College of Graduate and Continuing Studies

East Tennessee State University

Application Instructions

Deadlines, Requirements and answers to your questions.

image for General Admissions Requirements

General Admission Requirements

General Domestic Admissions Requirements
Individual program requirements are additional to the following:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Degrees from non-accredited institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis.
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for domestic students. (Some programs may require a higher GPA.)
- A completed application form.
- A personal essay of 150-300 words, detailing your interests in a graduate program at ETSU.
- A non-refundable application fee of $55.
- One unofficial transcript from every college or university where the applicant has taken courses.
General International Admissions Requirements
Individual program requirements are additional to the following:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  - European students with three-year Bologna bachelor's degrees and Indian students with three-year bachelor's degrees from Indian Universities ranked A (3.01 - 4.0) through the NAAC accreditation process will be considered to have equivalent four-year degrees. Degrees from non-accredited institutions or from institutions outside the U.S. will be evaluated on an individual basis.
- Applicants must meet one of the following GPA requirements:
  - 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  - 16 on a 20-point scale.
  - 80.0 from Chinese institutions.
  - 1st Class, 2nd Class Honors, or 1st and upper 2nd Division from Indian institutions.
  - Upper 2nd Class Honors on various British systems.
  - Other grading systems will be evaluated upon receipt of transcripts.
- A completed admissions application
  - Other grading systems will be evaluated upon receipt of official transcripts. Please note that the ETSU Graduate School provides this general GPA converter as a free service to convert specific grades to a 4.0 scale. Applicants whose transcripts come from a country with multiple grading systems may wish to pursue a more specific GPA converter (such as offered by WES).
- A personal essay of 150-300 words, detailing your interests in a graduate program at ETSU.
- Submit the non-refundable application fee of $65.00.
  - The application fee must be submitted before any further application materials can be sent to the graduate school.
- One unofficial transcript from every college or university where the applicant has taken courses including proof of all degrees received
  - If the records are not in English,certified translations that are attested by the awarding institution must be sent in addition to the official documents. Notarized copies and third-party attestations are not acceptable. Individual-year mark sheets from Indian institutions are required. Summary mark sheets are not accepted.
- Certification of English Proficiency:
  - Graduate students whose native language is not English must submit one of the following:
    
    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    
    Score of 79 (Internet-Based)
    
    Score of 550 (Paper-based)
    
    International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    
    Score of 6.5
    
    PTE Academic score of 53 or higher
    
    Duolingo score of 115 or higher
    
    Documentation showing the successful completion of the ELS Language Centers level 112 course.
    
    Proof of degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
    
    All international students who receive a tuition scholarship or graduate assistantship must sit for an oral English proficiency interview immediately upon their arrival at ETSU.
Additional Details
- An unofficial transcript from every college or university where you have previously taken courses, even if courses from one school appear as transfer courses on another.
  - An official transcript from every college or university must be submitted by the end of your first semester. Official transcripts must sent directly from the issuing institution. Do not request copies of official transcripts in advance. Instructions on how to submit official transcripts will be provided, if you are accepted into the program
- Official GRE or GMAT test score reports must be sent directly to us from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETSU’s institution code is 1198. Be sure to choose ETSU Graduate Institution.
- Up-to-date immunization shots
International Students:
- Insurance Coverage:
  - All international students are required to have acceptable insurance coverage against illness and accidents. The health and accident insurance must be maintained throughout the student's enrollment at ETSU.
- Qualified international students may be considered for graduate non-degree admission to ETSU only as
  - Visiting students during vacation/breaks from other collegiate institutions in the U.S.
  - Non-Degree students enrolled in ETSU courses offered outside the U.S.
  - Non-Degree students enrolled in appropriate ETSU campus classes. Students in category 3 who are on ETSU IAP-66s (J-1 status) must pursue programs of full-time study approved by ETSU Graduate School, International Programs and Services, and the appropriate academic division.
- Address to Send Documents to the Graduate School
  - For regular mail send all documents to the following address:
    
    ETSU Graduate School
    P.O. Box 70720
    Johnson City, TN 37614
  - For overnight packages sent via DHL, FedEx, and UPS:
    
    ETSU Central Receiving
    Attention: ETSU Graduate School
    325 Treasure Lane
    Johnson City, TN 37614
  - Documented evidence of financial resources sufficient to support the student during the period of enrollment must be sent to International Programs. For more information regarding the estimated cost of attending ETSU per calendar year click here (figures subject to change) or contact International Programs and Services.
A student must be admitted, submit financial documentation, and have his or her degree confirmed before the university can issue an I-20 or DS-2019 form needed to obtain a visa. The university will not enroll any student who has not been approved initially or for transfer by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to attend East Tennessee State University. International students accepted for graduate study will receive a letter of acceptance from the university. This letter and the SEVIS I-20 form furnished by the university must be presented to the consular officer of the United States to which the applicant applies for a student visa. ETSU will not accept visas issued for admission to other colleges or universities. International students admitted to graduate study are encouraged to arrive on campus two weeks prior to the beginning of classes and should contact International Programs and Services as soon as they arrive. It is the responsibility of a non-immigrant applicant to comply with current INS regulations in regard to collegiate enrollment. New INS regulations may prohibit the enrollment of an individual in B-1 or B-2 status. International Programs and Services administers the university's foreign student (F status) and visitor exchange (J status) programs. Other non-immigrant applicants may consult with this office.

