Frequently Asked Questions for International Applicants

First-Year Applicants

International first-year applicants whose first (or native) language is not English must take the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE, or Cambridge English Exam and request that official results are forwarded to the Office of Admissions. Drexel's TOEFL school code is 2194.

Exemptions from an English proficiency exam may occur for the following reasons:

• Your first (or native) language is English.
• You have studied at a high school for a minimum of three complete years where English is the primary language of instruction. We strongly recommend that students who choose this exemption still submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exams to demonstrate English language proficiency.
• You have received a minimum score of 600 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section or a minimum score of 27 on the ACT English section.

Drexel is test-optional; however, we can review and accept a variety of standardized tests for consideration during the application review process. To see a complete list of eligible exams, please review our Standardized Test Policies.

Transfer Applicants

International transfer applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE, or Cambridge English Exam unless:

• You have completed English Composition I and II (and III if attending a quarter institution), earning a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
• You have studied at, and subsequently graduated from, a high school or university where English is the primary language of instruction for a minimum of three years.
• You have received a minimum score of 600 on the SAT Critical Reasoning section or a minimum score of 27 on the ACT English section within the last two years.

If you are not a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), you are an international student.

You are required to submit these transcripts if you are applying as a first-year applicant. An admission decision cannot be made without these documents. 

Transcript requirements for international first-year applicants can be found on our First-Year Application Instructions. If your country or educational system is not listed, or if you are unsure about what documents are required, please email your admissions representative. Transfer students must submit sealed, official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended; please find more information about submitting international transcripts on our Transfer Application Instructions. If you have fewer than 24 semester college credits or less than one academic year of full-time coursework, you may also be required to submit official high school transcripts.

You can check the status of your application by visiting your Discover Drexel portal.

Note: Information on Discover Drexel reflects what has been processed into our system. It will not reflect materials that we have received but have not yet processed.

Please refer to the First-Year Application Instructions or the Transfer Application Instructions for detailed instructions on how to submit individual items.

Please refer to the First-Year Application Instructions or the Transfer Application Instructions for our mailing addresses.

All international students are automatically considered for merit aid during the application review process. No additional applications are required. Merit scholarship decisions are based on the credentials submitted at the time of application. Students who are awarded a merit scholarship will be notified along with their offer of admission.

Drexel is also proud to support international students with need-based aid. If you would like to be considered for need-based aid, you must complete the CSS Profile by the appropriate deadline. Visit How to Apply for Aid to view the deadlines and find more information regarding the CSS Profile.

International transfer students who qualify for the Drexel Promise do not need to submit the CSS Profile.

International students carrying an F-1 visa may work on campus up to 20 hours per week. However, Drexel cannot guarantee that you will find a job and we are unable to provide a job assignment to you. It will be your responsibility to seek out and apply for on-campus jobs if you wish to have one.

It is important to note that while these jobs can provide a source of income, the pay is typically not enough to cover the cost of tuition and cannot be listed as a funding source on your I-20/DS-2019 application for a visa. Many international students will use their income from these positions to cover living expenses such as textbooks, clothing, or going out to eat.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows F-1 students to engage in employment as long as it is an integral part of their curriculum, like co-op. For more information on CPT, visit the Office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) website.

If you are enrolled in the One Co-op (Four Years) option, it will not affect your OPT. If you are enrolled in the Three Co-op (Five Years) option, it will affect your OPT if you do all of your co-ops full-time in the United States. In order to preserve their OPT for after graduation, students with three co-ops will often do one of their co-ops part-time or one of them abroad. For more information regarding your OPT, please contact our International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) office at isss@drexel.edu or by phone at 215.895.2502.

Please contact the ISSS office regarding this issue. They can be reached by email at isss@drexel.edu or by phone at 215.895.2502.