Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog

International Admissions


International Admissions

CU Denver International Admissions manages the admission process for international undergraduate applicants who currently have or will require a temporary, non-immigrant visa to study in the United States. Advisors are available to help you through the entire application process.

We also evaluate international academic credentials for international graduate applicants, as well as US citizens, permanent residents, and other applicants who have studies outside the United States before studying at CU Denver.

This page contains information for international applicants to undergraduate programs. For information about applying to a graduate program as an international student, please visit this page.

Contact Information for International Admissions

Physical Address: Student Commons Building, Suite 1119, 1201 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80204
Mailing Address: Campus Box A005, PO Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364
Telephone: +1 (303) 315-2382
Email: application@ucdenver.edu
Website: http://internationaladmissions.ucdenver.edu

Application Information for Undergraduate International Students

The University of Colorado Denver provides a diverse array of baccalaureate majors, minors, certificates, and teacher licensure options to meet the ever-challenging demands of a global society. Undergraduate education programs consist of a general core curriculum, a major, and elective courses for all areas of study. The campus-wide core curriculum develops proficiency in writing and mathematics, cultivates a breadth of knowledge, promotes critical thinking, allows for the flexibility to meet career goals, and helps develop sensitivity to cultural diversity and international perspectives.

A list of all undergraduate programs, including minors and online programs, is available by clicking here .

Everyone is welcome to apply. CU Denver values a culture of inclusion and does not discriminate on aspects of identity, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status, veteran status, nationality, citizenship, religion, and socioeconomic background.

CU Denver seeks to identify applicants who are likely to be successful in a rigorous academic program of study. Admission decisions are based on many factors, the most important being:

  • Previous academic performance
  • Evidence of academic ability and accomplishment as indicated by scores on national aptitude tests
  • Evidence of maturity, motivation, and potential for academic success

CU Denver may deny admission to applicants or readmission to former students whose total credentials indicate an inability to assume obligations of performance and behavior deemed essential by the university.

After completing the application process, official notification of your admission status is provided by International Admissions. 

NOTE: The University of Colorado Denver reserves the right to change the admission decision at any time if additional credentials are received that affect your qualifications

 

Application Deadlines

Term Scholarship Consideration Deadline Recommended Deadline Final Deadline
Fall 2020 February 15, 2020 March 15, 2020 May 15, 2020
Spring 2021 September 15, 2020 October 15, 2020 November 15, 2020
Summer 2021 N/A January 15, 2021 March 15, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

The university may change document/credential deadlines in accordance with enrollment demands. For the best admission and immigration experience, applicants should apply as early as possible. Admission to the university does not guarantee the availability of desired courses. For an applicant to be considered for a specific term, all documents required for admission must be received by the deadline for that term. Applicants who are unable to meet the deadline may elect to be considered for a later term (see Term Change Requests ). Please allow sufficient time to have transcripts sent from previously attended institutions.

Application Processing

Your application will be processed and you will receive a decision within 10 business days of CU Denver receiving a complete application.

Freshman and Transfer Student Admission


CU Denver International Admissions considers a number of factors in determining an applicant’s level of academic preparation and success. We interpret the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and CU Denver freshman and transfer admission standards in an internally consistent manner, while also taking into account the wide variety of educational backgrounds and experiences international students bring to the university.

Applicants are considered for admission as freshmen students if applying to university for the first time after completing their secondary education (comparable to US high school completion) or a relevant high school equivalency exam. Applicants are considered for admission as transfer students if they have completed any amount of post-secondary coursework. In unusual or unique cases, International Admissions may elect to use either the freshman or transfer admission criteria in order to base our admission decision on the best available set of evidence regarding the applicant’s likelihood for academic success at CU Denver.

For detailed information about CDHE and CU Denver admission criteria for undergraduate applicants, please see this page.

