International Applicants

For MPH and MHSA Applicants

Applicants who are residents of the following countries and who have completed a rigorous full-time program of at least three years of post-secondary education in one of these countries are not required to submit a TOEFL language proficiency test. Countries that qualify for this exception are:

• Antigua
• Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Canada (except Quebec)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• Seychelles
• St. Kitts-Nevis
• St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States
• US Virgin Islands

Language test scores are valid two years from the test date. The official scores must be received from the testing agency no later than the graduate program application deadline.  *School and department admissions reserve the right to contact applicants to request additional proficiency support if needed (i.e., interviews, writing samples, test for exempt non-resident applicants). 

Test of English Foreign Language (TOEFL): Applicants must submit an official TOEFL score to BOTH the University of Michigan Institution Code (1839) and the SOPHAS code (5688).

• The minimum acceptable TOEFL score required for admission is 100 Internet-based (iBT, including ITP Plus and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition).

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Official IELTS scores are sent electronically to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• The minimum requirement is 7.0

SOPHAS doesn't accept IELTS scores. Official IELTS scores are sent electronically to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

There are only three scenarios where applicants do NOT need to submit TOEFL scores:

1. They have completed a degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
2. English is the sole official language of their native country.*
3. They have an in-person (not online) bachelor’s or master’s degree from an institution located in an English-speaking country, and that institution provided all instruction in English.*

*Countries that qualify for this exception are:

• Antigua
• Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Canada (except Quebec)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• Seychelles
• St. Kitts-Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States,
• US Virgin Islands

However, applicants may still be required to have their English proficiency evaluated prior to registration. Re-evaluation of English proficiency may also be required prior to registration if TOEFL score is below 100 Internet-based.

Information and applications for TOEFL may be obtained online or by contacting TOEFL/TSE Services-Princeton

Additional Resources

Non-native speakers of English enrolled at the University of Michigan may take advantage of courses offered through the University of Michigan English Language Institute (ELI).

MS and PhD Applicants: Please refer to the Rackham Graduate School website

For MPH and MHSA Applicants: Non-U.S. applicants who have been admitted to the School of Public Health and have accepted the offer of admission must certify that sufficient funds are available for one year of study at the University of Michigan. U.S. federal law requires that the University of Michigan obtain proof of financial resources (exclusive of travel expenses) to cover university fees, books and supplies, living expenses, and health insurance for yourself and your dependents, if applicable, during the entire course of your program of study including non-enrolled vacation periods.

The actual length and cost of programs may vary because of 1) deficiencies in English language and/or academic preparation, 2) the scheduling and availability of courses, and 3) any extra course work required by the department. If your financial support is being provided by a sponsor, please ask the agency to send a letter indicating the amount and duration of sponsorship. If you obtain a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) or Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) position, you must provide a copy of the offer of employment letter from that unit.

View Tuition Information

International students are admitted to the School of Public Health with the understanding that they have sufficient funding to cover the entire length of their program of study. View information on possible sources of aid.

International students and their accompanying dependents are required to have health/hospitalization and accident insurance coverage during their enrollment. If you intend to bring dependents to the U.S., you must certify sufficient funding support for all dependents. Health insurance must also be paid for dependents.

International students applying for F-1 visas must show sufficient financial support for an I-20 to be created by Michigan Public Health. If you are having your tuition paid by a sponsor, please make sure your sponsor(s) is aware of the two-year length of the MPH/MHSA programs and that their commitment and support is for the potential duration of the program and not just the initial I-20 request. If your sponsor's funding suddenly becomes unavailable, we cannot guarantee emergency funding as a school, which could jeopardize your ability to register for courses and your visa status for your program. It is your responsibility to confirm that your sponsor is aware of the financial responsibility of funding a two-year MPH/MHSA degree.

Applicants who will be applying for a Student Visa will need to submit a copy of their passport and Proof of Funding documentation before any I-20 requests can be processed. Proof of Funding documentation and passport copies may be mailed to:

University of Michigan School of Public Health Office for Student Engagement and Practice
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029.

The deadline for providing Proof of Funding or submitting financial documents required for I-20 processing is June 1.

• Affidavit of Financial Resources for Issuance of I-20 Form
• Financial Resources Statement for Issuance of form I-20

 To enter the United States, international students must obtain a passport from their government and visa from a United States Consulate. To apply for a visa, students will need their passport and either a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) for a student visa or a Form DS 2019 (formerly IAP-66) for an Exchange Visitor visa. Other documents such as evidence of adequate financial support, English proficiency, and previous academic records may be required.

Canadian citizens do not need a passport and visa stamp to enter the U.S. However, they must have a Form I-20 or DS 2019 (formerly IAP-66) in their possession when they approach the U.S. border. All students seeking F-1 or J-1 visa status must pay a SEVIS fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security prior to applying for a visa and requesting entrance to the U.S.

Students coming to the U.S. enter with one of the two following visas:

1. Student Visa (F-1 status): Students coming to the U.S. specifically for the purpose of study usually apply for this visa. To obtain this visa the student takes the Form I-20 to the U.S. Consulate. Students with F-1 status must be enrolled for a full course of study during the academic year. They must obtain permission from the International Center and/or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service to accept off-campus employment. The accompanying spouse or child of an F-1 student enters the U.S. on an F-2 visa and may not seek employment.
2. Exchange Visitor (J-1 status): This visa is intended chiefly for exchange professors and postdoctoral scholars. However, it is appropriate for certain students, particularly those sponsored by agencies, foundations, or their home governments. It is only granted upon the presentation of a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility (Form IAP-66). Exchange visitors may accept employment on or off campus only with permission from their sponsors (usually the International Center). The accompanying spouse or child of a J-1 Exchange Visitor enters the U.S. with a J-2 visa, which may, in some cases, permit employment with approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. It is important to note that in many cases, an Exchange Visitor must leave the U.S. at the conclusion of the program, may not change to certain visa statuses, and may not be eligible for an Immigrant Visa until a two-year home country residence has been completed.

Here is the text inside the above image about the Immigration Process for Newly Admitted International Students Outside the U.S.:

• The University of Michigan School of Public Health Recruitment and Admissions Team within the Office for Student Engagement and Practice (OSEP) confirms academic department admission decisions.
• Admitted student accepts admission offer in Wolverine Access and creates a uniqname.
• Incoming students will receive an email notification regarding the I-20 process. Email sph-inquiries@umich.edu to officially start the process and obtain the link to their assigned Dropbox. (mid-March).
• Incoming students upload all required documents to their assigned Dropbox account. Upon review of provided documentation, OSEP will create a ticket and forward the documents to the International Center. The approximate time for this step is about two weeks.
• After receiving the ticket and required documentation, the International Center will process I-20 within three weeks. After the I-20 is ready to be downloaded in M-Passport, the International Center will send an email notification to the student. From there, incoming students will be able to access their I-20 via M-Passport.
• Incoming students pay the SEVIS fee and make a visa appointment with the SEVIS number. Each I-20 includes the SEVIS number. Students then attend the visa appointment and make travel arrangements.
• Students arrive on campus by “reporting date” (I-20 start date) indicated on the I-20.
• Student completes the Mandatory Immigration Check-in.