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ACADEMY ADMISSIONS
PRE-MASTER'S PROGRAM
Outstanding international students who want to pursue graduate studies at USC, but do not have TOEFL iBT/IELTS/PTE Academic/Cambridge English or GRE/GMAT scores required for direct admission to USC.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- High-intermediate English level
In order to qualify for admission, Pre-Master’s applicants must have earned a Bachelor’s degree that is recognized by their home country’s Ministry of Education and is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.
A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 U.S. grading scale is also required, though some master’s programs require a higher cumulative GPA.
To check if you are an academically viable candidate for admission, please carefully review the website of your master’s program of interest.
Students with a TOEFL iBT score of 61 or an IELTS score of 5.5 or PTE Academic score of 44 or Cambridge English score of 162 or above are welcome to apply. Your offer letter from USC International Academy will provide details about your Pre-Master’s study plan based on your required duration of study and degree program’s start date.
Each semester is 14-15 weeks long (approximately 4 months) and takes place in the fall, spring, and summer.
Summer Semester: May 1, 2025 – August 6, 2025
Fall Semester: September 4, 2025 – December 10, 2025
Spring Semester: January 6, 2026 – April 22, 2026
Summer 2025 Application Deadline:
Round 1: February 14, 2025
Round 2: March 7, 2025
Fall 2025 Application Deadline:
Round 1: June 13, 2025
Round 2: July 3, 2025
Spring 2026 Application Deadline:
Round 1: October 17, 2025
Round 2: October 31, 2025
Priority consideration will be given to students who apply by the Round 1 deadline. Students are advised to apply as early as possible.
To begin the process, please go to USC’s online application system and create an account. When applying, type International Academy in the search field and select the appropriate term.
- Official transcripts
- Financial Statement
- Copy of your passport page
- Copy of your TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE Academic or Cambridge English score
- Copy of your bachelor’s degree diploma (if you have already graduated)
- CV (if applicable)
- Statement of Purpose
The total application fee is $175 USD and is non-refundable. The fee is paid online when you submit your application.
All supporting documents should be uploaded to the Supporting Documents section of the online application system. If you are experiencing problems uploading documents, please email us for further instructions: info-international@usc.edu
You must submit academic transcripts from all colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions you have previously attended. If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree, submit transcripts showing completion of at least six semesters of coursework.
Official transcripts must show all courses and subjects taken and all grades (marks) received.
IMPORTANT: If the language of instruction at your institution was not English, then you must provide:
- Original-language copies of all transcripts and diplomas/academic certificates.
- A separate, word-for-word, English-language translation of all academic records you submit to us. The translation should either come directly from the school itself or a professional, certified translator. It must contain all information shown on the original-language documents and “mirror” them as precisely as possible. Dual-language transcripts are acceptable.
If admitted, please bring hard-copies of your official transcripts with you to USC International Academy. For more details on preparing for your arrival, please visit our Before You Arrive page.
The United States government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before a formal letter of admission or the forms needed for obtaining a visa can be issued.
Your financial statement must show a minimum available balance of:
- One semester(~4 months): $22,874 USD
- Two semesters (~8 months): $45,748 USD
- Three semesters (~12 months): $68,624 USD
This amount would be enough for all of your educational and living expenses.
One of the following is required for your financial statement:
- A current personal bank statement or letter from your bank
- A bank statement from your parent, guardian, employer or sponsor PLUS a current letter of support
- A scholarship letter from your government or sponsoring organization
Please note that the name on these documents must be written in English.
Please enter your TOEFL iBT/IELTS/PTE Academic or Cambridge English scores directly to the online application system. English-proficiency scores must be dated within 2 years (24 months) of the date you submit your graduate application. Your scores need to be officially reported to USC by the program application deadline.
The following test scores are accepted: TOEFL iBT Test, TOEFL iBT Test Home Edition, IELTS Academic, IELTS Indicator, PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online, Cambridge English.
Application processing takes on average 6-8 weeks after we receive your completed application. If your eligibility to the Pre-Master’s Program is approved, you will receive notification by email that includes an acceptance letter by USC International Academy. The letter includes some details about your study plan, including your start date options.
To secure your space in the Pre-Master’s Program, you must confirm your intent to enroll online and pay the $2500 tuition deposit within 30 days of receiving your admission decision. After you confirm your enrollment and pay the deposit, we will mail you a Welcome Packet that includes the Form I-20.
- Receive acceptance letter from USC International Academy
- Declare your intent to enroll by paying $2500 deposit
- Receive you admissions packet including the letter of admission, pre-arrival information and Form I-20 by e-mail