Legal Status and Financial Certification

All international students must hold valid non-immigrant visa status to enroll at Virginia Tech. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of eligibility to apply for the appropriate visa (I-20 or DS-2019 form), all international students must submit documentation of funding and demographic information. The following link provides information about what and how to submit: https://international.vt.edu/Immigration-Services/new-students.html. The Cranwell International Center will collect (1) information required for issuance of visa eligibility documents and (2) information that demonstrates that a student has sufficient financial resources for at least the first year of education. International students in F-1 and J-1 visa status and their accompanying dependents are required to carry health and accident insurance approved by Virginia Tech. International students who have been admitted and have shown proof of having sufficient funds to cover their educational and living expenses for at least one year are issued visa eligibility documents (I-20 or DS-2019 forms) by the Cranwell International Center.

Evidence of English Proficiency

International applicants are exempt from demonstrating English proficiency if they have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction or if they are U.S. permanent residents ("green card" holders). International applicants may demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 577 on the paper-based test (PBT) or 90 on the internet-based test (iBT) is required for consideration of the application.

On the iBT, subscores of at least 20 on each subtest (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) are required for admission. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission.  Some departments have higher TOEFL or IELTS score requirements than those set by the Graduate School. Students who anticipate appointment as Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to have scored 25 or greater on the TOEFL Speaking subtest. GTA appointment of a student scoring 20-24 on the Speaking subtest should be justified explicitly within the particular academic unit; appointment of a student scoring below 20 on the Speaking subtest requires justification with the Graduate School.  For more details, see http://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/testing-requirements.html.

Attending at Extended-Campus Locations

International students in F-1 or J-1 visa status may pursue graduate degrees in Blacksburg or at the extended-campus in the National Capital Region (NCR). Questions regarding enrollment eligibility at the NCR location should be directed to the International Graduate Student Services office of the Graduate School in NCR at 703/538-3743, GSSONCR@vt.edu; http://www.ncr.vt.edu/.

Requirements for Assistantships and Employment

International students in F-1 or J-1 status who obtained admission into a degree program are eligible for consideration by the academic departments for assistantships and in-state tuition scholarships. Part-time employment on campus is subject to federal regulations governing employment of student (F-1) and exchange visitor (J-1) visa holders. Blacksburg students should contact the Cranwell International Center, international@vt.edu, 540-231-6527; National Capital Region students should contact 703/538-3743, GSSONCR@vt.edu.