International Students

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Loyola Marymount University welcomes applications from students without regard to race, color, gender, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, or religion.

All prospective graduate students are expected to provide evidence of suitable preparation for graduate level work and must comply with passport and visa requirements as set down by the United States Immigration Service. International students must be continuously enrolled during the academic year to meet visa requirements. All admission requirements should be completed at least ninety days prior to the term for which the application is being made. An international student cannot be issued an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility as a non-degree graduate student.

All international applicants must supply the following admission materials:

• Application for Admission : including the application fee ($50.00)
• Two copies of Official Transcripts : From all schools attended since high school.
• Transcript Evaluation : International applicants who have completed their postsecondary education from an institution outside of the U.S. must hold a degree from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education as a degree granting institution. Transcripts from an international institution must be translated and evaluated by a U.S. transcript evaluation service (e.g. Global Services Associates or World Education Services) before the application is considered for admission. The purpose of the evaluation is to verify that your postsecondary degree is the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree. For School of Education applicants, a detailed transcript evaluation identifying your GPA must be submitted with the application.  
• Additional Materials : Most programs require additional materials, including standardized test scores, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Please see our Degrees + Requirements page for admissions requirements for your program of interest.
• TOEFL : All applicants (including those who received their bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university) must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they received a high school diploma in the United States. Exceptions to this rule may be made for students from countries where English is one of several official languages, as well as at the discretion of the program director. The minimum score for admission into most graduate programs is 600 (250 computer-based score, 100 internet-based score), except for the College of Science and Engineering, which requires a minimum score of 550 (213 computer-based score, 79 internet-based score). For information regarding the TOEFL, please go to: www.ets.org. (Note: If, after admission to a graduate program, the applicant's proficiency in English should prove inadequate, the University reserves the right to require additional proficiency in English. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from the graduate program.) Please request that ETS send your scores to LMU Graduate Admissions. The Institution Code for LMU is 4403.  
• Sevis I-20 Request Form : Along with your application, you need to complete the Sevis I-20 Request Form and include official documents verifying funds to cover tuition and living expenses for the first year of your program. This verification document should be from either a United States bank or agency or an international bank. The United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility will not be issued by the University until such documentation is on file in the Graduate Admission Office.
• Visa Requirements : Applicants must obtain the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization I-20 Certificate of Eligibility in order to enter the United States. The I-20 Ceritifcate of Eligibility cannot be issued until the SEVIS I-20 Request Form (please see above) is received by the Graduate Admissions Office. Upon the applicant's acceptance into the University, an I-20 Certificate will be issued to the student no earlier than sixty days prior to the beginning of the semester.

DEADLINES

Although there is no difference between international applicant and domestic admissions deadlines, international applicants are encouraged to submit their application and materials at least three months prior to the term they would like to begin. Additionally, the Graduate Admissions office encourages you to apply as early as possible.

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE MAILED TO:

Graduate Admissions
Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive, Suite 2525
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659

NEWLY ACCEPTED STUDENTS

Office for International Students + Scholars (OISS):
The OISS provides vital immigration assistance to international students at Loyola Marymount University. OISS provides assistance in matters related to maintaining non-immigrant status under LMU’s international programs and complying with the regulations of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and the U.S. Department of State.

HOUSING

A limited number of shared rooms are available. The University does not provide housing for married students. For more information regarding student housing, please see our Student Housing page.

FINANCIAL AID

International students are eligible for LMU grants, scholarships and assistantships:
Grants and Scholarships
Student Employment Opportunities

Please see the Graduate Financial Aid website for more information. 

HEALTH + HEALTH INSURANCE

Immunization: New graduate students entering the University who were born after 1956, are required to return a completed Immunization Record to the Graduate Admission Office. All new students entering the University must show results of a Tuberculin Skin Test given within the last year. This form is sent to incoming students with their acceptance letter. ALL immunizations must be current and physician-verified. International Students must submit their immunization records to the Student Health Center. Students with incomplete forms will have their registration withheld for the following semester until the completed Immunization Record has been received by the Student Health Center.

International students at LMU are automatically enrolled in both the injury and sickness insurance plans. Waiving of this requirement is allowed, however, the student must show proof of an alternate insurance which is comparable to LMU's Student Health Insurance Plan. Documents containing information of an alternate insurance should be presented to OISS or Student Accounts to be considered for a waiver.