Application Information

International Applicants

Information for International Students

Northeastern University is home to one of the largest international student communities in the United States, with over 20,000 international students coming from over 147 countries.

 

You should review the information found below if:

  • You are a non-U.S. Citizen applying to Northeastern from a high school or university in any country around the world, even the U.S.
  • You are a U.S. Citizen applying from a high school or university outside of the U.S.

You will find application information under Applying, enrollment information under Admitted Students, and additional details about services available for students, under Support.

All first-year and transfer applicants must apply with either the Common Application or Coalition Application. Please use the links below to review our application requirements and deadlines, and learn more about applying as a first-year or transfer student to Northeastern.

On the application and any supporting documents, please use your name as it appears on your passport.

Northeastern expects all applicants to submit an application (essays, transcripts, test scores, etc.) that is in its entirety completed by the applicant. No part of the application can be completed by persons (including paid agents, admissions support agencies, or personnel) other than the student applying for admission. Use of such services violates Northeastern policies, and will lead to the rejection of application materials, the revocation of an admissions offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the university.

  • When reviewing your application, Northeastern’s Admissions Committee will initially focus on your academic records, which include your high school transcript; final or predicted results from any national, regional, or international examinations; any university transcripts; and for first-year applicants who will graduate from a high school which is located outside of the United States, the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Provided below are additional details on the academic records which Northeastern requires from all first-year and transfer applicants.

    High School Transcripts

    Before you enroll at Northeastern, you will be expected to complete a pre-university education program, earning a graduation certificate or diploma which will enable you to apply to a bachelor’s degree-seeking program at a university in your home country. Examples include your High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Levels (A-Levels), Attestat o Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii, Baccalauréat, Bachillerato, General Secondary Education Certificate, Indian Standard XII Higher Secondary School Certificate, or West African Senior School Certificate.

    • All high school transcripts must be sent directly to Northeastern by your high school by the application deadline. Any transcripts sent by you, your family or an independent educational consultant will not be accepted.
    • First-year applicants must provide a transcript which includes final grades from grades 9, 10, and 11 (or the international equivalents). Additionally:
      • If 9th Grade in your education system is considered middle school, please exclude 9th Grade.
      • If you apply for Regular Decision, or if you are deferred to Regular Decision from an earlier round, your high school should send the Mid-Year Report with an updated high school transcript.
      • If you’ve graduated from high school or will graduate before admissions decisions are released, your high school should send your final high school transcript (with date of graduation).
    • Transfer applicants must provide a final high school transcript (with date of graduation) which can be sent directly from your high school to Northeastern.
    • If your education system does not issue transcripts, your high school must provide the academic records which detail the courses you’ve taken throughout high school, and the grades which you’ve received. Examples include internal grade reports, term or semester reports, mark sheets, or promotional or provisional examination results.

    Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) 

    All first-year applicants are required to submit the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Once your application is submitted and processed, you will be able to access your SRAR through the Application Status Check portal. For additional information on the SRAR, please review Self-Reported Academic Record subsection.

    University Transcripts

    If you are applying as a transfer student from an international university and wish to have courses evaluated for transfer credit after admittance, you will need to provide a certified transcript evaluation completed by a recognized credentialing agency, such as the Center for Educational Documentation (CED), SpanTran, World Education Services (WES), or another recognized credentialing agency and the credentialed evaluation must include the following:

    • An indication that the institution is accredited in US terms
    • A course-by-course credit and grade conversion

    National Exams

    If progression or promotion in your country or education system requires you to complete any externally assessed examinations, please read the following section, as Northeastern will require you to submit your final results (or predicted grades, if your final results are not available until after admissions decisions are released).

