: 
Application Requirements For International Students
Applicants who are International Students must submit the following items for admission into the graduate studies program:
- Graduate Studies Application: apply online.
- Official GRE test scores: The GRE should be taken at least one month prior to submitting your application. Your scores must be sent to the Department of Political Science directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).Official GRE scores must be received by the Department before we will consider the application complete. The GRE scores should be no more than five years old.
All other application materials should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions.
University of Houston
Office of Admissions
Attn: International Admissions
Welcome Center
4400 University Drive
Houston, TX 77204-2023
- Three letters of reference, preferably from past instructors who can comment on your academic work in detail.
- Original or certified transcripts of previous education both in the original language and the English translation. The graduate program will evaluate the course work for the last 60 semester hours completed and the degree in addition to test scores and letters of reference to determine an applicant's admissibility. If you have any questions about the credentials required, please contact the Office of International Admissions.
- Foreign transcripts are maintained by the Office of International Admissions for one year. If these documents are original copies, applicants who are not admitted or do not enroll may request their return within one year of application. Otherwise, these documents will be destroyed.
- Syllabus, catalog, or bulletin translated into English, from the foreign college or university attended, which describes course work taken, will be required before a transfer credit evaluation can be completed.
- Evidence of satisfactory English proficiency. A satisfactory score of 550 on the TOEFL paper-based exam or 213 for the computer-based exam or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) is generally acceptable proof of English proficiency. Applicants are expected to complete the Test of Written English portion of the TOEFL whenever it is included as part of the exam. Scores must not be more than two years old. Photocopies or other duplication of scores are not acceptable. They must be sent directly to UH by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). When ordering scores, be sure to include the University of Houston's ETS School Code 6870.Please note: Students who have earned a high school diploma, Associates of Art, Associates of Science or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university are exempt from the TOEFL requirement, as are students from Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, the British Isles, English-speaking Canadian provinces, the Fiji Islands, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, the United States Virgin Islands, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
A non-refundable $75 application fee is required. Payment must be made in the form of:
- Personal checks drawn on U.S. banks,
- Cashier's checks, or
- Money orders.
Note: If payment is being sent from outside the United States, it must be in the form of an American Express money order.
- Statement of Understanding. The Statement of Understanding is a form explaining the conditions of acceptance into all University of Houston Graduate Studies program. This form must be signed by all international students.
- Letter of Financial Backing. The University of Houston requires confirmation of financial resources for each applicant who is not a U.S. citizen.
- Degree Clarification Form. This form requests that students describe degrees that they have or will have completed prior to applying to the University of Houston.
- Two Passport-Sized Photos.
- Statement of Purpose. A brief essay (a few paragraphs should suffice), stating why you want to get a graduate degree and what you will do with it once you graduate and how your scholarly interests fit with the resources of the Department. The statement of purpose not only serves as a writing sample, it allows us to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for this program.
Non U.S. Citizens
Applicants who hold student (F-1) or other temporary visas should refer to the Information for International Students brochure and application booklet, available from the Office of Admissions (see the important contact addresses and phone numbers section).
Deadlines
- Applicants for the Fall semester must submit their application by
February 15. - Applicants for the Spring semester must submit their application by October 1.