*UNDER REVIEW - The Office of Admissions is reviewing the unofficial international transcript policy and process for Fall 2027; further information will be forthcoming.
MSU will accept unofficial international transcripts and diplomas for graduate admissions processing purposes for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026.
Graduate applicants who apply and are admitted based on unofficial international records will have future dated holds placed on their accounts. The expectation is that they will work to have official, hardcopies of their academic records sent to MSU in official, sealed envelopes during their first semester of enrollment. Non-cancelled applicants/students will continue to receive email reminders of the missing documents.
Flexibility will be exercised on a case-by-case basis. Graduate departments and impacted students will need to work with the Office of Admissions to resolve these cases in a timely fashion.
Applicants are encouraged to make every effort to provide official, hardcopy, transcripts and diplomas up front in official, sealed envelopes, as part of the application process, to avoid challenges later.
For Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026, international graduate applicants may apply using official academic records or unofficial academic records. If admitted with unofficial records, official hardcopies of their international transcripts and diplomas (including translations) will need to be provided no later than February 13th for Spring, June 12th for Summer, and September 25th for Fall. Holds will be placed on their accounts at the time of admission, to help ensure official records are received.
Flexibility will be exercised on a case-by-case basis and may include the acceptance of official electronic academic records. Graduate departments and impacted students will need to work with the Office of Admissions to resolve these cases in a timely fashion.
The Office of Admissions will send an email via the Graduate School Listserv, reminding departments they need to work with their impacted students to ensure their final, official, international academic records (transcripts and diplomas, and any relevant official translations) are on file with the Office of Admissions by the deadline. Again, flexibility will be explored on a case-by-case basis.
On March 13th for Spring, July 13th for Summer, and October 26th for Fall, the Office of Admissions will provide relevant departments with a list of impacted students who have yet to comply with the deadline. The Office of Admissions will work with departments case-by-case, as appropriate, and determine if extra time or additional flexibility is warranted.
On April 13th for Spring, August 13th for Summer, and November 23rd for Fall, the Office of Admissions will notify the Graduate School, recommending disenrollment of any student who has not met the deadlines or granted a deadline exception. If disenrollment is permitted by the Graduate School, the Graduate School will inform the Office of the Registrar to take relevant action for all future semesters.
Leahy & Irrer, Office of Admissions
January, 2026