International Graduate Applicants

The School of Nursing welcomes applications from international students for its graduate degree programs. International applicants must submit the regular admissions application plus these additional requirements.

English Language Testing

Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a strong ability in academic English from the TOEFL or IELTS examination scores that are no more than 24 months old. International students must meet the University's minimum standards on the TOEFL and IELTS. Send the scores directly to the University of Virginia; the code for the TOEFL is B875.

The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section. In any case, the date of the reported test must fall within two years of the application deadline. Admissions committees will consider applications with scores that do not meet the minimum requirements.

Academic Credentials Evaluation

All international transcripts need to be evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. This will provide a report about the education system of the host country and 'translate' the grading system to the 4.0 American-style GPA. Several companies provide this credentials evaluation, and UVA cannot recommend one over another. It may take a month or more to receive an official credentials evaluation, so applicants must plan ahead. Some companies that provide this service are:

• Educational Credentials Evaluators
• Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute
• Josef Silny and Associates
• World Education Services

Nursing Credential and License

Applicants for all advanced practice graduate programs other than PhD must have an RN license from a US state at the time they submit their admissions application. If offered admission to a graduate program, you must obtain an RN license in Virginia before you can enroll in any classes. If you do not currently have an RN license in the US, consult with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and the Virginia Board of Nursing for the steps needed to obtain a Virginia RN license. To transfer your RN license from overseas to the US, you may need to have your license and prior nursing education evaluated by the Commission for Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, submit scores from English language testing examinations, and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. If you received your nursing education overseas, this review and testing process could take 1-2 years in total. The RN license is not required for applicants for the direct entry MSN (Clinical Nurse Leader) since this program is for non-nurses.

Visa and Financial Statements

Applicants who receive offers of admission will be sent additional information on visa applications and financial guarantee statements. You may need to present proof that you have the financial resources to pay for your tuition and living expenses for the full academic degree.

Admissions Deadlines

The posted admissions deadlines for the various programs are fixed. International applicants must submit all materials for consideration well before the deadline date to be considered. It is strongly recommended that international applicants have all materials submitted (including English language testing and credentials evaluation) 2 months before the regular application deadlines.

Summer English for Academic Purposes Course

All international graduate students accepted for the fall semester must enroll in the summer English for Academic Purposes course administered by the Center for American English Language and Culture. This course covers academic English content as well as material about the University, libraries, and the city of Charlottesville. Students are responsible for the fees for this program.

Interviews

The admissions committees reserve the right to interview any applicant to the graduate nursing programs at UVA. For most international applicants, this would be a video interview. You would be contacted by the Office of Admissions and Student Services if an interview is requested.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements.