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First-Year International Applicants

Instructions

Apply online using the Common Application or Coalition Application. Your file will not be reviewed until all of the materials below have been received by the Office of Admissions:

  • Completed application, including essay and CV/Resume
  • Application fee of U.S. $75; no fee waivers are available.
    • Only first-year students applying for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship and/or referred directly by EducationUSA or other non-government organizations may be eligible to receive an application fee waiver on a case-by-case basis. All other applicants must submit the U.S. $75 application fee. 
  • Academic records for grades 9-12 with official transcripts and certified English translations (if applicable), for each secondary institution attended. Students who study in 3-year secondary school systems only need to provide transcripts for those three years.
  • One academic letter of recommendation from a teacher is required; one letter from the school counselor/principal/headmaster is also strongly recommended.
    • Note: Students cannot submit their own secondary-school transcripts or recommendation letters. These must be uploaded to the Common or Coalition Application directly by the school's counselor/teacher or mailed per courier instructions below.
  • Demonstrated English proficiency
  • No SAT or ACT Needed! AU does not evaluate SAT or ACT scores for students (including U.S. citizens) graduating from secondary schools outside the United States.
  • Interruption of Studies Statement if you have already graduated from secondary school at the time of application.

The following item is only required from students who need a student visa (F or J):

  • NEW: The AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) must be submitted by the application deadline and must reflect at least US$81,620 for first year of study and living expenses. Be prepared to pay at least this amount for each additional year at AU.
    • Once you submit your admissions application and create your portal, the completed and signed two-page AU DFF form can be uploaded via your AU applicant portal.

Important Information - Proof of Finances for International Students
 

  1. Undergraduate admission to American University is need aware for all international students. This means that AU considers the student's ability to cover ALL costs when making admissions' decisions.
  2. AU does not provide need-based financial aid, need-based grants, or federal financial aid to international students. Need-based aid is only available for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.
  3. Qualified international students are eligible to receive AU's merit-based partial scholarships.
  4. All international students who will need an F-1 student visa /J-1 exchange visa must complete and submit the AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) confirming a minimum of US$81,620 by the appropriate deadline, even if they hope to receive a partial merit-based scholarship.
  5. Applications missing the AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) or whose AU DFF form confirms less than US$81,620 will not be considered for admission.
  6. The AU DFF form must be signed and dated within the past three months to be considered valid.
  7. AU does not accept the CSS profile, FAFSA form, or the College Board ISFAA forms for international students.
  8. Note: students applying for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship must submit the AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) and a bank letter confirming a minimum of US$4,000. Please review the EGL scholarship application instructions and deadlines
  9. Students receiving or applying for an outside scholarship from a government, parent's employer, or other organization may be contacted by an admissions representative for more information regarding the scholarship application timeline and scholarship disbursement date.

Additional Documents to be Submitted by Admitted International F/J students who Enroll at AU


Admitted international F/J visa-status students who deposit and enroll at AU will need to submit additional documents. The list of required documents can be found on our International Student & Scholar Services Office (ISSS) website. Visit the site and read the required steps carefully, as mistakes will delay your I-20 preparation. An admissions representative will connect with you and collect a copy of your passport Information page, AU CFIS form, and supporting financial documents.

Application Deadlines

Your application and all supporting documents must be received by the respective application deadline.

If you plan to begin your studies in August (fall semester):

Early Action (New): November 1
Early Decision I (ED I): November 1
Early Decision II (ED II): January 15
Regular Decision (RD): January 15

If you plan to begin your studies in January (spring semester):

All spring applicants October 1

For students living outside the United States, we strongly recommend September 1

Submitting Your Application's Supporting Documents

  1. Important: Upload the completed and signed AU Declaration of Finances form (AU DFF) as a PDF document to your AU applicant portal.
  2. Students cannot self-report results of their English proficiency exams (Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS). Please ask the testing agency to send your official score report to American University, Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, District of Columbia.
  3. Note: Students cannot submit their own secondary-school transcripts or recommendation letters. These must be uploaded to the Common or Coalition Application directly by the school’s counselor/teacher or mailed per courier instructions below.

If your secondary school prefers to use a courier service, keep your tracking number and have them send your transcripts and recommendation letters to:

Undergraduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4801 Massachusetts Ave., NW STE-218
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA
Tel: +1-202-885-6000

Questions? Contact intadm@american.edu.

The Application Form

Complete the application carefully. Please make sure to include your full name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable section of your passport (check the bottom of your passport page). The first three letters stand for your country of citizenship. Omit those three letters when completing the admission application form. Also include date of birth, complete educational history, country of birth, citizenship, current mailing address and a permanent address outside of the United States, even if you currently live or study in the United States.

Your Academic Records

Please have your official academic records from each secondary school you attended for the U.S. equivalent of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades sent directly from those schools to American University, Washington, DC via the Common or Coalition Application or mailed by courier service to American University in sealed envelopes. Students who study in 3-year secondary school systems only need to provide transcripts for those three years.

These records should be submitted in their original language and accompanied by notarized English translations if applicable. Ask your secondar school to include any predicated or final examination results from exams such as IB, GCSE, GCE, Bagrut, French Baccalaureate, CAPE Units One and Two, Abitur, Attestat, or Secondary School Leaving Certificates, if available.

Certain exam results such as, but not limited to, IB, WAEC, GCE, GCSE, and CAPE must come directly to our office from the examination board or authority.

Letters of Recommendation

Although only one letter of recommendation from a teacher is required with your application, we strongly encourage you also ask your school's university counselor, principal, or headmaster to submit a second letter of recommendation. These letters are confidential. Each letter must be in English. Recommenders can upload recommendation letters directly onto the Common or Coalition Application. If sent by courier mail, please have your reference sign or place a school stamp across the sealed flap of the envelope.

