International Undergraduate Admissions

1. 1. 1. 1. Application Process
         2. Deadlines
         3. Transcript Submission Requirements
         4. English Language Requirements
         5. Conditional Admission
         6. Honors College
         7. Chinese Transfer Applicant Requirements
         8. Checking your application status
         9. Frequently asked admissions questions

ATTENTION: Effective from September 15, 2024, all first year international applicants must submit a credential evaluation report from a NACES accredited evaluation member for their high school transcripts. This evaluation will convert your grades into U.S. equivalents. Exceptions may apply for transfer applicants, those with transcripts from American curriculum schools, applicants from WAEC countries, and students who have completed over two years of high school in the U.S.

Application Process

• Complete one of our applications – the Common Application or the ApplyMaine Application.
• Submit transcripts of all previous secondary/high school or university work (submission requirements by country). In addition, if the document is not in English, submit a certified English translation.
  • We can accept copies of transcripts and test scores submitted by the student to internationaladm@maine.edu. Once admitted, the student will be required to submit official documents to our office before class registration is possible.
• Submit your English language proficiency test score. See our accepted tests and minimum requirements, as well as our test waiver policy lower on this page.
• Submit a Declaration of Finances along with supporting documents via e-mail to internationaladm@maine.edu.
  • If submitted with the application, this form expedites the issuing of the I-20 (immigration document).
• Submit a copy of passport ID page via e-mail to internationaladm@maine.edu.

Deadlines

We operate on rolling admission model and most programs accept and review applications continuously throughout the academic year. However, there are priority application deadlines for maximum scholarship consideration:

• April 1 for Fall semester entry (late August)
• November 1 for Spring semester entry (mid January).

Applications received after these deadlines will be considered for admission and scholarships on availability basis.

Students are encouraged to research estimated visa processing times at the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate offering visa services and plan accordingly.  Please keep in mind that it may take several weeks or months to schedule a visa interview and obtain the student visa.

Transcript Submission Requirements

High School/Secondary School Transcripts

• Uploaded by a school official through the Common Application
• Emailed by a school official to internationaladm@maine.edu
• Mailed directly from the organization issuing the transcript to:

• US State Department’s Education USA program. Please visit the link provided to make sure that services are available in your country. Education USA transcripts submitted via email should be sent to internationaladm@maine.edu and must clearly indicate in the subject line “accept as official copy from EducationUSA”

Transfer Applicants with incomplete foreign University Transcripts

Please visit the International Transfer Credit Evaluation page for more information on submitting higher education transcripts.

English Language Requirements

All applicants must request that an official English language proficiency exam score is submitted to UMaine by the testing agency:

• TOEFL (including the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition) – minimum score of 79. Click here for test score submission instructions. UMaine’s institution code 3916. Please note: we accept “MyBest Scores” and evaluate these scores the same way we consider superscores for all other tests.
• TOEFL Essentials – minimum score of 8.5. 
• IELTS (including the IELTS Indicator online test) – minimum score of 6.5.  Click here for information on submitting your test scores. 
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) – minimum score of 53.
• CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) – completed level C1 Advanced (Certificate of Advanced English).
• DET (Duolingo English Test) – minimum score of 110 (effective Spring 2024 semester). Click here for information on submitting your official DET score to UMaine.
• Test Waiver Policy – we will waive English language test requirement if one of the following applies:
  • Student is a native speaker of English (e.g., American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, U.S. Pacific Trust, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines);
  • SAT Verbal score is 550 or higher; Click here for information on submitting SAT scores. Institution code: 3916
  • ACT English score is 24 or higher; Click here for information on submitting ACT scores. Institution code: 1664
  • High school transcript clearly states that English is the language of instruction of all subjects;
  • Student has been studying in the U.S. or Canada for 2 or more years and not in ESL track;
  • Student has successfully passed an English Composition course at a U.S. higher education institution with a grade of C or higher, even if student has not studied in the U.S. for two or more years;
  • Successfully passed the English placement test at UMaine’s Intensive English Institute. 

Conditional Admission

Students who do not meet the language proficiency requirement but have a strong academic record may be admitted conditionally. Conditionally admitted students enroll in the university’s Intensive English Institute for appropriate English coursework until suitable English proficiency is acquired.

Honors College

The University of Maine has an Honors College for students with very strong academic records. Students are automatically considered for the Honors College as part of the Admissions process, and Admission to the College is by invitation. However, if you are interested in learning more about the Honors College or being considered for admission, email internationaladm@maine.edu or visit https://honors.umaine.edu/.

Checking your Application Status

Information will be sent via email for activation of your UMaine email and MaineStreet accounts.  You will be able to check the status of your application online via Mainestreet once your account has been activated.  Please continue to monitor the status of your application through the Self-Service Center in MaineStreet to ensure all supporting materials have been received. For more detailed instructions, read Activating UMaine Online Accounts.