Undergraduate Instructions: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Important Deadlines

Spring Intake

Final Overseas Application* Deadline: October 15
Final Overseas I-20 Request** Deadline: November 1

*Submitted with all required documents

**I-20 request form and all required valid documents submitted

Fall Intake

Final Overseas Application* Deadline: April 15
Confirmation Deadline (Undergraduate): May 1
Final Overseas I-20 Request** Deadline: May 15

*Submitted with all required documents

**I-20 request form and all required valid documents submitted

Requirements for Admission

International students must meet a range of academic and English proficiency standards to be considered for admission to Northern Kentucky University. Please review the admissions standards below:

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STANDARDS

Northern Kentucky University requires that students who are non-native English speakers provide proof of their English language fluency as part of their application for admission. Here are the minimum standards for meeting this requirement:

UG Full Admission Requirement Without Restrictions *

TOEFL (iBT): Composite score of at least 79, with a minimum of 14 in reading

TOEFL (PBT): Composite score of at least 550, with a minimum of 48 in reading

IELTS: Composite score of at least 6.5, with a minimum of a 5.5 in Reading and 5 in Writing

Duolingo English Test: Minimum score: 115

SAT: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing score of 480 or higher; or 25 or higher on Writing and Language Test; and 26 or higher on Reading Test

ACT English: 18, Reading: 20

Pearson PTE: Composite score of at least 55

UG Full Admission Requirement With Restrictions **

TOEFL (iBT): Composite score of at least 61

TOEFL (PBT): Composite score of at least 500

IELTS: Composite score of at least 5.5, with a minimum of 5 in Reading and Writing

Duolingo English Test: Minimum score: 100

SAT: Variable

ACT English: Variable

Pearson PTE: Composite score of at least 44, with a minimum of 42 in Reading

*Certain degrees at NKU are "Selective Programs," and will require higher standards for admission. Please see below for more information.

**Note on Restrictions: if you are admitted "with restrictions," you must take a college placement test(s) in each of the areas in which you are deficient. You will NOT be able to register for classes until your college placement test(s) have been taken. The college placement tests are only available to admitted students. You may choose to re-take any test to raise your scores.

Students who do not meet this standard may be considered for conditional admission to a degree program, but will first need to attend the American English Language Program at NKU until this requirement has been met.

FRESHMAN ADMISSIONS STANDARDS

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) requires students to meet readiness standards to enter Kentucky public colleges and universities. If you standardized test scores fall below CPE college readiness standards, you will be required to take a College Placement Test to determine proper placement in English, math, and/or reading classes priori to course registration.

CPE Placement Standards

ACT: English 18, Math 19, Reading 20

SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480, Math 500

If your scores fall below the above mentioned, you must take a College Placement Test(s) in each of the areas in which you did not meet the requirement. You will NOT be able to register for classes until your College Placement Test(s) have been taken. The College Placement Test is only available to admitted students. You may choose to re-take the SAT or ACT test to raise your subject scores.

SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS

Admission to NKU does not guarantee acceptance to all academic programs. The following academic programs have requirements above those listed for regular admission:

Health Science
Nursing
Radiologic Technology
Radiation Therapy
Respiratory Care

Additionally, music requires an audition. If you are interested in studying music, please email SOTA@nku.edu for more information.

Admission Steps

International students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree can apply to Northern Kentucky University (NKU) by completing the following application requirements:

Step 1: Complete An Online Application

All undergraduate students can complete NKU's Online Application to begin the process of applying to NKU. Please note that you will need to create an account ID and password before you can proceed with the application.

Online Application

Additionally, NKU is a member of the Common Application. Please use this option if you are a new freshman who plans to apply to multiple schools who also accept the Common Application.

The Common App

Step 2: Pay the $40 Application Fee

The fee should be paid at the time of the application, but if you do not have the means to pay it when you fill out the application online, you can always go back and pay it later. Be sure to have your account ID and password so you can log back in to do so, if needed.

Step 3: Submit Passport Photocopy

Send a photocopy of your passport's information page to isss@nku.edu.

Step 4: Submit Your Official Transcripts

High School Students:

Official transcripts from all years of secondary school (or high school) must be sent directly to International Student & Scholar Services by the student’s current or previous educational institution(s). If your current or previous high school cannot send your transcripts directly do us, they can provide official documents to you in a sealed and stamped envelope. If transcripts are not in English, you must provide a certified translation.

If you have attended ANY college or university:

Official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended MUST be submitted to NKU as part of the application, regardless of wether you want to receive transfer credits. Failure to include university studies on an application, whether the university was in the U.S. or abroad, can result in the immediate rescinding of an admission offer.

All applicants with foreign university-level coursework must have their transcripts professionally evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). These course-by-course evaluations must include U.S. equivalencies for number of credit hours, grades attained, overall GPA, and degree awarded (if applicable).

Students transferring fewer than 24 credit hours (or 36 quarter hours) of coursework (excluding developmental or remedial coursework, as determined by NKU) must also submit their high school transcripts as part of their application.

If you are mailing documents, please use this address:

Northern Kentucky University

International Student & Scholar Services

100 Nunn Drive

UC 305

Highland Heights, KY 41099 U.S.A.

Step 5: Submit Proof of English Fluency

Your official score reports must be sent directly to Northern Kentucky University (NKU). For minimum score requirements, please refer to our Admissions Standards.

International Freshmen applicants must submit ONE of the following test scores:

TOEFL (school code: 1574)
IELTS
Duolingo English Test
PTE Academic
SAT (school code: 1574)
ACT (school code: 1566)

International Transfer applicants can demonstrate English fluency with one of the following:

TOEFL (school code: 1574)
IELTS
Duolingo English Test
PTE Academic
Completion of freshman-level English composition (equivalent to NKU's ENG 101) with a grade of C (2.00) or better; must be from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university, where at least 24 consecutive semester hours have been earned with a satisfactory overall GPA

If you do not meet NKU’s English proficiency requirement, you may be given conditional admission to a degree program pending your completion of our American English Language Program.