Graduate International Admitted Students

Here are a few important deadlines and details to help you prepare for your first semester on campus.

I-20 documents are typically created and sent within 7–10 business days of the admission decision. After your I-20 has been created, it will be sent electronically to your Illinois Tech Hawk email account. Physical I-20s are no longer being sent and the electronic I-20 is sufficient for your VISA appointment. If you are from Iran, we cannot ship your documents express; your documents will be sent via United States Postal Service, unless you have provided us an alternative address outside of Iran for shipping.

View the deadlines for submitting the Intent to Enroll Form and deposit

Your completed application packet must be received by the appropriate deadline below for regular admission consideration. Applications completed after the deadline still will be processed normally, but we cannot guarantee a decision will be made in time for your desired entry term. Late applicants may be eligible to defer their application or admission to a subsequent term.

If a deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, applications completed by the following Monday will be considered to have met the deadline.

Applicants to Programs in Armour College of Engineering, College of Science, School of Applied Technology, and Stuart School of Business

• Priority deadline is encouraged for students looking to secure their spots at Illinois Tech sooner rather than later.
• For the fall term, applicants can expect decisions to be released starting by March 1 or earlier.
• For the spring term, applicants can expect decisions to be released by October 1 or earlier.
   

  INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS (FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE A STUDENT VISA FROM ILLINOIS TECH)	Spring	Summer	Fall
  Applications Open	July 1	September 1	September 1
  Priority Deadline*	October 1	January 31	January 31
  Application Deadline***	November 15	March 15	June 15
  Last Day to Submit Financial Support Form	December 1	April 1	July 7
  Intent to Enroll	January 3	May 1	July 16
  Deposit	February 7	May 22	August 21
  Orientation	Orientation Information
  Classes Begin	Academic Calendar

  International students currently studying in the United States, including at Illinois Tech, wishing to submit an application beyond the international student deadlines posted above must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for assistance (grad.recruitment@iit.edu).This is available only for students currently studying in the United States, and must be done prior to the domestic applicant deadlines above.
  
  *Every applicant who meets the deadline is automatically considered for graduate fellowships, scholarships, and teaching and research assistantships awarded by individual academic departments. Departmental funding is awarded to a limited number of highly qualified, full-time students at the time of admission. If you receive a funding award, you will be notified of the award in your official admission letter.
  
  **Not all programs admit new graduate students for the summer term. Please check with your academic department for more information.
  
  ***New Illinois Tech Stuart Ph.D. students are not eligible for GRE/GMAT waivers and are only admitted in the fall semester.
  
  Applicants for all other Illinois Tech Graduate Programs
  Chicago-Kent College of Law
  College of Architecture
  Lewis College of Human Sciences - Humanities
  Lewis College of Human Sciences - Psychology
  Institute of Design

Enrollment Deposit Instructions

A deposit is required for all students. In addition to completing the Intent to Enroll Form, students must pay a $300 non-refundable tuition deposit. Pay the deposit by logging into the myIIT portal. Please remember this is not an additional fee. It is a down payment that will go toward your first semester tuition bill. Additionally, deposit fees are refundable for international students who are unable to secure visas, and elect not to defer their admission.

Why do we have a deposit? A deposit lets your academic department plan accordingly to give you the best academic experience possible. Not only does it show your commitment to the university, but it allows the faculty to work more closely with you in preparation for classes.

You may do this online from the myIIT portal. Instructions on how to pay are below. Please be aware that the deposit is non-refundable.

myIIT Portal

1. Go to the myIIT Portal and enter your username and password. When you first log in, you will be prompted to change your password immediately.
2. Once your password has been changed, you should be in the myIIT portal. Click on the grid icon, located at the top right corner of your screen, to view the dropdown menu. Then click on the Manage My Account icon.
   
3. Proceed to Submit Payment, below.

Submit Payment

1. In the Student Account Home page, click on the eDeposits link located at the top of the page.
   
2. Under Make Deposit Payment for Term, select your entry term for enrollment and click Select.
3. Under Make a Deposit Payment, select Graduate Deposit from the drop-down menu and click Select.
4. Confirm the deposit details then click on the Continue button.
5. Select your payment method (electronic check [checking/savings] or credit card) and submit the requested information.

If you did not submit your financial support documents prior to admission, please submit them as soon as possible. We can create your I-20 only after your valid documents have been received and approved by this office. Please allow at least two weeks from the date we receive your documents for processing. Read complete details on the pdf files:

General Illinois Tech Financial Affidavit of Support 2023-24 (All master’s programs)

Go here to learn more about obtaining a U.S. Visa from the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs

On the day that we mail your I-20, we will send you an email that provides your SEVIS number and tracking number. Use your SEVIS number to secure your visa appointment as early as possible.

