Lamar University welcomes students from around the world for both undergraduate and graduate study. All admissions documents, including applications, are processed by the Lamar University Admissions Office. After you are admitted, staff in the International Student Services Office will communicate with you about other documents needed to process your I-20. These offices work together to provide a pleasant admission and enrollment experience. You may always check the status of your application and any missing admissions documents online. Check Admission Status information is updated every 20 minutes.

International Admission Status Categories

Regular Admission is reserved for students who meet all university, departmental and language proficiency admission requirements.

Bridge Admission is offered to students who meet all university and departmental admission requirements but who have not yet satisfied the language proficiency requirement. These students will be enrolled in academic courses at Lamar University and in language courses at the Lamar Language Institute.

Language Institute Admission is available to students who need significant English language training that prevents their immediate enrollment at the post-secondary level. Students interested in language training only may apply directly to Lamar Language Institute without being considered for Lamar University admission.

International Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Freshman: If you are an international student who has never been enrolled at a post-secondary college or university, you must submit all required documents and show evidence of a cumulative 2.5 grade point average on all secondary school work.

Undergraduate Transfer: If you are an international student who has been enrolled at another post-secondary college or university and would like to transfer into an undergraduate degree program at Lamar University, you must submit all required documents and show evidence of a 2.5 grade point average on all secondary and post-secondary school work.

Graduate: Graduate admission is for international students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue a master's or doctoral degree at Lamar University. Graduate admission is competitive, and requirements vary by department. Upon receipt of all university-required documents, the Admissions Office will forward your file to your desired academic department for an admission decision. For more information on graduate degree programs, please check the web sites of the individual academic departments that interest you using this directory of Academic Departments.

How to Apply

Please use your name as it appears on your passport on your application and on all other communication with Lamar University.

1. Submit Application. All international applicants should submit online applications through the Apply Texas system. International Freshman applicants should submit the International Freshman Application. International Transfer applicants should submit the International Transfer Application. International Graduate applicants should submit the International Graduate Application.

2. Submit Transcripts. International Freshman applicants should have an official report of course-by-course evaluated transcripts of all secondary work sent to Lamar University directly by the evaluating agency. International Transfer applicants should have an official report of course-by-course evaluated transcripts of all secondary and post-secondary work sent to Lamar University directly by the evaluating agency. 

International Graduate applicants should have an official report of course-by-course evaluated transcripts sent to Lamar University directly by the evaluating agency OR should submit official transcripts from each post-secondary university or college attended. An official statement of the award of the degree or diploma is required for each degree completed. College work from one institution posted on the transcript of another institution will not be accepted. Applicants from an institution that does not issue a transcript in English must submit the native language transcript with an official English translation. Official translations are prepared by a recognized translation service and include all original seals and/or signatures.

3. Submit Admission Test Scores. International Freshman and International Transfer applicants are encouraged to have scores on the SAT or ACT issued to Lamar University directly by the testing agency. International Graduate applicants must have official test scores sent to Lamar University directly by the testing agency. Applicants for the MBA program should take the GMAT. All other graduate applicants should take the GRE. Score requirements are competitive and are assessed by each academic department.

4. Provide Proof of English Language Proficiency. International applicants, both undergraduate and graduate, must provide proof of English language proficiency through scores on the TOEFL or IELTS. This testing requirement is waived only for applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years of study at a college or university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country. Scores are valid for two years, and must be received directly from the testing agency.

Undergraduate (Freshman & Transfer) English Proficiency Requirements

Graduate English Proficiency Requirements

Mailing Documents

Copies of transcripts should be sent to the appropriate address below.

After Applying

After application materials have been received, the Office of Admissions will send the applicant an e-mail with a student identification number and a notice of any missing materials. This ID number, along with the applicant's birthdate, can be used to Check Admission Status online.

After the application file is complete, students should expect at least two weeks of processing time before they receive an acceptance or denial notice via e-mail.

Once a student is academically accepted, he or she should consult the International Student Services office to complete a financial form and submit with proof of funds for I-20 processing.

Undergraduate students must take a Texas Success Initiative assessment test before participating in advisement and registration. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requires students to demonstrate their readiness for college-level courses through an approved test or exemption.

Students may be exempt from TSI testing if they achieve a minimum SAT score of 1070 (including at least 500 on math and 500 on verbal) or ACT score of 23 (including at least 19 on math and 19 on English). Students who are not exempt may take the Accuplacer or THEA exam through the Lamar University Career & Testing Center. Other approved tests are the ASSET and COMPASS. If testing shows deficiencies in reading, mathematics or writing skills, students will be required to participate in a developmental program on campus.

Before attending on-campus classes, students who are under age 30 must either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet specific criteria for declining a vaccination. For more information on complying with this requirement pursuant to Texas Senate Bill 1107, click here. 

Related Links

• Academic Programs
• Apply Now (Apply Texas)
• Career & Testing Center
• Check Admission Status
• Cost and Scholarship Information
• Lamar Language Institute
• Foreign Transcript Evaluation
• Housing Information
• International Student Services
• Request Additional Information
• Submitting Financial Verification
• Visa Information
• Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

Application
Deadlines

Applicants should submit materials as soon as possible to allow time for visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, which may have wait times of days or weeks.

For Fall (August)

For Spring (January)

Priority Deadline: Sept. 1
Final Deadline: Nov. 15

For Summer (June)

Priority Deadline: Jan. 15
Final Deadline: April 1