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UNH welcomes applicants from around the world, and we're glad you're considering joining us. At UNH, we believe that a global community enhances everyone's educational experience, and we aim to provide the skills and knowledge you'll need to join a fully connected world.
Undergraduate students
International undergraduate applicants follow the same first-year or transfer process as domestic students, with added requirements for transcripts, English proficiency, and documentation based on your country's curriculum.
Graduate students
International graduate applicants follow the standard UNH Graduate School application, with added requirements for English proficiency, transcripts, and recommenders. Visa policies change frequently — review the latest guidance before applying.
Online
Considering a fully online UNH degree? Online enrollment has distinct policies — including visa sponsorship, licensure program eligibility, and country-specific recognition — that apply whether you're pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Undergraduate requirements
International applicants interested in in-person programs on our Durham and Manchester campus follow the same core process as first-year and transfer students, with a few additional requirements found below.
Application fee
$65 for all international applicants — no NH-resident rate applies. Fee waivers can be requested through the Common Application.
Transcripts
Secondary or university transcripts must be submitted with English translations. Documents are verified, scanned, and confidentially destroyed.
Transfer applicants: transcripts must be evaluated through WES or the Center for Educational Documentation for transfer credit.
International first-year applicants are not eligible to use STARS — an official transcript is required.
English proficiency
Required if English is not a student's first language. Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. UNH's CEEB code for TOEFL is 3918.
Duolingo English Test 120
IELTS 6.5
LanguageCert 70
PTE Academic 59
TOEFL Essentials 8.5
TOEFL iBT (Jan 2026+) 4.5
Additional documentation
Offers of admission are conditional pending review of final transcripts.
Include a photocopy of the passport biographic page. No interviews are required.
All official documents must be received by June 30.
Undergraduate application deadlines
Your deadline depends on which path you're applying through. Not sure which applies to you? Review your options on our How to Apply page.
Applying as first-year
Early Action: November 15 (decision by end of January)
Regular Decision: February 1 (decision by end of March)
Applying as transfer
Fall semester: April 1
Spring semester: October 15
Graduate requirements
International graduate applicants complete the standard UNH Graduate School application. With visa issuance policies changing frequently, review the latest guidance on the U.S. Department of State website before applying.
Application fee
$65 for degree programs, $25 for graduate certificates. Fee waivers are not available for most programs.
Transcripts
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted in English, or with certified translations if not originally in English. Third-party evaluation is not required unless requested by the academic department. Applicants may submit copies by emailing grad.school@unh.edu; official transcripts are required if admitted.
English proficiency
All international applicants must provide official English proficiency test scores, sent directly from the testing agency:
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
- IELTS: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 59
- Duolingo English Test: 120
Applicants who earned a degree from a U.S. institution, or from an international institution with documented English-medium instruction, may request a test score waiver at the academic department's discretion.
Complete extended inquiry form
Some academic departments recommend that applicants pursuing a research-based degree submit an extended inquiry form before submitting a full application. A department representative will follow up if your background is a good fit for the program.
Online program policies
Eligibility & responsibilities
Individuals already in the U.S. with permanent resident status are eligible for acceptance. If you'll be studying from outside the U.S., you're responsible for determining whether UNH CPS online degree programs are recognized in your country. Contact your country's Ministry of Education (also called the Secretariat or Department of Education) to confirm:
- UNH CPS may lawfully offer an online degree program to you
- Your chosen degree or course will be recognized in your country for employment or further education
- A UNH CPS degree may need to be formally validated in your country — this is your responsibility
- You are responsible for any taxes or surcharges your country levies on tuition
- UNH CPS will collect, store, and process your personal data to deliver courses and communicate with you, following U.S. privacy laws unless otherwise noted
- Your location has sufficient internet access to complete coursework online
English proficiency
English proficiency is required for admission if English is not your native language. Approved methods:
- TOEFL (preferred) — IBT minimum 80, PBT minimum 550, CBT minimum 213
- IELTS — overall band score 6.5
- Duolingo English Test — minimum score 120
- High school or college transcript — must be from a school where instruction was conducted entirely in English
Scores or transcripts must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Admissions Office (code 0458).
Mail: Admissions, UNH College of Professional Studies, 88 Commercial St, Manchester, NH 03101
Email: admissions.cps@unh.edu
Transcripts from other countries
Transcripts from a foreign college or university must be translated and evaluated before full acceptance. CPS accepts evaluations from NACES-member agencies (naces.org); the evaluation fee is the student's responsibility, and a course-by-course evaluation is recommended. The transcript must be sent directly from the evaluation agency to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at the address above.
Additional information
A few more details worth reviewing, organized by whether you're applying as an undergraduate or graduate student.
