International Students

Welcome! Bienvenue! Dobro Pojalovat'! Foon Ying! Bienvenidos! Irashaimasu! Välkommen! Willkommen!

The Graduate School is delighted that you are interested in pursuing your graduate education at Montclair State University! We offer a wide range of outstanding graduate programs that are designed to prepare you for leadership roles in a variety of professions. The Graduate School, the Office of International Services, our faculty and graduate program advisors are here to make your graduate experience a success from your first inquiry to your graduation day. This level of personal attention is what separates The Graduate School at Montclair State University from the rest.

We are located just 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) from New York City. This proximity gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the rich cultural, societal, and educational environment of New York City while living on a beautiful park like university campus. The town of Montclair offers diverse eateries, shopping, and has vibrant cultural and recreational activities. Our campus life is lively with on campus activities, organizations, theater, music, arts programming and much more.

Our website is full of valuable information for prospective international students and many of your questions can be answered with just a few clicks! Below are web pages that may be beneficial as you plan for your graduate education.

• Application Information
• International Application Deadlines
• Graduate Application Procedure-Step by Step
• Last Term Seniors
• Office of International Services- Immigration Process
• Housing Information
• When You Arrive
• Financial Information
• Advising, Matriculation and Registration
• Applicants Already Studying in the United States
• International Student Award

Please let us know if we can be of assistance. We wish you success in your pursuit of your graduate education!

Application Information
Applications for admission must be completed and signed by the applicant. A friend or relative cannot complete or sign the application. The law requires that The Graduate School maintain the confidentiality of both the information submitted by applicants and the status of their applications. Any applicant whose circumstances require that someone else contact The Graduate School in conjunction with their application must send us a signed letter formally designating a person as their proxy. The Graduate School cannot discuss an application with anyone but the applicant without this document. All international applicants (students with non-U.S. degrees and/or students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents) need a Student (F-1) Visas.

International Application Deadline
Suggested Application Deadlines: The Graduate School should receive all materials by:

• June 1 for the Fall Semester (starts in September)
• November 1 for the Spring Semester (starts in January)

If the program applied for has an earlier deadline then the dates above, the earlier date would take precedence.

Graduate Application Procedure-Step by Step
To apply as an international graduate student, applicants should follow the steps listed below. 

• Complete the online application.

• Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or English for International Opportunity (IELTS) exam and have the scores submitted to The Graduate School. Minimum scores are:
• Masters - Computerized test minimum score accepted is 213
• Masters – iBT (internet) test minimum score is  83
• Doctorate – Computerized test  minimum score accepted is 213
• Doctorate –iBT (internet) test minimum score is 117
• IELTS- 6.5
• More information can be found at   www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org
• Montclair State University’s institutional code for test reporting is 2520.

• The Graduate School does not evaluate transcripts of non-U.S. degree programs and coursework. Please arrange to have your foreign credentials (transcripts) evaluated course by course by a member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). For contact information of NACES members please visit www.naces.org/members.htm

• Arrange to take the required graduate admissions exams for the program you are applying too. That information can be found on the application requirements webpage.
• GMAT exam (required for School of Business programs) Montclair State University’s institutional code for test reporting is 1T2-NK-86
• GRE exam (required for all other majors). Montclair State University’s institutional code for test reporting is 2520
• The scores must be submitted to The Graduate School

For further information about the graduate application procedure, contact The Graduate School at graduate.school@montclair.edu      

Last-Term Seniors
Students who have not completed their undergraduate degree may apply during their last term of undergraduate work. They must request an official COURSE-BY-COURSE evaluation of their transcript by any member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and have it sent to The Graduate School. All other application requirements must be received by the The Graduate School before the application will be reviewed.
After the undergraduate degree is completed and posted on the transcript, a final, official COURSE-BY-COURSE evaluation by any member of NACES indicating the awarding of the bachelors degree must be submitted to The Graduate School. Last-term seniors who are admitted on a provisional basis must supply this final evaluation in order to register for subsequent terms.

