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Preparing to Apply

Learn more about how to complete your application and apply to attend Penn State for your graduate education. All applicants meet minimum eligibility requirements for both the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School and your intended program. Applications also need to provide all required documents and materials, and pay the application fee, before their application can be reviewed.

    Explore Programs

    Penn State offers over 300 graduate programs in dozens of disciplines, all of which are listed in the University's Graduate Bulletin.

    Search Graduate Programs

    Application Deadlines

    Application Fees

    • U.S. applicants for degree and certificate programs: $65
    • International applicants for degree programs and certificate programs (for anyone applying for summer or fall 2024 admission): $65
    • International applicants for degree programs and certificate programs (for anyone applying for spring 2025 admission or later): $85
    • Nondegree admission (U.S. or international): $30

    All application fees are nonrefundable.

    An application will not be reviewed until the application fee is paid. Applicants should pay within the application as the final step after all other sections of the application are completed. In unique situations where an applicant or another individual needs to pay for a previously submitted application, this can be done by credit card via the Fox Graduate School Payment Portal, or by check/money order using the Application Fee Form below. To request an application fee waiver, contact your intended graduate program directly.

    J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School Application Fee Form

    Enrollment Types

    Minimum Admission Requirements

    To be eligible for a degree program, you must meet both of the following:

      Search for Minimum Eligibility by Country

      View the admission requirements from a selected country by choosing from the drop-down list below. The requirements listed for each country are seen most often from institutions within the selected country. Academic credentials will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine degree comparability and eligibility for admission.



      Transcript Requirements

      When applying for any graduate program, you will need to upload a scanned copy of official transcripts from institutions you attended previously. Note that there is a difference between “official” and “unofficial” transcripts, and only some documents will be accepted in the application process.

      Applicants will be required to upload copies of official transcripts or documents from all post-secondary institutions attended, whether the degree was completed or not.

      Accuracy of Application Materials

      Penn State is committed to ensuring that all applicants and students uphold the highest level of academic integrity. Any false information, omissions, and/or misstatements that are made in an application — including but not limited to the uploading of copies of transcripts that differ in any substantive way from the official transcripts/documents — will result in admission, registration, and credit(s) for course work completed being voided for the applicant. Additionally, information relating to the false information, omissions, and/or misstatements may be distributed to other academic institutions, governmental agencies, and/or other third parties.

      English Proficiency

      The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. If you do not meet these minimum requirements, you may be granted provisional admission until you complete certain requirements.

      • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): overall score of at least 80 with a minimum speaking score of 19
      • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 6.5

      Provision Admission

      Applicants with the test scores below those listed above may be considered for provisional admission. To be fully admitted, students must complete specified English course work with a grade of B or higher during their first semester of enrollment. The course(s) to meet this qualification will be based on the applicant’s area(s) of deficiency in test results and are listed the graduate education admissions policy (GCAC-305 Procedures).

      Exemptions from English Proficiency Testing

      Some graduate plans of study may have more stringent requirements.

      “I majored in engineering for my bachelor's degree, and this master's program reflects my pursuit of study in computational biology. My major concern was how to receive a broad education covering computer science, mathematics, and biology. I soon realized that faculties in the bioinformatics or math departments were enthusiastic about supporting my education. Within a ten-minute walk on campus, I could visit any department across a variety of majors to meet with faculty members who could guide my research. It was a tremendous advantage to have such a supportive infrastructure. I do not know the culture of other universities, but I can definitely say professors in Penn State, regardless of majors, are in overall very helpful for even master's students once they are willing to do a serious research project.”

      — Adam Park
      Master's student in Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering