| |
Graduate School Viewbook
Information for International Students
KSU has students from more than 70 countries and is proud of its international student body. If you are an international student, your application for admission to Kansas State University must meet the same academic standards for admission as those required of native students. In addition, international applicants holding nonimmigrant visas are required by U.S. immigration regulations to be enrolled in a full course of study. It is strongly recommended that all students carry medical insurance for themselves and any dependents who accompany them. A university-sponsored student health insurance plan is available at special rates. This plan covers most services provided at Lafene Health Center, a health care facility on campus, and also some coverage for medical expenses if a student requires care away from the campus. Medical insurance can also be purchased from independent agencies.
Applications from international students must be accompanied by an international cashier's check or money order in the amount of $55 payable to the Kansas State University Graduate School. Applications without this fee will not be processed. Each application must be accompanied by the Affidavit of Financial Support form verifying that financial support is available for the student while attending Kansas State University. The Affidavit of Financial Support form can be printed from our web site in 
Word or 
PDF format at http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gsprospective/apply/international/index.htm. Depending on fee status, up to $29,850 per year is required for tuition, books, subsistence, and other necessary costs.
The Graduate School requires each international applicant whose native language is not English to demonstrate competence in the English language by making a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test is required to ensure the student's progress toward a degree is not jeopardized by language difficulties. A score of 550 (213 on the computer-based test) is required for admission by the Graduate School and some programs require higher scores.
All international students entering the Graduate School with a TOEFL score less than 600 will be required to demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English at the time of enrollment. Students who fail to meet this requirement may be recommended for enrollment in University English courses or for part time English courses offered by the English Language Program on campus. Those who are determined to need substantial work in English will be required to participate in the English Language Program (click here). The TOEFL is offered several times a year in the student's home country through the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. Further information is available from the Graduate School office. International students are advised to take the TOEFL as early as possible to avoid delays in processing their applications for admission.
STANDARDIZED TESTS: If your graduate program requires standardized tests, you should request the Educational Testing Service to send your scores to Kansas State University. If you indicated where you wanted your scores sent (the academic department and Kansas State University) when you took the test, your scores will automatically be sent. The Graduate School does not accept photocopies as official for admission purposes. Standardized tests scores are valid for five years. (If available, please include test scores in the application.)
PRIMARY LANGUAGE: To demonstrate competence in the English language, an official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System - academic exam (IELTS) must be sent to Kansas State University for all applicants whose primary language is not English.
TOEFL: The TOEFL is offered several times a year throughout the world by the Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA, telephone 609-771-7100 or www.toefl.org. Those who have received a degree in the last two years from a United States college or university are not required to submit a TOEFL score but must take an English proficiency test upon arrival to Kansas State University.
There are three types of TOEFL scores: paper-based TOEFL, computer-based TOEFL and TOEFL IBT (internet-based TOEFL taken in real time). TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the intial test date.
A score of at least 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (IBT - internet-based test) on the TOEFL is required to be considered for admission to the Graduate School. (NOTE: Some programs require a TOEFL score higher than stated here.) Applicants with scores of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (IBT - internet based) or above may be considered for regular admission. Applicants with scores between 550/213/79 and 599/249/99 may be admitted provisionally and must at the time of their enrollment demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing English and in understanding spoken American English to the satisfaction of the Graduate School. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard will be required to complete specified courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) at Kansas State. Intensive English training for students who have TOEFL scores below 550/213/79 is also available through the ELP. For information and application to this program write to Director, English Language Program, 205 Fairchild Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-1106; e-mail: elp@ksu.edu.
IELTS: The International English Language Testing System - academic exam (IELTS) is offered several times a year by the International English Language Testing System, Pasadena, California 91103, USA. Those who have received a degree in the last two years from a United States college or university are not required to submit an IELTS score but must take an English proficiency test upon arrival to Kansas State University.
A score of at least 6.1 is required to be considered for admission to the Graduate School. (NOTE: Some programs require an IELTS score higher than stated here.) Applicants with scores of 7.0 or above may be considered for regular admission. Applicants with scores between 6.1 to 6.9 may be admitted provisionally and must at the time of their enrollment demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing English and in understanding spoken American English to the satisfaction of the Graduate School. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard will be required to complete specified courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) at Kansas State. Intensive English training for students who have IELTS scores below 6.1 is also available through the ELP. For information and application to this program write to Director, English Language Program, 205 Fairchild Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-1106; e-mail: elp@ksu.edu.
IELTS scores are valid for two years from the initial test date.
FOREIGN STUDENT OFFICE
Within the International Student Center is the Foreign Student Office. This office provides administrative services required for KSU international students and scholars by their home countries and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. The office also acts as the University's primary resource for international student programs.
A special orientation and advising program is conducted for new international students one week before the date of enrollment.