International Admissions Guidelines
Admissions Information
Undergraduate
Graduate
The
University of New Mexico welcomes applications from international students who
have earned distinguished academic records and have demonstrated English
proficiency. At UNM we are proud to claim one of the most ethnically diverse
student bodies among universities anywhere in the United States.
Our
academic programs consistently rank among the top in universities across the
US, year after year. UNM's faculty is distinguished
by Nobel Laureates, Fulbright recipients, and nationally recognized
academians.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
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Secondary Education
Completion of the equivalent of an American upper secondary school
education (approximately twelve years of formal education beginning at age
six) and have the appropriate diplomas or satisfactory results on leaving
examinations. Please follow the instructions in the section titled Academic Records.
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Academic Preparation
Strong academic preparation or a U.S. equivalent grade point average of
2.5 on a 4.0 scale (for freshman applicants) or 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (for
transfer students).
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English Proficiency
If English is not your first language, or if English is not the official
language spoken in your country, the student must submit results of either
the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the University of Cambridge
Examinations Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), or Certificate
of Advanced English (CAE). The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is
6.5; and for the TOEFL is 520 on the paper test,
190 on the computerized version, or 68 on the internet-based test. The
minimum score for the CPE or CAE is a C. Students who are academically
admissible but whose IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge scores are less than the
required minimums may enroll in the intensive English program offered
through UNM's Center
for English Language and American Culture (CELAC). Contact the Office
of International Programs and Studies (oips@unm.edu) for more information
on CELAC.
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Financial Resources
All international applicants are required to submit documentation
verifying adequate funding to meet study and living expenses while in the
United States. Proof of support includes Certification of Financial
Responsibility Form (below) completed and proof of funds available for
the first year of study.
-
Health Insurance
International students who attend UNM and any dependents who may accompany them are required to have medical
insurance as offered through the University of New Mexico. Students who
can demonstrate that they have an equivalent health insurance policy may
be granted a waiver.
Graduate Admission Requirements
To be eligible for graduate study at the University of New Mexico, graduate applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have earned a degree that is equivalent to the American bachelor's degree.For example: some bachelor's degrees are based on three-year programs and are not considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor's degree. Also, completion of upper secondary or high school education and is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Please follow the instructions in the section titled Academic Records
- Have earned a minimum of a 3.0 gpa (on a U.S. 4.0 scale) or comparable grade point average in upper-division (junior and senior level) work and in any graduate work already completed.
- Have earned a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as required by the major academic department or college.
- Have completed adequate subject preparation for your proposed graduate major. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission since some graduate programs have higher standards and may have limited space. Therefore, it is very important that you also contact the department to which you wish to be admitted.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English. If English is not your first language or if English is not the official language spoken in your country, you must submit results of either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the University of Cambridge Examinations Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), or Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is 7; and for the TOEFL is 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computerized test, or 79-80 on the internet-based test. For the CPE or CAE the minimum score is a C. International students whose native language is not English and are seeking graduate teaching assistantships, may also be required to submit an acceptable score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Applicants who have received a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited institution in the United States, English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand are exempt from submitting IELTS, TOEFL, CPE, or CAE scores. Please contact this office if you require additional information.
Applying for Admission
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar includes two
semesters, each consisting of fifteen weeks of classes and one week of final
examinations. The summer session consists of eight weeks of classes and final
examinations.
The fall semester begins in mid-August
and ends in mid-December; the spring semester begins in mid-January and ends in
mid-May. The summer session begins in early June and ends in early August.
Application Deadlines
For priority consideration apply by the following dates:
- May 1: Fall Semester (August)
- October 1: Spring Semester (January)
- March 1: Summer Session (June)
Applications and all supporting
credentials must be submitted by these dates. Only complete applications will
be reviewed for admission to the University.
All academic records and supporting documents must be official.
Required Documents
- Completed application form (below)
- $50.00 application fee
- Evidence of English language proficiency - IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge.
- Academic records - certified copied of official documents
- Financial guarantee (These documents are not required until after admission has been offered).
Mail all materials to:
Office of International Admissions
MSC 06 3720
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
USA
-
Application Form
Complete and sign the application (below) for undergraduate admission. Use
the list of degree programs to help you enter your intended major. If you
do not have a particular degree in mind, we suggest that you list
"undecided" as your intended major field of study.
-
Application Fee
All applicants must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $50.00 in U.S.
currency. The fee, made payable to the University of New
Mexico, must be paid by International Postal Money Order or certified
check drawn on a U.S. bank. Application fees cannot be waived nor
transferred to future expenses or enrollment. Applications will not be
reviewed until the fee is received.
-
English Proficiency Results
If English is not your first language or if English is not the official
language spoken in your country, you must take either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),
or Cambridge CPE or CAE. The minimum
score on the IELTS is 6.5; and for the TOEFL is at least 520 on the paper
based test, 190 on the computerized test, or 68 on the internet-based
test. The minimum score for the Cambridge CPE or CAE is a C. Official test
results must be sent directly to the University of New Mexico. results to be sent directly to the University of New
Mexico. The TOEFL code for UNM is 4845. To receive information about the TOEFL, contact them by telephone
(609-771-7100),or write:
Educational Testing Services
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
USA
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Academic Records
All academic transcripts and secondary school leaving certificates submitted must be official copies or certified copies bearing the original stamps, seals, and signatures of the issuing institution's designated officials. Transcripts and test scores submitted to the University of New Mexico for admission become the property of the University and will not be sent elsewhere or returned to the student.
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Financial Documents
Complete and return the UNM Certification of Financial Responsibility Form (below) along with required supporting documentation.
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Departmental Requirements (For Graduate Students Only)
Individual departments may require additional credentials or higher IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge scores. Some departments may require GRE scores and/or letters of recommendation. Graduate applicants must fulfill department requirements in addition to general International Admission requirements. Contact the department in which you intend to study for specific information. Send the required documents to the International Admissions Office and department of interest before the earlier deadline.
PLEASE NOTE: I-20 Statement
The Immigration Form I-20 is valid up to the first day of class for the
semester or summer session to which you are admitted. If you are not able to
attend, you must immediately return the I-20 form to the International
Admissions Office.
* If you want any information
concerning your applicant file released to any third party, you must submit a
letter of authorization directly to the International Admissions Office. This
release must contain the individual's name and your signature.
The mail-in application and the
Certification of Financial Responsibility are in Adobe Acrobat Portable
Document Format (PDF). To be viewed, these files require Acrobat Reader. To
read PDF files in your Web browser, Internet Explorer version 6.0 or later is
recommended.
We encourage you to visit educationUSA on the web for more information about studying abroad in the United States.
Office
of Admissions
International Admissions
MSC06 3720
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Tel (505) 277-5829
Fax (505) 277-6686
email: goglobal@unm.edu