Undergraduate students
Admitted students
Admitted Students
Once you've been admitted, a few additional steps apply specifically to international students — from orientation to visa documentation. For the full admitted-student experience, see International Students: Admitted Students.
International Student Orientation
Attendance at First Year Student Orientation in June is optional for international undergraduates. If you attend, you'll still be required to attend International Student Orientation in August.
Visa Documentation
As an international student, you'll be required to obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States. Once your admission is complete and financial requirements are satisfied, you'll receive your visa eligibility documents.
Deferral Requests
Deferrals may be requested for up to one year. Fall admits should use the Fall Deferral Request form; spring admits should use the Spring Deferral Request form. With few exceptions, UNH does not approve deferrals for completing coursework elsewhere or for a post-graduate year. Contact Admissions at admissions@unh.edu with questions.
Graduate students
Admitted students
- Admitted international students requiring an F-1 student-visa to study will be notified by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) of the requirements and procedure for issuing an I-20 immigration document.
- Mandatory International Student Orientations will be held before the start of the semester.
- Students on assistantships must attend Graduate Assistant Orientation and any required trainings before beginning their employment.
Policies for all international students
All international students are responsible for following all Graduate School registration policies and requirements. In addition, all international students on F-1 and J-1 visas are required to register full-time each semester of the academic year until the completion of their programs. There are no registration requirements during the summer. Please see below for policies related to "special" registrations.
- GRAD 800: Permissible only for Master’s students who have completed all requirements for the degree and will be engaged in full-time OPT (immigration regulations do not require enrollment in a full course of study in this case) and both employment and residence will be off-campus.
- GRAD 900: Appropriate for Master’s students who have completed coursework, will be engaged in full-time OPT and will be employed on campus or living in UNH residential facilities.
- Doctoral Research (GRAD 999): Required of all doctoral students at candidacy.
- Fee Waivers: Students enrolled in Doctoral Research (GRAD 999) who have left the immediate geographic area while completing their doctoral research may petition for a waiver of the mandatory fees.
- UNH Graduate program admissions allows a maximum of 5 backlogs from international colleges/universities: We will make an exception to applicants that receive more than 5 backlogs but less than 10 because they were unable to attend a semester of schooling due to unforeseen circumstances.
Masters’ students in their final term who are not on assistantships may register for less than 9 credits, but no less than 5 credits with approval of the Office of International Students and Scholars, prior to the first day of classes of the student's final term. Students must file their Intent to Graduate with the Graduate School prior to or concurrent with their request to register for a reduced course load.
Employment eligibility
International students on assistantships must maintain a work-eligible visa, this is typically an F-1 visa.
- Students who have been offered an assistantship, but do not have an eligible visa status to allow them to begin their assistantship duties at the beginning of the semester, have until the last day to register without having their degree and assistantship status discontinued for that semester. The start date for the assistantship would then be the date allowed by the visa status and the student's stipend would be pro-rated. The appropriate tuition waiver associated with the assistantship would be valid and not prorated.
- Students who have not resolved their visa status by the last day to register without having their degree status discontinued are not eligible to hold an assistantship. Such students may be eligible for a non-status appointment during the semester in question once their visa status is resolved. In such cases, the stipend would be prorated. Programs could award scholarships to cover the tuition cost to such students. Under no circumstances should students who do not have a visa that make them eligible to work begin any assistantship-related duties.
International Student Policy for Online Programs
International students who wish to take online courses at UNH can apply through our regular admission process. However, please be aware that there are guidelines that determine if online programs in the United States will be recognized in the country where you reside.
Guidelines for assessing your eligibility for online programs as an international applicant
Individuals who are already in the U.S. with permanent resident status are eligible for acceptance to fully online programs.
Fully online students residing outside the United States are not eligible for admission into UNH programs that lead to professional licensure and/or certification. A list of those programs may be found here: https://www.unh.edu/registrar/registration/professional-licensure-disclosure-information
Students who will study outside of the U.S. are responsible for determining if our online degree programs are recognized in the country in which they reside. To learn this information, you must contact your country's Ministry of Education (also called Secretariat of Education or Department of Education) and determine the following:
- UNH may lawfully offer an online degree program to me
- My chosen degree program or course will be recognized in my country for employment or further education
- A UNH degree may have to be validated in my country, and I take responsibility for that process
- I am responsible for paying any taxes or surcharges levied on tuition by my country
- UNH will collect, store, and process my personal data in order to deliver courses and communicate to me. The university will follow U.S. privacy laws about data protection unless otherwise noted
- My location has sufficient internet availability and I have access to a computer that meets the technical requirements listed in the "Requirements for Taking an Online Course".
- If English is not my native language, I can provide proof to UNH of English proficiency.
- I understand that UNH does not sponsor visas for online programs.
- I understand that I must meet the admissions and program requirements for this degree program.