International Student Admission Process

Step One: Admissions Process

For Undergraduate Freshman Students

To begin the admissions process, applicants must promptly submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

• Complete RMU’s free online application at rmu.edu/apply
• Official transcripts from all secondary schools attended. To be considered for a scholarship applicants are required to submit an official foreign transcript evaluation (General Evaluation with GPA) from a NACES approved provider and must be sent to RMU by the provider. These evaluations include all international documents (transcripts, marksheets, certificates, examination results, etc.)
  • SpanTran is one NACES company you can use. They have created a custom application to help you obtain the right kind of evaluation with a 20% discount on your evaluation. You can access their application by clicking here.
• Scores from an approved English language exam (we accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) Minimum scores required are as follows:
  • TOEFL - 55 ibt
  • IELTS (Academic) - 5.5 overall band score
  • Duolingo English Test (DET) - 90
  • PTE - 42
  • A score of 540 or higher on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section may be accepted in lieu of an approved English language exam.
• Copy of passport.

For Undergraduate Transfer Students

To begin the admissions process, applicants must promptly submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

• Complete RMU’s free online application at rmu.edu/apply
• Official transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended.  If the student has earned 30+ credits at a college in the United States, secondary school transcripts may not be required. Students seeking to transfer credits to RMU and/or earn a scholarship must have a course by course foreign transcript evaluation from a NACES approved provider is required and must be sent to RMU by the provider. A course by course Foreign college transcripts ensures credits are transferred and applied correctly.
  • SpanTran is one NACES company you can use. They have created a custom application to help you obtain the right kind of evaluation with a 20% discount on your evaluation. You can access their application by clicking here.
• Scores from an approved English language exam (we accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) Minimum scores required are as follows:
  • TOEFL - 55 ibt
  • IELTS (Academic) - 5.5 overall band score
  • Duolingo English Test (DET) - 90
  • PTE - 42
  • A score of 540 or higher on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section may be accepted in lieu of an approved English language exam.
• Copy of passport.
• If applicable, copies of all previously issued I-20s, I-94, and Visa page.

For Graduate Students

• Complete RMU’s free application for admission at rmu.edu/apply.
• All final and official undergraduate transcripts are required.
• Copy of passport.
  • An I-20, I-94, Visa are required for graduate students transferring from a university in the United States to RMU.
• Applicants may be asked to provide two letters of professional reference, a current resume, and a statement of purpose.
• GMAT may be required if you are applying for the MBA in Business. Minimum score of 470 required. Students will be notified if a GMAT score is required.
• GRE may be required if you are applying for the MS in Engineering Management. Minimum score 150 quantitative, 146 verbal. Students will be notified if a GRE score is required.
• Scores from an approved English language exam (we accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) may be required. Minimum scores required are as follows:
  • TOEFL- 79iBT
  • IELTS
    • School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science - 6.5
    • School of Business - 6.5
    • School of Nursing, Education and Human Studies - 7.0
    • School of Informatics, Humanities and Social Sciences - 6.5
  • Duolingo English Test -
    • Nursing - 120
    • Informatics - 110
    • Business and Engineering - 110
  • PTE - 53
    • RMU offers academic scholarships to undergraduate international students at the point of acceptance to the university. Please note, if you do not have a calculated cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, you will be required to provide a NACES Foreign Transcript Evaluation with a calculated U.S. cumulative GPA to be considered for an academic scholarship.
       
      Graduate students are not eligible for academic scholarships, RMU funding, academic assistantships, or campus employment. Graduate students may consider using loans, paying their balance in full or using RMU's interest free payment plan, which splits your balance into smaller payments.  Learn more at http://sfs.rmu.edu/

After all documents are submitted, applications will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions and an admissions decision will be communicated to the applicant. Prospective students will receive an email from intladmissions@rmu.edu .

Once an admissions decision is made, the names of admitted students will be sent to the Center for Global Engagement (CGE).

Graduate Programs

Conditional Admissions

For students who are seeking admission but have not achieved the minimum required scores on the IELTS or TOEFL, RMU has developed several partnerships that offer conditional admission or TOEFL/IELTS waivers.  If you are a student at one of the partners below, please let our international admissions team know that when you are applying:

English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of Pittsburgh: 

• Students who have completed ELI levels 5 or 6 with 85% or better in most courses in the ELI’s full-time Intensive English Program and an overall average of 80% in all classes may have their IELTS/TOEFL requirement waived.
• Students who are currently enrolled in the ELI may be considered for conditional admission if they plan to complete ELI levels 5 or 6.  The conditional admission may be upgraded to full admission when the student has completed levels 5 or 6 in the ELI’s full-time Intensive English Program with 85% or better in most courses in the ELI’s and an overall average of 80% in all classes, and provided that the student does not violate his/her immigration status.

