How to Apply

The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School online application requires the following to be uploaded:

• Résumé
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official TOEFL scores or IELTS scores:
  
  • International applicants must take and submit official scores for either the TOEFL or the IELTS with the exceptions noted below. Submit TOEFL scores to “Penn State University” using institution code 2660. These scores must be reported through ETS. Penn State does not accept copies. Official IELTS scores can be sent electronically or by mail (hard copy). If sending by mail, request that official IELTS scores (hard copy) be sent directly to: The Pennsylvania State University, Graduate Enrollment Services, 114 Kern Building, University Park, PA 16802. Order test scores early; they may take up to one month to arrive.
    
• Official GRE Scores: Recommendations can be found in the Graduate Bulletin. Students taking the GRE should use school code 2660 to send scores to Penn State.
• Transcript(s): Scanned copies of your “official” transcripts, degree/study certificates, and diplomas in the language of instruction from all institutions of higher education attended, both undergraduate and graduate should be uploaded online as part of the Fox Graduate School Application. If English is not the language of instruction, scanned copies of all “official” transcripts/documents in the English translation also must be uploaded. Applicants recommended for admission will be notified by the Fox Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents and their official English translation must be sent from the originating institutions directly to Graduate Enrollment Services for review in order to finalize an admission decision. Notarized copies are not sufficient. This step is only required if the applicant is offered admission.

Notes:

• Please do not include materials that are not necessary with transcripts. (Examples of unnecessary documents include: bank statements, copies of passports, copies of ID cards, etc.) Submission of unnecessary documents may delay the admissions process.
• Applicants may edit or check the status of an existing application on the Fox Graduate School website.
• Admissions decisions are made via email.
• Complete information on application requirements can be found on the Fox Graduate School website.

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Application Fees

A $65 nonrefundable application fee is required for degree admission. Starting on December 1, the international application fee will increase from $65 to $85 for anyone applying for spring 2025 admission or later.

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Application Deadlines

The application deadline for fall admission to the M.S. program and the Ph.D. programs is December 15 of the previous year. The application deadline for spring admission is September 1 of the previous year.

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Admissions Criteria

Note: Requirements are applicable for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

To be admitted into the program, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Graduates in engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics who present a 3.00 grade-point average will be considered for admission.

All international applicants must submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below.

Acceptable Test Scores

TOEFL

Internet-based test (iBT) — a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT).

Paper-based test (taken July 2017 or later) — a combined total of the 3 sections evaluated must be 60 or greater.

IELTS – The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS Academic Test is 6.5.

Exemption from TOEFL/IELTS requirement: International applicants who have received a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a college, university, or institution in any of the following countries are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Ghana, Grenda, Guyana, Jamica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States, U.S. Virgin Island, or Wales.

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