Application Tips for International Students

The following tips will help prospective international students successfully apply to Michigan State University. The Graduate School encourages prospective students to read each tab carefully.

Application Requirements

You will submit an online graduate application. An application account will then be created where you will be able to upload documents and list the names of your references.
Each graduate department and program has different application requirements and deadlines. Please read all admissions information on the department website carefully.
The minimum English requirements for MSU graduate programs can be found here.
Please check individual program websites for guidance on required tests (i.e. GRE, GMAT).
Most graduate programs require 3 letters of recommendation.
For applicants to Ph.D. programs, it is a good idea to read the profiles of faculty members in the department of interest.
- Find one or two who are doing research related to your interests and write to them to briefly introduce yourself:
  - your name
  - which scholarship you have received from your country
  - your interest in their research
  - brief information about your background.
- This process will help you get to know the department and whether the program is the right fit for you. Some programs will require that you have a faculty mentor arranged in order to be accepted to the program.

Documentation Info & Formatting

You must arrange to obtain official academic records from all institutions. They should be sent directly from your university in sealed official envelopes.
Official transcripts should be sent directly to the graduate department, not to the Admissions Office.
- The information on the Admissions website that instructs you to send transcripts to the Admissions Office only applies to students applying for undergraduate programs.
- Graduate applicants should submit everything to the academic department.
Whenever possible, please try to keep your name the same on your application and all documents you submit.
- MSU receives many application documents from students, and having different variations of your name on each document makes it more difficult to match documents and complete your application file.
It is your responsibility to communicate directly with the Graduate Program Assistant in the department you are applying to.
- That is the person who can answer detailed questions about whether your application is complete, the timeline for an admission decision, and many other things about the admission process and department.

Statement of Purpose

MSU typically has 2 statements – an academic statement and a personal statement.
Read the instructions on the department website carefully.
Use those instructions as an outline for your first draft. Be sure to write something about all the points in the instructions.
If the department you are applying to does not provide many instructions about the statement of purpose, keep in mind the following:
- departments want to know that you are a good fit for their program academically, personally, and in terms of your research background and interests.
- They want to see that you have strong reasons for pursuing graduate study in general and specifically at MSU.

Important Websites

Application information: https://grad.msu.edu/apply
List of graduate programs
The Graduate School: https://grad.msu.edu