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Incoming International Students

The School of International Service welcomes international students from our partner institutions to study on either a semester exchange or dual degree program.

Enrolling as an international exchange or dual degree student allows students to engage in course work at AU, with the ability to transfer credits earned back to the student’s home institution to be applied toward their degree program. International students are fully integrated into student life and are encouraged to engage with the campus community.

Important Information

  • Students must be in good academic standing with a grade point average equivalent of at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 at their host institution.

  • Students must meet the English language requirements. 

  • Health insurance is mandatory for all full-time degree, resident and international students, unless the student has comparable coverage under another health insurance plan. Students will automatically be billed for university health insurance unless a waiver is submitted.
  • Students are responsible for airfare to Washington, D.C., ground transportation, school supplies, and other personal living expenses while studying at AU.

Application Deadlines

Exchange Programs & Dual Masters Degree
Spring Admission: October 1
Fall Admission: April 1
Master of International Service (MIS-IST)
Spring Admission: October 1
Fall Admission: March 15
Dual Undergraduate Degree
This program enrolls in the fall semester only.
Fall admission: April 1
Joint Degree Program - Sakura Scholars
This program follows American University's Office of Admissions guidelines for for admissions. To learn more about the program and application process and deadlines please visit our Sakura Scholars Webpage.

Graduate Students

Applicants must be a current graduate student at a partner institution.

How the Program Works

  • Graduate exchange students may study for one semester only.
  • Students are permitted to register for up to 9 academic credits within SIS or other AU schools, except the Washington College of Law. Registering for more than 9 credits will be at the student's expense.
  • Students will pay their home institution tuition and any relevant fees. In addition, they will pay AU's technology fee and sports center fee.
  • AU does not provide housing for graduate students. All graduate students must secure their own accommodation. Resources to locate off-campus housing are available through the Office of Housing & Dining.

How to Apply

All applicants must first be nominated by their home institution before submitting their application. You may then complete the online SIS Graduate Exchange Application. 

You will need to provide the following:

  • 500 word personal essay (details included in the online application).
  • Copy of the front page of your passport and any U.S. visas you already have.
  • Bank statement indicating that you have sufficient funds to cover expenses for the duration of your study in the U.S.
  • Certificate of Finances for International Students (CFIS) requesting a DS-2019.
  • Résumé/CV.
  • Immunization form if you will be under the age of 26 when you begin your study at AU.
  • Official English language exam results either requested to be sent directly to SIS (TOEFL: code 5007, IELTS: select School of International Service) or verified as official with a signature from your institution's international office.
  • Verified official transcript signed by your institution's international office.

For further details regarding this program please contact your school's international/exchange office or email SISAbroad@american.edu

Apply to Grad Exchange

Dual Masters Degree Program (DMDP) applicants must be a current graduate student at Korea University or Ritsumeikan University.

How the Program Works

  • Students may transfer in up to 15 credit hours of relevant course work toward their degree at SIS.
  • AU Tuition will be waived for up to 18 credit hours. Any DMDP student who requires more than 18 credits of study or who drops a course after the AU published Add/Drop deadline and does not qualify for any refund will be responsible to pay AU tuition.
  • DMDP students will pay their home institution tuition and relevant fees in addition to the AU technology fee and sports center fee.
  • AU does not provide housing for graduate students. All graduate students must secure their own accommodation. Resources to locate off-campus housing are available through the Office of Housing & Dining.

How to Apply

All applicants must first be nominated by Korea University or Ritusmeikan University before submitting their application. You may then follow the instructions for applying as a dual degree student to SIS. Please note, DMDP applicants do not pay the application fee. In order to bypass any prompts for payment, you must indicate in your application that you will pay via check.