Information contained on this page is not official and is subject to change. Consult the Graduate Catalog or your Graduate Program Coordinator for the most up-to-date information regarding ETSU Graduate School and departmental admission criteria. Individual program requirements can be found on the graduate programs page.

In all cases the final decision to admit or reject an applicant rests with the university through the Dean of the ETSU Graduate School.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I create a new account for my application?

If you have previously created an account, you will need to use your existing account. Please do not hesitate to contact our technical support at gradtech@etsu.edu if your account has been locked out. We will be happy to assist with resetting your password.

If you have not created an account, you will need to follow the step by step application instructions below to sign up and create an account.
Why are my recommenders not receiving the request email?

This typically occurs due to our automated emails being flagged as spam. Please have your recommenders check their spam/junk folders. If the emails are not there, you will need to enter a personal email (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) for them as our automated emails are being flagged and blocked at a University/Company level.
How do I check my application status?

You can check your application’s status by logging back into your account on our application portal and reviewing your application checklist. *Please Note that all items will NOT be checked off upon submission. Items will be checked off as they are reviewed. You will receive a email notification once an admission decision is available.
My account is locked out.

If you are receiving a message that your account is locked out. You will need to contact our technical support at gradtech@etsu.edu

*Note: You CANNOT change your password more than once in a 24-hour period.
How do I change my recommenders?

You can change your recommenders by logging back into your account and selecting your application. Select "Change Recommender" for the recommendation you wish to change. *Note: Recommender CANNOT be changed after the application deadline
How do I re-send request emails my recommenders?

You can re-send request emails to your recommenders by logging back into your account and selecting your application. Select "Send Reminder" for the recommender you wish to re-send a request email.
Forgotten your username?

Your username is the email address that you signed up with. If you cannot remember your username, contact our technical support at gradtech@etsu.edu with your first and last name.
How do I see what I am missing after submitting my application?

After submitting your application you will a have checklist on the application portal (where you filled out your application) that you can sign into and view what you are missing. *Please note that all items will NOT be checked off upon submission. Items will be checked off as they are reviewed.
How do I view my application decision?

You can view your application decision by logging back into your account on our application portal. Select "View Your Decision" to view the decision letter.
How do I reply to my offer?

You can reply to your offer by logging back into your account on our application portal. Select "View Your Decision" to review the decision letter then select "Reply to Offer".

Step by Step Application Instructions

Step 1

Step 1

Check your program's requirements to determine the documents you will need for your application. Be sure to also check your program's deadlines as all application materials should be received by the stated deadline
Step 2

Step 2

If you have previously created an account, you will need to use your existing account. Please do not hesitate to contact our technical support at gradtech@etsu.edu if your account has been locked out. We will be happy to assist with resetting your password. If you have not created an account, you will need to follow the instructions below to sign up and create an account.

On the Application Login page choose “Sign Up”
Step 3

Step 3

Fill out the form with your “First Name”, “Last Name”, and “Email Address"
Step 4

Step 4

You will receive an email with a link to set your password. Follow the link to create a new password. Passwords must use at least 8 characters.
Step 5

Step 5

After setting your password you will be taken to the home page. Select "START A NEW APPLICATION" from the left side of your home page.
Step 6

Step 6

Be sure to select "START APPLICATION" underneath Graduate and NOT Undergraduate.
Step 7

Step 7

Select if you are a Domestic or International student, the Program Level, Program Name, Concentration (if applicable), and the Term. Once completed, select "Start Application".
Step 8

Step 8

After that you can start a your application and fill out the requested fields.
Step 9

Step 9

Any requested documents, such as resume, unofficial transcripts, or CV, will need to be uploaded as PDFs.
Step 10

Step 10

Once all items have been completed, select the “Review your application” button.
Step 11

Step 11

Pay the non-refundable application fee. The application fee must be paid for the application to be submitted. To begin, select "Save & Pay"
Step 12

Step 12

Next, select "Pay Online" from the drop down menu and click "Pay Now". You will be re-routed to a Touchnet payment screen.
Step 13

Step 13

Complete payment information and select "Continue". Once Payment is complete, select "return to application".
Step 14

Step 14

Select "Submit Your Application" and you will be redirected to a verification screen.
Step 15

Step 15

Verify that all is true and correct. Once completed, select "Verify & Submit". A "Thank You for Submitting" screen with the option to "Return Home" will appear. Congratulations! Your application has been submitted.
Step 16

Step 16

After submitting your application you will a have checklist on the application portal (where you filled out your application) that you can sign into and view what you are missing. *Please note that all items will NOT be checked off upon submission. Items will be checked off as they are reviewed.
Step 17

Step 17

A green check mark will appear next to each item as they are received and reviewed. You will receive a email notification when an admission decision is available.