You are considered an international student if you: 

• Are not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or refugee AND
• Require a visa to study in the U.S.

Note: If you are a U.S. citizen living overseas or have dual citizenship and plan on entering the U.S. on your U.S. passport, you should not apply as an international student. Admission information is available on the Undergraduate Admissions webpage.

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS)

UMR offers one major for incoming international high school students, a BSHS degree to prepare international students for a variety of health careers.

Note: UMR does not oversee admissions for graduate programs. Visit the Graduate Programs webpage for more information.

Early Assurance Programs

International students interested in a career in Pharmacy can apply for the Early Assurance Pharmacy program. 

At this time, international students are not eligible for Early Assurance Nursing, Physician Assistant, Respiratory Care or Occupational Therapy programs.

• Successful completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum including four years of math and three years of science.
• Secondary school and college (if applicable) grade point averages. A GED (General Equivalency Diploma) may be accepted in lieu of secondary school transcripts.
• English Proficiency exam is required for all students that are non-native English speakers. Review English Proficiency Information for additional information.

Note: Schedule changes of academic coursework during the final year and/or the unsuccessful completion of final year coursework may result in the cancellation of admission. Students considering making schedule changes, or those who are concerned about their academic progress in any of their courses, must consult with UMR’s Office of Admissions.

• Passion statement: Students who succeed at the University of Minnesota Rochester are passionate about health care. Share the story behind your interest in the field.
• Letter of recommendation or teacher evaluation: Strongly recommended but not required.
• Volunteer or employment experience: Participation in health science–related opportunities.
• Academic rigor: Completion of a curriculum that exceeds college preparatory standards, including honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or college-level courses.
• Work experience: Paid or unpaid.
• Exceptional ability: Evidence of outstanding talent in scholarly research or leadership.
• Perseverance: Demonstrated ability to overcome social, economic or physical barriers to education.
• Extenuating circumstances: Any additional context that may have affected your educational journey.

Application

• A $30 USD nonrefundable fee is required to apply. 

Transcript Evaluation

• Transcript Evaluation (post-secondary only): The Evaluation Company or International Education Evaluations offers a discounted rate for students to receive course evaluation for international transcripts. Translation services can be added for additional cost.
• English Language Proficiency: Costs vary per proficiency exam. University of Minnesota Rochester does not offer a fee waiver for English proficiency exams.
• Cost of Attendance: Cost of attendance may differ per student. More information can be found on the One Stop website.
• UMR Housing Rates: All first-year students live at the Student Life Center. On-campus housing is required for the first two years.
• All international students are required to be on the Student Health Benefit Plan. Students will be automatically enrolled upon attendance.

The University of Minnesota Rochester undergraduate admissions application opens annually on August 1. 

For scholarship and Early Assurance Pharmacy consideration, students should apply by the priority deadline of December 1. 

Note: Visa processing and appointment times vary by country.

First-year students can apply using either the Raptor App or the Common App.

Transfer students can apply using the Raptor App only.

Applications must be completed in full prior to admissions review. Questions about the status of your application? Log into your application portal to view your application status.

All international post-secondary transcripts must be evaluated using a NACES accredited international evaluating agency.

The Evaluation Company or International Education Evaluations are UMR’s recommended international transcript evaluation services, offering a custom evaluation at a discounted rate. 

All other evaluation services can send documentation to [email protected].

You are considered an international student if you are not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or refugee. Enrollment at UMR will require an F visa. UMR does not support other visa types such as J visas. 

The University of Minnesota Rochester requires all non-native English speakers to demonstrate a command of the English language that is necessary for success in college-level classes taught in English. If English is not your native language, take the TOEFL, IELTS and PTE exams and have your scores sent to UMR.

Note: Students who graduate from U.S. high schools do not need to submit English Language Proficiency scores.

TOEFL

Minimum Score: 79
UMR Recipient Code: 4546
Contact: 1-800-486-6335 (Inside the U.S. and Canada)
1-609-771-7100 (Outside the U.S. and Canada)

IELTS

Minimum score: 6.5
Contact: 323-255-2771 (Inside the U.S.)
[email protected]

PTE

Minimum score: 52
Contact Pearson PTE for more information.

Duolingo

Minimum score: 105
Contact Duolingo English Test for more information.
Duolingo is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on-demand and in under an hour for $49. The test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview and writing sample which are shared with UMR with your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session.

If English is your native language, you can take either the ACT or SAT and have your scores sent to UMR. Sending scores are not required for admission. 

UMR Recipient Codes:

ACT: 2154

SAT: 5877

Application

A $30 USD nonrefundable fee is required to apply. 

Transcript Evaluation

The Evaluation Company offers a discounted rate for students to receive course evaluation for international transcripts. Ala carte items such as translations can be added for additional cost. 

English Language Proficiency

Costs vary per proficiency exam. UMR does not offer a fee waiver for English proficiency exams.

Upon acceptance, students will be asked to accept or decline admission within the application portal. A $100 nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required to secure a spot in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program.

Financial support and documentation

Students who study at the University of Minnesota are required to demonstrate access to the funds necessary to cover their cost of attendance for the first year of study. Students will be required to submit a Financial Certification Statement and a copy of their passport as part of the enrollment process for international students.

After verification of funds, the student will be issued a Form I-20 from UMR, a required document for application to the F/M student visa. 

F Visa Information

Student and Exchange Visitor Program fee

In order to be issued a Form I-20, students must submit the following: 

• Online Financial Certification Form
• Bio page of a valid passport (uploaded to the FinCert Form)
• Bank statement* indicating available funds to cover one year of academic/living expenses at UMR (uploaded to the FinCert Form).
  *If funds are coming from a source other than the student (i.e. parent/guardian), you must also include a signed letter attesting that the designated funds are available for the student’s school costs. See International Student Financial/Bank Statement Guidelines for details.

International students are responsible for all educational and personal expenses for the duration of their F-1 status at UMR.

A visa is required for international students to enter the United States. An F-1 student visa is accepted through the University of Minnesota, which is a nonimmigrant visa that is granted to applicants who want to enroll full-time at a U.S. college or university.

Students who anticipate not being able to meet the cost of their education and living expenses are advised to request a postponement of enrollment until they have secured adequate funding.

Cost of Attendance can be found on the One Stop website. UMR does not have out-of-state tuition.

UMR Housing Rates: All first-year students live at the Student Life Center. On-campus housing is required for your first two years.

Scholarships

International students will be eligible for the following scholarships:

• Academic Achievement Scholarship
• Passion for Health Care Scholarship
• Housing Grant

Please visit the Scholarships webpage for more information.

Attendance to New Raptor Advising and Registration is required for all new incoming students. Information on important dates can be found on the Enrollment Checklist in the application portal.

Visit the Residential Life webpage for more information.