Graduate

International Graduate Academic Requirements

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To apply to a graduate degree program at the University of South Florida as an international student, you must meet the following minimum requirements. Ask your program of interest about additional application requirements (e.g. test scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and resume).

You must have one of the following to apply:

International Graduate Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree satisfying at least one of these criteria:
  • “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working toward a bachelor’s degree
  • “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as a graduate student working toward a graduate degree
A bachelor’s degree with a “B” average or better and a previous graduate degree with a “B” average or better Note: If you have both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree at the time of admission, admission will be determined based on the credentials and GPA of your graduate degree.
The equivalent bachelor’s and/or graduate degree from a foreign institution
  • Bachelor’s degrees from institutions in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) are considered equivalent based on the Bologna Accord.
  • If you have a 3-year bachelor’s degree with less than 120 hours that was received at a non-Bologna Accord institution, we require a transcript evaluation from a NACES member to confirm equivalency.

 

English Proficiency Requirements

If you are an applicant from a country where English is not the official language, you must also demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting acceptable scores on one of the English proficiency tests listed below. 

Look at the list of English-speaking countries to determine whether you must meet this requirement.

English Speaking Countries

  • Antigua
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Barbuda
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • Canada, except Quebec (French)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Commonwealth Caribbean
  • Dominica
  • England (UK)
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland (UK)
  • Irish Republic
  • Jamaica, Republic of
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Malawi
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Northern Ireland (UK)
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda (if secondary school completed after 2009)
  • Scotland (UK)
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa (if Afrikaans is not listed as native language)
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad
  • Tobago
  • Uganda (UK)
  • United Kingdom
  • United States, except Puerto Rico
  • Virgin Islands
  • Wales (UK)
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Scores must have been earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. Applications submitted with English proficiency scores that do not meet the minimum requirements will be denied.

Minimum Test Scores to Demonstrate Proficiency

  1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) prior to January 21, 2026
    79 or higher

  2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) after January 21, 2026
    4.5 or higher

  3. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    6.5 or higher

  4. Cambridge English First (FCE/B2 First)
    176 or higher (with minimum sub scores of 169)

  5. Cambridge English Level 1 Advanced/Business (C1)
    180 or higher

  6. Cambridge English Level 2 Proficiency/Business (C2)
    200 or higher

  7. Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE-A)
    53 or higher

  8. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Exam Verbal Score
    153 or higher

  9. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Verbal
    30 or higher

  10. Duolingo English Test (DET)
    110 or higher

  11. TOEFL Essentials Exam
    8.5 or higher

The TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be waived if you have successfully met another requirement showing proof of English proficiency. These alternate requirements are outlined in the USF academic catalog.

Waiving the English Proficiency Requirements

Successful completion with a grade of "B" or higher in the equivalents of ENC 101 and ENC 102, as outlined on the Florida Department of Education Statewide Course Numbering System, at a U.S. regionally accredited institution. can be used to waive the English Proficiency requirement. These course equivalencies are at the discretion of the University of South Florida.

 

Academic Credentials

  • If you are admitted and matriculate at USF, you must submit one (1) complete official transcript from every institution of higher learning you attended where a bachelor’s degree (or higher) was awarded.
  • You should also include official transcripts from every institution where you completed graduate work, like a graduate certificate.
  • You may expedite processing for your application by using your online application to upload unofficial copies of your transcripts. These may include documents like mark sheets, completion certificates and diploma supplements. We strongly encourage this practice.
  • If you receive an offer of admission based on your unofficial transcripts/documents, that offer will not be finalized and your future enrollment will be blocked until USF receives official paper transcripts/documents in a sealed envelope from the Office of the Registrar at your previous institution(s).
  • USF reserves the right to request any additional transcript(s) that we may need to evaluate your application.

Transcript Information

  • Your final transcript(s) must show that you earned the required degree prior to enrolling in your graduate program at USF.
    • If you have not completed the required degree by the start of the graduate program, you must contact Graduate Admissions to defer your admission to a future semester.

