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Kansas State University

Graduate Exchange Application Process

The following are dates by which the applicant should submit the international application to the graduate program.  These application deadline dates also are listed on the Graduate School web site.

  • Student applying for Summer 2012 (beginning May 2012) – submit application materials to the graduate program no later than December 1, 2011.
  • Student applying for Fall 2012 (beginning August 2012)– submit application materials to the graduate program no later than February 1, 2012.
  • Student applying for Spring 2013 (beginning January 2013) - submit application materials to the graduate program no later than August 1, 2012.

The following materials are required for a student seeking admission as a Graduate student:

  • Graduate international application (Online Application)
  • Official transcripts & degree certificates in both English and native language
  • TOEFL or IELTS score (details)
  • Affidavit of financial support form
  • Statement of objectives
  • Three reference letters need to be sent directly to the graduate program director for that specific department.  

Exchange students applying as "non-degree" do not need to pay the application fee.  

There is a committee within each department that will review the student's credentials and then will determine whether or not if they wish to "recommend" a student for admission.  The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.

If the student's TOEFL score is below the required total, the student will be required to take the English Proficiency Test upon their arrival to K-State.  If they do not pass the English Proficiency Test, the student will be required to enroll in the recommended English classes.

 

Academic Information

Class work is assessed by the professor teaching the course which may be based on in-class exams, written papers, projects and/or attendance. This is variable and depends on the professor. Grading scales can be curved or on an absolute scale as determined by the professor.

Course registration will be completed at Orientation & Enrollment on the Thursday of International Student Orientation Week, prior to the beginning of the semester. At this time, pre-enrollment is not possible. During Orientation & Enrollment, students are assigned an academic advisor and select courses from published "Directory of Courses" that list all university courses offered in a particular semester. The Course Schedule, a list of courses taught each term, is available on our website at http://courses.k-state.edu/schedules.html.

The exchange program allows for students to enroll in 9 to 12 regular graduate credit hours. Students are responsible for paying for any hours beyond 12. A minimum of 9 hours is required for full-time status.

Additionally, students enrolling in any Division of Continuing Education (DCE), on-line, or UFM Community Learning Center courses may be assessed additional fees outside of the regular tuition and fees structure, which will be the responsibility of the student.

Number of classes a typical student takes per term:  3
Number of hours per week typical student spends in class:  9
Number of weeks per term:  15

 

TOEFL or IELTS score information

From the K-State Graduate Handbook at http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/handbook/chap1.htm

2. Graduates of foreign colleges and universities

All international students admitted to the Graduate School must demonstrate the same level of achievement as U.S. students. That is, they must hold a degree from an established institution comparable to a college or university in the United States, have an outstanding undergraduate record, have the demonstrated ability to do graduate work, and provide evidence of language proficiency sufficient for the pursuit of a graduate degree. Admission may be denied to students from technical schools, which may provide excellent training in special areas, but do not offer degrees equivalent to those of colleges and universities. As a rule, students from abroad are not admitted to nondegree status (that is, as special students). Questions about the qualifications of international students should be directed to the Graduate School.

The Graduate School requires each international applicant whose native language is not English to demonstrate competence in the English language by achieving a satisfactory score (defined below) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Pearson Test of English (PTE). The TOEFL, IELTS or PTE is required to ensure that the student’s progress toward a degree is not jeopardized by language barriers. The TOEFL (K-State TOEFL school code 6334) is offered several times a year throughout the world by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. International applicants are advised to take the TOEFL as early as possible to avoid delays in the processing of their applications for admission. An applicant who has received a degree in the last two years from a United States college or university is exempt from this requirement. However, individual programs may require demonstration of English language proficiency.

English Proficiency Requirements

  • Applicants who are submitting iBT TOEFL (internet based) scores must have a minimum total score of 79 with no part score below 20 on the reading, listening, and writing sections.
  • Applicants who are submitting paper-based TOEFL (PBT) test scores must have a minimum total score of 550 with no part score below 55 on reading or listening sections and a TWE (Test of Written English) score of 5.0 or higher.
  • Applicants who are submitting an IELTS score must have a minimum total score of 6.5 with part scores of 6.5 or higher on the reading, listening, and writing sections.
  • Applicants who are submitting a Pearson Test of English (PTE) score must have a minimum total score of 58 with part scores of 58 or higher.

Applicants who do not meet the scores specified above must meet the following criteria during the first semester of enrollment in order to satisfy the English proficiency requirement:

  • Applicants with one or two low part scores (14-19 IBT, 48-54 PBT, 5.0-6.4 IELTS , or 47-57 PTE) must successfully complete one or more of the specified classes based on the section of the examination that is below the minimum (20 IBT; 55 on reading or listening sections and a TWE of less than 5.0 on PBT; 6.5 IELTS; 58 PTE):
    • DAS 176 – Reading Skills
    • DAS 177 – Written Communication
    • DAS 178 – Listening Skills
    Waivers will not be approved.
  • Applicants with three part scores below 20 IBT, 55 PBT, 6.5 IELTS, or 58 PTE are required to take the English Proficiency Test (EPT) and successfully complete the English course(s) specified on their EPT score reports. Waivers will not be approved.
  • Applicants with any one score below 14 IBT, 48 PBT, 5.0 IELTS, or 47 PTE must take the English Proficiency Test and successfully complete full time intensive English. Waivers will not be approved.