International Students

In addition to the credentials required for first-year, transfer, graduate, and degree completion applicants, an international student must also submit proof of English proficiency. To ensure a student’s ability to participate successfully in the Lesley curriculum, students whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through one of these six options:

1. Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A score of 80 on the internet-based test is required. The Lesley University code for TOEFL is 3483.
2. Official IELTS (International English Language Testing System): A score of 6.5 or higher is required. To submit IELTS scores, students should contact the center where they took the test and request an official Test Report Form be sent to Lesley.
3. Official Cambridge English Exam: Applicants must show proof of having taken the exam at the "Advanced" level and achieving a score of "C1" or "C2".
4. Duolingo English Test:  A minimum score of 105 is required.
5. Proof of Successful Completion of an ESL Program: Lesley University has partnered with several language schools to help students meet the English requirement by completion of the curriculum, at the specified level. Applicants must provide proof of successful completion and a letter of reference from the program coordinator or teacher in support of the student’s English language capabilities.  Applicants may visit lesley.edu/more-content-admissions-block-h-1-english-language-proficiency for a list of ESL partnership schools and the levels that must be completed to fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
6. Language Requirement Waiver: Students whose native language is not English but who have graduated from a school or program taught in English and were in an English curriculum for at least four years may qualify to have the language requirement waived. If it is not noted on their transcripts, students should request a letter from their high school, college, or university stating their language of instruction was English. 

Students who have earned college credits or a degree outside the United States are required to submit the following evaluations completed by a credential evaluation service to the Office of Admissions:

• Undergraduate students should submit an official course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts.
• Graduate students should submit an official document-by-document evaluation, with the exception of Expressive Therapies master’s degree programs which require an official course-by-course evaluation.

The following agencies are available to evaluate credentials:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Center for Educational Documentation (CED)
• Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. Global Credential Evaluators (ECE) 

Additional Requirements:

• All references and academic documentation submitted must be official original documents or certified, clear photocopies, and written in English. If a document is not in English, the Office of Admissions requires an English translation of submitted documents in addition to the original documents. 

• Proof of funds to cover tuition and living expenses for one year must be provided. The I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility), needed to obtain an F-1 student visa, will not be issued without proof of funds. The certification of finances must be dated and submitted no earlier than three months prior to the start of the student’s first semester so as to be a current reflection of funds. An I-20 form, for students wishing to study on Lesley’s F-1 sponsorship, will be provided after the student has been accepted and has submitted both the certification of finances, the required enrollment contract and enrollment deposit (if applicable) signifying their intent to enroll, and if they meet all other eligible requirements based on previous U.S. immigration history (if applicable).  Check the F-1 and Form I-20 Information section of the Lesley International Student Services office and contact iss@lesley.edu for assistance. 

Note: Financial aid is not available for international applicants; however, international students may be considered for merit scholarships, if applicable. Refer to the Financial Aid section of this catalog for more information.

For further information regarding international student admissions procedures, please refer to the website at lesley.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-apply/international-students or contact the Office of Admissions:

Graduate Admissions
617.349.8300
luadmissions@lesley.edu

Undergraduate Admissions
617.349.8800
admissions@lesley.edu