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International Master’s Program Applicants

International Applicants

An applicant who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States is considered an international applicant.

Please note: The final deadline for international applicants to the Brown School’s master’s programs is March 1.

In addition to the standard admission criteria outlined for each degree program, international applicants must also meet the following requirements:

Foreign Transcripts and Credential Evaluation

International applicants who have completed or are in the process of completing their prerequisite degree outside of the U.S. or English-speaking Canada must submit their academic records to a U.S.-based evaluation service for a course-by-course equivalency report. A certified foreign credential evaluation is required to assess how the academic or professional coursework compares to U.S. educational standards. Applicants to Brown School master’s programs must hold a degree that is deemed equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

The Brown School accepts foreign credential evaluation reports from any NACES© member organization. However, Brown School applicants are eligible for a discounted rate and expedited processing through our recommended partner, The Evaluation Company.

Please note that foreign transcript evaluation services typically take two to six weeks to complete. Applicants should begin this process as early as possible in advance of application deadlines to allow for processing time.

Demonstration of English Proficiency

WashU is responsible for confirming that visitors and students possess the necessary level of English language proficiency to succeed in their respective course of study and/or program. For more information on WashU’s accepted English language proficiency tests and minimum score requirements, please visit: https://oiss.washu.edu/english-proficiency-requirements/

WashU accepted tests and minimum score requirements: 

Proof of Financial Support

U.S. immigration regulations require international students to provide official documentation of their financial ability to cover all educational and living expenses before WashU can issue a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (I-20).

If admitted to a Brown School master’s program, international students must complete the following steps in a timely manner to complete their intent to enroll and initiate the visa process, which is facilitated by the Office of International Students and Scholars. 

  1. Review the Financial Support Requirements below and secure your required Financial Documentation 
  2. Log in to your WashU Graduate Admissions Portal to accept your admission offer and submit the non-refundable $200 enrollment deposit
  3. Follow the emailed instructions to activate your WashU Key and log in credentials for university systems
  4. Use your WashU key to create an account and log into MyOISS to review additional instructions and provide the required documentation to start the visa process

We encourage students to review the complete visa process outlined on the OISS website and take advantage of their online webinars and support services.

Estimated Financial Support Requirement for 2026-2027

This figure includes Brown School master’s program tuition and fees, student health insurance, and estimated living expenses:

  • $80,000 USD for MSW
  • $85,000 USD for Advanced Standing MSW

Please note that admitted students should deduct the value of two semesters of any Brown School scholarship award from the required amount. Students planning to bring dependents must add $4,500 USD per dependent.

Additional Important Considerations

  • While documentation is required for the first year only, students are responsible for securing adequate, dependable sources of funding for the entire duration of their program.
  • The Brown School does not offer full funding support (e.g., assistantships, stipends, or tuition waivers) for its master’s programs, and all available scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.  International students should be prepared to meet the financial support requirement with external funding sources, such as personal funds, sponsor support, employer or government support, private loans, and external grants or scholarships.
  • We recommend students observe the following deadlines to ensure sufficient time for travel and arrival before the start of the fall semester:
    • May 15 – Last day to submit financial documentation to OISS
    • August 1 – Last day for visa appointments to take place
OISS Homepage
Request an I-20
Apply for a Visa
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MSW Advanced Standing Eligibility for International BSW Applicants

Applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an international institution may be eligible for Advanced Standing status in the MSW program through the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES).

ISWDRES evaluates international social work credentials to determine their comparability to CSWE-accredited social work degrees in the United States. Application instructions and additional details are available on the CSWE website.

The ISWDRES evaluation process may take several months to complete. Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to begin this process as early as possible and must notify the Brown School Office of Admissions of their ISWDRES application status. If the degree is recognized, an official copy of the ISWDRES determination letter must be submitted to the Brown School prior to enrollment in the MSW program.

Questions related to the ISWDRES process or associated fees should be directed to CSWE at iswdres@cswe.org.