APPLICATION TYPES:
You should apply as an international student if you:
- Wish to study in the US under a student (F-1) visa. Those with valid B-1 or B-2 visas, must change their status to F-1, or:
- Currently hold an F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 visa.
ACADEMIC CRITERIA
- If you are a freshman applicant, you must have completed the highest level of secondary education in your country of residence. We look for a strong secondary academic program with courses in math, natural sciences, and English (or, if English is the language of instruction, another language).
- If you have attended any college or university after graduating from secondary school, you must apply as a transfer student. Applicants are required to have performed well in a strong academic program, having completed at least 24 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or higher by the time they submit their application. If the applicant has earned fewer than 24 credits, high school transcripts must also be submitted.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
All applicants must prove their English proficiency. Applicants from native English-speaking countries may be exempt from submitting an English proficiency test score. If you have attended high school in the United States for 3 years, you may be exempt as well.
For those who do not meet the criteria above, one of the following exams is required:
| Exam | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| ExamTOEFL (Internet-based) | Minimum Score80 |
| ExamIELTS | Minimum Score6.5 |
| ExamDuolingo | Minimum Score105 |
| ExamACT English | Minimum Score19 |
| ExamSAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (New Exam) | Minimum Score480 |
| ExamIB English Higher Level | Minimum Score5 |
| ExamAP English Language/Comp or Literature/Com exam | Minimum Score3 |
| ExamA -level (Advanced) English | Minimum ScoreC |
| ExamPTE Academic | Minimum Score53 |
Transfer students who have not completed a college-level writing course at a US college (or have received a grade below a C in the course) are also required to submit scores from one of these exams.
CONDITIONAL ADMISSION
Students who meet the academic criteria for admission, but lack satisfactory English proficiency, may be offered conditional admission. Additionally, students who score tier one results on the Chinese Gaokao, with an English score minimum of 110/150 or 88/120, will be considered for conditional admission. You'll be admitted to Stony Brook University’s Intensive English Center (IEC), and upon receiving a passing grade in the highest level IEC course, you may enroll in full-time matriculated studies.
FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION
International applicants must document their ability to meet educational and living expenses for one year of study so that Stony Brook University can issue a Certificate of Visa Eligibility (I-20). For more information, see International Application Procedures and Deadlines.
