International Graduate Student Admissions
An international student is one who requires a student visa, (an F-1 or J-1, for example) in order to study in the United States. Dual citizens, permanent residents (or holders of green cards) or refugees are not considered international students and as such their applicants are considered regular applications.
We welcome international students to apply for Whitworth University graduate programs. Please note that international students are not eligible to apply for some programs, like the Master of Science in Financial Planning program, because they are offered only part time or with low residency.
Whitworth is a safe and comfortable place to study, with smaller, seminar-style classes that give you the opportunity to get to know your professors and classmates. Whitworth is located in Spokane, a midsized city with a four-season climate, so you'll want to be prepared for snow in the winter and warm, sunny summers.
Complete the application process as indicated on the program page for which you are applying, in addition to the following.
University Transcript and Degree Requirements
All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Requirements for admission include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0. All international transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). If a GPA is not available on the report provided by WES or other credential services, applicants will be required to take the GRE or MAT.
To obtain a professional credential evaluation, submit official transcripts and/or documentation of degree earned to:
World Education Services (WES): www.wes.org/application/apply_now.asp
Please choose the WES ICAP "Course-by-Course" service. All transcripts and evaluations will be forwarded to Whitworth University.
If you have any questions, contact WES at 212.966.6311 (U.S. telephone/fax) or www.wes.org/contact (email online).
Copy of Current Official Passport
Submit a copy of your current and valid passport by email (gradadmissions@whitworth.edu) or by mail directly to Whitworth at the following address:
Whitworth University, Graduate Admissions
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251
Copy of the Form I-20 & Procedure for Transferring SEVIS Records
All international applications will also be reviewed by the Associate Director of International Admissions to ensure compliance with federal and institutional regulations.
If you have completed or you are in the process of completing your undergraduate degree at a U.S. college or university, please send us a copy of your most current I-20 upon admission. Additionally, we will send you a transfer-in form to be completed by you and a Designated School Official (DSO) at your most recent institution. The DSO will send the completed form to Whitworth to verify your eligibility to transfer your record and to provide a SEVIS transfer release date.
International Student Financial Statement
A detailed International Student Financial Statement form with supporting verification documents must be provided to the Whitworth Office of International Admissions. Submit documents to gradadmissions@whitworth.edu. In compliance with U.S. Immigration Service requirements, your documents must show evidence of adequate available financial resources to attend a Whitworth graduate program.
An affidavit of financial support is required from students whose financial resources are supplemented in part or in whole by someone other than themselves. Use INS form I-134 for sponsors from the U.S.
English Language Proficiency
Whitworth requires a TOEFL or IELTS score for students whose native language is not English, regardless of whether the language of instruction at your previous school is English.
Students must take either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have the official score sent directly to the graduate admissions office by the testing agency.
The minimum acceptable scores are as follows: 88iBT or 7.0 IELTS.
For information about the TOEFL and IELTS, please visit their websites: www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org. Whitworth's institution code is 4593.
Waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS Score
A waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS may be granted for applicants who have completed a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or in a country where the official language is English. Whitworth reserves the right to require a TOEFL or IELTS score for an applicant who has completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a regionally accredited US institution within the past two years. TOEFL or IELTS waivers pertain only to international students who have submitted an application.
Permanent Residents
Permanent residents must complete the graduate program application and submit a copy of their residency card. A WES evaluation is required of all non-U.S. institutions if a non-U.S. institution was attended.