Admissions Policies
Admissions Deferral Policy
Deferring Your Admission to ITU
If you have been admitted to ITU, but can no longer enroll by the start date, you may wish to postpone your admission until the next entry term. Once admitted, you can defer your admission only once; after that, you must re-apply.
Requesting a Deferment of Your Admission
If you can no longer enroll by the start date, you will need to do the following:
- Pay your orientation fee.
- Complete the Admissions Deferral Request form and forward your payment confirmation to the Office of Admissions.
- You must submit these documents before 11:59 PM (PST) on the last day of registration for the trimester in which you want to defer.
Submitting a request for deferral is not a guarantee of approval. If you are approved for a deferment, you cannot enroll in another academic program at a different college or university, during your deferment period.
International Students
If you are an F1 student, you may not be eligible for deferment. If you are approved, please be aware that you must maintain status during your deferment period. For more information on this issue, you can submit a ticket to the International Student Office (ISO), via this link. The ISO also has walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10AM-12PM.
Admissions Requirements for Second Master’s Degree
Current and former ITU students who would like to apply for their second Master’s degree* at ITU without prior educational background (undergraduate) in the new field of study:
- Student Transcript to be reviewed by the Registrar and the Department Chair
- Students who lack prior undergraduate knowledge of the field will need to take 18 additional credits upon the recommendation of Department Chairs for a total of 54 units.
*At ITU, the term “second Master’s degree” is used for students who received their first Master’s degree at ITU and would like to pursue a second Master’s degree in a different field at ITU again. Students who pursued their first Master’s degree at another institution are not considered “second Master’s students” at ITU and will need to follow the requirements set forth in the Master’s Degree Program Admissions Policy.
Master’s Degree Program Admissions Policy
Students applying for admission into ITU master’s degree programs are expected to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed in a rigorous graduate educational environment. As such, successful applicants who are admitted to the University should have earned (the equivalent of) a US bachelor’s degree with a cumulative 2.75 GPA or above, or (the equivalent of) a US master’s degree with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or above. Degrees earned in the United States must be from a regionally accredited US institution. In some cases, ITU may also consider other evidence of readiness for academic studies at the graduate level, including outstanding undergraduate work in the major, completion of graduate-level coursework at a 3.0 GPA or above, post-baccalaureate studies, and professional certifications.
Given the diversity of grading scales and accreditation standards worldwide, ITU requires that any foreign credentials (i.e. undergraduate/graduate diploma and transcript) be evaluated by an approved third-party evaluation service. The University will only accept foreign credentials that are deemed by the approved service provider as equivalent to a US bachelor’s or master’s degree. International applicants will also need to provide proof of English proficiency (see ITU’s English Proficiency policy).
Proficiency in English
The ability to communicate effectively in English – to read, write and speak the language fluently – is vital to your success as a university student. ITU graduate applicants are therefore expected to demonstrate English-language proficiency as a part of the application process.
International students whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency. English competency tests (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) are designed to provide the Office of Admissions as a guide to accurately and efficiently measure the potential academic success in the graduate program of interest.
A reasonable level of English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, speaking and understanding is important for an international student’s success in a graduate educational environment. It is the responsibility of the Office of Admissions to evaluate the potential success of each applicant by utilizing standardized test scores, which are backed up by reliable research, in the admissions process.
Applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency by either submitting a TOEFL internet-based test (ibt) or IELTS academic score.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. ITU looks for a score of 72 or better for the internet-based test (ibt).
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. ITU looks for a band score of 6.0 or better for the academic module.
- Test scores are valid for two years from the date when the tests are taken. If the test score is older than two years, the student will be required to resubmit a valid test score.
- Valid, official scores must be sent to ITU’s Office of Admissions directly from the testing service. If a TOEFL score is being sent, ITU’s institution code is 4446. If you are sending an IELTS score, please be sure to select ITU from the list of available institutions.
- Students whose TOEFL or IELTS scores do not meet this benchmark will be required to partake in additional language training prior to arrival at ITU, depending on the student’s level of proficiency.
If the only requirement the applicant needs to meet in order to be admitted is the English proficiency requirement, the applicant may be admitted providing the English proficiency requirement is met prior to enrollment through test scores or exemption as described below.
International students may be exempted from the English proficiency requirement under the following circumstances:
Should be a regular four-year undergraduate degree with the majority of its credit earned in the U.S. from a regionally accredited institution (see list below). Waivers will not be considered for credits earned at a branch campus in a non-English speaking country or degrees granted through distance learning programs. Credential evaluation may be required for transfer credits from foreign institution.
Degrees earned at institutions accredited by the following agencies are accepted:
Should be a regular graduate degree with the majority of its credit earned in the U.S. from an accredited institution (see list below). Waivers will not be considered for credits earned at a branch campus in a non-English speaking country or degrees granted through distance learning programs. Credential evaluation may be required for transfer credits from foreign institution.
Degrees earned at institutions accredited by the following agencies are accepted:
Official transcripts are required. Credential evaluation of foreign degree is required. The majority of the credits must be earned from the Anglophone institution. Waivers will not be considered for credits earned at a branch campus in a non-English speaking country.
Countries that qualify for the waiver include: Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Québec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nevis & St. Kitts, St. Lucia, South Africa, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales), & the United States.
Applicants can demonstrate evidence their first language is English by means of providing documentation they have been schooled in their native country where English is the official language and the language of instruction.
Being a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident or citizen of a country listed below does not automatically waive you from an English proficiency exam, if your first language is not English.
Examples of countries that qualify for the waiver include: Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Québec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nevis & St. Kitts, St. Lucia, South Africa, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales), & the United States.
The applicant must submit official transcripts and a copy of their certificate of completion to the Office of Admission. Transcripts from an accredited English language program in the US or other Anglophone country showing a CEFR level of B2 or above in all areas.
- The Student has earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in U.S.
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
- Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
- Accredited graduate degree was earned in the U.S.
- An accredited undergraduate or graduate degree was earned in a non-U.S., Anglophone country.
- The applicant’s native language is English.
- Applicant has completed an accredited ESL program in the U.S., or in a non-US Anglophone country as listed in criteria #3, with a proficiency level equivalent to a B2 or above according to the Common European Framework (CEFR).
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
ITU considers an English language program as accredited if it:
- Has been accredited by one of the following accreditation agencies recognized by the Secretary of the Department of Education (ED):
- Commission on Language Program Accreditation (CEA)
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET)
- Or is a listed member of the American Association of Intensive English Program (AAIEP)
- Or is accredited by a government recognized agency in the approved anglophone country.