Go here to learn more about obtaining a U.S. Visa from the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs

Current visa wait time information is available at the United States Department of State website. The United States Department of Homeland Security requires a one-time SEVIS fee for all F-1 and J-1 visa applicants. Learn more about detailed payment instructions and answers to frequently asked questions at fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.jsp.

THE VISA INTERVIEW
To assist you in the preparation, we would like to offer you helpful tips for the process based on input from NAFSA Association of International Educators, the United States Department of State, and Illinois Tech faculty. You may also find detailed information at the following websites: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study.html and https://educationusa.state.gov/

To schedule your interview, you will need the following information:
Full college name: Illinois Institute of Technology
College address: 3300 South Federal Street, Chicago, IL 60616
College code: CHI214F00379000

12 POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. Ties to your home country: Under United States law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not.
2. English: Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language.
3. Speak for yourself: Do not bring parents, family members, or friends with you to the interview.
4. Know the program and how it fits your career plans: Be prepared to articulate the reasons why you will study in a particular program and your selected institution in the United States. You should also be able to explain how studying at Illinois Tech relates to your future professional career when you return home.
5. If you are pursuing a professional master's degree or a non-thesis master of science degree, you should be prepared to explain that your assigned adviser is an academic adviser only, and that the degree is coursework only and will not include a research component.
6. If you are pursuing a master of science degree with thesis or a Ph.D. and you are NOT entering as a research assistant, you should be prepared to explain that your assigned adviser is an initial academic adviser and that research topics for a thesis and a research adviser are selected after successful completion of at least one semester of coursework and possibly after a qualifying examination (depending on the program). If you are asked about potential research topics, you should be prepared with information about the research currently being done by faculty members in your department since these are going to be your choices for research topics at Illinois Tech.
7. If you are pursuing a Ph.D. degree and you are entering as a research assistant, your assigned adviser IS your research adviser, and you should be prepared to discuss the projects that your adviser has indicated you will be working on. In this case, you should come prepared to present a copy of your research adviser’s biography, which some embassies request. You can find adviser and faculty biographies at Lewis College of Science or Armour College of Engineering.
8. Be brief: Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. Keep in mind that you will have 2–3 minutes of interview time. Bring additional documents as described above but only present them if requested.
9. Additional documentation: It should be clear to the consular officer what documents you are presenting and what they signify. Not all countries are equal: Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas.
10. Employment: Your main purpose in coming to the United States is to study and complete your degree, not for the chance to work before or after graduation.
11. Dependents remaining at home: If you have a spouse or children and they are remaining in your home country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence.
12. Maintain a positive attitude: Do not engage the consular officer in an argument.
     

Note: visa denials or delays—If your visa is denied or issuance is delayed due to additional administrative processing, and you need a letter of support from Illinois Tech, please direct your written request to your graduate admission specialist.

If your F-1 student admission eligibility is unable to be determined by United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB), you will have 30 days to mail original documents, including the Form I-94, to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You can avoid 30-day admission by carrying proper valid documents upon entering the U.S. These include: (1) passport, (2) I-20, and (3) F-1 visa.

CBP determines your F-1 student admission eligibility based upon the issuance of your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status), your passport, and your F-1 visa. A CBP officer who is unable to verify admission eligibility will issue a Form I-515A, or temporary entry into the United States. The Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, which CBP issues in conjunction with the Form I-515A, has a limited validity period of 30 days from the date of issuance. This means that you are admitted to the United States for only 30 days.

As indicated on the Form I-515A instructions, SEVP must receive original documents from you within the 30-day admission period. You must mail the documents, including the Form I-94, to SEVP at the address listed on the Form I-515A to meet the Form I-94 expiration deadline (30 days). This will allow you to avoid termination of the SEVIS record and the need to file with USCIS for reinstatement.

If SEVP does not receive the required documentation by the Form I-94 expiration date, your SEVIS record status will terminate on the next day. After termination, the only options are to (1) leave the United States or (2) file for reinstatement to F-1 status. Reinstatement costs $290 and takes from two and a half to four months for approval. While pending reinstatement you may not work on or off campus and may not accept tuition and stipend payments for research, teaching, or graduate assistantships.

To avoid I-515A 30-day admission, you are advised to carry proper valid documents with you upon entry to the United States. This includes the following:

1. Passport
2. I-20 (Returning students must also have a valid travel signature on the third page. New students do not need a travel signature.)
3. F-1 visa
   
   Upon proper admission in F-1 status, the I-94 will indicate D/S, Duration of Status. This means that you may remain in the United States as long as your I-20 and SEVIS record are valid.

New Illinois Tech students receive a unique identifier (UID), which is also your Illinois Tech email username and login for the university's networking and computing services. Your university-designated student email account will be the official means of communication between you and the university. You will receive instructions via email for locating your UID and logging into the myIIT student portal. Learn more on the Office of Technology Services website.