English Proficiency

AU requires strong English language skills. All first-year applicants (including U.S. citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents) can prove English proficiency by either curriculum or testing. 

Via curriculum for Spring 2025, Fall 2025 and Beyond:

  • Four years of study (grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 or equivalent) in U.S. regionally-accredited or IB, CXC or UK curricula (inside or outside the U.S.), where English is the only medium of instruction AND no ESL courses have been taken;
  • Four years of study (grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 or equivalent) in the selected English-speaking countries listed below or in the educational systems of these countries (regardless of location) where English is the only medium of instruction AND no ESL courses have been taken.

    Selected English speaking countries include: U.S., UK and Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Canada (except Quebec), Singapore, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and these countries in the Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands)

Or Via Testing:


IMPORTANT: Students cannot self-report English proficiency exam results. Ask the testing agency to send your official results directly to American University, Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, District of Columbia (DC).

 

 

Updated Test Requirements for Spring 2025, Fall 2025 and Beyond

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - TOEFL code 5007. TOEFL is valid two years from the exact date the exam was taken. 
    • Internet based test (iBT) score of 85 or higher. Sub-scores for each section of the TOEFL must be 20 or higher. To be considered competitive, a 90 TOEFL iBT score or above is recommended, with each sub-score 20 or above.
      • Note: AU Undergraduate Admissions does accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
      • AU does not accept TOEFL IBT "MyBest" combined scores.
      • AU does not accept the “TOEFL Essentials Test.”
      • AU does not accept TOEFL ITP Plus for China exams taken after July 11, 2020. If taken before July 11, 2020, minimum TOEFL ITP Plus for China scores are: Total 627, with sub-scores 64 for listening comprehension, 64 for structure and written expression, and 63 for reading comprehension.
    • Paper-based test sub-scores of 20 or higher (taken after May 31, 2017).
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Composite score of 6.5 or higher. Sub-scores for each section of the IELTS must be 6.0 or higher. IELTS is valid two years from the exact date the exam was taken. 
    • Note: AU Undergraduate Admissions does accept the IELTS Online exam.
  • Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 120 or higher. Each sub-score must be 110 or higher. Duolingo is valid two years from the exact date the exam was taken. 
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 60 or higher. Pearson is valid two years from the exact date the exam was taken. 
    • Note: AU Undergraduate Admissions does accept the PTE Academic Online.
  • Cambridge Assessment English score of 176 or higher. Each sub-score must be 169 or higher. Cambridge English Certificate does not expire.
  • SAT Reading Test sub-score of 30 or higher (taken after 3/1/2016). SAT is valid five years from the exact date the exam was taken. 
  • New as of March 2023: Score of 610 or higher on the SAT Digital version section called Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW).
  • ACT English score of 25 or higher. ACT is valid five years from the exact date the exam was taken. 

Important: Though English proficiency may be met in one of the above ways, the Office of Admissions may still request TOEFL, IELTS, DET, Cambridge Assessment English, PTE scores or other additional documentation if deemed necessary.

Note for Native Speakers of English: For native speakers of English from the U.S., UK and Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Canada (except Quebec), Singapore, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and these countries in the Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands) who list English as their first language on the Common Application, proof of English proficiency is not required, but may be requested.

NEW: AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF)

Applicants who require a student or exchange visitor visa (F or J) must submit to the Office of Admissions the AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) showing proof of at least US$81,620 for your first year of studies and living expenses.

The AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF) must be submitted by the application deadline date. Once you submit your admissions application and create your portal, the completed and signed two-page AU DFF form can be uploaded via your AU applicant portal.

Application packets without the correctly completed AU DFF will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for admission.

An official bank letter, the AU CFIS form completed by applicant and parent, and a copy of the student’s passport will be required at a later date if the student is accepted and decides to enroll at AU.

Advanced Credit for IB, AP, A Level, CAPE Secondary Exams

Students may be eligible to receive advanced credit for exams passed during secondary school. If you took IB, A Level, AP, the OIB English, or CAPE Unit Two exams while in school, please visit Credit by Exam page for full details on AU exam policies.

Interruption of Studies Statement

If you have already graduated from secondary school at the time of application, you must submit a short interruption of studies statement describing your activities (e.g., work, travel, internships, study at another university, etc.)  since graduation.

Admissions decisions

Once you submit your application, what happens next? You will receive one of the following decisions:

Selected
Fall Admission
Waitlist
Deny

Fall admissions is familiar to most students and means you will begin as a degree-seeking student in the fall semester for which you applied.

A select group of students admitted for the fall will also be invited to participate in our AU Cornerstone Program, which allows for a study abroad or internship experience in a student’s first year.

We offer a limited number of students a waitlist decision each year. If space becomes available in the fall class and you sign up to remain on the waitlist, we will notify you in May if we’re able to offer you admission. But we do suggest that students deposit at another institution to secure a spot somewhere for the fall.

Each year, we have to deny a number of students due to the high level of talent in our applicant pool. But if you have your heart set on attending AU, we encourage you to consider transferring after at least one year at another college.

Each year, we have to deny a number of students due to the high level of talent in our applicant pool. But if you have your heart set on attending AU, we encourage you to consider transferring after at least one year at another college.

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Discover EducationUSA Resources in Your Country

For further assistance with the application process, visa, and pre-departure orientation sessions and information specific to your country, please contact the Public Diplomacy Section at your local U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for referral to an overseas educational advising center near you. You may also wish to consult the U.S. Department of State’s website, https://educationusa.state.gov/, to locate an EducationUSA Advising Center in your region.