Admission Requirements for
International Students

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The applications of prospective students from countries other than the United States are reviewed on an individual basis, and admission may not be offered to every applicant who meets the minimum requirements. Academic background and curriculum are important considerations in decisions on admissibility. Prospective students who have an application pending for permanent residency may apply as a U.S. freshman or U.S. transfer student through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Applications for international undergraduate admission must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• Admission for Fall and Summer Semesters — April 1 deadline
• Admission for Spring Semester — October 1 deadline for international freshmen and November 1 for international transfer

The procedures stated below should be followed carefully for international applicants to be considered for freshman or transfer admission to Texas Tech University. Applications will not be evaluated until all admission requirements have been met. All materials become the property of Texas Tech University and are not returnable or refundable.

1. Application—Prospective international undergraduate applicants may apply for admission to Texas Tech University by submitting either the electronic application available at www.ApplyTexas.org or by requesting an application from the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. All institutions (including name and location) attended must be included on the application. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University.
2. Nonrefundable Application Fee—An application fee is required for the initial application ($60) and also for any subsequent application ($50). Acceptable methods of payment are checks drawn on a U.S. bank, cashier's checks, U.S. or international postal money orders, international money orders, traveler's checks, or credit cards. The application fee may be paid either through the ApplyTexas application (www.ApplyTexas.org) or on the website (https://secure.touchnet.net/C20210_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=5&SINGLESTORE=tru).
3. Official Transcripts and Related Documents
   • For Freshman Admission – The applicant must submit an official documentation (transcripts, school leaving examinations, school leaving certificates, etc.) showing completion of a secondary school equivalent to that of a U.S. high school. Applicants must submit official transcripts of all secondary schoolwork, including subjects taken and grades/marks earned, starting with the ninth grade and continuing through at least the eleventh and twelfth grades, in addition to secondary school leave examinations. A list of acceptable secondary school credentials is available on the Graduate and International Admissions website. Unofficial copies are acceptable for evaluation purposes, but official documentation is required upon admission.
   • For Transfer Admission – In addition to the required secondary school documents (see above), the applicant must submit an official record of all post-secondary schoolwork, including subjects taken and grades earned. Unofficial copies are acceptable for evaluation purposes, but official documentation is required upon admission.
   • International applicants must also provide an official English translation of all transcripts or marksheets if the documents are not provided in English. Public notary certifications are not considered official. If official English translations are not supplied by the applicant’s institution(s), the applicant must provide a translation done by an American Translators Association-certified translator. A list of ATA-certified translators is available online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories.
   • The applicant who, because of current enrollment, cannot provide final transcripts at the time of application must submit transcripts of all completed study. Consideration may then be given for tentative admission upon the condition that final transcripts are provided within the initial semester of enrollment at Texas Tech University.
4. Official Diploma/Degree Certificates—The applicant must submit an official copy of any secondary school completion/leaving certificates and any post-secondary diplomas/degree certificates earned. An official English translation of all diplomas/degree certificates must be provided if the documents are not provided in English. Public notary certificates are not considered official. If official English translations are not supplied by the applicant’s institution(s), the applicant must provide a translation done by an American Translators Association-certified translator. A list of ATA-certified translators is available online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories.
5. Official Proof of English Proficiency—All international applicants must provide proof of English proficiency before their applications can be considered for admission. This test is waived only for citizens of an English proficiency-exempt country, for graduates of U.S. high schools, or for those applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years at a high school or college/university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country. Texas Tech University considers the following countries to have English as their native language: Australia, Canada (except the Province of Québec), Commonwealth Caribbean countries (Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands), Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), and the United States. Applicants may submit one of the following measures of English proficiency:
   
   • TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language; www.toefl.org). The minimum TOEFL score required is 550 (paper-based version) or 79 (internet-based version). The TOEFL score must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Texas Tech University’s institutional code is 6827. TOEFL scores are valid for only two years.
   • IELTS (International English Language Testing Service; www.ielts.org). The minimum IELTS required score is an overall band score of 6.5 on the academic version. IELTS General Training results are not acceptable. There is no IELTS institution code for Texas Tech University. IELTS scores are valid for only two years.
   • PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic; www.pearsonpte.com/pteacademic). The minimum required PTE Academic score is 60. PTE General and PTE Young Learners results are not acceptable. There is no PTE Academic institution code for Texas Tech University. PTE Academic scores are valid for only two years.
   • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (Cambridge CPE; www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/generalenglish/cpe.html). The minimum required Cambridge CPE grade is C. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CPE. The Cambridge CPE is valid for life.
   • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (Cambridge CAE; www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/generalenglish/cae.html). The minimum required Cambridge CAE grade is B. There is no institutional code for the Cambridge CAE. The Cambridge CAE is valid for life.
   • ELS Intensive English Program (www.els.edu). Texas Tech will accept completion of Level 112.
6. SAT/ACT Scores—International applicants applying for freshman admission must submit either SAT or ACT scores if they have completed secondary school in the United States. While SAT or ACT scores are not required for international applicants who completed secondary school outside the United States, SAT or ACT scores may assist in admission review. Official SAT or ACT scores are also used for awarding merit-based scholarships.
7. Passport Bio Page (Optional)—This page will be used only if an international applicant is admitted and an I-20 needs to be issued. This document is not necessary for application evaluation purposes
8. Proof of Financial Support (Optional)—Applicants may provide proof of financial support as part of their application materials or they may provide proof upon learning of their admission decision. Proof of financial support is not necessary for application evaluation purposes.

Conditional Admission for English Proficiency. Prospective international students who meet the minimum academic requirements for admission consideration except for proof of English proficiency may apply for conditional admission through ELS University Admissions. Information can be found on the website www.els.edu/en/UniversityAdmissions. If an international undergraduate student is admitted conditionally, the student must complete ELS Level 112 before beginning an academic program at Texas Tech University.

Submitting Applications and Required Application Documents. Applicants should be certain to give their full names on the envelope return address. An application Document Cover Sheet is available at www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/internatlUGAdmiss/appProc_UGInternat.php. Correspondence should include the applicant’s full name and date of birth. All entries into the records system are made by family name (last name), first name(s), middle name(s; if any). Send all official documents to the following address:

Regular Airmail
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Texas Tech University
PO Box 41030
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030 USA

Express Mail
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Boston Ave. at Akron Ave.
Administration Room 328
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030 USA

Evaluating Applications.Applications will not be evaluated until all of the above requirements have been met. Applicants will be notified by the Office of Graduate and International Admissions via the Raiderlink portal when an admissions decision has been made.Back to Top