Congratulations on your scholarship and thank you for your interest in the University of Missouri!
The University of Missouri is considered one of the top-tier universities in the United States. It enrolls almost 30,000 students in 14 academic colleges.
Mizzou is located in the heart of the United States, in the city of Columbia (population 116,000). Columbia frequently wins national recognition for its affordability and high quality of life, and has a diverse and safe community that welcomes international students. Currently, Mizzou hosts more than 2,000 international students, including approximately 250 sponsored students. The Sponsored Student Program at Mizzou works with 16 home-country government sponsors, and the top three student populations in this area are Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The instructions below offer guidance for the application and admission process by degree level. Do not hesitate to contact the Sponsored Student Program with any questions (musponsoredstudentprogram@missouri.edu).
Undergraduate non-degree seeking students
Interested in joining Mizzou for just a semester or year as a non-degree seeking student? We can help! Carefully review these instructions for applying as a non-degree seeking international sponsored students.
- Mizzou offers more than 300 different degree programs for undergraduate study. Review the majors and fields of study available to determine if we offer your area of interest.
- Review the undergraduate International Admissions requirements and compile and send required documents and test scores:
- Academic transcripts
- TOEFL/IELTS scores
- Begin the online undergraduate application, making sure to indicate that you are applying as a visiting international student.
- Contact the Sponsored Student Program by email (musponsoredstudentprogram@missouri.edu) and provide the following information:
- Copy of scholarship letter
- Scholarship adviser name and email address
- Once our team has reviewed your file and approved, submit your online application and pay the application fee.
Undergraduate degree-seeking students
- Mizzou offers more than 300 different degree programs for undergraduate study. Review the majors and fields of study available to determine if we offer your area of interest.
- Review the undergraduate International Admissions requirements and compile and send required documents and test scores:
- Academic transcripts
- TOEFL/IELTS scores
- ACT/SAT scores
- Begin the online undergraduate application, making sure to indicate that you are applying as a visiting international student.
- Contact the Sponsored Student Program by email (musponsoredstudentprogram@missouri.edu) and provide the following information:
- Copy of scholarship letter
- Scholarship adviser name and email address
- Submit your online application and pay the application fee.
Graduate (master’s/Ph.D.) students
Mizzou offers a wide variety of master’s programs and doctoral/Ph.D. programs on campus.
Applying to a graduate degree program at Mizzou is two-part process. Application materials will be reviewed first by the specific degree program and then by the Graduate School.
Because admission requirements vary by academic program, you must refer to a degree program’s website to learn about the application process, including specific admission criteria, application deadlines and required documents. To find a program’s website, refer to the list of graduate degree programs.
All graduate programs at Mizzou have the following minimum admission requirements for applicants:
- Have earned a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. If your degree is from a non-U.S. institution, it must be recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or Commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned. The degree must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree, or higher degree.
- Have earned a 3.0 or better GPA in the last 60 hours of baccalaureate coursework (if you have less than a master’s degree).
- Meet additional requirements for international applicants, including proof of English language proficiency.
All non-native English speakers are also required to provide proof of English language ability. The Graduate School accepts scores from:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced
You must earn a minimum total score as well as subsection scores according to the table below. Test scores are considered valid for two years beyond the test date.
| Test | Total | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL internet-based | 80 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| PTE | 59 | – | – | – | – |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 180 | – | – | – | – |
Some degree programs require test scores that are higher than the minimum university requirements. Refer to the program’s website for details.
- Required application materials and deadlines vary by degree program. Review the specific requirements and deadlines for your program of interest.
- Compile the required materials and prepare for required standardized exams.
- Submit an online Graduate School application.
- Include your sponsor information when asked to select your sponsoring organization.
- Send your required test scores and official transcripts to the Graduate School.
- Contact the Sponsored Student Program by email (musponsoredstudentprogram@missouri.edu) and provide:
- Copy of your passport biographical page
- Copy of your financial guarantee from your scholarship program
Some graduate programs at Mizzou may offer probationary admission letters to applicants who do not meet the program’s general acceptance requirements. This may be an option if you lack language proficiency test scores or standardized admission tests at the time of application. For applicants to obtain the funding required to pursue English language training at Mizzou along with limited regular coursework, the applicants are required to provide a probationary admission letter to their sponsor.
To qualify for probationary admission, you must meet one of the minimum threshold language test requirements below. These scores are below the Graduate School’s minimum scores for admission:
| Exam | Required minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall, no part below 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 total |
| PTE Academic | 52 overall |
| Cambridge English Scale | 169 overall |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 overall, no section below 90 |
You should contact your program of interest to determine if the program offers probationary admission. You must meet all of the university’s general admission requirements before enrolling in graduate courses.
Application instructions for probationary admission
- Required application materials and deadlines vary by degree program. Review the specific requirements and deadlines for your program of interest.
- Compile the required materials for your program, including score reports for an accepted language proficiency exam and GRE/GMAT score reports (if required for your program).
- Submit an online Graduate School application.
- Include your sponsor information when asked to select your sponsoring organization.
- Contact the Sponsored Student Program by email (musponsoredstudentprogram@missouri.edu) and provide:
- Copy of your financial guarantee from your scholarship program
- Indicate that you are seeking probationary admission
- If you receive probationary admission to the academic program, this will be indicated in your departmental admission letter.
- Once you accept your admission offer, the Sponsored Student Program will create your DS-2019 or I-20, depending on your government’s preference.