Transfer* and post-baccalaureate students: Please submit the following:
Completed Application.
- SPU Application: The application of choice for students who are not applying to multiple schools that use the shared Common Application.
- Common Application: If you are applying to multiple schools that also use this shared application.
- Or the SPU Nursing Application: All transfer and post-baccalaureate students applying to the Lydia Green Nursing Program must apply for admission via the SPU Nursing Application. A $50 application fee is required.
- Proof of English proficiency.
- Your academic records.
*includes students in High School Completion programs at Washington community colleges
English Proficiency
Your potential for academic success at SPU is one of our highest considerations, and therefore international students are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
You can establish your English proficiency by submitting the official results from one of the following tests that meets the required minimum score:
|
English Proficiency Test
|
Minimum Score For Admission
|
|
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
|
79 |
|
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
|
6.5 |
|
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
|
56 |
|
Duolingo English Test
|
105 |
|
EIKEN (for native Japanese speakers)
|
Pre-Level 1 |
If your score does not meet SPU's minimum requirement, or if you have not taken a test of English Proficiency, you may be eligible for conditional admission. Read more about conditional admission here.
SPU does not offer ESL (English as a Second Language) classes on campus.
English Proficiency Waiver Policies
Depending on your country of citizenship or standardized coursework you have completed (such as IB or I/GCSE), you may be eligible to have your requirement for English proficiency waived. If you believe you may be eligible for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement or would like more information, please reach out to us at international@spu.edu.
SAT and ACT: Seattle Pacific University does not require the SAT or ACT for international student applicants. However, if you are a first-year applicant and have taken either exam, sufficiently high reading and writing scores may exempt you from the English proficiency test requirement. To be considered official, your scores must be sent by the testing agency, or be included on an official high school transcript.
- SAT: SPU will consider the English proficiency requirement met for students who have earned a score of 550 or higher on the evidence-based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section. You can identify your request to have your score sent to SPU by including SPU's test code: 4694.
- ACT: SPU will consider the English proficiency requirement met for students who have earned a score of 20 or higher on the Reading and English section. The code for SPU is 4476.
Transfer Applicants: SPU will waive the English proficiency test score requirement for students at a U.S. College or university who meet the following requirements:
- Completion of 45+ quarter credits (30+ semester credits) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, AND:
- Grades of a "B" (3.0 GPA) or higher in both English Composition I and II.
Post-Baccalaureate Applicants: SPU will waive the English proficiency test requirement for applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Ireland.
SPU does not waive the requirement for English proficiency for applicants with a letter attesting to English language instruction or ability from their secondary school or college.
SAT and ACT Tests
Seattle Pacific University does not require the SAT or ACT for international student applicants.
However, if you are a first-year applicant and have taken either exam, you are encouraged to submit your scores as additional evidence of your academic ability. Sufficiently high reading and writing scores may exempt you from the English proficiency test requirement. (Please refer to "Using SAT and ACT scores as an English proficiency alternative", below.)
If you are a first-year applicant and a native speaker of English, you are strongly encouraged to submit SAT or ACT scores, because English proficiency test results are not required for you. SAT/ACT scores can have a positive impact on the review of your application.
Remember: To be considered official, your scores must be sent by the testing agency, or be included on an official high school transcript.
- When taking the SAT, you can identify your request to have your scores sent to SPU by including SPU’s test code 4694.
- When taking the ACT, the code for SPU is 4476.
Using SAT and ACT scores as an English proficiency alternative
SPU will consider the English proficiency met for students whose SAT or ACT scores meet the following standards:
- A minimum SAT evidence-based Reading and Writing score (EBRW) of 550.
- Or, minimum ACT Reading and English scores of 20.
Academic Records
All academic records must have the official stamp or seal from the issuing institution and must be sent directly from the school or another authorized institution to SPU in a sealed envelope.
We recognize that every country has its own unique educational system. Please consult with the SPU international admissions counselor for country-specific requirements.
- Documents must be issued in English.*
- We cannot accept copies of records that were issued to the applicant.
- We cannot accept unofficial photocopies, faxes, or scanned/emailed documents.
*If your records have already been translated by the issuing school, or translated and notarized by a translation service, that translation is acceptable. If not, contact our international admissions counselor for assistance locating professional translating services. We cannot accept translations that have been done by you; the translator must be a trained and certified professional.
If you are a first-year applicant, please arrange to have your official transcripts sent to SPU from each high school or secondary school attended for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (if available), or the equivalent years in your country.
Include grade 9, even if it was part of middle school/junior high school in your country.
If you have completed secondary school exams (A levels, HKCEE, WAEC, SMA, etc.), please submit an official copy of your final exam certificate or diploma that shows all coursework completed and grades received.
If you are a transfer applicant, please arrange to have official transcripts sent to SPU from each college or university attended, both in the U.S. and outside the U.S. If you have completed 45 college-level/transferable quarter credits (30 semester credits) or more, you are not required to submit high school transcripts.