International Students wishing to attend Governors State University must first complete an online application. The application process will require all of the documentation that domestic applicants must submit, based on their program, in addition to the following materials below.
Additional information about university admission policies can be found below.
To apply to an undergraduate degree program, freshman students have earned fewer than 24 college credit hours. Transfer students must have earned more than 24 college credits.
To apply to a graduate degree program, all applicants must have earned, or will earn a bachelor's degree, from a regionally accredited college or university, by the term they wish to enroll in.
Applicants must have been in good standing at the last institution attended.
Applicants applying for a graduate program must satisfy the requirements for their specific major, which may include college-wide and/or major-specific criteria.
All applicants must submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to the Office of Admissions.
Transcripts can be sent to apotranscripts@govst.edu or the Admissions Office.
Refer to your degree program requirements if any additional test scores are needed to complete your application.
GMAT/GRE: When applicable use the school code 1263.
If you have completed course work outside of the United States, a course-by-course credential evaluation by a NACES member will be required. Visit www.naces.org/members.html to search for an evaluation service provider.
International applicants must submit a Financial Statement Covering the Estimated Expenses for your Program [F-1 & J-1 students only]
Applying to Governors State University as an international student starts with an online application and an application fee. You'll need to send in all of your official transcripts, and meet the minimum program requirements.
Start your application below.
The academic catalog is your source for specific admission requirements and degree requirements for the program to which you are applying. Please be sure to check the catalog for details.
For your convenience, you can complete an Undergraduate, Transfer, or Graduate applications online. Applicants applying to certain graduate programs must complete a separate application process and may have a different application fee.
Many programs require the submission of supplemental materials. The academic catalog should be consulted for your program of interest.
The application process for some programs varies from the normal admission process. If you are applying to one of these programs, please follow the admission procedures included in the program's supplemental admission materials. Please follow the instructions/guidelines outlined for the program you are interested in.
Unless your program's supplemental application materials indicate otherwise, please send all materials to:
Governors State University - Admission Processing
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
Be sure to check the academic catalog for application deadlines. Some program deadlines differ. Check your program’s supplemental admission material for program-specific application deadlines.
Undergraduate applicants: Please allow two weeks for evaluation and processing after the application and transcript(s) have been received. Some programs have application deadlines. If your program has an application deadline, the evaluation process may take longer than two weeks. You will be notified once a decision has been made.
Master's degree: Applicants please allow two to four weeks for evaluation and processing after receiving the application, transcript(s), and supplemental materials. Some programs have application deadlines. All application materials must be in by the deadline or your application will not be reviewed. If your program has an application deadline, the evaluation process may take longer than two weeks. You will be notified once a decision has been made.
Doctoral degree: Applicants please allow two to four weeks for evaluation and processing after receiving the application, transcript(s), and supplemental materials. Some programs have application deadlines. All application materials must be in by the deadline or your application will not be reviewed. If your program has an application deadline, the evaluation process may take longer than two weeks. You will be notified once a decision has been made.
Fall 2026 - July 1
Spring 2027 - December 1
Submit your application with the application fee to avoid any processing delays:
Please note that certain degree programs may have additional fees.
Online
Submit electronic official transcripts or submit a credential evaluation to: apotranscripts@govst.edu
Physical Documents
Send hard copies of official transcriptions or submit a credential evaluation to:
Governors State University - Admission Processing
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
If you have completed your baccalaureate studies in a country other than the U.S., you are required to submit official transcripts and an evaluation from the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc..
Early application is essential for review of documentation and entry visa processing by the Office of International Services. Applicants must possess an acceptable bachelor's degree based on four or more years after grade 12, or the equivalent, from an accredited and approved institution of higher learning.
Upon acceptance additional documents will be required to obtain your I20. Click here to learn more.
After your application has been processed, you will receive a letter from the Office of Admissions with your admission decision.
Governors State University's Intensive ESL Program is designed to serve the needs of international and domestic students that have an interest in improving their English language skills to further their academic success. The curriculum is designed and taught by professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.
The Intensive ESL Program offers English as a Second Language for those interested in improving their English Language skills for academic purposes. Course offerings include: Listening and Speaking, Reading and Vocabulary, Writing and Grammar, Multimodal Composing, Pronunciation, Cross Cultural Contexts and TOEFL test preparation. We offer beginning to advanced levels, and students can begin the courses in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters.
Applicants must have a qualifying test score or Completion of the 112 level through ELS Education Services Inc.'s Language Centers.)
Only if your previous degree was from an institution where English is not the foundational language.
● Undergraduate Students: minimum 19 reading, 16 writing, 18 listening, and 15 speaking
● Graduate Students: minimum 20 in each category with at least an overall 80
● Overall 6.0 (all degree levels)
● Undergraduate Students: minimum 51 reading, 43 writing, 48 listening, and 40 Speaking
● Graduate Students: minimum 53 in each section
If you are currently a student at one of our International University Partners, you qualify for a discounted tuition rate at Governors State University. Please contact the International Office at your institution to start the process of continuing your studies at GovState.
Mount Royal University
Beijing Wuzi University
Dalian University
Guangdong Pharmaceutical University (GDPU)
Hangzhou Normal University (HNU)
South China Normal University (SCNU)
Wuyi University
Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College
Zhejiang Financial College (ZFC)
Zhejiang Gongshang University (ZJGU)
Zhejiang Univ. of Water Resources & Electric Power
Manipal University
Sakarya University
Suleyman Sah
The Office of International Services is the central point of contact for all International Students and Faculty, and all Study Abroad participants.
The Honors College curriculum provides high achieving students with challenging, experiential learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.
