Admission Requirements for International First-Year Students

Students applying for direct admission must complete and submit an application on Common App. To begin, create a commonapp.org account, select the University of Cincinnati to apply for bachelor programs on main campus, and enter in your information. Required materials as listed below must be sent to the University of Cincinnati.

Need extra support with English? Improve your English your 1st year while taking classes towards your degree. Learn more about our Accelerated College English (ACE) Program. 

Closed Programs

Each year, many of University of Cincinnati undergraduate programs receive a high number of applications for fall 2022. Due to space limitations, those programs will close to first-year students before the March 1 Rolling Admission Deadline. View closed undergraduate programs. 

Early Action gives applicants priority consideration to our more competitive programs. 

• Applications for Fall Semester 2022: December 1, 2021
  • The Early Action Deadline must be met to be considered for the University Honors Program.

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

• Applications for Summer Semester 2022: March 1, 2022
• Applications for Fall Semester 2022: March 1, 2022
• Applications for Spring Semester 2023: November 1, 2022

• The Common Application
• $100 non-refundable application fee
• Official School Transcripts
• Official SAT or ACT test scores*
• Letter of Recommendation (optional)

*No SAT or ACT. No problem! Complete the free, online Math Placement Test (MPT) and view English test requirements.

All first-year applicants are expected to complete college preparatory education curriculum, earning a graduation certificate or diploma that would enable you to apply to university in your home country. Examples include your High School Diploma, IB Diploma, General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Levels (A-Levels), General Secondary Education Certificate, Indian Standard XII Higher Secondary School Certificate, or West African Senior School Certificate.

First-year students applying to UC typically complete a curriculum comprised of the following subjects:

• Mathematics (4 years)
• Science, including Chemistry and/or Physics (3-4 years)
• Language/History/Social sciences and other electives (3-4 years)

What to send our office:

• Currently enrolled classes and grades (if possible)
• Previous 2-3 years of classes and grades (depending on country)
• A-Level or IB advanced credit (if enrolled or completed)
  
  Transcripts must be English. If not, each document must include certified English translation.

UC is aware that course curriculums vary by country, and we encourage students to take challenging courses offered in their schools. 

Transcript requirements by country and other curriculums. Link 

English proficiency is a requirement for all international students. This can be demonstrated by submitting a test score or meeting one of the four English exemptions. 

• SAT or ACT test 
• English test 
• There are 4 conditions for being exempt from taking a standardized test to demonstrate your English proficiency. 

Math proficiency is required for scholarship eligibility and admission for most colleges. This can be demonstrated by submitting test scores from one test.  

• SAT 
• ACT
• University of Cincinnati Math Placement Test (MPT)

The letter of recommendation is preferred but not a requirement to complete an undergraduate first-year application. A letter of recommendation is a document that highlights a student's character traits, classroom and academic strengths, and work ethic to aid them in their application process. The person that writes the recommendation should be a school guidance counselor, teacher, coach, or job/volunteer supervisor. Parents and other family members are not permitted to write a student's letter. 

To learn about the decision process and timeline, visit our information webpage.