International Students

All new international students are required to attend an orientation session. You can find more information about International Student Services by visiting https://global.vcu.edu/students/started/. Please note that there are other orientations to consider through the central orientation office as well as our School of Education.

We are honored to have direct admission agreements with our prestigious international partners. 

Virginia Commonwealth University welcomes student exchange scholars from across the globe to study for a short-term semester or year. Students will work with their home institution to approve courses from VCU to transfer back to their home institution program. Visit Richmond and our urban VCU campus, and the mid-Atlantic eastern region of the United States for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For more information on deadlines, costs and the full exchange student experience, please see the Global Education Office website.

Please review the central graduate admissions international applicant required materials page for test requirements and submission details.

You may also meet VCU's English language proficiency requirement by achieving a minimum score on the VCU English Language Program (ELP) Placement Test. The VCU ELP Placement Test may be taken remotely or on campus when you arrive. Please contact the English Language Program at geo-elp@vcu.edu for more information.

If your undergraduate or graduate programs were completed outside of the United States, VCU International Admissions requires specific documentation to be submitted. Please see the guidance under the “Academic Documentation” tab (Graduate link and Undergraduate link).  

This is the central VCU Admissions page with resources for all incoming international applicants. 

For students who are interested in initial licensure programs, Virginia requires a United States social security number to complete the required licensure requirements.

Please refer to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) “International Coursework/Degrees” and if you are already working at a Virginia K-12 public school, ask them about international teaching credential pathways. 

The financial certification requirements of financial support for your I-20 visa documentation is required if you are extended an offer of acceptance. It is not required during the application review phase.

The VCU English Language Program offers three levels of instruction in written and spoken English: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. VCU ELP offers on compass and online courses.

Students who complete the program meet the language proficiency requirements of most of VCU's academic degree programs. Information about the VCU English Language Program is available on the Global Education Office's ELP page.

Please contact the English Language Program at geo-elp@vcu.edu regarding registration and enrollment costs, evaluation procedures, and placement test dates.

All international undergraduate students (students on J1 and F1 visas) should be fully enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits. Of these 12 required credits, at least 9 credits must be in classes that are taught in person or in a hybrid modality.

All international graduate and first professional students (students on J1 and F1 visas) should be fully enrolled for a minimum of 9 credits. Of these 9 required credits, at least 6 credits must be in classes that are taught in person or in a hybrid modality.

For more information about this regulation, please see Full Course of Study requirements here and here on our immigration website. If you or your students have any questions about advising, course enrollment, or anything else, please reach out to me directly or to our general office email, geo@vcu.edu.

International Student Registration Requirements

All international undergraduate students (students on J1 and F1 visas) should be fully enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits. Of these 12 required credits, at least 9 credits must be in classes that are taught in person or in a hybrid modality.

All international graduate and first professional students (students on J1 and F1 visas) should be fully enrolled for a minimum of 9 credits. Of these 9 required credits, at least 6 credits must be in classes that are taught in person or in a hybrid modality.

For more information about this regulation, please see Full Course of Study requirements here and here on our immigration website. If you or your students have any questions about advising, course enrollment, or anything else, please reach out to me directly or to our general office email, geo@vcu.edu.