International Applicants
Each year, the Elliott School graduate programs are proud to enroll a diverse class of international and domestic students. We aim to assist all prospective students through the application process, recognizing that international students may have different challenges and concerns than their domestic counterparts. We hope the following resources are helpful as you complete your application. In addition to general application requirements, international students may need to provide supporting documents and test scores to be considered for admission.
- English Language Requirements
Elliott School Graduate Program English Language Requirements
Academic Duolingo, IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL, scores are required from all international and Permanent Resident applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution, unless they meet an exemption indicated in the list below (English Language Test Exemptions). Official Duolingo, IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL iBT scores may not be more than 2 years old. We do not accept TOEFL Best Score.
We do not accept any document(s) other than official Duolingo, IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL English Language Test scores as proof of English Language proficiency. The George Washington University reserves the right to request proof of English proficiency from any applicant.
Please refer to the table below for the minimum test scores required for Master's and Graduate Certificate program admission consideration and/or English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course exemption:
Fall Applicants (August Start)
Duolingo IELTS PTE TOEFL Eligible for Admission &
Requires EAP Course120 7.0 Overall score
No band score below 6.068 100 (iBT)
600 (Paper test)Eligible for Admission &
Exempt from EAP Course125 7.0 Overall score
No band score below 6.572 105 (iBT)
650 (Paper test)Spring Applicants (January Start)
Duolingo IELTS PTE TOEFL Eligible for Admission &
Exempt from EAP Course125 7.0 Overall score
No band score below 6.572 105 (iBT)
650 (Paper test)U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Program
Please refer to the table below for the minimum test scores required for U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Program admission consideration:
Duolingo IELTS PTE TOEFL Eligible for Admission 120 7.0 Overall score
No band score below 6.068 100 (Internet test)
600 (Paper test)Submitting Official English Language Test Scores
Duolingo test scores should be sent through the Duolingo portal.
Please send official IELTS scores via the IELTS portal. We do not accept the IELTS Indicator.
If you do not have access to the IELTS portal, please have the testing center send the official scores to us via e-delivery, by providing them with the following account information:
Account Name: George Washington University
Address: 2121 I Street NW
City: Washington
State: DC
Zip Code: 20052Please send official TOEFL scores to institutional code 5246. We do not accept TOEFL Best Scores.
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Applicants to the Fall semester who receive the following scores may be considered for admission but will be required to take an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) the summer semester before they begin graduate study.
- Duolingo: 120
- IELTS: 7.0 overall score, with a band score of 6.0 - 6.4
- PTE: 68
- TOEFL: 100 – 104
Admitted students will be notified via email in the case that an EAP course is required. The course is designed to facilitate the successful completion of the degree program. If you are required to enroll in this course, there will be additional costs involved, and these courses will not count toward your degree.
Failure to complete the EAP course during the summer semester will prevent the student from beginning their graduate program. Please note that EAP courses are unavailable to Elliott School graduate students during the fall or spring semesters.
For more information about EAP coursework, please visit the Summer & Non-Degree Programs website.
Students assigned an EAP course should anticipate additional tuition expenses to pay for the course.
- English Language Test Exemptions
Academic Duolingo, IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL scores are required from all international and Permanent Resident applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution unless you hold a Bachelor's, Masters or doctoral degree from a country or institution in the lists below. This means you would not be required to submit Duolingo, IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL test scores. Degrees must be completed in the country where the degree-granting institution is based in order to meet the exemption requirement.
No exceptions will be made if you do not meet one of the following exemptions.
Test Exemption by Degree Country and Institution
*Applies to applicants whose post-secondary degree is from a university in which English is the language of instruction. Countries Institutions If you hold (or will by the time you begin studies at GW) a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree from one of the following countries listed below, you are not required to submit the Duolingo/IELTS/PTE/TOEFL exam. If you hold (or will by the time you begin studies at GW) a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree from one of the following institutions listed below, you are not required to submit the Duolingo/IELTS/PTE/TOEFL exam. Anguilla American College of Thessaloniki, Greece Antigua & Barbuda American College of Greece, Greece Australia American University in Bulgaria, Bulgaria Bahamas American University in Cairo, Egypt Barbados American University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Belize American University in Paris, France Bermuda American University of Beirut, Lebanon Botswana American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan British Virgin Islands American University of Rome, Italy Cameroon* American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Canada* Athabasca University, Canada Cayman Islands Bermuda College, Bermuda Dominica Central European University, Hungary Gambia Franklin University, Switzerland Ghana Gilion Institue of Higher Education, Switzerland Grenada Hellenic American University, Greece Guyana John Cabot University, Italy Ireland Lebanese American University, Lebanon Jamaica Les Roches School of Hotel Management, Switzerland Kiribati United States International University, Kenya Lesotho Zayed University, United Arab Emirates Liberia Micronesia Montserrat Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda United Kingdom Zimbabwe* Further Information on English Language Tests
Please follow the below links for more official information regarding each test.
- Required Documents for I-20/F-1 Visa Application
Applicants are not required to submit the below required documents with the applications.
Note: We do not issue DS-2019s (for J-1 visas). For applicants needing a J-1 visa, the DS-2019 will need to be issued by your sponsor.
When requesting an I-20 (for F-1 Visas), all applicants who are admitted and choose to enroll must submit:
- A Visa Request Form (VRF) with a handwritten signature of the applicant (and sponsor[s], if applicable)
- Financial documents showing liquid funding for your program,
- Biographical page of your passport (the passport page with your life details) with an expiration date at least six months beyond the start of your program..
