International Applicants

USC Marshall encourages all interested international students to apply. The procedures are somewhat different than for domestic students, so please read this page carefully in addition to Admission Requirements.

Every admitted international applicant must have a passport on file in order for an I-20 or DS-2019 to be issued. If no passport is available at the time of application, applicants can submit the passport with the financial documents after they have been admitted.

Requirements

Who is considered an international student?
If you are not a United States national, and you will be entering, or have already entered, the United States with an F-1 or J-1 student visa, you should apply as an international student. Students who already reside in the United States and hold other non-immigrant visas (for example, E2, H2 or L2) are also considered international students.

Permanent residents of the United States, naturalized U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens residing abroad and attending a university outside the United States are not considered international students.

Records of your undergraduate degree
Please submit one set of records from each college or university you have attended. The records should indicate the number of lecture and laboratory hours devoted to each course and the grades (marks) you received.

You must also submit an official document showing the title and date of each degree you have earned. This document is considered the equivalent of a "transcript" issued by an American institution.

If the official document is not in English, you must also include a separate English translation by the university or by a certified professional translator. You may send a certified copy of the official document instead of the original.

English-language proficiency

All international applicants who did not earn a bachelor’s degree from a university in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System( IELTS) exam, or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic.

To avoid delays in processing your application, we suggest that you ask to have your TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores sent to USC Marshall when you pre-register for the examination. You can also upload copies of your TOEFL IELTS, or PTE Academic scores — and your GMAT or GRE scores — with your application.

If you are required to take an English Language Exam, an official score report must be forwarded to USC by the testing agency. TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE Academic scores are valid for two years. The TOEFL code for the USC Marshall MBA program is 4852.

International Degree Verification

The USC Office of Degree Progress requires verification of international prior degrees from the International Education Research Foundation (IERF). Details about their services, including application forms, fees, and required documents are available at www.ierf.org/usc.

Please contact Degree Progress dprogss@usc.edu, 213.740.7070 if you have any questions, or need more information regarding prior degree verification.

Financial Information

Financial guarantee statement
Before a student visa can be issued, the U.S. government requires that you provide a document attesting to your ability to pay tuition and expenses for the first academic year of your degree program.

The document must include your sponsor's name, address and source of income, and must be verified by a bank stamp and dated within the last nine months. If your financial support is from your home government or another official agency (e.g., Fulbright, AMIDEAST), you must submit similar documentation.

Financial assistance for international students
The USC Marshall School of Business offers a limited number of scholarships for international students, including full-tuition and partial-tuition scholarships. These awards are highly competitive and are determined at the time of admission. Please note that only U.S. citizens are eligible for Federal Stafford Loans. For more information about financial support, please click here.

US Visa & Health Information

Office of International Services
This office provides orientation programs and continuing support services for international students and their dependents. Specially trained professional counselors and student peer counselors are available to advise you about immigration regulations, academic progress, financial concerns, housing and adjusting to life in the United States. Year-round social and cultural activities are also sponsored through this office. For information, contact (213) 740-2666, or visit www.usc.edu/student-affairs/OIS/.

U.S. Visa Information
After you are admitted to the Marshall MBA Program, the USC Office of Graduate and International Admission will provide you with either an I-20 or DS-2019 Eligibility Certificate. The I-20 is valid for the F-1 visa. The DS-2019 is valid for the J-1 visa.

Make sure that the information you provide on your USC Marshall application — your name, date of birth, city and country of birth, and country of citizenship — is exactly the same as the information on your passport. Your eligibility certificate can be issued only if the information on your passport matches the information you provided USC Marshall.

When you receive the eligibility certificate from USC, you must apply through a United States embassy or consulate for a visa to enter the United States. You must register for the semester specified on the certificate.

Admitted international students with questions about the student visa process should e-mail uscI20@usc.edu.

Do you need a Social Security number?
A Social Security number is a nine-digit number issued by the federal Social Security Administration to citizens and to non-citizens authorized to work in the United States. The primary purpose of this number is to track individuals for taxation purposes; it is not intended to be used for identification.

The only reason you would need a Social Security card is to apply for a job. If you have a job offer, the USC Office of International Services can help you obtain a Social Security number. To open a bank account, you will be asked to fill out a form attesting that you are exempt, as an international student, from the Social Security number requirement. For more information, click here.

Health insurance and health fee requirements
You must carry health and accident insurance unless your sponsor provides sufficient health coverage. USC reserves the right to determine whether the amount of insurance you have is adequate. All USC students on the University Park campus pay a mandatory health fee entitling them to health and counseling services at the University Park Health Center. Students may also purchase medical coverage for family members accompanying them to the United States. For more information, please call the University Park Health Center at (213) 740-5344.