    • If promotion into your pre-university education requires externally assessed exams, your high school must send a copy of your final results certificate to Northeastern. Examples include your GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-Level exam results, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam results, Malaysian SPM exam results, or Indian Standard X board exam results.
    • If you are applying from an education system that culminates in any externally assessed national, regional, or international high school graduation exams which are required for admission into a bachelor’s degree-seeking university program in your home country, Northeastern highly recommends sending final results or predicted grades along with your application. Examples include results from any IB exams, GCE A-Level exams, Cambridge Pre-U exams, Baccalauréat exams, Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams, Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exams, Malaysian SPM exams, West African Senior School Certificate Exams, or Indian Standard XII board exams.
      • For students who will graduate before admissions decisions are released: final results must be submitted by the exam board, or as a certified copy by your high school.
      • If you will not receive your final results until after admissions decisions are released: predicted grades should instead be submitted by your high school should.
      • Furthermore, all enrolling students will be required to submit final exam results, even students who applied “test-optional” to Northeastern, as final exams also serve as proof of high school graduation.
      • If you are applying from a high school in the United States, submitting predicted grades is not required but entirely optional. Instead, you are encouraged to submit your first semester or first trimester grades once they become available, and your mid-year grades if you applied for Regular Decision or were deferred to Regular Decision from an earlier round.

    Predicted results should be submitted with the High School Transcript, Secondary School Report, or Counselor Recommendation; or submitted by a designated school official from a verifiable school email address, using either Northeastern’s Predicted Grades Request Form or your high school’s own predicted grades statement. If your final test scores are not within an acceptable range of your predicted results, Northeastern reserves the right to rescind any offers of admission.

    Application Requirements for Common International Education Systems

    While Northeastern’s application requirements are largely identical for all first-year applicants and all transfer applicants – the application with Northeastern-specific questions, your academic records, secondary school report or college report, recommendation letters, standardized testing (optional), and English proficiency – the documents which ultimately satisfy those requirements, specifically for the academic records, will sometimes vary by education system. Below are the application requirements for common international education systems. If you do not see your education system listed below, contact admissions@northeastern.edu.

  • Optional Standardized Testing: For the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require applicants to submit standardized testing to be considered for admission.

    • All complete applications will be fully considered for admission to Northeastern, invitation to the University Honors Program, and any merit scholarships.
    • If you choose to apply without standardized testing, you will not be penalized or disadvantaged.
    • If you choose to submit standardized testing, you may submit the SAT(CEEB Code 3667), ACT (College Code 1880), or both.
    • Northeastern super-scores and will only consider your best score between the two types of tests.
    • All applicants from U.S. and international high schools will be able to choose to submit standardized testing (SAT or ACT) or not.
      Non-native English-speaking applicants must continue to submit official results from an approved English Language Test or request a waiver through the Application Status Check. For additional information, please read the English Language Proficiency section below.

  • Northeastern students will be exposed to not only a rigorous academic environment but also a fast-paced experiential one. In order to be successful in both, all first-year and transfer applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English to be considered for admission to Northeastern.

    Requirement

    Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

    • Most non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official results from a valid English Language Test. Northeastern will accept the following:
    • However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

    Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

    English Language Testing

    Northeastern will consider your official results (sent directly from the testing agency or exam board to Northeastern) from any valid test (i.e. no more than 2 years old from the test date) for one of the approved English Language Tests indicated on this page.

    Northeastern does not have minimum score requirements. Instead, we publish the middle 50% range for enrolling students, which means 25% of the enrolling students received a higher score, and 25% of the enrolling students received a lower score.

    Please note: the scores provided are not cut-off scores, but for estimating purposes, and in no way represent a promise or guarantee of admission.

    • 190 to 202 on either C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE)
    • 130 to 145 on the Duolingo English Test (DET)
    • 7.0 to 8.0 on the IELTS Academic
    • 68 to 81 on the PTE Academic
    • 99 to 112 on TOEFL Internet-Based Test (Northeastern will accept either the in-person iBT completed in a test center, or the online iBT Home Edition. Northeastern’s TOEFL Code is 3667.)
    • Northeastern does not accept results from the following tests: IELTS Indicator, PTE Academic Online, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL iBT Paper Test, or TOEFL ITP.
    Additional Information
    • Results should be submitted to Northeastern by the application deadline. If you plan to take an English Language Test for a first or additional time, once the application is submitted or the application deadline has passed, please indicate planned future test dates on your application. Results will still be accepted after the deadline, but we cannot guarantee we will be able to wait for your results before making an admissions decision. Northeastern will focus on your most recent English Language Test results, and does not superscore results or consider MyBest scores from applicants who choose to submit the TOEFL iBT.
    • If your English Language Testing indicates a need for additional study and support, but you otherwise meet the academic requirements for the degree-seeking program to which you applied, you may be considered for admission through NU Immerse, a one-year transitional acculturation and English language support program.

