Fall 2016 International Freshman
Application Filing Period
San Diego State University accepts international first-time freshman applications starting October 1 for admission the following fall. SDSU does not offer spring admission. Get started by reviewing the deadlines and admission criteria below, and then find out how to apply.
Application Deadlines
First-time freshmen international applicants graduating from a U.S. high school must apply between October 1 and November 30.
First-time freshmen international applicants graduating from a high school outside of the U.S. must apply between October 1 and May 1.
All students applying to Music, Dance, Theatre Arts/Performance, or Nursing must apply between October 1 and November 30.
Who is a Freshman?
You can apply to SDSU as a first-time freshman if you have:
Not yet graduated high school
Graduated high school, but not taken any college courses since the summer after graduation
Note that as a first-time freshman, you are required to live in on-campus housingfor your first year if you are from outside SDSU's local admission area or are a participant in the University Honors Program.
San Diego State University is not accepting applications for a second bachelor's degree except in Nursing.
Admission Criteria
First-time international freshman applicants are reviewed on the following admission criteria, unless applicants are graduating from a U.S. high school. Applicants graduating from a U.S. high school are reviewed using a different freshmen ranking critera.
Completion of high school/secondary level. A certified copy of graduation certificate or diploma will be required prior to enrollment at SDSU.
A minimum U.S. equivalent GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 (B grade or about 80 percent) or higher.
English Proficiency: Applicants who have attended a high school where English was not the primary language of instruction must meet university-level competence in English through one of the following:
TOEFL - Passing score is 80 iBT/550 paper or higher.
IELTS - Passing overall score of 6.5 or higher.
SDSU's American Language Institute's Level 106 course - Must earn an overall 3.0 GPA or higher.
SAT / ACT Tests: International applicants attending a U.S. high school or an overseas U.S. accredited high school are required to submit either SAT or ACT test scores.
*If you have earned ANY college or university credit (foreign or domestic), you are considered a transfer student and must meet the CSU transfer admission requirements.
China
Official academic records must arrive in a sealed envelope from the secondary institution(s) or the Ministry of Education. For secondary studies, please submit grade reports for each year of study completed (i.e., 9-12th grade or 10-12th grade). Also submit a certified copy of the Graduation Certificate in booklet form, if earned. All supporting documents must be ORIGINAL, OFFICIAL academic records issued in English and/or in the native language(s). Professional English translations will be required for documents in the native language.
Fall 2016 Transfer Admission Criteria
Who is a Transfer Student?
If you have taken any college-level classes since the summer beyond your high school graduation, you are a transfer student.
SDSU accepts transfer applications only from upper-division transfer or readmission applicants who will have completed 60 or more transferable semester (or 90 or more quarter) units by the end of spring 2016. We do not accept transfer applications from lower-division students with fewer than 60 transferable semester units.
Second Bachelor's Degree
San Diego State University is only accepting applications for a second bachelor's degree in Nursing. Applicants to the second bachelor’s degree in Nursing must follow the two-step process for Transfer Applicants.
Transfer Admission Requirements
Upper-division transfer applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission:
Complete 60 or more transferable semester (or 90 or more quarter) units by the end of spring 2016
Complete all major preparation courses
Complete a minimum of 30 units of General Education
Complete with a "C" grade or higher, the following General Education courses, known as the "Golden Four"
Oral Communication: Basic public speaking course. Other communication courses that are certified by a California community college will be accepted.
Written Communication: Typically a freshman composition course that emphasizes essay writing or reading and writing concurrently.
Critical Thinking: Typically your second semester composition or writing course, or a course in reasoning and effective argumentative writing.
Mathematics: This course must be above the level of intermediate algebra.
Earn the grade point average (GPA) required for the major to which the applicant is applying at the time of application and final transcript review.
Note: Students with prior SDSU coursework must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA for any SDSU Regular Session, Special Session, Open University, or Cross Enrollment coursework. This is in addition to the cumulative GPA listed above.