Note: Newly admitted international students will receive a UID only after submitting financial documentation.

Illinois Tech's Office of Global Services assists international students as they prepare to begin graduate studies at the university. For complete information about international student pre-arrival procedures, arrival in the United States, transportation to campus, and check-in requirements, please visit the Office of Global Services or contact the office directly at global@iit.edu or 312.567.3680.

All international students must check in within two business days upon arrival to Illinois Tech. Please bring your I-20/DS-2019 form, I-94 card, and passport with you to be processed by Office of Global Services staff. This check-in process allows us to remove a special hold from your record that otherwise will prevent you from registering for courses.

International students must arrive on campus no later than the start date listed on their I-20. Only under special circumstances (difficulties in obtaining a visa, unavailability of plane tickets, or family emergency) may students be allowed to arrive after this date. In such cases, students must request permission for late arrival and obtain an approval letter.

Please request approval for late arrival by contacting your admission specialist directly. Your emailed request, with subject line "Late Arrival Request," must include your full name, Illinois Tech applicant ID number, and the reason for your delayed arrival. If possible, also include the date, city, and country of any visa appointment you have attended or will attend.

All international students on F-1 or J-1 visas are required to purchase Illinois Tech's student health insurance policy. Spouses of students and/or minor children can purchase insurance, if desired. For more information, visit the Student Health and Wellness Center or contact the office directly at student.health@iit.edu or 312.567.7550.

Students are required to submit proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases to the Student Health and Wellness Center. Individuals who are not properly immunized or who do not have proof of immunization may receive the required immunizations at the Student Health Center for a nominal fee. For more information, visit Student Health and Wellness Center or contact the office directly at student.health@iit.edu or 312.567.7550.

If you are required to take the PESL assessment, this will be indicated on your official admission letter. For most Illinois Tech programs, any section subscore that falls within the minimum indicated will determine which Proficiency of English as a Second Language (PESL) Assessment Exam you will be required to take. Scores higher than the total minimum indicated will be exempt from the assessment exam unless required by the academic department as a condition of your admission. 

Resubmission of new English test scores or a certificate/transcript from an English language program is not permissible. Assessment exams are offered during the week before classes start. To register for the assessment exam, visit the PESL assessment page.

Any applicant whose undergraduate degree was earned at an institution where the primary language of instruction is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English (PTE), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores.

TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, and DET scores are considered valid for two years from the testing date. If your scores are more than two years old at the time your application is reviewed, new scores will be required.

We require that official TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or DET scores be sent directly to Illinois Tech by the testing service. Please request that your scores be sent to institution code 1318; no department code is required.

Minimum Score Requirements and English Courses

In the chart below, Column A contains the minimum scores by test type required for admission consideration. The most current scores at the time of the admission review process are used for an admission decision. Illinois Tech does NOT consider new English language test scores after an admission decision has been made.

By accepting admission to the university, a student is agreeing to take any additional English courses that Illinois Institute of Technology deems necessary. Academic departments always reserve the right to require an English language assessment for any applicant.

English Language Proficiency Test Requirements

*Students who are submitting the Duolingo English Test (DET) will be required to take an English Language Assessment on campus. If supplemental English is recommended, students would be encouraged to complete courses with English Language Services.  

As an example, a student who submits an Internet-based TOEFL:

• (Column A): With a minimum total score of 70 is required to be considered for admission to Illinois Tech that, if admitted, will require a student to take an English language assessment exam upon arrival to Illinois Tech.
• (Column B): And the student has a total score of 90 or above, they will NOT be required to take an English assessment exam in any section even if they receive less than 20 subscore (Column D) in any section.
• (Column C): And the total score is 70 to 89, but all subscores (Column D) are 20 or greater, students will NOT be required to take an assessment exam or courses.
• (Column D): And any subsection score is less than 20, students will be required to take an assessment exam in that individual section (unless their total score is Column B); the four subsections include: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

English assessment exams are all free of charge. Please note that PESL courses do not count toward your grade-point average or your degree at Illinois Tech; however, each course is three credits and counts toward your full-time status—the minimum of which is nine credits for graduate students. If your test results show that you must register for PESL courses, each course is an additional cost. 

Read and learn more about the English Language Assessments (PESL).

Score Report Submission

Please allow two to four weeks from the date of your test for delivery and processing of your scores. Your application status will be updated when we receive them. Your scores will automatically match to your applicant file only if your name is spelled the same way on your TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or DET registration as on your Illinois Tech application (which should also match your passport). If your name is written differently on your TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or DET registration, or if you believe we should have received your test score, please notify us at grad.admission@iit.edu. Your email should include your Illinois Tech applicant ID number, TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or DET registration number, testing date, and your first and last name as they appear on your TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or DET registration.

