Loyola University Chicago

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Graduate and Professional International Students

Additional Application Information

The Graduate School welcomes applications from international students who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent. As an international applicant, you may have a few extra documents to provide.

Mailing address:

All application materials and financial documents should be mailed directly to:

Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management
Loyola University Chicago
820 N. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611 USA

English Language Proficiency Requirement for Admission

This requirement is waived for those who have completed a four year U.S. bachelor’s, or a master’s degree program in the US.  For those with a non-US bachelor’s degree, the US master’s degree must be conferred to waive the requirement.  The language test is also waived for those who are from, or who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
 
For the TOEFL, a minimum score of a 79 on the iBT or a 550 on the written test is required.  For the IELTS, a minimum score of 6.5 is required.
 
Note: scores are only valid for two years from the test date.
 
Test scores should be sent directly to Loyola University Chicago (our institutional code is 1412).
 
** Test scores must be received directly from the testing service to be considered official.  Photocopies, scanned copies, and faxes are not accepted as official documents. **

English as a Second Language (ESL)

If your TOEFL or IELTS scores are not high enough for admission, or if you would like to work on your English skills prior to or after admission, you will find information about Loyola University Chicago’s ESL program at http://www.luc.edu/esl/index.shtml. 

Transcripts and Credentials

 
The Transcript Evaluation:
A transcript evaluation is required from all applicants who attended or completed their bachelor’s and /or master’s degree at an institution outside of the United States.  The evaluation is not an English translation of the marksheets, but a separate document completed by an evaluation service which shows that the degree received outside the US is equivalent to a US degree.  Loyola University accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) – more information on the transcript evaluation process and the evaluation application can be found at www.ece.org and www.wes.org.
 
Note: The evaluation is not required for those with a US master’s degree CONFERRED.  We must receive the transcript showing the degree conferred, and not in process, to waive this requirement.
 
Most programs request the General Evaluation.
 
All Graduate School of Business programs require a Course-by-Course Evaluation.
 
Some School of Education programs, specifically those which include Illinois certification, may require a Course-by-Course Evaluation.  Please check your program’s website (LUC.edu/gpem) for clarification.
 
International applicants to Loyola’s Niehoff School of Nursing should use the credentialing service of Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) at www.cgfns.org.
 
** Documents must be received in an unopened envelope sealed by the evaluation service to be considered official.  Photocopies, scanned copies, and faxes are not accepted as official documents**
 
Transcripts:
In addition to the transcript evaluation, applicants must submit one set of all transcripts, marksheets, and degree certificates for all institutions attended.  Photocopies may be received for review, and conditional admission may be offered with these copies.  An offer of unconditional admission can only be made with the official documents received; and if offered conditional admission, you will need to submit the official document before you can register for your second semester.
 
*** Documents must be received in an unopened envelope sealed by the institution to be considered official.  Photocopies, scanned copies, and faxes are not accepted as official documents.

Visa Requirements and Proof of Financial Resources

 
Declaration and Certification of Finances Form (For F-1 and J-1 applicants):
 
Once admitted, all international students who wish to attend school in F-1 or J-1 student status must fill out the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form for International Graduate & Professional Students. You will need to provide this Declaration and Certification of Finances documentation in order to obtain an I-20 or DS-2019. The purpose of this documentation is to prove that you, or your sponsors have enough money in savings for tuition and living expenses for a period of one academic year, with the understanding that you will be able to fund your entire education at Loyola University Chicago. This certification is required by the USCIS before Loyola can issue an I-20 or DS-2019.  Be sure to include the following with this form:
  • Copy of your Passport Identity Page
  • Financial documents not older than 6 months, to prove that you have sufficient funding for 1 year of living expenses, plus 1 year of tuition, with the understanding that you will be able to fund your entire education at Loyola University Chicago.
Office For International Programs:  International Student and Scholar Services:
 
If you have any questions about your student status or about this process, feel free to contact International Student and Scholar Services in the Office for International Programs at intlcntr@luc.edu or 773-508-3899.

Initial Attendance and Transferring Schools within the U.S.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service requires every international student who enters the United States on the F-1 or J-1 visa for study at a particular school to complete at least one academic term at the school before being eligible to transfer to another school. For example, if you enter the U.S. on an I-20 from Loyola University Chicago, the U.S. government requires that you attend Loyola for at least one term before you are permitted to transfer to another university.

If you are transferring to Loyola from a school in the United States, you must obtain a Transfer Verification Form from your current institution to send to Loyola so that we can transfer your F-1 or J-1 status. The International Advisor should complete this form at your current or most recent school attended. You need to instruct the International Advisor at your former school what date you would like to be released and transfer to Loyola. Loyola cannot issue the transfer I-20 or DS-2019 until your previous school releases you to transfer. If you are out of status with your former school, please contact the Office for International Programs at intlcntr@luc.edu or +1 773 508-3899.

If you are currently in the U.S. on a dependent non-immigrant visa such as H-4, L-2, F-2, J-2 or Permanent Residency, please let the Office for International Programs know your status and if you are interested in changing your non-immigrant status to F-1.

The Graduate School English Language Degree Requirement

Students who have not received a bachelor's degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction are required to complete the English language degree requirement. This is a very important requirement: students who do not fulfill the requirement will not be eligible to receive a degree.

The policy states that incoming students are required to take a placement test at the beginning of the first semester as a degree-seeking student (the placement test is a different test from the Test of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL] and the International English Language Testing System [IELTS]). Detailed information on the test is available at the English as a Second Language (ESL) department website: www.luc.edu/esl/graduate. The ESL department will notify students of the results of the test. Depending on their test results, students may be required to complete one or two ESL courses to satisfy the English language degree requirement.

Students with questions regarding this policy should contact their graduate program director or the Graduate School.

Hospitalization Insurance

Loyola University Chicago requires that all students carry hospitalization insurance. The university participates in an insurance program which is available to all students.

Immunizations

Illinois Public Act 85-1315 requires that all students born on or after January 1, 1957, entering universities must present proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus. This requirement applies to international applicants.

Financial Assistance

International students are not eligible for any state or federal financial aid. Institutional aid is available on a very limited basis and is generally awarded according to academic merit. For more information, please see the Graduate School's information on merit awards.

Housing

On-Campus housing is available on a limited basis for unmarried international graduate students. For more information, please visit www.luc.edu/oip/housing.shtml.

More Questions?

The Office for International Programs, International Student and Scholar Services will be happy to answer any questions you might have about your visa status in the U.S. You may reach the Office for International Programs at any of the following:

Phone: +1 773 508-3899
Fax: +1 773 508-7125
E-mail: intlcntr@luc.edu
Website: Office for International Programs