TSU International Admissions – Apply & Study in the U.

International Admissions at TSU

TSU International Admissions – Student Requirements

Texas Southern University welcomes students from around the world, offering comprehensive international admissions support. Explore application requirements, visa assistance, and academic programs designed to help you thrive in a diverse, inclusive environment.

For new or high school students who have completed 12 years of schooling, prepare the required documents listed below. Applications will only be processed upon receipt of ALL required documents.

Table
Items	Details
Admission Application	Submit Online Application.
Application Fee	Click here for credit card payment ( Pay Application fee online ), or mail $78.00 U.S. Currency money order or check to: International Student Affairs Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Houston, TX 77004
Complete official records	Slips/certificates/transcripts High School Transcripts
English Language Proficiency, if required	TOEFL: 500 paper-based / 173 Computer-based / 61 for internet base test or better IELTS : 5.0
Official SAT or ACT test results (freshmen only)	SAT score of 900 (Critical Reading and Math combined) or ACT 17 (Composite)
Affidavit of financial support	Downloaded and Completed international-certification-financial along with Bank Certificate/Bank Statement/Financial Guarantee - Estimated amount must indicate $48,568 or more on financial form

WITHIN U.S.	OUTSIDE U.S.
Admission Application	Submit Online Application.
Requirements	At least 15 semester hours of college-level credits and a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Application Fee	Click here for credit card payment ( Pay Application fee online ), or mail $78.00 U.S. Currency money order or check to: International Student Affairs Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Houston, TX 77004
Passport	Copy of the passport showing applicant information and US visa page	Copy of the passport showing applicant information and US visa page
I-20 Form	Copy of valid I-20 form from current college/university attending	N/A
I-94 Card	Copy of the current I-94 arrival/departure record	N/A
Transcript(s)	Official transcript(s) of current and all previously attended college/university sent directly to TSU	All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an outside agency with a course-by-course evaluation and grade point average calculation. Please refer to the list of TSU’s Approved Evaluation Services below;
Foreign Student Advisor’s Report	Foreign Student Advisor’s Transfer Report Form completed at the current college from which student is transferring	N/A
English Language Proficiency, if required	TOEFL: 500 paper-based / 173 Computer-based / 61 for internet base test or better IELTS : 5.0	TOEFL : 500 paper-based / 173 Computer-based / 61 for internet base test or better IELTS : 5.0
Affidavit of financial support	Downloaded and Completed international-certification-financial along with Bank Certificate/Bank Statement/Financial Guarantee - Estimated amount must indicate $48,568 or more on financial form.

To Apply as a Graduate Student, Click here and follow the FAQ Instructions

Guidance for International Applicants

Translating Official Documents into English

Texas Southern University welcomes applications from international students. To ensure a complete and timely review of your application, all official documents not originally in English must be translated into English by a certified translator in accordance with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) standards.

1. What Must Be Translated?

All non-English official academic and legal documents submitted as part of your application must be translated, including but not limited to:

Academic transcripts and diplomas

Secondary school leaving certificates

Proof of graduation

Birth certificates (if requested)

Financial documents (bank statements, affidavits of support)

2. Are there requirements regarding translated documents?

Yes, there are USCIS-compliant translation requirements. Translations must meet the following USCIS standards:

1. All information must be translated in full (complete) and without omissions. The information must also be accurate.

2. Each translation must be accompanied by a signed statement from the translator certifying that: 1) the translation is accurate, and 2) the translator is competent to translate from the original language into English.

3. Are there TSU approved translation services?

Texas Southern University does not endorse a specific provider; however, the following USCIS-recognized translation services are widely accepted and meet federal standards:

ATA-Certified Translators (American Translators Association) https://www.atanet.org Use their directory to locate certified translators by language and location.

Day Translations https://www.daytranslations.com

TransPerfect https://www.transperfect.com

GTS Translation Services https://www.gts-translation.com

Rapid Translate https://www.rapidtranslate.org

Students must ensure that all documents translated through these services include a signed certification letter.

4. How do you submit translated documents?

Upload both the original language version and the certified English translation to your online TSU application portal or send via email to. int_adm@tsu.edu.

