Study in the US

Who Can Apply to US Universities

What students from India and Pakistan need to apply to a US university in 2026-27: the right degree, marks, an English test and, for some courses, the GRE (a test some courses ask for).

Example: eligibility check

Example: master's applicant

Degree

Verified

Example: a four-year bachelor's degree

English test

Verified

Example: IELTS 6.5

Example status

Conditional

This is an example. Each university checks your papers itself.

Key Points

The main things US universities check.

A recognised degree

For a master's, UT Dallas expects the same as a US four-year bachelor's degree from a recognised school.

Three-year degrees

UT Dallas considers three-year degree holders for master's courses, looking at the whole application. Other universities have their own rules.

Marks

UT Dallas expects an overall GPA (grade point average, your marks average) of 3.0 out of 4.0 or better for a master's.

English

Most universities ask for an English test unless you studied in English. Each university sets its own minimum.

Rules Differ

Each university and often each course sets its own rules. Always read your course page.

Requirements by Level

What you need for a bachelor's or a master's.

Examples from universities

1Bachelor's

Arizona State: a GPA of 3.00 (a B, where A is 4.00) from secondary school
Arizona State: you must have finished secondary school (a high school diploma or certificate)
Purdue, for students from India: send your marksheets from years 9 to 11 and your Standard X (class 10) certificate from the exam board

2Master's

UT Dallas: see A recognised degree and Three-year degrees above
UT Dallas: see Marks above for the GPA

Entrance Tests

Standardized Testing Requirements

Undergraduate Tests

1SAT or ACT

Tests some bachelor's courses ask for.

Purdue encourages some applicants to take the SAT or ACT to show their maths ability. Some Arizona State courses may set a minimum.

Graduate Tests

1GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)

A test some master's courses ask for.

Northeastern's Khoury College does not make you take the GRE, but you may send a score. Arizona State does not accept the GRE taken at home.

Note: Many courses do not ask for an entrance test. Check each course.

English Tests

English Proficiency Requirements

English tests show how well you know English. These are minimum scores at popular universities. Your course may ask for more.

Test	Undergraduate	Graduate	Notes
TOEFL iBT	Arizona State engineering: 79 on the old 0 to 120 scale, or 4 on the 1 to 6 scale	UT Dallas: 80 on the old 0 to 120 scale (tests on or before 26 January 2026) or 4 on the 1 to 6 scale (tests after); Northeastern Khoury: 90 recommended (old scale)	Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a 1 to 6 scale. UT Dallas sets its own cut-off date, 26 January 2026.
IELTS Academic	Arizona State engineering: 6.5	UT Dallas: 6.5; Northeastern Khoury: 6.5 recommended	-
Duolingo English Test (taken on a computer)	Arizona State engineering: 105	UT Dallas: 105; Northeastern Khoury: not accepted	-

Important Considerations

Score Validity

Check the test provider’s score validity rules and your university’s requirements.

Possible Exemptions

You may be exempt from English proficiency requirements in certain cases:

UT Dallas: no English test if all your degree classes and exams were in English
Northeastern Khoury: no English test only if your degree is 4 years or longer and was taught in English

For International Applicants

International students face several additional requirements beyond those for domestic applicants. These ensure that you can successfully transition to studying in United States and comply with immigration regulations.

Degree checks

Some universities check your degree themselves.

UT Dallas does not need or accept a degree report from a company such as WES (a service that checks foreign degrees)
Northeastern's Khoury College (Northeastern's computer science college) does not need one either

Translations

Papers not in English need translations.