Office of International Services- Immigration Process
Students who are eligible for admission based on NACES COURSE-BY-COURSE transcript evaluations, GRE/GMAT/MAT scores (as required by program), TOEFL or IELTS scores, and other application requirements that were submitted, will be required to submit notarized statements documenting sufficient funds to pay necessary educational and other costs to the Office of International Services (OIS).  If the University accepts the financial evidence provided, the OIS will issue the I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status" or the IAP-66 "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status", whichever is appropriate. Students will also receive further directions regarding orientation, registration, immigration regulations and step-by-step arrival instructions.
Upon receipt of the I-20, students must proceed to the United States Embassy or Consulate in their home country to obtain an
F-1 student visa: Although requirements for the F-1 student visa may vary from country to country, and issuance of the I-20 is not a guarantee of receiving the F-1 visa, students should be prepared to present to the visa issuing office their student I-20, passport, and whatever additional documentation is requested. Upon issuance of the F-1 student visa, students should arrange transportation to the United States consistent with the instructions received from the Office of International Services. Please contact the Office of International Services if you have any questions about the admissions process.

Housing Information
If you anticipate needing on-campus housing, please request a housing application from the Office of Residence Life as quickly as possible after receiving your acceptance from The Graduate School. For questions, call (973) 655-5188 or email resed@mail.montclair.edu.

When You Arrive
It is very important that students arrive in sufficient time for the orientation program described in the materials sent by the Office of International Services. If students have arranged on-campus housing, they will be able to move in by the report date listed on the I-20. 
Students will also need to take an English Language Proficiency test at Montclair State University, which is separate from the TOEFL or IELTS, before they will be able to register for classes. Upon review of the English language proficiency test score, students may be required to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Montclair State University.

Financial Information
There are five forms of financial assistance available for international students who are eligible:

• Graduate Assistantships and Student Assistant funds- Students applying for graduate assistantships or student assistant positions will need a United States Social Security number which can be requested from a local United States Social Security office with documentation provided by the Office of International Services. 
• Graduate Scholarships
• International Student Award
• International Student Tuition Waivers- A very limited number of international students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for an International Student Tuition Waiver after they have successfully completed one full semester at Montclair State University.  Contact the Office of International Services for an application, eligibility criteria, and deadline information during your first semester of matriculation.
• On-Campus Employment- Employment on campus is extremely limited and must be approved by the Office of International Services.  Hiring decisions are based on departmental needs.

Advising, Matriculation and Registration
Students must contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for their program as soon as they arrive in the United States to develop a work program. This is a formal statement of the academic requirements for the degree and must be completed before they register.  Contact The Graduate School regarding procedures for initial registration and information on their Graduate Program. Please be aware that students with F-1 visas must register for at least nine credits each semester in order to maintain their immigration status.

Applicants Already Studying in the United States
If you are coming directly to Montclair State University from another USA institution, the Office of International Services will notify INS about your transfer. In order to complete this procedure, you must submit the following documents no later than fifteen days after the first day of classes to the Office of International Services at Montclair State University:

• Copy of your I-94 (Arrival/Departure Card) and entry Visa.
• Copy of the I-20 issued by the school you attended right before you transferred to Montclair State University.
• The Foreign Student Advisor's Report: signed and completed by the International Student Advisor of the school you are transferring from.
• Copy of the I-20 issued by Montclair State University. This I-20 is valid only if it has your signature.
• Non F-1 visa students should submit copies of documents that indicate their current immigration status to the Office of International Services.

International Graduate Student Award

The MSU International Graduate Student Award is available to any student who meets all of the following criteria:

1. Graduation with a bachelors or a master's degree from one of Montclair State University's Global Partner Schools*
2. Applies and is admitted into a graduate program at Montclair State University
3. Maintains the minimum academic requirements for retention in the graduate program

Austria:
University of Graz (Karl Franzens University)
F. H. Joanneum
China:
Beijing Jiatong University
East China Normal University
Shanghai Normal University
Shanghai Institute of Technology
University of International Business and Economics
Korea
Seoul National University of Technology
Hungary
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
University of Debrecen
Mohaly Nagy University of Art and Design
Italy
University of Siena
Mexico
La Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA)
Norway
Agder University
Russia
Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory
Slovak Republic
Comenius University
Spain
Universidad de Nebrija
Thailand
Burapha University
Ukraine
Kirovograd State Pedagogical University
DISNEY PARTNER SCHOOLS
(Some of these schools are also Partners on the general list above)
CHINA
Beijing City University
Beijing Normal University
Beijing Normal Unviersity Zhuhai Campus
Beijing International Studies University
Communication University of China
Communication University of China Nanguang Institute
Donghua University
Dalian University of Foreign Languages
East China Normal University
Zhuhai College of Jilin University
Northeast  Forestry University
Neusoft Institute of Information
Shanghai University
Shanghai Normal University
Shanghai Institute of Technology
Tianjin University of Finance and Economics
University of International Business and Economics
KOREA
Seoul National University of Technology
Hansung University
Sejong University