For further details regarding this program please contact your school's international/exchange office or email SISAbroad@american.edu

Apply to DMDP

Students who are currently enrolled in or who have graduated within three years from a partner university have the opportunity to gain additional academic training in applied international affairs through the Master of International Studies-International Studies Track (MIS-IST). Students in MIS-IST complete a dual degree in international affairs between their partner university and SIS with the first part completed at the partner institution, and the second part at SIS.

Our current partners include:

  • Aberystwyth University (Aberystwyth, Wales)
  • Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)
  • Peruvian Diplomatic Academy (Lima, Peru)
  • Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, Japan)
  • Roma Tre (Rome, Italy)
  • Sookmyung Women's University (Seoul, South Korea)
  • University of Warwick (Coventry, England)
  • University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Canada)
  • National Chengchi University (Taipei City, Taiwan)
  • Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, Canada)

How to apply

All students must be nominated by their home institution before applying directly to the School of International Service. A faculty or staff member should send the name(s) of the student(s) they are nominating, along with verified copies of those students' official transcripts, to ist@american.edu

Students should then complete the online application and select the Master of International Service program. The following will be required for your application:

  • Official English language exam results (Only if English is not your native language or if you do not yet have a bachelor's or postgraduate degree completed in English. The requirements are 100 on TOEFL and 7 on IELTS.)
  • Official transcripts and certified English translations, if applicable, for each postsecondary institution attended*
  • Two letters of recommendation*
  • Resume/CV

*Attested copies of transcripts and letters of recommendation may be sent directly from your current institution to sisgrad@american.edu. Emails should include your full name and the type of document being sent.

Application Deadline

January Start: October 1st 
August Start: March 15th

Undergraduate Students

Applicants must be a current undergraduate student at Korea University, Ritsumeikan University or Sciences Po.

How the Program Works

  • Students pay their home institution tuition and relevant fees. Undergraduate students will pay AU for housing, meals and applicable fees.
  • All undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to live on-campus and purchase a university meal plan.
  • Students may register for some courses in AU schools beside SIS, but are not permitted to take courses in the Washington College of Law.
  • Students may take up to 15 credits each semester during the exchange program.

How to Apply

All applicants must first be nominated by their home institution before submitting their application. Nominees may then complete the online SIS Undergraduate Exchange Application. 

You will need to provide the following:

  • 500 word personal essay (details included in the online application).
  • Copy of the front page of your passport and any U.S. visas you already have.
  • Bank statement indicating that you have sufficient funds to cover expenses for the duration of your study in the U.S.
  • Certificate of Finances for International Students (CFIS) requesting a DS-2019.
  • Résumé/CV.
  • Immunization form if you will be under the age of 26 when you begin your study at AU.
  • Official English language exam results either requested to be sent directly to SIS (TOEFL: code 5007, IELTS: select School of International Service) or verified as official with a signature from your institution's international office.
  • Verified official transcript signed by your institution's international office.

For further details regarding this program please contact your school's international/exchange office or email SISAbroad@american.edu

Apply to Undergrad Exchange

Dual Undergraduate Degree Program (DUDP) applicants must be a current student at Ritsumeikan University.

How the Program Works

  • Students may transfer in up to 40 credit hours of relevant course work and must complete a minimum of 80 credits of study at AU (generally equates to two full years).
  • DUDP students pay AU tuition and relevant fees with the opportunity to earn a 30% scholarship based on academic performance.
  • All DUDP students are required to live on-campus and purchase a university meal plan.
  • Students must elect a major within an AU school beside the Washington College of Law and follow their selected major's program of study.

How to Apply

All applicants must first be nominated by Ritusmeikan University before submitting their application. You may then follow the instructions for applying as an AU International Transfer Student. Please note, DUDP applicants do not pay the application fee.

Once your application is complete, please send your complete application packet and supporting documents to:

Jessica Kling
American University
School of International Service, Office 112K
Office of International Programs
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016 U.S.A.
JKling@american.edu

For further details regarding this program please contact your school's international/exchange office or email SISAbroad@american.edu

Apply to DUDP