    Waiving Your English Proficiency Requirement

    Northeastern will waive the English proficiency requirement for applicants who meet the following criteria:
    • You submit a waiver request through your Application Status Check portal. (Your waiver request will typically be reviewed within 3-5 business days, once your application is otherwise complete.)
    • Immediately before enrolling at Northeastern, you will complete 4 consecutive, full-time academic years at institutions where native English was the primary instructional language for all courses except foreign language acquisition courses.
    • Students are also strongly encouraged to provide either predicted or final results, which meet the minimum score requirements, for any of the exams listed below:
      • 4 or 5 on AP English Language & Composition
      • 4 or 5 on AP English Literature & Composition
      • 5 or higher on IB English A: Language & Literature (HL or SL)
      • 5 or higher on IB English A: Literature (HL or SL)
      • 6 or higher on IB English B HL
      • 7 on IB English B SL
      • B or higher on A-Level or AS-Level English Language
      • B or higher on A-Level or AS-Level English Literature
      • B/6 or higher on GCSE/International GCSE/IGCSE English Language (including First Language English)
      • B/6 or higher on GCSE/International GCSE/IGCSE English Literature (including Literature in English)
      • B or higher in a university course (completed on a university campus, with other university students, and taught by university faculty) which is considered as an equivalent to Northeastern’s First Year Writing (ENGW 1111). Review the Transfer Equivalency Database to learn whether your course is considered as an equivalent course.

    Please note: If you were enrolled in courses which were designed for English Language Learners (such as any ESL courses) for more than one academic year (during the 4 years being reviewed for your waiver request), you are strongly encouraged to submit either final results from one of the English exams indicated above – AP English, IB English, (I)GCSE English or A-Level/AS-Level English – or official results from an approved English Language Test.

    Interviews

    Northeastern does not offer alumni or on-campus interviews, but we will consider and evaluate third-party, unscripted video interviews submitted through InitialView and Vericant, which will allow you to personally discuss your academic and personal background. Neither will replace English language testing however, when testing is required.

    While there is no deadline for submitting any virtual third-party interview, you must submit your InitialView or Vericant interview by the following dates, if you would like either interview evaluated by the Admissions Committee:

    • Early Decision I: November 15
    • Early Action: December 1
    • Early Decision II: January 15
    • Regular Decision: February 1

  • All international students applying to Northeastern are required to complete and submit the Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF), which is designed to assist the Admissions Committee in obtaining complete and accurate information about each applicant’s anticipated financial support. Each applicant must verify your ability to fully finance your Northeastern education, including tuition and fees, room and board, and personal living expenses. Information is necessary as the financial support for international students at Northeastern is limited:

    • International students are not eligible for financial aid at Northeastern which includes both institutional need-based grants and federal student financial aid. Additional information for international students is available here.
    • International students are eligible for merit scholarships which range from $10,000 to $28,000 per year. No additional application is necessary, as your application for admission serves as your scholarship application. Merit scholarships are extremely competitive, however, and do not cover the full cost of attendance.

    Once your application is submitted, and processed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, you will be given access to your Application Status Check. You can access the DCF through your Application Status Check. Instructions are provided here.

  • Documents should be submitted online through the Common Application or Coalition Application. Documents not submitted through an application can be sent from a high school or university email address to admissions@northeastern.edu or mailed. Mailing instructions are also available below.

    • Test results must be sent directly to Northeastern from the testing agency or examination board.
    • Transcripts must be sent directly from your high school or university.
    • Results from national examinations, which are only released to the student, can either be scanned and sent to Northeastern from a verifiable high school email address, or a certified copy can also be mailed to Northeastern.
    • Official English translations will be required for documents which are provided in languages other than English. A school official or a translation agency accredited in the country of the educational institution can issue the translation.

    You can send your application fee or fee waiver requests (if being sent separately from the application) as well as FedEx, UPS, or Priority Mail packages to:

    The Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    101 Belvidere, 3rd Floor
    Northeastern University
    Boston, MA 02115-5000 USA

     Transcripts and recommendations which were not submitted online can be mailed to:

    Northeastern University
    Application Processing Center
    P.O. Box 8210
    Portsmouth, NH 03802 USA

Congratulations and welcome to our vibrant community of talented, intellectually curious, and ambitious admitted students! At Northeastern, you will pursue your passions, discover new opportunities, stretch your mind, and prepare to make an impact on the world—all before you graduate.