How to Apply for Freshman Admission

  1. Complete and submit your application online at http://internationaladmissions.ucdenver.edu.
  2. Pay your $75 non-refundable application fee. Note: you can provide a fee waiver code, or request a fee waiver, before submitting your application.
  3. Provide the following documents:

a. Complete transcripts from all high schools you have attended - even if you did not graduate from the school.

i. For high schools located inside the United States, you must provide official transcripts. For high schools located outside the United States, you may provide copies or unofficial transcripts.

ii. If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the transcript. CU Denver does not have a preferred translation provider; we recommend that you use an ATA member company. Note: You do NOT need to provide an external evaluation of your transcript. International Admissions will evaluate your transcript during the application process. You only need to provide a translation.

b. High school completion examination scores, as appropriate for your country or situation. Please see this list for freshman documentation requirements from around the world.

c. SAT or ACT scores (required only if you will graduate from a high school inside the United States). Scores reported on official high school transcripts are considered official test scores. Otherwise, please request test score reports from ACT (school code: 0533) or the College Board (school code: 4875).

d. Proof of English language proficiency (ELP). Please see below for more information. Note: applicants who do not provide proof of ELP, or who do not meet the ELP requirement, will be considered for conditional admission.

e. After reviewing your file, International Admissions may determine that we require additional documents. In this case, you must provide all requested documents in order to complete your application.

How to Apply for Transfer Admission

  1. Complete and submit your application online at http://internationaladmissions.ucdenver.edu.
  2. Pay your $75 non-refundable application fee. Note: you can provide a fee waiver code, or request a fee waiver, before submitting your application.
  3. Provide the following documents:

a. Complete transcripts from all colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions of any kind that you have attended - even if you did not complete a degree at the institution.

i. For institutions located inside the United States, you must provide official transcripts. For institutions located outside of the United States, you may provide copies or unofficial transcripts.

ii. If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the transcript. CU Denver does not have a preferred translation provider; we recommend that you use an ATA member company.
Note: You do NOT need to provide an external evaluation of your transcript. International Admissions will evaluate your transcript during the application process. You only need to provide a translation.

b. If you have completed less than 24 US semester credits or one year of post-secondary study, you must also provide complete transcripts from all high schools you have attended. Please follow the high school transcript instructions listed under “How to Apply for Freshman Admission” above.

c. Proof of English language proficiency (ELP). Please see below for more information. Note: applicants who do not provide proof of ELP, or who do not meet the ELP requirement, will be considered for conditional admission.

d. After reviewing your file, International Admissions may determine that we require additional documents. In this case, you must provide all requested documents in order to complete your application.

Proof of English Language Proficiency


International applicants to CU Denver must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP) in order to be considered for full admission. Undergraduate applicants (except Nursing) and some graduate applicants will be considered for conditional admission if they apply without adequate proof of ELP. You may meet the ELP requirement via any of the options listed below. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the International Admissions website.

International Admissions will update the English language proficiency policy, effective for admission in the spring 2021 term and forward. Please see below for up-to-date information.

1. Citizenship Exemption

International applicants holding citizenship from the following countries do not need to prove their English language proficiency for admission to CU Denver. The Spring 2021 list is based on the United Kingdom government’s list of countries exempt from proving English ability when applying for a UK student visa.

Fall 2020 Admission Spring 2021 Admission
  • Australia
  • Belize
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Commonwealth Caribbean
  • Ghana
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe
  • United Kingdom
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. ESL Academy

International applicants may meet the English language proficiency requirement for any program of study at CU Denver by successfully completing every class in level 5 at CU Denver’s ESL Academy.

3. English Language Proficiency Tests

CU Denver accepts the following tests as proof of English language proficiency.

Note: The university minimum scores listed below apply to all undergraduate programs, with the exception of Nursing. Please visit the College of Nursing website for more information.

MINIMUM SCORE REQUIREMENTS:

TOEFL iBT

CU Denver school code: 4875

CU Denver accepts TOEFL MyBest scores.

Comprehensive Score Fall 2020 Admission Spring 2021 Admission
  75 79

 

 

Subscores Fall 2020 Admissions Springs 2021 Admission
Reading 15 18
Listening 15 17
Speaking 18 20
Writing 17 17

 

IELTS

CU Denver accepts super-scored IELTS scores.

Overall Band Score Fall 2020 Admission and Spring 2021 Admissions
  6.5

 

 

Subscores Fall 2020 Admission and Spring 2021 Admissions
Reading 5.5
Listening 5.5
Speaking 5.5
Writing 5.5

 

PTE ACADEMIC

Overall Score Fall 2020 Admissions Spring 2021 Admission
  51 58

 

 

Subscores Fall 2020 Admission Spring 2021 Admission
Reading 44 42
Listening 44 42
Speaking 49 42
Writing 47 42

 

DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST

International Admissions is currently piloting the Duolingo English Test for use in undergraduate admissions (except Nursing). Please contact International Admissions for more information.

