Apply to Cal State Fullerton

Application Requirements and Process

1. How to apply

• Students can find information about our application process here: Steps to Apply. When applying to a CSUF Graduate program, international applicants should upload unofficial transcripts from all the academic institutions attended and TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo test scores (if you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement). Please give admissions 3-4 weeks to review and update the status of your application from the date application is received. If admitted to CSUF, applicants must submit official final documents .
• Official transcripts & Bachelor’s degree certificate: Documents are considered official when they are issued & sent by the university. CSUF requires all official documents to be sent by the institution where the Bachelor’s degree was earned to CSUF Office of Admissions.
  • Mailing address: CSU Fullerton, Office of Admission, P.O. Box 6900, Fullerton, CA 92834-6900.

• Provisional admission: Students who are admitted provisionally are required to provide their official transcripts, bachelor’s degree certificate and test scores as soon as possible after being admitted otherwise the admission decision could be rescinded.
• Acknowledgment of application: After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation letter. This letter will include your Campus-Wide identification (CWID) number and your CSUF email address. Your CWID is essential for various student activities at CSUF, so be sure to keep it for future use. From this point on, all official communication from CSUF will be sent to your CSUF email account. Please check it regularly to stay informed.

2. What are the CSUF Graduate programs minimum requirements for initial review of the application?

• Completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, OR
  • 3 years of bachelor’s degree + 1 year of post-graduate diploma (requires all 4 years of transcripts & degree certificate/Post Graduate diploma certificate), OR
  • 3 Years of bachelor’s degree + 2 years of master’s degree (Require all 5 years of transcripts + bachelor’s & master’s degree certificates).
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• English Language Proficiency: regardless of citizenship, all applicants whose education was not at a majority English-language country, must submit proof of English proficiency.
• Please keep in mind that CSUF graduate programs have additional requirements and/or requirements beyond the minimum requirements referenced above. Applicants should refer to each individual program’s website and contact their program advisors to know more about program-specific requirements.

3. Do I have to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement?

Regardless of citizenship, all applicants whose education was not at a majority English-language country, must submit proof of English proficiency before admission decisions can be made. If you completed your degree in one of the countries listed here, the ELP will be waived. The minimum test requirements are listed here. You will also find the minimum test score requirements on the final page of this document. Test scores are valid for two years from the date the test was taken.

4. Am I required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement if I am a US citizen who completed a bachelor’s degree from foreign institution?

Yes, you will be required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement, unless your degree was completed in one of the countries listed here .

5. Can I apply to more than 1 program?

No, you may apply to only one graduate program per admissions cycle (Fall & Spring). Some programs let you choose an alternate program at the time of application, but this option is limited and not available for all programs

6. When can I apply?

Application period for Spring opens July 1st, deadlines vary by program

Application period for Fall opens August 1st, deadlines vary by program

7. Application and document deadlines

Deadlines vary by program. Please be sure to confirm the deadline of your intended program of study to ensure that you apply on time. If you have any question related to a program, please email them to your graduate advisor.

8. Where can I check the status of my application?

Applicants can check the status of their application by logging in to their CSUF student portal. You should also check your CSUF email account for updates and other announcements.

9. How long will it take to receive a decision on my application?

The admissions response time varies by program. The application review process and transcript evaluation are done by the Office of Graduate Studies. Subsequently, an admissions decision is made by the department. The official notification of admission will come from the Office of Graduate Studies and a status change can be viewed on your CSUF student portal.

10. How will I be notified of the decision?

Once a decision has been made, an email will be sent from the Office of Graduate Studies to your CSUF email address, which is provided in your confirmation letter once you apply. The email will direct you to a link to accept the offer and make the enrollment deposit, as well as other important resources. If you are not offered admissions, information regarding the appeal process will be included in your decision letter.

11. I already have a Master's degree; can I apply for a 2nd Master's degree?

Yes, you can apply for a 2^nd Master’s degree but it should not be for the same program/degree. For example – A student who has already earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science cannot apply for a 2^nd Master’s in the same major, but they can apply to different majors, such as Mechanical Engineering.

Transcript and Other Document Requirements

12. Where do I submit transcripts/degree certificate?

Official transcripts/degree certificates/provisional certificates or any other documents should be sent by the students’ degree granting institution in a sealed envelope or via electronic transcript via an approved provider. Mailing address: CSU Fullerton, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 6900, Fullerton, CA 92834-6900.

OR

You can bring the sealed packet to the Office of Admissions in person. Please make sure that the packet is not opened and add your full name and campus-wide ID number (CWID) on the outside of the envelope.

