Vermont State University provides fantastic Vermont settings for international students to study and explore. We welcome students from around the world to enjoy one of the safest and most beautiful environments in the United States.
Prefer to study from home? Our online programs offer the same high-quality education and personalized support – accessible from anywhere in the world.
See our Program Finder to search all degree programs by location, topic, and learning format. Each program page indicates whether the program is eligible for international students requiring an F-1 visa. Programs noted as available online can be accessed from anywhere in the world, provided students have the necessary technology and local access to participate.
International Application Checklist
After you apply, checklist items required for your program will be listed on your Application Status Page, where you will be able to track your materials.
- Application
- Application fee or fee waiver
- Personal statement/essay
- Current letter of recommendation.
- A copy of your passport ID page. This is required to receive an I-20.
Additional letters are required when applying to some academic programs; see program specific requirements on this page
Transcripts must be official, officially submitted directly from all institutions attended. Official diploma and transcript of your complete high school studies is required. If you have at least one year of full-time college studies (all post-secondary studies), your high school transcript is not required. All academic transcripts must be signed by the appropriate school or government official and must include the seal of the school or the government. Photocopies or other copies must be certified true. If the documents are written in a language other than English, complete and certified true English translations must be furnished together with the official documents in that language. Post-secondary transcripts from outside of the United States must be evaluated by a NACES member organization. Transfer credits must be evaluated by NACES member foreign credential evaluation service. For a smooth transfer credit evaluation process, please submit your official transcripts to one of the NACES member organizations, such as SpanTran, WES, or ECE. This ensures a standardized and comprehensive evaluation of your academic credentials.
If English is not your first language, a minimum score of 71 iBT TOEFL, 6 IELTS, or 105 Duolingo English language test score is required. Other English language assessments may be substituted with permission from Admissions. Reported test scores must be from the previous two years. If your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo result does not meet the minimum score for admission, you may be admitted to a Pathway Program for English Language Learners. This program is for students whose academic record is satisfactory but who require further development in one or more English skills areas. The University’s TOEFL code is not yet established. Applicants can submit with code 3765; as we are becoming Vermont State University, Castleton University may appear and is correct to submit.SAT or ACT can be submitted to fulfill the test requirement. This option is popular with international first-year applicants whose native language is English or who have graduated from a high school where English is the instruction language. Interview may be requested to assess English proficiency; submitted documents, such as essays and recommendations, will be considered in the admission decision for the English Pathway Program.
If you have IELTS 5.0 or equivalent scores such as TOEFL ibt 55, PTE (Pearson Academic English Test) 42, or Duolingo 90, with good academic standing, with Conditional Admission, you will:
Enroll in major-related courses while also taking two required credit-bearing English courses (6 credits/semester) in the VTSU English Pathway Program for one to two semesters.
Advantages of registering for the VTSU English Pathway Program:
- Unlike a separate English instruction program, the English Pathway Program allows you to enhance your English in an academic setting while allowing you to take major-related courses. This will reduce your time spent on English language study, save you money, and prepare you to complete your degree on time.
- You do not have to retake the English-standardized proficiency tests. You will meet the English requirements and gain normal admission after one semester if you complete the English Pathway Program with a score higher than A-.
- English courses recorded on academic transcripts provide international students with reliable evidence of a good English foundation.
International Student Certification of Finances and Financial Documentation. Your application must be accompanied by certification that sufficient funds will be available to meet both your living and tuition expenses while attending Vermont State University. This is required to receive a SEVIS I-20.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for Nursing and Allied Health Professions
Respiratory Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Radiography Technology, Veterinary Technology, and Paramedicine Program
To ensure that all applicants possess the language skills needed to progress successfully in our Nursing and Allied Health programs, both international (F-1) and domestic candidates must meet one of the following English-language proficiency standards:
- IELTS (Academic): Minimum overall score of 6.5, with no individual band (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) below 6.0.
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 80, including a speaking score of at least 23.
- Pearson PTE Academic: Minimum overall score of 55, with at least 50 in Reading, Writing, and Listening, and a minimum of 60 in Speaking.
These thresholds align with recommendations from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and mirror standards adopted by peer institutions.
Applicants who have pursued substantial English-language instruction in the United States may fulfill the requirement by meeting one of the following criteria (in lieu of an approved test score):
- Completion of four units of English at the U.S. high-school level.
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Score of 650 or higher (600 or higher if reporting an older Critical Reading score).
- ACT Reading and English: Composite minimum score of 27 across both sections.
