International

Freshman Requirements

The following factors are considered when reviewing applications for admission:

• Completed online application and application fee
• Certified official, original transcripts from all secondary schools as well as official results from any leaving certificates or university entrance exams taken. A certified English translation must be submitted for any documents not already in English. All application materials are property of George Mason University and will not be returned to the applicant, nor shared with another individual, institution, or organization under any circumstances.  
• Official scores from SAT or ACT. International students may be considered for admission with no SAT or ACT test score via the score optional admission program. This program allows for highly qualified students to be evaluated with no SAT or ACT score. More information can be found on our Score Optional information page. International applicants to engineering or computer science majors within the Volgenau School of Engineering are required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
• Verification of English language proficiency. See the English Proficiency requirements page.
• Secondary School Report (PDF)and counselor recommendations. We suggest sending two (2) letters of recommendation, one from a high school counselor and one from a teacher. There is no special recommendation form and letters can be submitted electronically or via e-mail to admissions@gmu.edu.
• Essay or personal statement on a topic of your choice.
• Bank statement, Copy of passport, Certificate of Financial Responsibility, Proof of health insurance, Proof of Funding, FedEx shipping label. 

Transfer Requirements

The Admissions Committee considers each transfer application individually, reviewing all grades received in courses attempted as well as the rigor of the applicant’s academic program. There are certain requirements all transfer applicants must present:

• Completed online application and application fee
• Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended sent directly to Mason from the institution
• A certified English translation for documents not already in English
• A certified course-by-course evaluation for all post-secondary level studies completed outside of the U.S at institutions that do not hold regional accreditation in the United States.  GPA and Degree equivalencies must be included with your course- by-course evaluation.  All fees charged by translators or external evaluators must be paid by the student. We require an evaluation from one of the following:
  • Educational Perspectives
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  • World Education Services (WES)
  • The Evaluation Company (TEC)
  • International Education Evaluations, LLC (IEE)
  • Or any company recognized by NACES
• Verification of English language proficiency. See the English Proficiency requirements page.
• An essay
• Resume for any applicant with gaps in enrollment
• Bank statement, Copy of passport, Certificate of Financial Responsibility, Proof of health insurance, Proof of Funding, FedEx shipping label. .

Transfer applicants with fewer than the equivalent to 30 university credits are required to submit:

• Secondary school transcript
• ACT or SAT scores