All applicants must provide documentation of their undergraduate coursework. This documentation is called a transcript and it must be issued from an official source. An official source is defined as (1) the institution's records office, or (2) the Embassy of the issuing country here in the U.S.

If your institution issues transcripts in English then you need to submit only an original English transcript (see section below on Handling a Transcript). Exceptions to this rule include the following countries:

• China: Transcript, graduation and degree certificate issued in Chinese by the academic institution. We will accept "Certified True Copies" in both English and the original language only if issued by the institution and left in its original sealed envelope.

  Important Notes:

  • Chinese (P.R.C.) universities issue both a Diploma of Graduation (indicating that a student has completed a degree program) and a Certificate of Graduation or Degree (indicating that the degree has actually been awarded, conferred, or granted). Both the Diploma of Graduation and the Certificate of Graduation or Degree are required as proof of degree.
  • Proof of Degree from China (P.R.C.) if indicated on the academic transcript is not acceptable.

• Africa: Original documents must be submitted directly from the attended institution and not through the applicant. The University of Delaware does not recognize 3-year Bachelor degrees from most African countries.
• North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) and Lebanon: Transcripts and degree certificates should be issued in French if English is not an option.
• Latin America: Degree/certificate (Titulo/Licenciado): Transcripts (Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones) listing all subjects studied, with the corresponding grades and credits or hours of study.
• Russian Federation: Due to the high level of fraudulent documents from Russia all documents must be received directly from the institution and not from the applicant. Students who have not completed their programs and earned diplomas should provide academic transcripts knows as Academicheskaya Spravka (academic certificate). Students who have graduated with a diploma should submit the Prilozhenie k Diplomu (supplement to the diploma) or Arkhivnaya Spravka (archival certificate).

In all cases the University of Delaware reserves to right to contact the institution directly to verify coursework and grades at previously attended institutions even if enrollment here has begun.

Handling a Transcript

A transcript is a sealed communication from one educational institution to another. Therefore, it must NOT be opened by the applicant at any time. If you have opened and handled your transcript then it is no longer considered "sealed and official." Having the transcript sent to your home is fine if you leave it in the sealed envelope. Place the sealed envelope inside the larger envelope you are sending to the University of Delaware.

Although the majority of our applicants are truthful when submitting their educational credentials there are those who falsify their educational background. The Office of Graduate Studies will call into question the veracity of any educational document submitted to our office. To that end we regularly verify transcripts, diplomas and certificates directly with the issuing institutions in their original language. If any material is discovered to have been altered or falsified we reserve the right to report this discovery to the U.S. Department of Education for further action.

In the United States the transcript states whether the bachelors degree is earned or in progress. However, many countries issue a separate certificate stating the degree has been earned. If that is the circumstance for your country then you will also need to submit or present a final degree certificate.

As in the case of the transcripts, this certificate must be issued by an official source. An official source is defined as (1) the institution's records office, (2) a state or government official (from the state where the institution resides), or (3) the Embassy of the issuing country here in the U.S. As is the case with the transcripts, a certificate can be issued in English directly from the institution attended.

If you are not sure whether you have a U.S. equivalent bachelor's degree you may wish to have your transcript evaluated by one of the many reputable translation organizations in the United States.

In all cases the University of Delaware reserves to right to contact the institution directly to verify coursework and grades at previously attended institutions even if enrollment here has begun.

If you have not yet earned your bachelor's degree

We understand that many graduate applicants are still enrolled in courses and are expecting their final degree certificate. Therefore, an applicant can be considered based on the submission of official transcripts as described in the first paragraph. However, this applicant can only be offered a conditional acceptance, based on submitting the final degree certificate to the Office of Graduate Admissions. We recommend that you obtain all final, sealed and official transcripts, certificates, diplomas, etc. before leaving your home country. Upon your arrival in the U.S. you must present these documents to our office.

If your degree is still in progress, your transcript and certificate will be marked as such. Therefore, it will remain on your applicant Status Page as being incomplete.

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for all foreign applicants.

TOEFL paper-based:	Minimum score of 550 (600 for some programs)
TOEFL computer-based:	Minimum score of 213 (250 for some programs)
TOEFL IBT:	Minimum score 79 (100 for some programs)

To find out the minimum score your graduate program of interest requires please contact that department directly: www.udel.edu/gradoffice/applicants/degreesmajors.html.

A waiver of the TOEFL exam is only allowed when:

• A degree has been earned at a University where English is the primary language
• A degree has already been earned in the United States

Applicants are encouraged to provide scores from the Test of Spoken English (TSE) as well.

The Confidential Financial Information form is required from all foreign applicants. The form is filed with the Office of Graduate Admissions and is used to assist the Office of Foreign Students and Scholars with their timely processing of I-20s. Although an applicant can be granted admission without this form, the entire I-20 issuing process will not begin until the form is received. This ultimately results in a long delay for the newly accepted student at crucial registration deadlines.

This form is not shared with the faculty Admissions Committee, as admission decisions and financial awards are made based on merit alone. The applicant should complete the form with no expectation of being awarded funding.

This form is a supplementary document that will be included in the application. The applicant will need to print it, fill in the required information, and send it together with other application materials directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. To view a sample of the Confidential Financial Information form, click here.