Selecting an Application
Degree Seeking Application
LSU Information
The Graduate School is pleased to provide the following information. Please follow the application procedures carefully to ensure timely processing. After completing all required sections, return the Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program form to the address indicated or, for faster processing, submit the online version.
| BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Selecting an application |
Before you begin the application process, you must decide whether you will apply as a non-degree student or a degree-seeking student.
- A non-degree applicant is usually one who does not intend to seek a degree at LSU at the present time, but rather to take only a few graduate-level courses. (See the non-degree application form for admission requirements, a full program description and application instructions.)
- A degree-seeking applicant is one who is admitted to the Graduate School and a department program and may eventually become a degree candidate. Both the Graduate School and the department must approve admission.
If you are interested in seeking admission as a non-degree graduate student, first contact the graduate advisor of your intended program. Some programs restrict non-degree students to particular courses or will not later accept the work toward degree-seeking requirements. This program is restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
Note: Be sure to complete the correct application. The non-degree and degree-seeking programs are two different programs and require separate fees. If you fill out the wrong application, your fee cannot be refunded or transferred.
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DEGREE SEEKING APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLYING AS A DEGREE-SEEKING APPLICANT
You may apply as a degree-seeking applicant from the LSU website.
1. If you do not already have an admission logon, create your Admission Account by clicking on the "Create one Now" button on the Admissions Logon page. Be sure to remember your username and password. You will need this for future reference. Your new account will be ready for use in approximately 5 minutes.
2. Complete the application and department information sections. You may choose to save your application and complete it later. Your application is saved for 30 days from the initial creation date. If you don't do not submit your application within 30 days, it will be deleted.
3. When you are ready to submit your application and fees, review your application and department information carefully. If you omitted a required field or entered data incorrectly, you will be prompted to make the necessary corrections. You may elect to pay by credit card or electronic check (from a US bank account). Submit your payment only once. Re-submitting payment will result in duplicate charges against your account.
4. Once the payment is authorized, you can no longer make changes to your application.
5. From the Admissions Logon page, you may reset your password or request a new password in case you forgot your password.
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Use the list below as a guide for completing your degree-seeking application. Make sure you have sent or have notified the appropriate officials to send all required items to the Office of Graduate Admissions and the department by the appropriate deadline date. Failure to submit ALL required documents may result in a delayed or rejected application.
To Office of Graduate Admissions:
__ 1. Completed Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program form (online version is highly recommended).
__ 2. Application fee (and any applicable late fee).
__ 3. One official transcript from EACH college or university attended (including summer only work, and even if work appears on another institution’s transcript). International applicants: Include degree statements and an English translation of each foreign document.
__ 4. GRE or GMAT scores (if required). Note: Recommended/minimum test scores are established by the department. Contact the graduate advisor in your program for specific requirements. The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373.
__ 5. TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required, see International Applicants section). The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373.
To Department:
__ 1. One official transcript from each college or university attended (see above).
__ 2. All other materials (letters of recommendation, supplemental departmental application, etc.).
If an International Student:
To International Services Office (if you have not already included this with your application):
__ 1. A copy of the name page of your passport.
__ 2. The name(s) and birth date(s) of each dependent, including your spouse, who will be accompanying you.
__ 3. Proof of funding. The Affidavit of Support form can be printed from the ISO website http://www.oip.lsu.edu/iso/admission%20to%20LSU.htm. (As a reminder, if your funding will be personal or family, the ISO cannot process your non-immigrant documents without this information.)
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| OVERVIEW OF APPLICATION PROCESS |
When the Office of Graduate Admissions receives a paid application, a file is created and the academic credentials are forwarded to the graduate program for review. The Graduate Advisor (and/or Graduate Admissions Committee) in the program evaluates the application, makes an admission recommendation, and notifies the Office of Graduate Admissions. The Office of Graduate Admissions then conducts the final evaluation and sends the official notification to the student. Note: Final admission will not occur until all transcripts and test scores are received. Please review the checklist carefully.
How long will this process take? The application process varies by department. Some departments process applications year-around, others make decisions only one time each year. Please contact the graduate advisor in your program for estimated processing times. To speed the processing of your application: submit your application using the online form; submit all transcripts and supporting documents at one time; submit all materials 2-4 weeks before the department deadline.
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| LSU INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT |
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Graduate School site will provide you with links to an ONLINE version of this application, information on admissions and links to the academic departments. Note that applicants must meet the approval of the Graduate School and their department.
The LSU Home Page can be found on the World Wide Web at the internet address of http://www.lsu.edu.
The LSU General Catalog, which is the official document on policies, deadlines, and information, can be also linked from the Graduate School home page or ordered by sending a $3.00 check or money order (made payable to LSU) to the following address:
Office of University Registrar, 112 Thomas Boyd Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA USA 70803
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DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Some academic departments have additional requirements, such as submission of a supplemental departmental application, letters of recommendation, personal statements, etc. You can contact your academic department by visiting the department or by mailing your request for information to:
Graduate Advisor
Department of __________
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The academic departments control all graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. Please contact the department to which you are applying for information regarding these financial resources. Information on various awards can be found on the Awards page.
