International Students

• English proficiency: If English is not your native language, we require the TOEFL (80 iBT; 20 on remaining sections) or the IELTS (6.5 minimum).
• International Transcript Evaluation: All international transcripts must be reviewed by an accredited evaluation service to determine U.S. equivalency of the degree awarded and the institution awarding the degree. Applications will not be reviewed for admissions until the official review is submitted.
• Program-specific requirements (learn more on our MA in Counseling Psychology, MA with Direct Admission to the PsyD, and Doctorate in Counseling Psychology program pages)

• Application Form
• Most of our programs require letters of reference. Learn more on our MA in Counseling Psychology, MA with Direct Admission to the PsyD, and Doctorate in Counseling Psychology program pages
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work (unless that work was completed at the University of St. Thomas)
  • Submit transcripts to: Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas, Box 5, 1000 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
• Personal statement
• Completed additional forms (as necessary)
• Official documentation of your financial support current within the last 3 months

• A copy of the picture page from your passport.
• Copies of the picture pages from your dependents' passports, if they will be accompanying you on F-2 or J-2 visa status.
• Applicants who are already inside the U.S. must submit a copy of their current visa and a copy of their I-94 card.
• Applicants transferring an F-1 visa from another U.S. school must submit a copy of their most recent I-20 form and a SEVIS Transfer Form (PDF).

The MSW program requires applicants' credentials to be at least the equivalent to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution. Applicants with a college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluation (ECE).  The evaluation must be sent directly to the University of St. Thomas from the evaluator and will fulfill the MSW application transcript requirement.

Start the credential evaluation process:

• Request the WES iCAP Course-by-Course option, OR
• the ECE Course-by-Course option

NOTE: If your transcript evaluation does NOT include a course-by-course evaluation that lists all courses taken, then we would also require an official transcript sent from the school that lists all the classes taken.

The application deadline for all MSW program options is January 10.  International applicants should complete the MSW application process as detailed on the School of Social Work application page. The application instructions will instruct you to submit the following:

• Application form: Complete all sections of the online application form (available September - January 10)
• Personal Statement: Prepare a personal statement that includes a written assignment on a social work issue and a self-reflection about your professional goals and contributions
• Resume: Submit a current resume
• Letters of Recommendation: Submit three letters of recommendation, including both a checklist and an accompanying letter of reference. Requesting and receiving letters of recommendation through the online MSW application portal is preferred, but may not be an option for all recommenders.
  • If your recommender(s) are not able to complete this process through the online application, you may arrange to have these letters either mailed or emailed to us.;
    • Mail: University policy requires that mailed letters of recommendation must be sent to the Graduate Admissions office in the original, unopened envelope. Letters of recommendation in this format can be sent to: University of St. Thomas, Graduate Records - Admissions, 1000 LaSalle Ave., Box 5, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005
    • Email: Letters of recommendation can be emailed directly from the recommender or the university/organization at which they are employed. If you can request your letters to be sent electronically, they can be emailed to Graduate Admissions.
• Academic Transcripts: Official transcripts sent directly from the institution are required from each post-secondary institution attended, even if courses are recorded on another transcript and regardless of the number of credits earned. Transcripts must be accompanied by official translations of all documents not in English.

If you have questions about any aspect of the MSW application, please email the MSW Program.

Complete the University of St. Thomas International Graduation Requirements

All international applicants and non-native speakers of English must meet one of the English proficiency requirements listed below. Score reports can be no more than two years old.

• TOEFL iBT overall score of 80, with a minimum subscore of 20 on the written and speaking sections.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5
• ELS level 112
• Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited college or university in the US, English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.

To qualify for issuance of the I-20, International applicants must complete the International Student Questionnaire, the Financial Support documentation, and the Identification and Immigration Documents as detailed on the University of St. Thomas International Graduate Requirements website.

Students with an undergraduate degree in social work from a school outside of the U.S. should apply to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)'s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) to determine if their academic credentials in social work are comparable to accredited baccalaureate degrees in social work in the United States. This is the only option for those with an undergraduate degree from outside of the U.S. to qualify for Advanced Standing status. Visit the ISWDRES website to get started.

If CSWE determines that your international degree is comparable to an accredited BSW degree in the United States, you will need to request to have an official copy of this "determination letter" sent to the University of St. Thomas Graduate Admissions office. Visit the ISWDRES determination letter website and complete the additional letter request form.

The determination letter should be sent to: University of St. Thomas, Graduate Records - Admissions, 1000 LaSalle Ave., Box 5, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005

The DSW program requires applicants' credentials to be at least the equivalent to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution and a master of social work degree equivalent to an MSW from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 

1. Applicants with an undergraduate college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official degree evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
2. Students with a master's degree in social work from a school outside of the United States must apply to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)'s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) to determine if their academic credentials in social work are comparable to an accredited MSW degree in the United States. This is the only option for those with an MSW degree from outside of the U.S. to qualify for the DSW program. Visit the ISWDRES website to get started.

Credential Evaluations should be sent to the following address:
Graduate Admissions
Attn: DSW program
University of St. Thomas
1000 LaSalle Ave., TMH201 Box 5
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Or emailed to Mr. James Dedon.

All international applicants and non-native speakers of English must meet one of the English proficiency requirements listed below. Score reports can be no more than two years old.

• TOEFL iBT overall score of 80, with a minimum subscore of 20 on the written and speaking sections.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5
• ELS level 112
• Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited college or university in the US, English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.

Please have your official TOEFL scores sent directly to the University of St. Thomas, school code: 6110.

IELTS scores and/or other proficiency results should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions
Attn: DSW program
University of St. Thomas
1000 LaSalle Ave., TMH201 Box 5
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Or emailed to Mr. Paul Stanley.

The application deadline for the DSW program is January 15. 

International applicants should complete the DSW application process as detailed on the School of Social Work admissions page.

The application instructions will instruct you to submit the following:

• Application form: Complete all sections of the online application form (available September 1 - January 15)
• Personal statements: uploaded into the online application
• Writing sample: uploaded into the online application
• Resume or CV: uploaded into the online application
• Three letters of recommendation: submitted through the online application
• Application fee: You will be prompted to pay a $50 non-refundable application fee when ready to submit the online application
• Academic transcripts: Send official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended directly from the evaluator service to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu. Copies emailed by the students will not be considered official. Hard copies should be sent directly from the evaluator services as well, or in original sealed envelopes. Transcripts from each post-secondary institution are required even if courses are recorded on another transcript and regardless of the number of credits earned. Transcripts must be accompanied by official translations of all documents not in English.

The St. Thomas DSW program is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Students will qualify for an I-20 for the two week residency period each summer. International applicants must complete the I-20 Request Form and other requirements as detailed on the University of St. Thomas International Graduate Requirements website.