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 to from the testing agency. We require official scores for an admission decision.

How to Send Your Scores

Use the information below to send your scores electronically.

TOEFL & GRE IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and GMAT

4875

Search "University of Colorado Denver"

Important Information

You must provide proof of English language proficiency (ELP) in order to be considered for full admission. Some graduate applicants may be considered for conditional admission if they apply without adequate proof of ELP. 

 

International Admissions will update the English language proficiency policy, effective for admission in the Spring 2021 term and forward.

 

You may meet the ELP requirement if you meet ANY of the options listed below. You are required to submit documentation to prove your fluency. 

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.

 Fall 2020 Spring 2021 
Australia  Antigua & Barbuda 
 Belize Australia 
Canada (except Quebec)   Barbados
 Ghana  Belize
 Ireland  Canada
 Kenya  Dominica
 New Zealand  Granada
 Singapore Guyana 
 South Africa Ireland 
 Zimbabwe  Jamaica
United Kingdom   New Zealand
   Saint Kitts & Nevis
   Saint Lucia
   Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
   Trinidad & Tobago
  United Kingdom

The Spring 2021 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 of the following options based on previous coursework completed.

Fall 2020 Spring 2021
The applicant has earned a bachelor degree in the United States 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 successfully completed 2+ semesters in a graduate degree program in the United States. 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
Application Term Fall
2020		 Spring
2021		 Fall
2020		 Spring
2021		 Fall
2020		 Spring
2021
Overall Score 75 79 6.5 6.5 51 58
Reading 15 18 5.5 5.5 44 42
Listening 15 17 5.5 5.5 44 42
Speaking 18 20 5.5 5.5 49 42
Writing 17 17 5.5 5.5 47 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 Fall 2020 and 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.