Graduate

Ball State University welcomes and receives applications from international graduate students to its several Master’s and Doctoral Programs. Rinker Center for International Programs at Ball State is committed to Serving International students.

International graduate students must apply for admission to Ball State University traditional degree programs.

The Department of Homeland Security requires full time attendance for International students.

International students who have been awarded a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution of higher education must submit their transcripts directly from their institutions and apply for graduate programs.

International students who have been awarded a bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education in a foreign country must apply for admission into graduate programs with a WES evaluation. International students who receive financial sponsorship or financial guarantee from their governments have the option of submitting WES evaluation or submitting official transcripts directly to Ball State University.

Students must follow all general admissions requirements for the specific graduate program. Students can review these requirements by visiting the individual department websites for specific graduate programs.

Graduate applicants must meet the following requirements and application procedures: 

1. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 grade scale) from the first bachelor’s degree. 
2. If you are applying for the MBA (master of business administration) or MS (Master of Science) in accounting program, you must have an acceptable combination of cumulative GPA from the first degree and score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Ball State’s GMAT code is 1051. 
3. Meet all admission requirements established by the department to which you are applying (e.g. GRE scores, auditions, writing samples, portfolios, etc.). Students are responsible for submitting all documents DIRECTLY to the departments, and meet the deadlines, as per department’s specifications for each graduate program. 
4. Complete the International Student Admission Application. Students are responsible for meeting the application deadlines, including the submission of WES evaluation to Ball State University.
5. Submit a non refundable application fee of $55 U.S. (applications for admission will not be processed without this payment).
6. Submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores (required, see note below) directly sent from the testing Centers to Ball State University, (Ball State’s code is 1051), unless government sponsored. Students with academic degrees from native English speaking countries (Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand and United Kingdom) do not have to submit TOEFL scores. Students who have attended a U.S. institution for academic study for a period of one or more years with high GPA may be waived on an individual basis. To be considered for official TOEFL or IELTS waiver, students must submit official transcripts of academic study, showing proof of attendance at a U.S. institution and satisfactory academic progress during their study. 
7. WES Evaluation (see note below). Applications beginning summer 2011 session and all semesters thereafter.
8. Provide on the application for admission a complete educational history from secondary school or your 13th year through the highest level of education completed. Failure to list all institutions attended and the dates of attendance could result in denial of admission. 
9. Provide, by sending through mail, current (within six months) official/original financial support documents (typically an official bank letter) from yourself, a relative, or sponsor demonstrating that sufficient funds are available to support your education at Ball State for a minimum of 12 months. Scanned or faxed financial documents will not be accepted. NOTE: Those applying for distance education programs only, and will not enter the United States, need not provide this information. Applicants with permanent resident status and U.S. citizens do not have to send financial documentation. They must send a copy of their passport. Permanent residents will need to send a copy of their permanent resident card. 
10. Submit the Ball State Letter of Financial Support Form. NOTE: Those applying for distance education programs only, and will not enter the United States, need not provide this information. 
11. International students who are currently studying in the United States, and upon admission wishing to transfer to Ball State University from a U.S. institution, must submit a copy of the current valid immigration document, visa, I 94 and passport.

Please note: Documents submitted to Ball State University will not be returned to the student.

Note: WES evaluation required for all International students. Students who receive financial sponsorship or financial guarantee from their Governments have the option of submitting their official transcripts directly to Ball State University. 

Please note that beginning Summer 2011 session and thereafter for all academic semesters, a WES ( World Education Services) evaluation is required of all international students, who have studied outside of the United States. All transcripts, high school (if applicable) as well as any post secondary transcripts from non- US educational institutions must be sent to WES by the issuing institution. This is a requirement for completing the international application for graduate admission. Students can find all the information needed for WES evaluation by visiting www.wes.org .

International students who receive financial sponsorship or financial guarantee from their governments have the option submitting WES evaluation or submit their official transcripts directly to Ball State University. Government sponsored students are strongly encouraged to submit WES evaluation, which helps in quick completion of the application and turnaround time for admission decision.  

If Government sponsored students wish to submit the academic transcripts directly to Ball State University, they must submit official academic records (transcripts) and official diploma or certificate demonstrating successful completion of a four-year bachelor's degree program. Academic records from all universities attended must be received in English and the native language.

International students can apply for their evaluation on the WES website, and should apply for course-by-course evaluation, if they have completed any university level coursework. It is critical that students read and follow the “Required Documents” information specific to their country of study to ensure that their evaluation is completed as quickly as possible.

If the students’ transcripts are in languages other than English, they must provide a translation. Please make sure that Ball State University is listed as a recipient of the WES evaluation. Once all the required documentation has been received by WES, the evaluation usually takes 7 to 10 days.

Note: TOEFL or IELTS score (required): Official TOEFL scores with a minimum score of 550(Paper based) or 79(Internet based) sent directly to Ball State from the testing centers are required for International admission to Ball State University. Students may also submit official IELTS scores directly from the testing center with a minimum score of 6.5. Certain graduate programs require higher TOEFL scores that the general minimum TOEFL score requirements. Ball State’s TOEFL code is 1051. Students with academic degrees from native English speaking countries (Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom) do not have to submit TOEFL scores. Students who have attended a U.S. institution for academic study for a period of one or more years and high GPA may be waived on an individual basis. To be considered for official TOEFL or IELTS waiver, students must submit official transcripts showing proof of attendance.

International students who receive financial sponsorship or financial guarantee from their governments and students who submitted official TOEFL of 550 PBT or 79 IBT or IELTS scores with lower than minimum required scores of 6.5, may request for conditional admission to Graduate Programs at Ball State University.

Please contact the International Admissions at Rinker Center for International Programs for specific conditional admission requirements and policy to complete the specified conditions. 

International students who wish to transfer from their current school in United States, up on admission to Ball State University, must submit a transfer release form from the current school.

Evaluation and International admission: All documents must be submitted to Riker Center for International programs except the documents required by Individual departments. After receiving all required documents, international student applications will be reviewed and notification of International admission decision will be sent to the applicants.