Transfer Admission Standards

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Admission Standards

Admission for international transfer applicants is selective, so you must establish a solid academic record in university-level work before applying to IU.

Once we receive your application for admission, we will review each application for its individual merits and qualities. In particular, we consider factors that emphasize academic performance and preparation, the strength and quality of your curriculum, recent grade trends, and results of standardized tests, when required. In addition, you should be in good standing at the institution you are attending or have previously attended.

As a prospective transfer student, you are given more serious consideration if your marks or grades have been consistently above average or steadily improving in a challenging academic program. Conversely, low marks or grades in the most recent term or a less demanding academic program are often factors that make an application less competitive and thus are reasons to deny admission.

IU may be able to make an admission decision while you are in the process of completing the current term at your institution. However, if your final performance in your current term falls below the admission standards for IU, International Admissions is very likely to withdraw the offer of admission.

Transferring After Less Than One Year of Study

If you wish to transfer with less than one year of full-time university-level study (fewer than 26 semester hours or 39 quarter hours) earned from your current institution, you will need to meet freshman admission standards as well as maintain satisfactory academic progress in your postsecondary studies.

Demonstration of English Proficiency

Indiana University Bloomington requires all non-native English speaking international undergraduate applicants to demonstrate English proficiency. Demonstration of English proficiency can be achieved by one of the three following ways.

1. English Proficiency Tests
   

   IU Bloomington requires applicants to submit one of the following English proficiency tests results to complete an application. Testing services should report scores directly to IU Bloomington. Scores associated with each test must be obtained in order to be considered for admissions:

   English Proficiency Test		Required Score
   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*
   	Internet-Based Test	79
   	Paper-Based Test	550
   International English Language Testing System (IELTS)		6.5
   Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)		79

   * Applicants to the Jacobs School of Music MUST submit a TOEFL score.

2. SAT or ACT Exams

   English proficiency will be met by obtaining a minimum of 500 on the SAT's Critical Reading section or a 21 on the ACT's English section.

3. Transferrable Credit Completion

   Submit evidence of having completed more than 26 transferrable credits at the time of application and evidence of having completed the full freshman English requirements with a C or better from an accredited two or four year post-secondary institution in the U.S.

   Full freshman English requirement equals completion of the following IUB courses: Eng W 131, ENG W 170 or CMLT C 110. Six credits of humanities or other English courses will also meet these standards. We recommend that you use our Credit Transfer Service to find out what courses are your university may meet this requirement.

4. Citizenship of an English Speaking Country

   Students with citizenship from approved English speaking countries meet the minimum English proficiency requirements. A list of English speaking countries can be found here.

Indiana English Proficiency Exam (IEPE)

All new international students must take IU's English Proficiency Examination upon arrival at the university to determine if they must take preparation English courses. Students must take English courses prescribed from the result of their examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as other courses; however, credits earned in these preparation English courses do not meet degree requirements.

Exemption from Taking the IEPE

To be considered exempt from taking the Indiana English Proficiency Exam, the following exam scores are required:

In addition to exam scores, international students with citizenship from predominately English speaking countries are not required to complete the IEPE.

Intensive English Program (IEP) Placement

If the results of this exam indicate that full time work in English is required, you will be assigned to the IEP and will be unable to take academic courses until you achieve the adequate English proficiency. If you have serious doubts about your English ability and are not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program, you should consider completing English study in your home country and delaying your application to a future term.

Country-Specific Requirements

Learn about country-specific secondary school requirements for admission to IU.

Electronically Reporting Exam Scores