Graduate School

International Admission Overview

• Who is Eligible?

  Students should regularly monitor the embassy website for their home country for updates related to travel bans. A complete list of embassies is available on the embassies official website. 

  To be granted admission, applicants must hold the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. See Graduate School Policy A8.500 for international transcript evaluation requirements. Below are the most common evaluations we receive. 

  • SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (TEC) - This link provides a discount to UM Graduate applicants & students 
  • World Education Services (WES) 
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) 
• English Requirements

  Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English in order to be eligible for admission. See Graduate School Policy A8.100 for English proficiency requirements, including acceptable English proficiency tests and their required scores. 

  Some applicants may be exempt from providing English proficiency test scores. See Graduate School Policies A8.200 & A8.300 for information on exemptions, including a list of exempt countries. 

• Visa Requirements

  TIMELINE

  See Graduate School Policy A8.000 for international application completion timelines.  

  Your I-20 cannot be issued to you until you have been officially admitted to a campus-based program. I-20s cannot be issued for online-only programs, as it is assumed that you can complete this degree from your home country. 

  Visa processing times may vary by country, so please make sure you are aware of the average visa processing time in your home country and give yourself sufficient time. 

  REQUIRED NON-FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION

  A copy of your unexpired passport is required to issue your I-20. If you will be bringing along dependents as well, please provide their passport(s) and proof of relation (marriage, birth, or adoption certificate).

  COST OF ATTENDANCE

  The 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 estimated costs of attendance (9 to 11 credits) at The University of Montana for an academic term of 9 months are:

  UM Graduate

  estimated cost of attendance for an academic year and a single semester for graduate students

  	Academic Year	Single Semester (Spring or Fall)
  Tuition & Fees	$29,663	$14,910
  Living Expenses	$30,524	$15,262
  Total	$60,187	$30,172

   

  UM Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant Non-Resident

  estimated cost of attendance for an academic year and a single semester for graduate teaching and research assistants

  	Academic Year	Single Semester (Spring or Fall)
  Tuition & Fees	$9,413	$4,785
  Living Expenses	$30,524	$15,262
  Total Without Waiver	$39,937	$20,047
  Tuition Waiver (if applicable)	($5,904)	($2,952)
  Total With Waiver	$34,033	$17,095

  BANK STATEMENT

  See Graduate School Policy A8.400 for visa issuance requirements. 

  Before issuing a visa (I-20) form, the Graduate School must receive a certified statement from a bank or sponsoring agency indicating that at least $60,187 (U.S. currency) is available to meet the first-year cost of study. If applicants will be receiving a Teaching/Research Assistantship, the Graduate School must receive an official letter from the applicant's program with the specifications of their assistantship, including terms applicable, stipend amount, and if a tuition waiver will be in effect. If the assistantship funding package does not cover the full $39,937 (U.S. currency), applicants must supply a certified statement from a bank or sponsoring agency indicating ability to cover the remaining amount in order to meet the first-year cost of study. Applicants may be asked to put this sum on deposit with The University of Montana. Upon admission, an Admissions Coordinator will be in touch to assist with the visa process, and will be able to assist with any financial calculations applicable to the applicant's situation. 

  If applicants plan to bring dependents to the United States, add $3,000 to the financial statement for a spouse and for each child regardless of length of stay. All estimates of cost are subject to change by the Montana Board of Regents without prior notice. 

  TRANSFER STUDENTS

  If you are currently attending a college or university in the United States and have an F1 visa, you must submit a Transfer Clearance Form to your international student office. It must be completed by them and returned directly to The University of Montana Graduate School. Please do not complete this form unless you have already been admitted to one of our programs. A Certificate of Financial Responsibility, financial coverage, passport, and dependent documentation (if applicable) must still be provided.

  EDUCATION LEVEL CHANGE

  If you are currently attending the University of Montana on an F1 visa in another program, you must submit a Request to Change Education Level with our International Students & Scholars (ISS) office in order to update your program on your visa. During this process, you will be required to upload your acceptance letter, proof of financial support for one academic year, and a Certificate of Financial Responsibility. Please do not complete this form unless you have already been admitted to one of our programs.

  ASSISTANTSHIPS

  Many programs do not offer teaching assistantships to first-year students from non-English speaking countries. Occasionally particular programs grant research assistantships to international students. However, applicants should not apply for admission unless they and/or their sponsors are able to provide the cost of at least the first year of study.