  • All transcripts you submit must be in English.
    • As an applicant, you are responsible for having your transcripts/documents translated and evaluated* before submitting them as part of your graduate application packet.

  • If you are applying while still completing a degree, you must submit transcripts of at least six (6) semesters of completed undergraduate work.

  • If you are admitted and enroll, you will be required to submit final transcripts/documents showing that your bachelor's degree was awarded prior to graduate matriculation.
    • If you are not admitted, submitting final transcripts/documents is not necessary.

*Translation and Evaluation Instructions:

All foreign transcripts/documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. We will not accept documents signed by a notary or any other person that has no educational affiliation.

Some graduate programs require a course-by-course evaluation from a foreign transcript evaluation service. All documents issued by the service that performs the evaluation must include a copy of the original document, along with an English translation (if applicable).

You must submit the credential evaluation directly to the Office of Admissions at the following address:

University of South Florida
Office of Admissions
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SVC 1036
Tampa, FL  33620

For your convenience, here are several credential evaluation services. Find additional recommended services in the NACES member directory.

 

GRE/GMAT Requirements

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

If you apply to any program that requires* the GRE:

  • Submit GRE test scores earned within five (5) years of your desired term of entry.

  • Submit official scores to USF directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS).
    • USF's institution code is 5828.

  • You may expedite processing for your application by providing unofficial copies of your test scores.
    • If admission is granted using unofficial scores, admission will not be finalized until official scores from ETS are received.

*In special cases, the GRE requirement may be waived at the discretion of individual graduate programs. Please contact your program of interest for additional information.

GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test)

If you apply to any program in the College of Business:

  • Submit GMAT* scores earned within five (5) years of your desired term of entry.

  • Submit official scores to USF directly from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Use the correct institution code from the list below.

  • You may expedite processing for your application by providing unofficial copies of your test scores.
    • If admission is granted using unofficial scores, admission will not be finalized until official scores from GMAC are received.

*You may not have to submit GMAT scores if you have taken the GRE. Please contact your program of interest for additional information.

USF Institution Codes (Administered by Pearson VUE)

  • VP9-M4-23 PhD Business Administration
  • VP9-M4-04 Executive MBA
  • VP9-M4-97 MBA, Full Time
  • VP9-M4-80, MBA Part Time
  • VP9-M4-25 MBA, St. Petersburg Campus
  • VP9-M4-18 Master of Accountancy
  • VP9-M4-67 MA in Economics
  • VP9-M4-86 MS in Finance
  • VP9-M4-17 MS in Management
  • VP9-M4-66 MS in Management Information Systems
  • VP9-M4-40 MSM in Marketing
  • VP9-M4-74 MRSE in Real Estate
  • VP9-M4-48 MS in Entrepreneur in Applied Technology
  • VP9-4J-76 Health Administration, College of Public Health

 

Bologna Process

Applications from the European Higher Education Area

USF accepts applications from prospective graduate students who hold undergraduate degrees from countries that subscribe to the Bologna Process. Find an up-to-date, official list of Bologna signatory countries on www.ehea.info.

Applicants with three-year degrees from universities in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) may be considered for admission to a graduate major under the following conditions:

  • Admission is at the discretion of the department (or equivalent) and college that offer the major, AND
  • Admission is approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, AND
  • Official documentation is presented to demonstrate that a three-year degree (at least 180 ECTS) has been awarded by an institution within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which is defined by the Bologna Declaration of 1999
    • This degree must have been awarded prior to USF matriculation.
    • When applicable, include diploma supplements with transcripts and other documents required to demonstrate degree completion.

Non-Bologna Institutions

Transcripts for applicants from non-Bologna Accord institutions must be accompanied by an evaluation of the bachelor's degree by an independent third-party member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Confirmation of the baccalaureate degree as equivalent is required and will be jointly determined by relevant major faculty, the Office of Admissions, and the Office of Graduate Studies. 

 

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