INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – REQUIREMENTS & INFO

 

Applicants with non-U.S. educational credentials are welcome at Viridis Graduate Institute.

As a distance education provider, international students do not need to travel to the United States to attend our programs, therefore, we do not provide Visa Services.

Students are expected to be proficient in the oral and written use of the English language. International students are subject to the same admission requirements, fees, and responsibilities as domestic students. International students are reminded that Viridis Graduate Institute only provides course materials and instruction in English.

English Language Requirement

Students are expected to be proficient in the oral and written use of the English language. International students are subject to the same admission requirements, fees, and responsibilities as domestic students. Oral and written proficiency of the English language is presumed.

English Language Proficiency Assessment Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English through one of the following:

  • Master’s Degree: A minimum score of 60 on the paper-delivered Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT); 71 on the Internet Based Test (iBT); 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS); 50 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report; 100 on the Duolingo English Test; 55 on the 4-skill Michigan English Test (MET); 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE); or 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE);
  • Doctoral Degree: A minimum score of 65 on the paper-delivered Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT); 80 on the Internet Based Test (iBT); 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS); 58 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report; 105 on the Duolingo English Test; 55 on the 4-skill Michigan English Test (MET); 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE); or 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE);
  • A minimum score on the College Board Accuplacer ESL Exam Series as follows: 
ESP Language Use: Score of 85 
ESL Listening: Score of 80 
ESP Reading: Score of 85 
ESL Sentence Meaning: Score of 90 ESP Writeplacer: Score of 4 
Comprehensive Score for all exams of 350
  • A minimum grade of Pre-1 on the Eiken English Proficiency Exam;
  • A minimum B-2 English proficiency level identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) standards and assessed through various ESOL examinations, including the University of Cambridge;
  • A transcript indicating completion of at least 30 semester credit hours with an average grade of “B” or higher at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or accepted foreign equivalent that is listed in the International Handbook of Universities where the language of instruction was English.

    It is highly recommended that you apply and submit all required application materials as early as possible.

 

Foreign Credential Evaluation

 
Applicants with non-U.S. educational credentials must first obtain a foreign credentials evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), or another independent evaluation service that is a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and is approved by the university. A “General with Grade Average” evaluation will be required to document a degree earned. A “Course-by-Course” evaluation will be required for international applicants seeking to transfer graduate credit. Request forms and cost information are available on the ECE website (www.ece.org).
 
 

NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS AND CREDENTIALS EARNED AT VIRIDIS GRADUATE INSTITUTE

 
Viridis Graduate Institute does not accept transfer credits to either the Master of Arts or the Doctor of Arts programs. The transferability of credits you earn at Viridis Graduate Institute is at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the (degree, diploma, or certificate) you earn at VGI is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer. If the (credits or degree, diploma, or certificate) that you earn at Viridis Graduate Institute are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your coursework at that institution. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer after attending Viridis Graduate Institute to determine if your (credits or degree, diploma, or certificate) will transfer.
 
Viridis Graduate Institute has not entered into an articulation or transfer agreement with any other college or university. Viridis Graduate Institute does not award credit for prior experiential learning, including assessment, due to the specialization of our programs.
 
For questions on admissions requirements or the distance education environment, email: VGI Registrar at vgi.registrar@viridis.edu or call (011) 1-805-889-0169.
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