Waiver

During the admission process, Illinois Tech waives TOEFL or IELTS requirements if:

• Your first or native language is English
• You have received a degree from an English-speaking institution and have attended that school for at least two years
• Your school’s official medium of instruction is in English, per your transcripts

Waiving the TOEFL, PTE, ELTS, or DET requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis for applicants who do not hold undergraduate degrees from English-speaking institutions but who have lived, worked, or studied in the United States for a substantial period of time. Your admission specialist in the Office of Graduate Admission will make this determination with your academic department upon review of your application file.

If you believe you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver but it has not been waived, please request a waiver after you have uploaded all application documents. If you see “waived” in the Applicant Portal but have not personally requested a waiver, it is because you qualify for an automatic waiver; this includes but is not limited to all Indian applicants.

Complete information about orientation activities will be posted on the Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration (SOAR) website near the beginning of the semester. Questions about orientation should be directed to soar@iit.edu.

International students are not permitted to register for courses until you have arrived on campus and have checked in at the Office of Global Services. Once you have checked in, the registration hold will be removed and you will be eligible to register for courses.

All graduate students are encouraged to consult with a faculty adviser prior to registration. Some academic departments require advising before students are permitted to register, so be sure to check with your department before getting started. Your assigned academic adviser, whose name appears at the bottom of your official admission letter, can give you a unique "Alternate PIN" number, which you will need in order to register through the myIIT student portal.

For additional assistance with registration, visit the Office of the Registrar website or contact your academic department.

The Graduate Bulletin contains complete program and course descriptions. Course listings for upcoming semesters are posted on the course schedule search web page as they are finalized.

Tuition is due on the first day of classes each term. To learn more about tuition and fee rates, payment methods, and payment plans, visit the Student Accounting Office website or contact that office directly at sa@iit.edu or 312.567.3794.

The Graduate Bulletin outlines important academic policies for graduate students.

Your admission to Illinois Tech was contingent on your completion of a bachelor’s degree. 

Upon enrollment at Illinois Tech, you must present, either electronically or physically:

• All original, final transcript(s) and/or individual mark sheets from your bachelor's institution
• All diploma(s) and/or degree(s) with an official English translation, if necessary
  
  You have two options for submitting these documents; please select only one option:
• Upload these document via your Application Tracker in the final documents section (spring 2016 and later admits) in the Final Transcripts Required section.
• You may bring physical copies of your documents to the Graduate Admissions office in Perlstein Hall, where staff will scan and retain an electronic version of these documents for evaluation.
  
  You will retain a "Final Docs" hold on your student account until these documents are submitted. This hold will not prevent your class registration, but will restrict your ability to obtain your Illinois Tech transcripts.
  
  Final documents should be submitted as soon as they are available to you, but must be submitted before you apply for graduation. Failure to provide the required documents will result in a hold of your Illinois Tech graduation diploma, your academic transcripts, and possible further action by Graduate Academic Affairs.

You must present the original academic transcripts and graduation and degree certificates with the stamp or seal of the university on each page. Transcripts must be submitted in the original language and in English. Translations must come from the institution or from a professional translation service.

If requested, all documents must be verified by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). These verifications should not be submitted by post. You must present your application and file numbers for all verified documents when your original documents are submitted to our office. We will then verify this information online.

You must present all original mark sheets for all terms and the original degree diploma for all degrees. Please note that attested copies will not be accepted.

If you have received a three-year degree, or are part of a sandwich program, you must present any and all mark sheets from your pre-diploma courses or master's degree. All mark sheets must contain all marks for all attempts at each examination. Any failures MUST be shown; consolidated transcripts cannot be accepted. If the statements of marks include abbreviated paper titles, or numbered papers without titles, please provide complete course titles.

NOTE: Exceptions for consolidated transcripts are for any IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) institution and Anna University.

You must present original, official transcripts and degree certificates in Farsi, stamped and signed by the issuing institution and accompanied by word-for-word English translations. If your original transcripts are issued by the institution in English, a corresponding Farsi version is not required.

NOTE: Translations must be made by a professional translator but may be stamped by the Ministry of Education. For English translation services we recommend consulting http://www.atanet.org. 

You must present all original mark sheets for all terms and the original degree diploma for all degrees. Please note that attested copies will not be accepted.

If you have received a three-year degree, or are part of a sandwich program, you must present any and all mark sheets from your pre-diploma courses or master's degree. All mark sheets must contain all marks for all attempts at each examination. Any failures MUST be shown; consolidated transcripts cannot be accepted. If the statements of marks include abbreviated paper titles, or numbered papers without titles, please provide complete course titles.

You must have your academic transcripts sent directly to our office by your institution. Please use the following mailing address:

Office Of Graduate Admission
10 West 33rd Street, Room 203
Chicago, IL 60616, USA

You must present official, original transcripts and degree certificates issued by your institution. If the transcripts are in the original language (non-English), please include a professional English translation.