 

Total Score 

 

Fall 2020 Admission and Spring 2021 Admission

  • 160-point scale (test dates starting July 15, 2019): 105
  • 100-point scale (test dates prior to July 15, 2019): 48

Note: The Duolingo English Test currently does not report sub-scores. International Admissions reserves the right to update our minimum requirements in the event that Duolingo starts reporting sub-scores.

 

4. Coursework Completion

Undergraduate Admission Transfer Undergraduate Admission
  • Graduate from high school in the US, with 1+ year of college-prep English coursework
  • Graduate from a US- or UK- accredited high school over seas
  • Earn an associate or bachelor degree in the United States
  • Complete the GTPathway at a Colorado community college

 

Undergraduate Admission

Transfer Undergraduate Admission
  • Graduate from high school in the US, with 1+ year of college-prep English coursework
  • Graduate from a US accredited high school overseas
  • Earn a high school credential (comparable to a US high school diploma) in any of the exempt countries listed above
  • Earn a high school credential (comparable to a US high school diploma) at an exempt-country-accredited school located in a non-exempt country
  • Earn an associate or bachelor degree in the United States
  • Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor degree) in any of the exempt countries listed above
  • Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor degree) at an exempt-country-accredited institution located in a non-exempt country
  • Earn 24 or more transferable semester credits at another US institution, AND
    • Earn an overall college-level GPA of 2.7/4.0 or higher, OR
    • Earn a final grade of B- or higher in English Composition 1, or equivalent, or a higher English composition course

 

5. SPRING 2021 ADMISSION: ADDITIONAL TESTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

International applicants to undergraduate programs (except Nursing) in the spring 2021 term and forward may also use the following test scores as proof of ELP. International Admissions must receive the official score report in order to use these tests for ELP.

Test Required Score

ACT:

  - English

18 or higher

SAT:

  - Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

480 or higher

Advanced Placement (AP):

  - English Literature and Composition

3 or higher

International Baccalaureate (IB):

  - English A Literature (HL or SL)

  - English A Language and Literature (HL or SL)

4 or higher

General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-Level:

  - English Literature

  - English Language

E or higher

General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS-Level:

  - English Language

E or higher

 

6. LYNXDIRECT PATHWAY PROGRAM

International freshman applicants to undergraduate programs who do not meet any of the English Language Proficiency requirements listed above will be considered for admission to the LynxDirect pathway program in the CU Denver ESL Academy. The English Language Proficiency requirement for LynxDirect admission is as follows:

TOEFL iBT:

  • Comprehensive Score: 70
  • Subscores: must reach the High Intermediate threshold in three of the four subscores; the fourth subscore must meet the Low Intermediate threshold (see this page for details)

IELTS:

  • Overall Band Score: 6.0
  • Subscores: must reach 5.5 or higher in three of the four subscores; the fourth subscore must reach 5.0 or higher

Immigration Process

International Services Specialists in International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) handle the immigration process for international students. ISSS will issue an immigration document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) to you, if applicable, only after you have confirmed your acceptance and submitted the Immigration Clearance Form (see below). Financial documentation is not required at the time of application.

You will be contacted within five (5) business days of receiving your decision letter and will need to provide: 

Proof of Financial Support: If you have already sent financial documents to the International Admissions Office, that information will be forwarded to ISSS. If you have not already provided this information, or if your information needs to be updated, you will have an opportunity to provide ISSS with your proof of financial support when you complete the online Immigration Clearance Form that your International Services Specialist will send to you.

Passport/Visa Information: If you have already sent this information to International Admissions, it will be made available to ISSS who will contact you if they need more information.

Note: International students living outside of the U.S. will need to provide a copy of their passport, if it has not already been sent. Those living in the U.S. should be prepared to submit a copy of their passport, visa, Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record and Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or Form I-797 (if applicable). In all correspondence, please use your name as it appears on your passport. 

 

Please visit ISSS for more information on Pre-ArrivalArrival at CU DenverI-20/DS-2019 Timeline, and more.