If you previously had a visa, or are currently on a visa and/or at a US institution, you will also need to submit:
- A legible copy of all current and previous visas, I-20s, and DS-2019s,
- A copy of your most recent I-94
- A SEVIS Transfer form, if applicable.
- An OPT Forfeit letter, if applicable.
- A legible copy of the front and back of your Employment Authorization Card, if applicable.
Note: We do not issue DS-2019s (for J-1 visas). For applicants needing a J-1 visa, the DS-2019 will need to be issued by your sponsor.
Required Funding Documents
When requesting an I-20 from GW, applicants must submit Financial Support Documents showing proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational costs and living expenses for the full length of your program.
Review Acceptable Bank Documents here.
- Students who plan to have at least one sponsor or more must show proof of funding for the first year of their program.
- Students who plan to 100% self-fund must show proof of funding for both years of their program.
Funding documents must:
- Be a bank statement in English or accompanied by an official English translation
- Indicate the specific amount and currency of the funds (USD is preferred but not required)
- Show funds in approved loans or cash only (i.e. checking or savings) and not subject to withdrawal restrictions*
- Show the bank's address and phone number, indicating the date the account was opened and the current account balance
- Show the full legal name of the applicant, as listed on their passport and application
- Have an issue date that is no more than 12 months from the time you plan to begin study.
*Funding in stocks and other long-term investments will not be accepted.
Refer to the table below for funding requirements for students starting in the Fall 2024-25 academic year (in USD).
Please keep in mind that funding requirements for students in the International Development Studies, Middle East Studies, and International Science and Technology Policy programs starting in a spring semester must show additional funding to account for the required fifth semester
Program Tuition and Fees Living Expenses, Books, and Insurance Total M.A. $41,284.00 $29,841.00 $71,125.00 M.I.S. $43,567.00 $29,841.00 $73,408.00 M.I.P.P. $41,284.00 $29,841.00 $71,125.00 Fees Explained
M.A. Program
Costs reflect 18 credit hours, 9 per semester to maintain full-time status for an F-1 visa. Please note that 40 credits are required to complete the program.
M.I.S. Program
Costs reflect all 19 credit hours.
M.I.P.P. Program
Costs reflect 18 credit hours, 9 per semester to maintain full-time status for an F-1 visa. Please note that 27 credits are required to complete the program.
Costs Listed
All tuition/fees/expenses/totals are subject to change by academic year. Fees include Student Association Fee, Matriculation Fee, Elliott School Fee, and International Student Fee.
If you have a disability and will require attendant care, you must certify the availability of additional funds to pay for this service. For more information, please contact Disability Support Services at dss
gwu [dot] edu (dss[at]gwu[dot]edu) or +1-202-994-8250.Obtaining your F-1 Visa
Once you have received your I-20 from the Elliott School, you will need to apply for the F-1 visa through your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Please follow all instructions and requirements set by your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Any questions on this process, should be directed at the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you submitted your visa application. You can visit your local EducationUSA Advising Centers or follow them on social media for information or clarification about the process.
- I-20 (for F-1 Visa) Request Timeline
If you have been admitted to a graduate program at the Elliott School of International Affairs and require a F-1 visa to study in the United States, our office will work with you and the GW International Services Office (ISO) to obtain the I-20 forms necessary to request an F-1 from the U.S. government.
Note: We do not issue DS-2019s (for J-1 visas). For applicants needing a J-1 visa, the DS-2019 will need to be issued by your sponsor.
Please do not attempt to begin the visa process until you are admitted and have been contacted by our office.
Spring Applicants (January Start)
October 1
Applicants who submit an application by the deadline can expect to receive an admissions decision by early to mid-November. Turning in an application before the deadline will not result in receiving an admissions decision sooner than early to mid-November.
Early October
International Services Office starts processing I-20 requests for Spring. They will not start processing I-20 requests earlier than October.
Early to mid-November
Spring admissions decisions released.
Late November
Students needing an new I-20 or a Change of Level for their F-1 visa must submit their I-20 request documents.
Early December
Students in the U.S. who are transferring their visa/SEVIS number from a U.S. institution to the Elliott School must submit I-20 request and transfer documents.
Early January
Spring Semester begins.
Note: The spring I-20 processing window for admitted International Students is short. Any delay on the student's part will cause a delay in the overall process and may result in the student being unable to enroll in time for the Spring. Please submit your documents in a timely manner once we have reached out to you.
Fall Applicants (August Start)
November 1
Applicants who submit an application by the early notification deadline can expect to receive an admissions decision by January 1. Turning in an application before the deadline will not result in receiving an admissions decision sooner than January 1.
January 7
Applicants who submit an application by the deadline can expect to receive an admissions decision by mid-March. Turning in an application before the deadline will not result in receiving an admissions decision sooner than mid-March unless you submitted your application by the early notification deadline (November 1).
March
International Services Office starts processing I-20 requests for Fall. They will not start processing I-20 requests earlier than March.
Mid-March
Fall admissions decisions released.
Early May
Students outside of the U.S. who are required to take an EAP course must submit I-20 request documents.
Mid-June
Students outside of the U.S. who are exempt from EAP course(s) and have met program prerequisites must submit I-20 request documents.
Mid-July
Students in the U.S. who are transferring their visa/SEVIS number from a U.S. institution to the Elliott School must submit I-20 request and transfer documents.
Late August
Fall Semester begins.