Graduate Admissions

Office of Graduate Admissions

International Students

Application Procedures

Duquesne University welcomes applications from qualified international students interested in a graduate program. Please refer to the appropriate graduate program for the specific process and documents that need to be submitted for admission.

Unless granted a waiver, students are required to obtain an official evaluation of your foreign credentials through a recognized service such as World Education Services (WES), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) or SpanTran or any of the organizations listed on the National Association for Credential Evaluation Services at naces.org.

The official reports must be sent directly to Duquesne University from the organization you order through and will qualify as official transcripts.

Students interested in applying to the PhD nursing degrees or online nursing master's or certificate programs should refer to the School of Nursing websites for additional transcript evaluation instructions and eligibility of admission to the program.

Graduate programs require you to submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo scores. Standardized test scores (e.g. GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Records Examination)) may also be required depending on the program of interest. Please check with the department for specific guidelines on these exams.

Duquesne University is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant foreign nationals. However, immigration documents cannot be issued until all application materials, including financial resource certification, have been received and verified. In order to complete on-campus arrival orientation, language proficiency testing, and registration, accepted international students should plan to arrive approximately two weeks before classes begin unless informed otherwise.

Where should I submit my documents?

You should submit all of your application documents directly to the Enrollment Management Group. The Center for Global Engagement does not evaluate or make admissions decisions for graduate programs; however, they do assist international students through the immigration process. Please refer to the Center for Global Engagement for specific forms (ex. affidavit of support) and details.

English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate and Professional Students

Since English is the language of instruction at Duquesne University, all graduate students must meet the necessary language requirements for their departments. Minimum scores are required for admission unless otherwise indicated by your accepting department; minimum scores vary by department. Please check with your department for international student admission policies and language requirements. 

University English Language Proficiency Requirements (Graduate and Online) 

• Graduate Degree Programs - All international applicants to graduate from degree programs are required to submit official TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo score reports current to within one year as part of their application. Requirements vary by department and school within the range of 80 to 100 iBT and 6.5 to 9 IELTS.
• Online Degree Programs - All international applicants to online degree programs are required to submit a TOEFL score of 80 (iBT) or higher, an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher or a DuoLingo Score of 115 or 125 (depending on department). The Duquesne University TOEFL Institution code for TOEFL is 2196. 

* Scores current to within one year are considered reliable for evaluation.

** Duquesne's Rangos School will consider 6.0 for applicants in the China Linkage Program only.

Some applicants may be exempt from English language proficiency requirements and/or English language testing. A request for an English language waiver can be made on the university application. If you are seeking a waiver, be sure to include justification for your request. Waivers can be approved in the following circumstances: 

• Completed four years of undergraduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education in the United States;
• Completed two years of graduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education in the United States; or
• Submitted with the application and have approved a petition recognizing four years of undergraduate work taught in English at an accredited institution outside of the United States; or
• Submitted with the application and have approved a petition recognizing two years of graduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education outside of the United States.

Please note:

• Some academic programs require higher general scores and/or sub scores (in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and/or Listening). The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, for example, requires a minimum TOEFL 90, IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo English Test 115. Prospective students should consult their Graduate and Professional program of choice to determine the particular admission requirements.
• Applicants who have not met the required minimum English proficiency scores established by the academic program may be considered for admission through the Pathway Program, if applicable. Information about the Pathway Program may be found on the International Graduate Pathway Program detailed below.
• Notwithstanding or in addition to the above, supplementary academic support may be required for students following admission into a graduate program. In such cases, graduate programs should refer students to the Global English Institute (GEI) to determine if there is a need for English support to facilitate academic success. Such academic support may include additional testing, enrollment in the appropriate type and number of ESL courses, or both. Additional testing may include the Writing Placement Test, the Speak Test, or Michigan English Language Test. Costs of ESL courses and testing are not included in full-time graduate tuition costs.
• Graduate assistantships require greater proficiency than the minimum general scores and certification of acceptable fluency.

Graduate Pathway Program (Conditional Admission)

International applicants who have not attained the required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo for admission into graduate programs may be eligible for conditional admission to either an academic program or admission into the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Through the Pathway Program for International Graduate Students, applicants may attend up to one year (twelve months) of the ESL program and academic coursework at Duquesne in order to be granted full admission into a graduate program. If, after twelve months, the student has not demonstrated satisfactory progress, and/or attained a requisite English language proficiency score, the student may be dismissed from the program by the appropriate Program Director.

International Teaching Assistants

Pennsylvania state law and Duquesne University policies require certification of sufficient English language fluency for all faculty and teaching assistants. Teaching assistants whose first language is other than English are required to take additional language tests conducted by the Duquesne University Global English Institute and the Center for Teaching Excellence in cooperation with the teaching assistant's academic department. Results determine whether the candidate has sufficient fluency to teach. If the assessment indicates a need for assistance with English, the student will be enrolled in required language classes to be taken together with degree program courses. Teaching assistants with a subscore of 27 or higher on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT or speaking subscore of 7 or higher on the IELTS) are excused from taking the SPEAK test.

In addition to the above, supplementary academic support may be required for students following admission into a graduate program. In such cases, graduate programs should refer students to the Global English Institute to determine if there is a need for English support to facilitate academic success. Such academic support may include additional testing, enrollment in the appropriate type and number of ESL courses, or both. Additional testing may include the Writing Placement Test, the Speak Test, or the Michigan English Test. Costs for ESL courses and testing are not included in full-time graduate tuition costs. Current costs may be found on the ESL Program website at www.duq.edu/esl.

Graduate assistantships require greater proficiency than the minimum general scores and certification of acceptable fluency. For information about assistantship requirements, please contact the Global English Institute at (412) 396-5091.

Global English Institute

The Global English Institute is home to our English as a Second Language program that offers classes in speaking, listening, reading and writing skills to help students improve their English language proficiency. It enhances readiness to enroll in university degree programs which require English for academic study.

Students interested in applying only for English language study in the Duquesne University Global English Institute on either a short- or long-term basis may submit an application to study as non-degree students. ESL students must comply with all U.S. immigration regulations for maintenance of full-time student status. Additional information on the Global English Institute may be found at www.duq.edu/gei and in the catalog under Special Programs.

Additional Information on International Student Applications

Direct all inquiries and requests for additional information to:

Center for Global Engagement
Duquesne University
601 Gormley Student Union
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282-1660
USA
(412) 396-6113
Fax: (412) 396-5178
intladmissions@duq.edu