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Admission Requirements for International Freshman

Applications submitted for the University of Cincinnati’s Uptown (main) Campus are reviewed holistically, considering every item provided in the application file. Applications are read by admission counselors, who are trained to use application information—both academic and personal—to more fully understand who the applicant is, how likely they are to be academically successful in a main campus program, and what attributes the student will bring to our campus community. Consequently, there is not a “minimum” GPA or ACT/SAT test score, just as there is not guaranteed admission based on a student’s profile.

A student will be reviewed for admission once all of the following are received by the Office of International Admissions:

All first-year undergraduate applicants must apply online using The Common Application. The application includes:

We must receive official transcripts showing the current year’s subjects and the previous 3 years’ subjects. Transcripts should include a certified English translation, if needed. There are two options for submitting your transcripts, and you only need to choose to do one of them:

  • You can request that a high school official upload the transcripts via the Common Application, or
  • You can submit the official or notarized, sealed transcripts through the physical mail to:

International Admissions, University of Cincinnati
2618 McMicken Circle
PO Box 210123
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0123

English language requirements vary by academic college. You can find your academic college by searching for your program here.

Proof of English ability requirements by academic college
College ACT ELS IELTS PTE SAT TOEFL Duolingo
College of Arts & Sciences 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section 95
College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
College of Engineering & Applied Science (Engineering programs) 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum of 6.0 on speaking, minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 20 on speaking, minimum of 15 on each section -
College of Engineering and Applied Science (Engineering Technology programs) 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
Lindner College of Business 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum of 6.0 on speaking, minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning - Design & Architecture 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 20 on speaking, minimum of 15 on each section -
College of Medicine 20 English - - - 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing - -
College of Nursing 20 English - - - 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing - -
College of Allied Health Sciences 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
Blue Ash College 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section -
Clermont College 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section 95

Proof of English is not required if the student has one of the following:

  • You have taken a full year of high school in the U.S.A. and earned a passing grade in one year of Standard English (not ESL). This must be shown on your transcripts.
  • You have earned a passing score on the O Level Exam.
  • You have passed the first year of IB English (SL or HL) with a score of 5 or higher.
  • You are from or have attended a full year of school in a country in which has been deemed as English proficient.
  • You have taken the Cambridge Assessment English:
    • Recommended exam: C1 Advanced (Cambridge English: Advanced)
      • 176 minimum – CEAS (Engineering program), DAAP, DAAP (Design & Architecture), LCB
    • Recommended exam: C1 Advanced (Cambridge English: Advanced)
      • 169 minimum – A&S, CECH, CAHS, CEAS (Technology programs), CCM, UC Clermont, UC Blue Ash 
    • Recommended exam: B2 First (Cambridge English: First)
      • 162 minimum – International Pathway 

Proof of Math is required for the UC Global Scholarship, full admission after receiving a Conditional Letter of Admission, or those exempt from the English Language Requirement and can be satisfied by the SAT, ACT, or UC Math Placement Test (MPT).

Math ability requirements vary by academic college. You can find your academic college by searching for your program here.

Testing requirements for proof of math ability 
College Required for Admission ACT SAT UC MPT IB/A-Levels Predicted Scores
College of Arts & Sciences Optional (required for scholarship review) X X X X
College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services Optional (required for scholarship review) X X X X
College of Engineering & Applied Science Required X X X X
Lindner College of Business Required
 X X X X
College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning Required
 X X X X
College of Medicine Required X X - -
College of Nursing Required X X - -
College of Allied Health Sciences Required X X X X
Blue Ash College Optional (required for scholarship review) X X X X
Clermont College Optional (required for scholarship review) X X X X

Deadlines

  • Fall Semester: Early Action Deadline December 1; Rolling Deadline March 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: March 1

Early Action is a non-binding plan that gives applicants priority consideration to our more competitive programs. Additionally, students need to apply by the Early Action deadline to be considered for Honors.

Rolling means that we accept applications on a space available basis.