Transfer Students

Before you begin the application process, you should read our admission standards to make sure you qualify to apply. Admission for international transfer applicants is selective, so you must establish a solid academic record in university-level work before applying to IU.

We will review your application for its individual merits and qualities. In particular, we consider factors that emphasize academic performance and preparation, including:

• Strength and quality of your curriculum
• Successful attainment of recognized secondary school credential
• Recent grade trends
• Standardized test results (if applicable)

You should have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Because of the competitive nature of our applicant pools, few students (American and international) are admitted with a GPA below 2.5. Additionally, no GPA in itself will guarantee admission.

In addition, you should be in good standing at the institution you are attending or have previously attended.

Factors that influence the admission decision

As a prospective transfer student, you are given more serious consideration if your marks or grades have been consistently above average or steadily improving in a challenging academic program. Conversely, low marks or grades in the most recent term or a less demanding academic program are often factors that make an application less competitive and thus are reasons to deny admission.

IU may be able to make an admission decision while you are in the process of completing the current term at your institution. However, if your final performance falls below the admission standards for IU, International Admissions is very likely to withdraw the offer of admission.

Situations where you need to meet the freshman admission standards

If either of these situations apply to you, you need to meet freshman admission standards as well as maintain satisfactory academic progress in your postsecondary studies:

• You have less than one year of full-time university-level study (fewer than the U.S. equivalent of 26 semester hours or 39 quarter hours) earned from your current institution
• You are participating in a dual-enrollment program (where you earn enough credit to obtain an associates degree while in high school)

Demonstration of English proficiency

IU Bloomington requires all international undergraduate applicants to demonstrate English proficiency. You need to have met this English proficiency requirement within the last two years.

You can do this by:

• Submitting acceptable results for one of the English proficiency tests or the SAT or ACT exam listed in English proficiency tests
• Submitting acceptable results from certain classes listed in Curricula scores
• Holding citizenship from or completing at least three full years of secondary school in a predominantly English-speaking country, defined in List of English-speaking countries
• Having certain transferrable credits, defined in Transferable credit completion
• Successfully completing Level 7 of the Intensive English Program (IEP) at IU Bloomington

English proficiency tests

Curricula scores

List of English-speaking countries

• Anguilla
• Antigua
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Dominica
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grand Cayman Islands
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Montserrat
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Republic of Ireland
• Singapore
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
• United States
• Zimbabwe

Transferable credit completion

You can demonstrate English proficiency by submitting evidence from an accredited two- or four-year postsecondary institution in the United States of having completed (credits cannot be through online programs):

1. More than 26 transferable credits (39 quarter credits) at the time of application, AND
2. The full freshman English requirements with a C or better

To fulfill the freshman English requirement, your credits must transfer as being equivalent to the following IU courses: ENG W 131, ENG W 170, or CMLT C 110. Six credits of humanities or other English courses will also meet these standards. We recommend that you use our Credit Transfer Service to find out what courses at your university may meet this requirement.

You will get first and maximum consideration if you complete your application materials by the priority date for the semester in which you wish to begin at IU.

If you submit your application materials after these dates, your application will only be considered if space is still available.

Because of requirements for full-time enrollment, international applicants interested in summer admission are eligible to apply only for the second eight weeks of the summer term and are required to take a minimum of 6 credits during this term.

Before you apply, make sure you spend some time exploring our different schools and 200+ majors.

When you fill out your application, you’ll be asked to choose an intended major. If you know what you’d like to major in, select that major.

If you don’t know what you want to major in, that’s OK. IU students who have not yet chosen a major are considered exploratory students. It’s fine to spend time discovering the path that’s right for you. Indiana University promotes academic exploration above all else. It’s why most freshmen begin their studies in University Division (UD), where they fulfill the general requirements needed to certify into a degree-granting school or college.

If you are admitted to IU, we will evaluate your transcript(s) to determine if your course work from another institution translates into credit at IU Bloomington. You will receive an email with information on how to check your online transfer credit report via One.IU.

What is a transfer credit?

A transfer credit is a course credit from your current university that transfers as IU credit when you begin studying here.

IU’s Credit Transfer Service

If you would like to get an idea of how your credits might transfer before you apply, you can use our Credit Transfer Service. This automated service enables you to identify your university, the classes you have taken, and their IU equivalents in just a few steps.

However, not all courses at all universities are included in the Credit Transfer Service database, so you should not assume that the results you get using this tool are final.

You must request academic department evaluation for any international coursework earned that has not been articulated. Submit the Request for Review of Undistributed Credit E-Form in Atlas or contact the academic department directly for any courses that are not listed for your university on the Credit Transfer Service and for courses listed as Undistributed.

What to keep in mind when you want to transfer credit

• Only coursework earned at a post-secondary institution recognized by either the national Ministry of Education or accredited by one of the six U.S. regional accrediting bodies will transfer.
• Only courses in which you received a C or higher will transfer.
• Transfer credit may count toward your degree at IU, but it will not count toward your GPA at IU.
• Individual schools and departments at IU determine how transferred credits will apply toward your degree requirements.
• Courses for which IU does not have an equivalent offering can sometimes be transferred as undistributed credits. Your academic advisor will be able to assist you with how undistributed credits may count toward your degree.
• In general, no credit is awarded for English language or writing courses completed in non-Anglophone countries.

Apply using the Apply IU application. The $65 application fee is non-refundable.
Set your browser to allow pop-ups and third-party cookies to ensure that your application and fee payment will be submitted correctly.

After you submit your online application, you will receive immediate email confirmation that it was received.

OIS will email you your Atlas login information within five days of receiving your completed application. You will then need to log in to Atlas so you can upload the additional documents you are required to submit. Look for the Transfer Application Checklist under the Requests section.

Completing the application for admission is the first step toward attending Indiana University.

After you have submitted your application, there are some supporting materials that you need to provide. (All documents submitted for admission consideration become the property of IU.)

Secondary school academic records

Proof of secondary school completion is required for all transfer students.

Please ask your secondary school to send your official academic record directly to IU. If the original is not in English, also include a literal translation certified by the academic institution as being complete and correct. In all cases, the record must be an official copy bearing an original stamp or seal.

Official transcript(s) from each college or university you have attended

U.S. and Canadian transcripts should be sent directly from the registrar of your school to our office. If you are studying in another country, please submit official copies of your academic record. If the original is not in English, also include a certified, literal translation. In all cases, the record must be an official copy bearing an original stamp or seal.

Request for review of undistributed credit

Be sure to access the Credit Transfer Service to find out what courses will transfer from your current university.

If you are an admitted student, and your credit is currently showing as undistributed in your student record, you should fill out the Request for Review of Undistributed Credit form in Atlas. Please submit any English language course syllabi along with your application materials.

Demonstration of English proficiency

You will need to submit evidence that you meet our English proficiency standards described in admission standards. How you demonstrate your proficiency will determine what you need to submit. For example, if you use scores from a test, you will need to submit those. Your documentation needs to be from within the last two years in order to be valid.

SAT/ACT scores

SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer students. However, you may submit test scores if you would like to have them considered as a part of your admissions review.

As an international student at IU Bloomington, you are required to submit documents proving you have the financial means to support yourself for a full calendar year, including tuition, fees, and living expenses.

We encourage you to submit your financial documents as soon as possible.

You will first be notified of your admission decision via email by the Office of International Services (OIS).

If you are admitted, you can also choose to have your admission letter sent to you via mail after you have submitted your intent to enroll form and the required financial documents.

If you are admitted to IU Bloomington, you’ll need to let us know you plan to attend.