The university seeks to attract international students who have strong academic ability, possess above-average English language proficiency, and are capable of financing their education. Admission can be granted only to those applicants who are able to provide evidence that they meet the standards for admission set by the university.

Undergraduate international applicants from abroad will be considered for enrollment in the fall term, which begins during the third week in August, and the spring term, which begins in January. Application deadlines are May 1 for Fall Semester and October 1 for Spring Semester. Applications from international undergraduates already studying at institutions in the United States are accepted for each term if their file is complete at least 60 days before the term begins: Fall Semester deadline-June 15, Spring Semester deadline-November 1. Undergraduate applications are available to download online or can be requested by telephone (1-701-231-7895), fax (1-701-231-1014), or letter to the Office of International Programs, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050-Department 2040, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, USA.

Graduate applications are considered throughout the year but must be processed by North Dakota State University 120 days prior to the beginning of an academic term: Deadlines are May 1-Fall Semester; September 1-Spring Semester. Applications should be sent to Graduate School, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 5790, Fargo, North Dakota 58105-5790, USA.

In order for an application to be processed, it must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of $35 (U.S. dollars) submitted in the form of a check (postal or money order) drawn on a U.S. bank and payable to North Dakota State University.

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Certification
The appropriate school authority that issued the original academic record should make a photocopy of the applicant's papers and certify that it is a true copy by placing the institution's stamp or seal and the official's signature on the photocopy. Copies of transcripts issued by one institution but certified by another institution will not be accepted from abroad.

University-level work completed at one institution but listed on the record of a second institution will not be considered without a separate record from the institution where the work was actually done.

Translation
If the academic record is not in English, a certified official literal translation must be sent in addition to the official record.

Any transcripts, certificates, or examination results that appear to have been altered or to be irregular will be forwarded to the appropriate school authorities or examination board for verification. If it is determined that an applicant has submitted altered records, the application will be disqualified. If altered credentials are discovered after a student is enrolled, that individual will be terminated from the university regardless of the number of courses taken and with no refund of tuition and fees.

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All international students currently studying in the United States must submit the Supplemental Information Form as part of the application. This form is to be completed by the applicant and the applicant's present or most recent international student adviser.

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Undergraduate and graduate applicants
Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted by both undergraduate and graduate applicants at the time of application. To qualify for unconditional acceptance, the applicant must have obtained a minimum TOEFL score of 193 (computer test), 525 (paper test), or 70 (iBT). Many departments require higher TOEFL scores for graduate applicants.

Arrangements to take the TOEFL can be made by writing to the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA, or by inquiring at the nearest U.S. Consulate or binational center. All undergraduate international applicants should ask to have the test results sent to the Office of International Programs. Graduate applicants should have their test results sent to the Graduate School. The TOEFL must have been taken within the past two calendar years.

Conditional admission
An undergraduate or graduate applicant who meets all requirements for admission to North Dakota State University except for the TOEFL score may be notified of his/her academic eligibility for conditional admission. The letter will state that the student cannot enroll at the university until the required TOEFL score has been attained or the applicant has successfully completed North Dakota State University's Intensive English Language Program

Graduate teaching assistants
Teaching assistants must attain a TOEFL score of 247 (computer test), 600 (paper test), or 100 (iBT); a score of 50 or higher on the TSE (Test of Spoken English); and show written proficiency with either a Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5.0 or better, a pass grade on a writing sample administered at NDSU, or completion of two semesters of English writing at NDSU with grades of B or better. The test dates of the TOEFL and TWE must be within two years of the date of the application to the Graduate School. The SPEAK Test, a locally administered version of the TSE, is given near the end of each semester at NDSU.

Graduate students who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship and those graduate students who have been offered an assistantship with teaching responsibilities by their academic department are required to participate in the Intensive English Language Program unless their TOEFL score is higher than 247 (computer test) or 600 (paper test). Students who have been offered a graduate assistantship by their academic unit will be responsible for their living expenses, the cost of course materials and language laboratory fees for the duration of the program, and their tuition.

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Certification of adequate financial support is required from all international undergraduate and graduate applicants other than permanent residents of the U.S., parolees, refugees, U.S. trust territory applicants or immigrants. Admission will not be granted until proof of funds for the duration of study has been submitted.

A special North Dakota State University International Student Financial Certification form must be completed for this purpose. Failure to complete this certification and submit supporting documents will delay admission decisions and the issuance of the appropriate immigration forms.

Applicants must be prepared to pay tuition and fees, as well as costs for living expenses, for their entire stay at the university. North Dakota State University does not provide financial assistance for undergraduate international students, and only qualified graduate students are eligible for teaching and research assistantships, which may include tuition (but not student fee) waivers. A detailed estimate of expenses is available in the expenses section.Each student should become familiar with his/her financial needs based on that summary.

Health insurance:
All international students are required to purchase the health insurance policy specified by the State of North Dakota. No other policy may be substituted. The fee for health insurance for one year must be paid upon arrival and at the beginning of each subsequent year. Student health insurance coverage begins upon arrival after the 15th of the month prior to enrollment as long as the student pays the fee within two weeks after arrival.

Settling costs:
International students coming directly from their home countries should have with them upon arrival no less than $1,000 (single student) or $1,500 (married student coming with family) to cover incidental settling costs. These costs may include apartment deposits and possible motel and food expenses incurred prior to the dates that university room/food contracts or off-campus housing becomes available.

Graduate international students with assistantships will not be paid until the end of the first month of the academic term.

Transfer of funds:
There are often difficulties in transferring funds from foreign countries to the United States. Before departing for the United States, students should become thoroughly familiar with their home government's regulations for exchanging and forwarding money.

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