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Admission Documents and Requirements

Application for Admission

Applicants should complete and submit an application through ApplyTexas . All materials submitted become the property of the university and cannot be released, except in accordance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or the State Public Information Act. Incomplete application files are kept for only one year and are then destroyed.

Admission Documents

Applicants will electronically submit the documents to The Graduate College. Please only submit what is required by the program. Any additional documents mailed or e-mailed to our office will not be attached to applications.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $40.00 (U.S. currency) is required for all students. No application will be considered until the necessary fees are paid.

International Fee

If you hold or will be holding a nonimmigrant visa while in the United States or if your application is considered for admission on the basis of foreign credentials, you must submit a non-refundable international fee of $50.00 (U.S. currency) with the application for admission to the Graduate College. No application will be considered until the necessary fee is paid.

Official Transcripts and Diplomas

You must have one official transcripts from each school you attended sent to the Graduate College. The transcripts cannot be hand-carried if in an unsealed envelope or mailed by you. The transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions to the Texas State Graduate College or hand-carried in a sealed envelope from the institution. The transcripts must reflect all college work attempted and any degree(s) conferred. Former or currently enrolled Texas State students do not need to request transcripts from Texas State.

Transcripts and diplomas from foreign institutions must be accompanied by English translations, if appropriate, and must carry any additional legends that will assist in their evaluation.

Graduate Record Examination

All applicants are required to take the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before admission. The Graduate College only uses a combined score using the verbal and quantitative portions. Subject examinations are not accepted. The official results of the GRE must be received in the Graduate College prior to evaluation of your application.

The Department of Geography no longer wishes to consider the paper-based or computer-based exam TOEFL test score

If you have taken the GRE some years ago and your official GRE score is no longer able to be reported by the Educational Testing Service, you must retake the GRE so you can have a current valid score submitted. GRE score reports that bear the designation "applicant's copy" or "institutional examinations" are not considered official scores for admission purposes.

Information bulletins and test application forms may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000, U.S.A.; calling ETS at 609-771-7670; from the Texas State University Testing Center; from the Graduate College; or www.GRE.org. Please allow adequate time for the examination results to reach the university.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

International students: All international students must submit an Internet based (iBT) score with at least a total minimum score of 78 with 4 minimum section scores of: 19/reading, 19/listening, 19/Speaking, and 18/writing. The iBT is required of international Geography applicants who are non-native speakers of English.

Official TOEFL scores more than two years old are not released by the Educational Testing Service; therefore, if you have taken the TOEFL more than two years before the semester for which you applying, you must retake the TOEFL so you can have a current valid score submitted. TOEFL score reports that bear the designation "applicant's copy" or "institutional TOEFL scores" are not considered official scores for admission purposes.

The TOEFL is administered at various centers in the United States and abroad at least six times each year. Application forms and information bulletins may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151; calling ETS at 609-771-7100; from the Texas State University Testing Center; from the Graduate College; or www.TOEFL.org.

F1 Visa

International students who will attend Texas State on an F-l student visa must furnish proof of sufficient financial resources for educational and personal expenses. Texas State will not issue an I-20 Form until all the financial and academic requirements for admission have been met and the Dean of the Graduate College has approved the Graduate Advisor's recommendation for admission. An international student on an Immigrant Visa is not required to furnish proof of financial support and is not issued an I-20 Form.

Mandatory Health Insurance for International Students

International students are responsible for any medical expenses incurred while in the United States. As a nonresident, you may not be eligible for any of the public assistance medical plans offered in the U.S. All nonimmigrant international students are required to have medical insurance as a condition of enrollment at Texas State. The fee for the Texas State International Student Insurance Plan is automatically added to the fee bill at the time of registration. International students who wish to have this fee waived must present proof of comparable insurance (including major medical, evacuation and repatriation) to the Student Health Center for approval prior to each registration. Appointments are required for waivers and may be obtained by calling 512-245-2161. International students may obtain insurance coverage for a spouse and/or dependent children. For more information, contact the Texas State Student Health Center at 512-245-2161.