If you have questions about enrolling at Northeastern, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions team at admissions@northeastern.edu.

Next Steps

Below you will find steps to confirm your enrollment and prepare for your first year as a Husky!

  • Make sure to check your Application Status Check as well as your email in the coming months for updates. Please be sure to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions if your email address changes.

  • You can submit your enrollment deposit online through your Application Status Check. Your enrollment deposit will vary depending on the program to which you were offered admission. All deposits need to be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT on the date in which they are due.
    • Fall Semester (including Honors or General Studies): $600
      • All non-U.S. Citizens must also pay a one-time International Student Fee ($350)
    • NU London Double Degree Deposits
      • Enrollment Deposit 1:  Due on May 1: $1,200
      • Enrollment Deposit 2: Due on June 1: $2,500
    • NU London Scholars Deposit
      • Enrollment Deposit: Due on May 1: $1,200
    • NU Oakland: All non-U.S. Citizens must also pay a one-time International Student Fee ($350)
      • Early Decision I Students with NU Oakland as their preference – Please refer to your decision letter. 
      • Early Decision II Students with NU Oakland as their preference – Please refer to your decision letter. 
      • All other admits - May 1: $600
    • The N.U.in Program: There are two required deposits
      • First deposit due on May 1: $1,200
      • Second deposit due on June 1: $2,500
      • You will also need to select your site once available
    • Global Scholars: $1,200
    • NU Immerse: More information will be available in late March

  • For students offered admission for the fall semester, submit your housing application by May 9, 2024. The application is available in your Application Status Check 24-48 hours after you’ve submitted your enrollment deposit and claimed your university account. Reference your Application Status Check for instructions.

  • If you were offered admission for the fall semester or through the N.U. Immerse program, you will need to apply for your student visa if you are a non-U.S. Citizen.

    • If you were offered admission through The N.U.in Program, you will apply for your student visa through The N.U.in Program. Further instructions will be provided by the program, or you can review the “Travel Information” provided for your specific site.

    International students must submit a request for their Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F1) Status. You will need the F student visa for academic or short-term English programs.

    • You will be able to access myOGS – Northeastern’s online portal for international students – to complete your I-20 request through your Application Status Check in the spring.
    • If you will study on the F student visa, you must request your initial Form I-20, or request to transfer your I-20 if you are already studying in the U.S.
      • International students admitted through the N.U.in Program should read information provided here to learn more about their process for the Spring Semester.
      • If you are currently in the United States on a non-immigrant visa other than a F-1 Student Visa, and you wish to change your status to F-1, there are two options for you to change your status. Please read more about a Change of Status through the OGS website, here.
    • You must provide a copy of the identity pass of your passport, and financial documentation indicating available funds equal to or exceeding the amount needed to attend Northeastern for at least a full academic year.
    • Once you receive your Certificate of Eligibility, you need to apply for a F-1 Student Visa.
    • Upon your arrival in Boston, you will need to check-in with the Office of Global Services (OGS).

    If you have any questions about your visa application process, you can contact the Office of Global Services (OGS).

  • By June 30, your final high school transcript must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, in order to demonstrate completion of secondary education and to serve as proof of graduation.

    • If your high school operates on a different schedule, you will be granted an extension and not penalized for the late arrival of your graduation certificate or final academic records.
    • If you were an IB Diploma candidate, Northeastern will require your official IB transcript sent electronically from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).
    • If you are submitting national examination results as proof of graduation, such as the GCE A-Levels, they should be sent once results become available. You need to provide an original or certified copy of your official certificate once certificates become available.

    Advanced Credit

    You may be eligible for up to 32 advanced credits if you have completed any of the following examinations:

    • Advanced Placement (AP)
    • International Baccalaureate (IB)
    • GCE Advanced Level (A-Level)
    • Cambridge Pre-University (Pre-U)
      Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)
    • French Baccalauréat
    • German Abitur
    • Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level (Singaporean A-Levels)
    • Federal Swiss Maturity
    • All-India Senior School Certificate Examination (CBSE) (Indian Standard XII)
    • Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) (Indian Standard XII)

    See here for more information available through our Transfer Credit Database.

