Admission Requirements
Application Requirements
University graduate admission and program acceptance requirements must be met before an application is complete.
International students have a separate application procedure. Contact the Office of International Student Services at (626) 815-3055 or www.apu.edu/international/iss/.
A limited number of applicants who do not have baccalaureate degrees, but have extensive ministerial experience, may be considered for admission. For a description of the standards governing this exception, please contact the dean of the School of Theology. Students admitted under this exception must obtain a B or better in their first 12 units of coursework.
- $45 nonrefundable application fee
- Application for graduate admission from a regionally accredited college or university
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required; however, a limited number of students who do not have bachelor’s degrees but have extensive ministerial experience, maybe considered for admission. For a description of the standards governing these exceptions, please write to the dean of the School of Theology.
- A 3.0 baccalaureate or master’s grade-point average (GPA) [Applicants with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 maybe admitted with provisional standing.]
- Letter to the Dean: A 500-word written statement addressing ministerial and educational goals and your personal spiritual and leadership journey.
- Résumé or Statement of Experience
- Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicants baccalaureate study [To be considered official, a transcript must come directly from the Office of the Registrar of the school attended to the Graduate Center: Admissions, Azusa Pacific University. Students’ sealed copies will not be considered official.]
- Three letters of recommendation
After the information has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee, the candidate is notified of the committee's decision. An academic counseling appointment with C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology faculty is required prior to registration for classes.
International Graduate Admissions
Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. CIS and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively). To apply to be a graduate student at APU, please submit the following in addition to program specific requirements:
- Application for International Graduate Admission
- $65 nonrefundable application fee
- Affidavit of Financial Support (included in application form) and bank statement* proving ability to pay for educational costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources
- Certified English proficiency (See TOEFL Requirements.)
- Letters of recommendation
- Letter of intent (statement of educational and professional goals)
- Résumé
- Official transcripts sent directly from the previous school(s) attended to APU (Transcripts must be translated officially into English and include the degrees earned by the student. Both English and original language transcripts must be submitted.)
- One photo
*One year’s tuition may be required in advance prior to issuing the United States immigration document.
To be considered for graduate admission, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited, officially recognized university with a minimum grade-point average (GPA) equivalent of 3.0. Applicants with a GPA of 2.75-2.9 may be considered for provisional admission.
In addition, all international applicants are expected to read and comply with the policies listed in the Graduate Catalog.
International applicants must submit all application materials and direct all questions to:
International Center
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000 USA
(626) 812-3055
Fax: (626) 815-3801
Email: ies@apu.edu
www.apu.edu/international
Residency Requirement
To be considered in residence, a student must be enrolled in at least one Azusa Pacific University course. This includes any course taken online or at an APU regional center.
English Proficiency Requirements
All students graduating from non-English speaking institutions and applying for university graduate admission, with the exception of APU-approved bilingual programs, must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score sent by ETS. The university minimum required score for graduate study is 550 (213 for the computer-based test). The minimum required score may be higher for a specific graduate program. Please see the applicable program information for its minimum TOEFL score requirements.
An Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score can also be used as a verification of English proficiency. Please contact ISS for specific scoring requirements.
An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score can be used as a verification of English proficiency. For regular admission, a minimum score of seven (7) is required.
Applicants studying full time and earning 48 units (not including ESL units) in an English-speaking university immediately prior to applying to APU may be eligible to waive the TOEFL requirements. Verification of English as the language of instruction will be required.
In addition, students must enroll in TESL 500 English for International Students during their first term at APU regardless of TOEFL score. During the first class session, an opportunity will be given to demonstrate proficiency in English. If this is met, the student can waive the class.
A student's ability to speak English well and use clear pronunciation is an important part of a graduate education. It is assumed that a student's spoken English will be at a high enough level to communicate and participate competently in classes. If, while in classes, it is determined that the student's ability to communicate and participate in English is below the necessary standard, a teacher may refer him/her to the department chair who can require him/her to enroll in a noncredit program, at the student's expense. This program will be specifically designed to enable the student to raise his/her English communication ability.
American Language and Culture Institute
Applicants who are not able to take the TOEFL test may apply to APU's American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI). Upon arrival at the ALCI, English testing will be provided to determine the level of English proficiency. Students who pass all the English testing can proceed directly into the university at the next available starting date without studying in the ALCI (provided they have already been accepted to the graduate program at the university). When a student has been placed in or advanced to level six (6) of ALCI, they may take one graduate class concurrent with their intensive English studies.
