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International Graduate School Applicant Information

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Deadlines for International Students

Application deadlines vary by program, and some programs accept applicants only once a year. Check with your program on their particular deadlines. International students often have earlier deadlines in order to allow enough time to secure a visa.

Contact your program’s coordinator for more information.

English Language Proficiency Information

Apply in Time To Receive Your I-20 Visa

In addition to your program’s individual deadline, to ensure timely issuance of Certificates of Eligibility (the I-20 and DS-2019), international applicants should complete their Graduate School applications no later than April 15 for Fall semester enrollment, September 15 for Spring semester enrollment and February 1 for Summer enrollment.

I-20s will not be issued after the following dates:

  • November 15 for Spring Term
  • April 1 for Summer Term
  • July 1 or Fall Term
  • Once you are admitted and have provided all required documentation, allow two weeks for an I-20 to be issued.

Conditional Language Admission

Certain graduate programs at Clemson University can offer acceptance to international students who have limited English-speaking skills with the understanding that they must successfully complete an approved English as a Second Language (ESL) program to improve those skills before enrolling. This is called conditional language admission.

Approved ESL Programs

The following ESL programs and proficiency levels are approved:

  • Agape English Language Institute (AELI) — Greenville or Columbia, South Carolina — Level 6 proficiency
  • ELS Language Centers — any location — Level 112 proficiency

Other ESL programs may also meet the requirement if they follow all three of these criteria:

  1. Accreditation: regional accreditation, ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Teaching) or CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation)
  2. EnglishUSA membership
  3. Proficiency level equivalent to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) C1

Complete Your International Student Enrollment Next Steps

Satisfy any additional requirements

Additional requirements from your program may include taking the GRE or GMAT. If you are required to take a test, make sure you leave enough time to schedule and complete it and ask the testing service to send your score to Clemson University (school code 5111) in time to enroll in courses. These requirements will be specified in your conditional letter of admission.

Obtain ESL completion verification

After completing the ESL program, ask them to send an official transcript verifying that you completed the expected level of proficiency. They can send it by email to grdapp@clemson.edu or by mail:
Graduate Admissions
E-209 Martin Hall
Clemson, SC 29634

Graduate Programs Offering Conditional Language Admission

After we have verified that you have met all the requirements for conditional language admission, Graduate Admissions will issue you a new decision letter, which you can view in the application portal.

Obtain SEVIS record request for U.S. immigration status

Contact your ESL program and request for your SEVIS record to be transferred to Clemson. Your ESL program will advise you on the appropriate documentation (such as your fully admitted admission letter) that must be provided before transferring your record.

Obtain an I-20 immigration document from the Office of International Services

The Office of International Services will issue your I-20 document once your SEVIS record has been transferred and released to Clemson University and OIA has determined your eligibility. Questions regarding transferring SEVIS records to Clemson and I-20 issuance should be directed to the Office of International Services.