    Advanced credit is not granted until the original certificate (or an official copy) from the examination board has been received and evaluated by Northeastern. Results from any AP exams should be sent directly from the College Board; our CEEB Code is: 3667. Results from any IB exams must be sent electronically from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

  • All students must register for New Student Orientation. International students will be required to attend the International Student Orientation. Additional information will be shared.

  • April

    May

    • Your enrollment deposit is due by May 1 if you were offered non-conditional admission through Early Decision or were admitted in Early Action or Regular Decision.
    • Parents and guardians can request access to the Parent/Guardian myNortheastern portal in order to access tuition bills and view transcripts once their student has activated their account.

    June

    • Housing Assignments will be released in mid-June and continue throughout the Summer. Assignments are made and released in order of the enrollment deposit date.
    • All first-year students living on-campus will be required to have a meal plan. Make adjustments to your meal plan through myNortheastern.
    • Beginning in mid-June, all international students with nonimmigrant student (F-1) status will receive information about your mandatory Office of Global Service (OGS) session.
    • New Student Orientation: will occur between June and August.
      • Before Orientation, you must:
        • Provide a photo for your Husky ID card.
        • Complete your Student Financial Responsibility Agreement which is available through your Application Status Check.
        • Complete Section 1 of your I-9 Employment Eligibility Form (which you can find in your Application Status Check) and bring along with you to Orientation if you’re interested in on-campus student employment.
      • Parent/Family Orientation will occur during New Student Orientation. If your parents/guardians need to find a nearby hotel, check here.
    • Beginning in late June, N.U.in students will participate in Pre-departure Orientation (PDO). Students will also participate in an on-site orientation when they arrive in their host country. A two-day New Student Orientation will welcome students back to the Boston campus in January.
    • Bills for the Fall Semester will be posted in mid-June for students who will begin through The N.U.in Program. Payment is due by mid-July. Contact Student Financial Services if you have any questions.

    July

    First-year students and transfers will receive bills for the Fall Semester in early July; payment is due by early August. Contact Student Financial Services if you have any questions. Along with your first bill, you will receive information about the Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP), along with a waiver if you already have health insurance.

    August

    • In mid-August, you will receive Move-In Instructions and information about arriving on-campus for the Fall Semester.
    • All international students will attend the New Student Orientation in late August, immediately preceding the Fall Semester.

    September

    Undergraduate classes begin in early September. You can check the academic calendar to find the first day of classes, as well as the schedule for breaks, holidays, and closures.

Over 12,089 international students and scholars, from over 118 countries, study and conduct research at Northeastern, across the undergraduate and graduate programs in our schools and colleges, enriching the intellectual life on campus, and advancing cross-cultural understanding among faculty, students, and alumni.

We want you to feel as at home at Northeastern as you do in your home country. To that end, our university has many resources available to help you adjust to living and studying in the U.S.

Office of Global Services (OGS)

From admission to after graduation, Northeastern’s Office of Global Services (OGS) will be an active resource for our international students and their families.

In addition to issuing your Certificate of Eligibility and sponsoring all international students, OGS will assist with any international student-related issues, including SEVIS compliance and related federal regulations, ensuring you maintain your lawful student status. In addition to New Student Orientation, all international students must attend the International Student Check-In and Mandatory Clearance Session.

Once settled, work with your OGS advisors or Global Student Mentors to learn more about on-campus student employment and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Throughout the semester, you will be able to attend a wide variety of cross-cultural programs and events, meant to assist you during your transition to Northeastern, and meet your fellow classmates.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising will help you stay on track to meet your academic goals and take advantage of the wealth of resources available to you.

Colleges and Schools:

Bouvé College of Health Sciences

College of Arts, Media and Design

College of Engineering

College of Science

College of Social Sciences and Humanities

D’Amore-McKim School of Business

Khoury College of Computer Sciences

University-wide Programs:

Explore Program for undeclared students

General Studies Program

Honors Program

The N.U.in Program

Global Experience Office (GEO)

GEO will help you study at renowned institutions and participate in dynamic co-op opportunities around the world.

Career Development Office

Choosing the right career means figuring out what your skills and interests are and the Career Development Office has the resources and tools to help you.

Student Financial Services

To learn more about tuition and fees, and available financing options, contact Student Financial Services.

University Health and Counseling Services

Here you will find access to care and medical services, behavioral health, as well as resources for you own health and wellness.

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