Applicant Instructions

1. To begin the international graduate application process, go to: https://explore.msu.edu/apply/.
2. First time users: Click on Create an Account

3. Enter email address, first name, last name, and birthdate. Click, Continue.

4. A temporary PIN was sent to your email address. Open your personal email address to find an email from Michigan State University, and enter the PIN, and confirm your birthdate.

5. Create your account password.

1. Begin completing your application. Click on Start New Application.

2. Choose the type of application (Graduate or Graduate Certificate) then select Create Application.

3. Next, provide Personal Background information.

4. Choose your Primary Citizenship, country, and Visa information. Collecting Visa information aids the Office of Admissions and Office for International Students and Scholars with the immigration process and with any required documents they need. This needs to be completed even in situations where an international student is taking online courses. Online students can select “I do not need a visa.” Please note that Race/Ethnicity are optional questions.

5. Once all information is completed, select Continue.
6. Complete additional information on the Personal Background – Continued section.

7. Once all information is completed, select Continue.
8. Other Information: First select either the First Semester to Enroll or the Major Preference. These fields are tied together, and changes to the semester will affect what majors are displayed (and vice versa).
   
   Depending on your major selection additional questions will be included, excluded, or modified (including topics like financial aid, communications, and more).

After advancing from the Other Information tab, the remaining tabs will be modified based on the unique requirements of your chosen program. A Supplemental Questions tab will contain a link to the programs website that displays additional application requirements.

9. COVID-19: If you would like MSU program staff to know information regarding hardships or your experience during the COVID-19 outbreak.

10. Other: This section contains additional information about the applicant’s background, including whether the applicant is a first-generation college student, previous applications, MSU contacts, employment and employment agreement status, and foreign language proficiency. The first-generation college student question is mandatory, and the applicant must answer either “Yes,” “No,” or “Prefer not to answer.”

11. Once all information is completed, select Continue.
12. Complete the required Conduct Questions.

13. Once all information is completed, select Continue.
14. Financial Support Requirements Tab

15. Include your sponsor information under the Affidavit of Support section and click on Add New if you plan to include a spouse and/or children.

16. Once all information is completed, select Continue.
17. Include all Academic History information. To begin: click on Add Institution.

18. Next, begin typing in the name of the previously attended university, and it will populate all the information. Select your institution. Official documentation will need to be submitted for each institution listed here.

19. Add the Dates Attended and Level of Study, Degree, Major, etc. Then click Save.

19. Test Scores: To add your test scores, begin by selecting Add Test. To determine test score requirements, please refer to the program’s website.

21. Once all information is completed, select Save.
22. Next, choose the type of test that you’d like to add. Example below: GRE

23. Enter your test results.

24. Once all information is completed, select Save.
25. Employment: To begin adding your employment history, select Add Employer.
    Note: this tab may or may not appear depending on the requirements of your selected program.

26. Once all employer information is added, click Save.
27. Continue adding employment information and click Continue to complete employment history.
28. Activities: If your program requires your activities or experiences prior to applying to graduate school, please include that information by selecting Add Activity. After submitting your application, you will be able to upload your Résumé/Curriculum Vitae in the Admissions portal.
    
    Note: this tab may or may not appear depending on the requirements of your selected program.

29. Complete the information to add an activity.

30. Once all activities information is added, click Save.
31. References: To obtain letters of recommendation, please add your recommender’s information by selecting Add Recommender.

32. Include all contact information for your recommender. MSU graduate programs typically require three letters of recommendation. Make sure to include all recommenders requested by your program. If you do not provide all required recommenders, you will not be able to submit the application. Example below: 

33. Once you’ve completed the contact information, selected the waiver decision, and typed your full name as a signature, select Send to Recommender. This will generate an email to your recommender with details for their letter submission. They will have to click on a link to complete the recommendation form.
34. If your major requires supplemental questions, a new section will appear in the lefthand navigation bar. Complete these questions as required for your major, and then click Continue.
35. Provide your signature electronically by typing in your full legal name, then select Confirm.

36. The Review section will provide you with a list of potential errors if a section has not been completed. Please make sure to return to those sections and make the appropriate corrections before finalizing the application and submitting your payment.

*Important* Once you click “Finalize Application and Pay,” you will not be able to make changes to the information you have provided. Verify that all information is correct prior to submitting.

1. After you have verified your information, click “Finalize Application and Pay.”
   • You will be able to upload additional items (resume, CV, etc.) after submitting and completing your payment.”
   • If you are receiving a waiver for your payment, you will need to notify your program that your application is submitted and they need to complete your payment. If your program is submitting the payment, the below information can be disregarded. 
     
2. Review the information and click on Continue.

3. Choose your method of payment (Credit/Debit card or Bank account Information). Enter all information required and click Continue.

4. Confirm and your payment has been submitted.
5. Over the next few days and weeks, you can now log in to the student portal to review your application status updates, by going to https://explore.msu.edu/apply. Here you will choose the Returning Users: Log In link.

1. After your application is submitted and your fee is paid, you will receive a notice to log into your portal. This portal allows you to see status updates on your application, upload critical supplemental materials, and more.
   
   The unit to which you have applied will begin evaluating your application and supplemental materials. Please contact them for any questions regarding these materials or additional application requirements.

1. International applicants who have been recommended for admission will need to submit the following:
   • Passport
     • For more information, please visit https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/international/how-to-apply
   • Official Transcripts
   • Proof of Funding and/or Affidavit of Support
2. Applicants who are missing some of the items listed above will receive occasional reminders to submit the items. Applicants should be vigilant in gathering and submitting these materials in a timely manner.