13. Does CSUF accept 3rd party evaluations of foreign transcripts?

We do accept 3^rd party evaluations, but they are not required. You must submit the official original-language transcript or mark sheets, as well as a word-for-word certified English translation if documents are not in English. Or submit a full credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES), The Evaluation Company (formerly SPANTRN) or International Education Evaluations (IEE). Student should request for Course-by-Course ICAP Evaluation which includes the complete report along with scanned transcripts & degree certificate. The electronic report can then be electronically sent to CSUF, Org ID – 4589, or mail to CSU Fullerton, Office of Admission, P.O. Box 6900, Fullerton, CA 92834-6900 address. If possible, add your full name and campus-wide ID number (CWID) on the outside of the envelope.

14. I have only 1 set of original transcripts & degree certificate; can I get these documents back?

All documents and records received by CSUF will become the property of the university and will not be returned to the student or forwarded to any other institution. We recommend students who have only 1 set of original documents to get their documents evaluated through one of the 3^rd party vendors and request the complete ICAP report to be sent to CSUF Office of Admissions.

15. Does CSUF require International applicants to upload translated transcripts?

Yes. You should upload the original language transcripts and degree certificate + the English translation of all the documents in the Cal State Apply application. Be sure to include the grade key for each institution. If you submit a copy of a 3^rd party evaluation, please be sure to upload all pages of the evaluation-the cover page alone does not provide enough detail.

16. Does CSUF accept transcripts/degree certificate sent as attachment in an email?

Any documents sent as attachment in email by the student or their university are considered unofficial documents. Official transcripts/degree certificates/provisional certificates or any other documents should be sent by the students’ degree granting institution in a sealed envelope or via electronic transcript via an approved provider.

17. How can I submit my test scores for the English Language Proficiency requirement?

When you register for the exam, add CSUF as an institution to which you want your official test scores sent. The CSUF Org ID is 4589. You may also mail a sealed copy of your official test scores to CSU Fullerton, Office of Admission, P.O. Box 6900, Fullerton, CA 92834-6900 address. If possible, add your full name and campus-wide ID number (CWID) on the outside of the envelope. Contact the test administrator for additional details.

TOEFL

IELTS

PTE

Duolingo – to share your scores with CSUF, please visit the DET score sharing webpage.

18. Do I need to send new transcripts and test scores if I apply for a future term OR are they still on file?

Your official test scores will be on file and valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Your previous transcripts will stay on file. However, if you have any new transcripts or test scores since your last application you must submit those with the new application and request your college to send the official transcripts to CSUF Admissions mailing address as noted above.

19. Are accommodations provided if needed for the English Language Proficiency exams?

Yes, please refer to the test providers websites linked here for more details about how to request testing accommodations:

TOEFL

IELTS

Duolingo

Additional Resources

20. How do I obtain my Form I-20?

Confirmation of your acceptance is the first step in obtaining your I-20. If you are offered admissions, you must also accept the offer and pay the enrollment administrative fee. Then CSUF International Students & Scholars (ISS) will send an email to you with instructions on how to obtain the Form I-20. For more information, please refer to the ISS webpage, Form I-20 for New International Students.

21. What is the Cost of Attendance for CSUF Graduate programs?

Please visit the Student Business Services website for more information regarding tuition fees. If you are an international student seeking a Form I-20, please refer to the CSUF International Student Financial Affidavit Form for estimated cost of attendance, which includes tuition fees, living expenses, and required health insurance.

22. Additional Resources

Please refer to the following for additional resources. Please include your Campus-wide ID # (CWID) in the subject line of your email.

• Office of Graduate Studies
  • Admissions: gradadmissions@fullerton.edu
  • General Questions: gradstudiesrecept@fullerton.edu
  • International applicant Evaluator, Gargi Dahiya: gdahiya@fullerton.edu
• Questions about I-20 or health insurance - CSUF International Students & Scholars (ISS) - iss@fullerton.edu
• Program Advisors contact information - Graduate Studies | CSUF - Graduate Studies (fullerton.edu)
• Cal State Apply issues or questions – Cal State Apply Help Center (Please upload the screenshots of the issues)
• Graduate program tuition & fee information – sbs@fullerton.edu
• How & where to register for graduate classes - How to Register - Office of the Registrar | CSUF (fullerton.edu)

English Language Proficiency

You can demonstrate English Language Proficiency by meeting the following exam benchmarks. These benchmarks apply to requirements for credential, post-baccalaureate and graduate programs. Please view the Graduate Studies website for a list of all programs.

English Language Proficiency

Post-bac and Graduate Programs	TOEFL (prior to 1/21/26)	TOEFL (effective 1/21/26)	IELTS	PTE	Duolingo
Post-bac Certificates Credentials Masters Graduate	80 iBT	4	6.5	58	110
MBA/Graduate Business	88-89 iBT	4.5	7.0	65	120
TESOL	89 iBT (w/ 26 speaking)	4.5	7.0	65	135
Art with concentration in Graphic Design	85 iBT	4.5	6.5	58	115
Engineering and Computer Science	80 iBT	4	6.5	58	125
English	100 iBT	5	7.5	65	140

If you have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in a country where English is the native language, you may be exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement. You may find a list of the countries that qualify here.