Before starting the application, be sure to have a copy of your transcript(s) (see documentation requirements below), all of your test score results, and a credit card if you plan to pay the application fee upon submission.

Application Deadlines

Graduate application deadlines vary by program. Please check with your program of interest for specifics.

How to Apply

1

Submit Online Application

Be sure to write down the email that you use for your application as well as your password. You can submit the application before you have provided your test scores and documents.

2

Pay Application Fee

After you submit your application, you will pay a non-refundable $75 application fee by credit card. If you have a fee waiver code, you can provide it before submitting your application.

1

Submit Post-Secondary School Transcripts

You must provide complete transcripts from all colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions you have attended – even if you did not graduate from the school.

Important Information

Unofficial and Official transcripts are required depending on the location of the school you attended. Please refer to the table below:

INSIDE the US OUTSIDE the US
OFFICIAL transcripts

OFFICIAL or UNOFFICIAL transcripts; however, we require OFFICIAL transcripts before the end of your first semester.

Translations Required

If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the transcript. CU Denver does not have a preferred translation provider; we recommend that you use an ATA member company.

External Evaluations 

You do NOT need to provide an external evaluation of your transcript. International Admissions will evaluate your transcript during the application process. You only need to provide a translation.

Post-secondary Education from India

Please note that for applicants who studied at a university college in India, we will require individual semester marksheets (including failed exams) issued by the affiliated university

Transfer Credit

If you are a transfer graduate student, coursework from other colleges and universities may be transferrable. A transfer credit evaluation will be performed once you are admitted to the university.

Where to Submit Documents

Upload your transcripts into your application or send them to the graduate admissions office of your program. View the address information page for more information.

2

Submit Test Scores

Some graduate programs require standardized test scores (such as GRE or GMAT) for admission. If your program requires a test score, you should send your score from the testing agency. We require official scores for an admission decision. Be sure to verify the requirement below with your program's school or college.

GRE/GMAT Requirements

School or College General Testing Requirement

Business School

GRE or GMAT required for all programs
College of Architecture & Planning GRE waiver available with 3.0 GPA
College of Arts & Media GRE required
College of Engineering, Design, and Computing GRE not required for most MS and MEng programs.

Spring 2021 only: the GRE requirement has been temporarily waived for all graduate programs in response to COVID-19.
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences GRE not required for many programs; check your specific program
School of Education & Human Development GRE not required for all programs
School of Public Affairs GRE not required, but recommended for GPA below 3.0

How to Send Your Scores

Use the information below to send your scores electronically.

TOEFL & GRE IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and GMAT

4875

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1

Citizenship Exemption

International applicants holding citizenship from the following countries do not need to prove their English language proficiency for admission to CU Denver:

  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Granada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • United Kingdom

This list is based on the United Kingdom government’s list of countries exempt from proving English ability when applying for a UK student visa.

2

Coursework Completion

International applicants may meet the English language proficiency requirement through any following options based on previous coursework.

  • The applicant has earned a bachelor's degree in the United States; or has earned a post-secondary qualification, comparable to a US bachelor degree, in one of the exempt countries listed above; or has earned such qualification at an institution accredited by an exempt country but located in a non-exempt country.
  • The applicant has completed 12 or more semester hours of coursework in a master or doctoral degree program in the United States with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher or has completed a comparable amount of graduate coursework with a comparable GPA in one of the exempt countries listed above, or has completed such coursework at an institution accredited by an exempt country but located in a non-exempt country.

3

CU Denver ESL Academy (Level 5) Graduation

International applicants may meet the English language proficiency requirement for any program of study at CU Denver by successfully completing every class in level 5 at CU Denver’s ESL Academy.

4

English Language Proficiency Tests

Minimum Score Requirements

Note: The university minimum scores listed below apply to most graduate programs, with the exception of programs in the College of Nursing. Check with your individual program to verify the minimum score required.

TOEFL iBT IELTS ACADEMIC PTE ACADEMIC
Overall Score 79 6.5 58
Reading 18 5.5 42
Listening 17 5.5 42
Speaking 20 5.5 42
Writing 17 5.5 42

 

DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST 160-point scale
(test dates after
July 15, 2019)		 100-point scale
(test dates before
 July 15, 2019)
Total Score 105 48

CU Denver will fully implement the Duolingo English Test for the Fall 2021 admission cycle. In Spring 2021, we are piloting the test for graduate admission. Some graduate programs require higher scores than the values above. The Duolingo English Test does not report sub-scores. International Admissions reserves the right to update our minimum requirements in the event that Duolingo starts reporting sub-scores. 

Depending on the program you are applying to, you will have additional requirements such as letters of recommendation, a resume, and a statement of purpose Click on the school pages below for admission requirements and deadlines specific to your preferred program.

After reviewing your file, International Admissions may determine that we require additional documents. In this case, you must provide all requested documents in order to complete your application.