SUNY ESF
International Admissions Requirements
In addition to the admission requirements that all prospective students must meet, international applicants must provide the following:
Evidence of proficiency in the English language
| Standard | Undergraduate Admission Score (Minimum) | Graduate Admission Score (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL (paper-based) | 550 | 550 |
| TOEFL (internet-based) | 79 | 80 (with no individual component score < 17) |
| IELTS | Total: 6.0 (with no less than 5 in Writing) | Total: 6.0 (with no less than 5 in Writing) |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | 100 | 105 |
| PTE Academic | 53 | 53 |
| STEP EIKEN | Grade pre-1 | (University level) Grade 1 |
| Syracuse University - English Language Institute (ELI) | Successful completion of ELI "Level 4" | Successful completion of ELI "Level 4" |
| ELS | Successful completion of Level 112 | Successful completion of Level 112 |
| Previous college-level instruction in English |
Completion of at least one three-credit English course at an institution where the language of instruction is in English. ESL courses will not count toward meeting this requirement. |
|
| SAT | 500 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing Score | N/A |
| ACT | 22 Composite Score | N/A |
| Duolingo (DET) | (Minimum) = 100 | (Minimum) = 105 |
Note: SUNY ESF accepts MyBest TOEFL scores for both undergraduate and graduate admissions.
Transcripts and international academic credentials
International applicants must provide complete translations into English of all transcripts required by the admissions application without any additions or deletions by the translators. Translations of documents by the applicant will not be accepted. Credential evaluator and translation services for academic documents may be found through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
- International freshman applicants are required to demonstrate the completion of a college preparatory secondary school program by submitting academic credentials translated into English. This evaluation must be completed by an approved international credentials evaluation agency.
- International transfer applicants are required to submit a detailed course-by-course evaluation of all international academic credentials in English. This evaluation must be completed by an approved international credentials evaluation agency.
Passport
Copy of the passport should be submitted with application materials.
International Students Currently Attending an Educational Institution in the U.S.
In addition to the entrance requirements for other international students, international students who are currently enrolled at a U.S. educational institution must obtain permission (usually through a Transfer-In Form) from their current educational institution to transfer their SEVIS record to ESF. Students will also have to complete a SUNY ESF SEVIS Transfer-In Form (F-1 Students / J-1) so that ESF is aware of when your current institution will release your SEVIS record to ESF so that a new I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued for the ESF program of study. Additional information about transferring your SEVIS record to ESF is available online.
I-20 Issuance for International Students
An I-20, required for the F-1 student visa application, will be issued once a student has:
- Been officially admitted to ESF;
- Submitted adequate financial support documentation for at least one year of expenses at ESF;
In order to obtain an I-20 from ESF, a potential F-1 student must complete the "FSA-4 - Financial Statement" and submit credible documentary evidence that they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses (tuition, fees, and living expenses) for the entire first year of study. (It is expected that barring unforeseen circumstances, students will have adequate funds available for each subsequent year of study from the same source or from one or more other specifically identified and reliable financial sources.)
Documentation of sufficient funding may come from any combination of dependable sources, including scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, sponsoring agencies, personal funds, or funds from a student's family. Documentation of scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships must be in the form of an official award letter from the school or sponsoring agency; documentation of personal or family funds should be on an official signed letter of support from the bank that includes the U.S. dollar amount of support and certified bank statements which indicate that the sponsor has sufficient funds to meet a student's first-year expenses at ESF (the bank statement does not have to show the full amount of the account), or in the form of a legally binding affidavit. The Form I-134, "Affidavit of Support," can be used to document support being provided by a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident. Government-sponsored applicants should submit a certified copy of the award letter that includes the U.S. dollar amount of the award per year, the duration of the award and a list of expenses covered by the award.
- Indicate your intention to enroll at ESF through your ESF Applicant Portal by submitting the required admissions deposit.
- Submitted the New Undergraduate International Student Information Form.
- Submitted a passport copy.
Once all of the above materials have been received, an I-20 will be issued and mailed to the prospective international student by the Office of International Education.
Health Insurance Requirement
ESF students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required by SUNY policies to maintain comprehensive health insurance with medical evacuation and repatriation coverage for themselves (and their dependents in the United States) for the duration of their ESF program of study. International students are automatically enrolled in the SUNY Health Insurance Plan unless proof of comparable health insurance is provided to the Bursar's Office within 30 days of the start of each semester.
Contact Us
Office of International Education
SUNYESF
9 Old Greenhouse
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-4754
(315) 470-6978 (Fax)
The Graduate School
SUNY-ESF
227 Bray Hall
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-6599
(315) 470-6978 (Fax)
Undergraduate Admissions Inquires:
Mr. Thomas Fletcher
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
SUNY-ESF
218 Gateway Center
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 470-6600
(315) 470-6933 (Fax)