ELS Language Center: 

• Students who have completed ELS Level 112 may have the IELTS/TOEFL requirement waived.
• Students who are enrolled currently in an ELS program and intend to complete Level 112 are eligible for conditional admission if they meet all other criteria for admissions. Upon completing the program, the conditional admission may be upgraded to a full admission provided the student does not violate his/her immigration status.

Step Two: I-20 Process

After acceptance, pay your deposit or request a waiver:

• Accepted students will need to pay their enrollment deposit at rmu.edu/deposit.
• If you are receiving a fully funded scholarship (through your government or through RMU), you do not need to pay the deposit. Email newi20@rmu.edu with proof of your scholarship in order to have the deposit requirement waived.

After your enrollment deposit or deposit waiver has been processed, you will receive an email with instructions for completing the I-20 Request Form.

• Complete the I-20 Request Form in your RMU admissions portal, including the upload of all requested documents.
• Check your email regularly in case we need to request any updated documentation from you in order to issue your I-20.

Once the above steps are completed, RMU will issue an I-20 for the accepted student. Students will receive an email once their I-20 is available for download in their RMU admissions portal.

The I-20 can then be used to apply for a US Visa. Click here to learn more about the visa application process.

• **NOTE: Canadian citizens do not apply for the F-1 Visa at a consulate. They receive a stamp in their passport when they enter the US.

Deposit refunds will only be granted to students who request a refund within two weeks of receiving a Visa denial letter.

• Refunds will only be issued to the original form of payment. 
• A $100 administrative fee will be subtracted from the refund amount.
• Students will be required to provide a Visa application number, Visa application date, and Visa interview date along with a letter from the Consulate stating that their visa was denied.

Final Steps

Class Registration

• To be registered for classes all students must upload a copy of their F-1 visa in their RMU Admissions portal (Canadians are exempt).
• All new students at RMU are placed into classes for their first semester. Please be patient with this process as it takes time to register all new students.
• New first semester undergraduate students should take the English and Math placement tests at blackboard.rmu.edu as early as possible so that you can be placed into the correct English and math courses for your level.

Before arriving at RMU to begin classes, all students must:

• Register your vehicle and purchase a parking permit (if you plan to have a car on campus or commute)
  • Available July 1st
• Complete your online housing contract (undergraduate, on-campus residents only)
  • You will use the same username and password as your Sentry account
• Provide proof of health insurance comparable to the RMU student insurance plan through the QM Services link at rmu.edu/studentinsurance. If necessary, students may purchase the RMU student insurance plan.
  • If you do not provide insurance coverage information by the deadline given on the QM Services website, you will be charged for the RMU insurance coverage.
• Complete RMU’s student health forms if living on campus (These forms require a physical exam and a physician’s signature).
• Arrive prior to the Program Start Date on your I-20 and attend mandatory orientation. More details will be sent to your RMU email address near the start of the semester.

Costs and Scholarship Opportunities

RMU offers academic scholarships to undergraduate international students at the point of acceptance to the university. Please note, if you do not have a calculated cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, you will be required to provide a NACES Foreign Transcript Evaluation with a calculated U.S. cumulative GPA to be considered for an academic scholarship.

Graduate students are not eligible for academic scholarships, RMU funding, academic assistantships, or campus employment. Graduate students may consider using loans, paying their balance in full or using RMU's interest free payment plan, which splits your balance into smaller payments.  Learn more at http://sfs.rmu.edu/

Mailing Address

Mail your completed application and supporting materials to:

Robert Morris University 
Admissions 
6001 University Boulevard 
Moon Township, PA 15108-1189 USA

Application Deadlines: May 1 for Fall attendance and November 1 for Spring attendance

Contact Us

Questions regarding the admissions process should be directed to:

• Office of Admissions
• Email: intladmissions@rmu.edu
• Phone: 800-762-0097

Questions about I-20, SEVIS, international orientation should be directed to:

• Center for Global Engagement
• Email: newi20@rmu.edu
• Phone: 412-397-4243