attended. If a course is repeated, we will use both grades. NOTE: The best indication of your potential academic success at Florida State University is your calculated transfer GPA. Very few students with less than a 3.0 calculated GPA will be admitted.
- be in good academic standing and have at least a 2.0 calculated GPA on all work attempted at your last institution.
Applicants who have received an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Florida public institution immediately prior to transferring receive priority consideration for admission provided the application and all supporting documents are received in the Office of Admissions by the deadline.
Note: Applicants who graduate from high school and who will receive an AA degree at the same time must meet the freshman admission requirements AND the major requirements when submitting the admission application. If this applies to you, you must submit a freshman application.
Freshman/Sophomore-Level Applicants (12-59 hours)
Freshman and sophomore applicants (12-59 semester hours of transferable credit as determined by the Office of Admissions) must:
- have a strong academic high school profile and ACT or SAT test scores that are indicative of success at the college level. Very few students with less than a 3.0 academic GPA will be admissible.
- have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all attempted college courses. In calculating your GPA, we use all attempted courses (including D's, F's, and WF's) from every college you have attended. If a course is repeated, we will use both grades. NOTE: The best indication of your potential academic success at Florida State University is your calculated transfer GPA. Very few students with less than a 3.0 calculated GPA will be admitted.
- be in good academic standing and have at least a 2.0 calculated GPA on all work attempted at your last institution.
Other factors taken into consideration when transferring as a lower-division transfer student include the number of hours taken each semester (we prefer 15 each fall and spring semester), the types of college classes taken each term, and the grades earned in those classes.
Attempted Hours
All transfer applicants must have demonstrated satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for admission. Applicants who will have attempted 90+ semester hours of college credit (including withdrawals and repeated courses) before enrolling at Florida State University must upload a personal statement to be considered by the Office of Admissions. The statement should include the following information:
- Description of how you accumulated the hours
- Explanation of any withdrawals or repeated courses
- Description of why you hope to transfer to Florida State
- Reason(s) for selecting your current major
- Plan for timely graduation from the major you selected on the application
Typically, in accordance with Florida law, students will be charged double the tuition rate for each credit hour beyond 132 hours for a normal 120-semester hour degree program. More information on excess credit-hour surcharge can be found at http://registrar.fsu.acsitefactory.com/records/excess-hours-faq.
Major Requirements
All transfer applicants must select a major. In addition to meeting the University requirements described above, students must also meet the admission criteria established for their desired major. The Academic Program Guide provides a detailed program description, an academic map, and a link to your department of interest. The Major Comparison Tool can also help you decide between similar majors.
Limited-Access Programs
A limited-access program utilizes selective admission to limit program enrollment. Limited-access status is justified when student demand exceeds available resources (student/faculty ratios, instructional facilities, equipment, or specific accrediting requirements). Criteria for selective admission include indicators of talent, performance, creativity, or ability to complete the program's required work. Admission to such programs is governed by the Articulation Agreement and the State Board of Education administrative rules.
For some degree programs, access is limited at the upper-division level to those students meeting certain additional criteria. These additional criteria are applied equally to students that will have earned 52+ credit hours at the time of enrollment in FSU, AA degree transfers from Florida public institutions, and rising juniors at Florida State University. For specific admission requirements to a particular department or college, refer to the appropriate section of the Academic Program Guide.
Limited-Access Degree Programs
- Accounting
- Athletic Training
- Commercial Entrepreneurship
- Communication
- Communication Science and Disorders
- Computer Science
- Dance
- Dietetics
- Early Childhood Education
- Economics
- Elementary Education
- Exceptional Student Education
- Finance
- Hospitality Management
- Interior Design
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Motion Picture Arts
- Music Education
- Music, Liberal Arts
- Music Performance
- Music Theory and Composition
- Music Therapy
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Real Estate
- Retail Entrepreneurship
- Risk Management/Insurance
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Social Work
- Sport Management
- Studio Art (BFA)
- Theatre
- Visual Disabilities
Excess Credit Hour Surcharge
In 2009, the Florida Legislature implemented a new law (Section 1009.286, FS) to encourage students who enroll in a state university to complete the baccalaureate degree program as efficiently as possible. It established what is commonly referred to as an "Excess Credit Hour Surcharge" by charging an additional student payment to those students who do not complete the baccalaureate degree in a timely fashion. Accelerated coursework (AICE, AP, IB, CLEP, and dual enrollment) taken while in high school are not calculated in this hour count. For more information on the excess credit-hour surcharge, please refer to the Registrar's Office.
Certification of Financial Responsibility
Shortly after admission, students will receive an email with instructions for completing the online Certification of Financial Responsibility (CFR) form to demonstrate proof of adequate funding. Florida State University is required by U.S. federal regulations to verify the financial resources of each applicant prior to issuing the Form I-20. Applicants must show proof of financial support for the first year of study and confirm availability of funds for the length of the academic program.