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HOUSING
Information on housing can be found at Residential Life or can be reached by telephone at (225) 578-8663.
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TUITION AND FEES
Current tuition and fees for a full-time graduate student for the Fall semester are approximately $2,235.50, depending on selected student fees. If you are not classified as a resident of Louisiana, a nonresident fee of $4,150 is charged in addition to the tuition and fees. Fees for summer terms differ, and all fees may change without notice by approval of the LSU Board of Supervisors. The most current fee information can be found at Fees & Financial Aid.
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DEADLINES & FEES
Deadlines & fees for processing degree-seeking applications are as follows:
Semester: | Fee: | Fee Deadline: | Fee after deadline: |
 | | | |
Fall | $50 | May 15 | $75 |
Non-Immigrant Applicants | $70 | May 15 | n/a |
| | | |
Spring | $50 | October 15 | $75 |
Non-Immigrant Applicants | $70 | October 15 | n/a |
| | | |
Summer | $50 | May 15 | $75 |
Non-Immigrant Applicants | $70 | May 15 | n/a |
Fees are effective as of May 16, 2009.
Many departments have deadlines much earlier than the above dates, especially for financial consideration. Check with the Graduate Advisor in your program for details.
International non-immigrant Applications received after these deadline dates will be processed for the following semester and no late application fee will be charged.
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International applicants are advised to submit the application and supporting documents at least ten months in advance of the start of the semester they are seeking admission.
Test score requirements: International applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency by submitting either a TOEFL or an IELTS score.
International applicants must provide an official TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based, or 79 on the internet-based exam to be considered for admission. All test scores, including the GRE/GMAT, must be submitted prior to admission. Though test scores must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to be official, you may submit unofficial copies of your test scores to speed the processing of your application. The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373.
Or
International applicants must provide an official IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) minimum score of 6.5 to be considered for admission. Information about IELTS may be found at the IELTS website (www.ielts.org). IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Official TOEFL/IELTS scores are those reported directly to LSU by the respective testing service at the request of the student.
Once the Graduate School and the department have approved admission, and sufficient financial responsibility has been verified, the International Services Office (ISO) is notified. ISO will then prepare and issue the appropriate immigration documents to you. Visit the ISO site (http://www.oip.lsu.edu) for further details.
INTERNATIONAL "OFFICIAL" DOCUMENTS
Documents submitted to the Graduate School must be written in the language used for instruction (original language). An English translation of all documents submitted must also be included. Documents must be prepared by the institution which prescribes the curriculum of study.
“Official documents” are defined as official records of transcripts and degree statements in original language AND the English translations prepared by the institution. These documents must be sealed in the institution’s official envelope with the official stamp across on the envelope. The individual pages of all documents must be printed on the institutions letterhead or stamped with the official logo/signatures of the proper authority. Any document not received in this manner is considered unofficial. (Signatures of a professor, government officials other than Ministry of Education, and/or notary public are NOT accepted as official.)
For applicants from countries whose institutions do not issue official copies to other institutions, the applicant may provide copies of the records for review purposes only. The applicant must prove that the provided documents are official before the admission process is finalized
INTERNATIONAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The following guidelines indicate the level of study expected of applicants prior to graduate enrollment at Louisiana State University Graduate School. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for complete details.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degrees requiring at least four-years of full-time university study, with a minimum of Second Class Honours. Holders of bachelor’s degrees whose programs represent three years of study are not eligible for graduate admission.
Baltic Republics and East Europe States and Former Soviet Republics
Minimum qualifications: Diplom or Diploma, Inzenyr or Magister.
Bangladesh, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degrees requiring at least four years of university study, B.Engr.; B.Sc. (in Engineering); B.Arch.; B.Tech.; or a master’s degree in other fields. For example, the B.Sc. plus the M.Sc., the B.A plus the M.A., and the B.Com. plus the M.Com. are considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor’s degree. Do not apply unless you have completed or will complete one of these degrees prior to enrollment. Post-Graduate Diplomas in fields other than Management may not be considered acceptable for graduate admission.
Central and Latin America, Mexico, Portugal, Spain
Minimum qualifications: Licenciado, Mexican Licenciatura (four year program) or Titulo/professional title or degree representing four or more years of full-time study.
France or French patterned systems
Minimum qualifications: Diplom, Maitrise or title of Ingenieur. Holders of the Licence (earned after a three year program) degree from France are not eligible for graduate admission.
Germany
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor of Arts or Science from a University. Vordiplom or Zwischenprüfung "PLUS TWO SEMESTERS" of coursework.
Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Minimum qualifications: Holders of bachelor’s degree requiring four years of university study.
People’s Republic of China
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree requiring at least four years of university study. Holders of bachelor’s degrees awarded in 1982 or later may be considered for graduate admission.
United Kingdom and British patterned systems
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree earned after four year program or Diploma in Technology or Technological Engineering or Arts and Design with a minimum of Second Class Upper Division.
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