If mailed, submit both versions in hard copy to:

Texas Southern University Office of International Admissions 3100 Cleburne Street Houston, TX 77004 USA

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Submitting only the translation without the original document

2. Using machine or automatic translation (e.g., Google Translate)

3. Failing to include a signed certification of accuracy

4. Incomplete or partially translated documents

Approved Evaluation Services

The Evaluation Company – https://evalcompany.com/, TEC is our one of our NACES recommended international transcript evaluation services. They have created a custom application for TSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate.
Foreign Credentials Services of America – https://www.foreigncredentials.org
Global Credential Evaluators, Inc – http://gceus.com/
SDR Educational Consultants – http://sdreducational.org/
World Education Services – http://www.wes.org

Application Deadlines

All international applicants must submit to the Office of International Affairs complete official records (such as transcripts, mark sheets, and certificates) of all academic work. These records should include all courses taken in high school and every college or university the applicant has attended. A statement of degree is required for each degree an applicant has completed. Transcripts submitted after enrollment of classes will not be accepted. In addition to the original records, each document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Unofficial photocopies or other duplications will not be accepted.

Table
New Student	Transfer Admission
Fall – May 31st	Fall – June 15th (Currently in US)
Spring – October 31st	Spring – December 14th (Currently in US)
Summer I – March 31st	Summer I – May 15th (Currently in US)
Summer II – April 30th	Summer II – June 22nd (Currently in US)

Test Exemption

Students are exempt from SAT/ACT requirement if there are:

transferring with at least 15 transferable hours with a GPA 2.0

Students are exempt from the TOEFL requirement if there are:

Have graduated from a U.S. accredited high school or English is the native language.
Are transferring or hold a degree from an U.S. accredited university or college.
Speak English as their native language. This exemption refers to students from Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, the British Isles, England, New Zealand, English-speaking Canadian provinces, the Fiji Islands, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, the Virgin Islands, the West Indies, Trinidad, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Holland, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

Required Immunization

Effective January 1, 2012, ALL STUDENTS, UNDER THE AGE OF 22, entering the university must provide evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis within the last five years or a signed affidavit declining the vaccination at least 10 days prior to the start of classes for any given semester. FAILURE TO DO SO REQUIRES TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW A STUDENT FROM COURSEWORK.

Insurance

International students are automatically enrolled and charged for the University sponsored student health insurance plan.

If you are covered by another insurance plan that is comparable to the International Health Insurance Plan, you may go to www.gallgherstudent.com/TSU to submit a Waiver form.

Please note the deadline to submit a waiver is the 12th class day for fall and spring semesters. Submitting a waiver does not guarantee it will be approved, and students are required to submit a waiver for each semester. Check the link below for detail information including Waivers, Brochure and Claim Forms.

https://go.gallagherstudent.com/Universities/Texas%20Southern%20University/Home

If you have questions about your insurance plan contact Enterprises Risk Management at 713-313-6815.

Full Time Student

To maintain your status, each spring and fall semester, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students must complete 12 hours and graduate students 9 hours at the graduate level. Note: Some degree programs may require more hours for academic reasons. Check with your department. Towards your full-time requirement, you may not take more than the equivalent of one class (three credit hours)per semester online. You are required to complete 12 hours for 2 summer session(s) or 6 hours if only for the second summer if the program start date on your I-20 is for the summer semester. You must receive the authorization before you drop or take below full-time hours. Please make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor BEFORE taking below full-time hours even if you are failing the class. A grade of “W” does not count toward your full-time requirement. Students must also abide by the Online class restriction rule each semester.

Online Class

An online class is a class that does not require a student’s physical attendance for classes, exams or other purposes integral to completion of the class. Even though these classes are offered, there are regulations and strict limits to the amount of online an F must follow:

F-1 international students can only count ONE online class toward their minimum number of credits as their full-time enrollment during their normal semesters.
If you only need one course to complete your program of study, the course cannot be online or distance learning.

Exemption for TOEFL

*Students are exempt from the TOEFL requirement if they:

Have graduated from a U.S. accredited high school.
Are transferring or hold a degree from a U.S. accredited university or college.
Successfully completed an English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
Speak English as their native language. This exemption refers to students from Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, the British Isles, England, New Zealand, English-speaking Canadian provinces, the Fiji Islands, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, the Virgin Islands, the West Indies, Trinidad, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Holland, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.