International Application Checklist

Submitting Your Application

Applications are considered complete when the online application and all required documents have been submitted. All materials must be submitted electronically or postmarked by the appropriate deadline for consideration. You can track your application status and confirm receipt of application materials online through the Terps Application Portal (TAP). You will receive an email with instructions on how to create a TAP account within two business days of submitting your application. It may take up to 10 business days for recently submitted materials to be listed as received on your checklist and it is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm receipt of all required materials. Visit our Submitting Documents page to learn how you can submit the items below for a completed application.

You do not need to submit your visa, certification of finances and other supporting international documents for a completed application; however, you will need to submit them if you are admitted to the university.

1. Completed online application

We strongly encourage you to apply by the early action deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and invitations to special programs. Applications must be completed online and all additional application materials must be received or postmarked by the appropriate deadline.

2. Nonrefundable application fee of $75

When completing your University of Maryland (UMD) application, you will be required to pay the $75 fee on our secure website with a credit card unless you have received a fee waiver. Fee waivers must be submitted prior to application completion for consideration. We cannot accept cash or check payments. 

3. Two letters of recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required for a completed application: one from your school counselor and one from a teacher. Recommendations must be sent to us directly from the recommender.

4. Official copy of your high school transcripts

Each institution you've attended must submit an official copy of your high school transcript(s) listing all courses you attempted/completed. Where appropriate, include official results and certificates of completion from national secondary school examinations such as GCSE/GCE, CBSE national and regional, CXC/CSEC and WAEC. Transcripts must be sent in the native language along with a certified English translation.

5. Official copy of your college transcripts (if necessary)

If you have completed any collegiate coursework, each institution you've attended must submit an official copy of your college transcripts listing all courses you attempted/completed. Transcripts must be sent in the native language with a certified English translation. High school students are required to submit an official English translation if applicable and are encouraged to also submit a third-party evaluation.

• UMD requires all students with non-U.S. academic credentials to submit a third-party academic evaluation for all post-secondary/university credentials from one of the two evaluators listed below (this is not required for secondary school academic records). Evaluations must be received by the appropriate deadline.
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
    • Start the evaluation process with ECE by visiting their Education Reports page.
    • Requirements: course-by-course evaluation, original transcript(s) and a certified English translation of the transcript(s), grade point average calculation, upper division course designation.
       
  • Josef Silny & Associates (JS&A)
    • Start the evaluation process with JS&A by using their application for evaluation form. 
    • Requirements: course-by-course evaluation, original transcript(s) and a certified English translation of the transcript(s), grade point average calculation, upper division course designation for students with more than 1 year of post-secondary/university education completed.
       

6. Official standardized test scores (optional)

In recognition of the ongoing COVID-19 impacts on prospective students, UMD has decided to extend its practice to make SAT and ACT scores optional through to the Spring and Fall 2025 application cycles. Additional information can be found on our Future Terps Updates page.

If you would like to receive credit toward your degree for successfully completing Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), A/AS level examinations, or certain other standard exams, you must submit those official scores upon receiving an offer of admission. 

7. Activities and awards list or resume

The Activities section of the application allows you to detail the various ways in which you spend your time outside the classroom. Please start by sharing the two experiences outside of your academic program that are most important to you. Whether community involvement, the arts, sports, work experience, research opportunities, family involvements or other activities and hobbies, you should share only what has been particularly meaningful (up to a maximum of eight).

8. Proof of English proficiency

If English is not your native language—regardless of your citizenship—you must provide the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with an official English proficiency test score, which must be less than two years old, by the appropriate deadline. We accept scores from the Duolingo English Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). At this time, we are not accepting TOEFL superscores known as MyBest Scores. Your test scores must be sent directly by the testing agency and your application will not be considered complete until your scores have been received. 

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider all materials submitted in the application package to determine your level of English language proficiency. Proof of proficiency may be waived at the discretion of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions if the applicant has completed one of the items listed under the Potential Waivers for English Proficiency Requirement.

9. Essay

The essay provides you with the opportunity to tell the Admission Committee more about your personality and experiences. Our Essay Questions page provides the essay prompts from which you can select.

10. School of Music application (School of Music applicants only)

In addition to the above items, students seeking enrollment into the School of Music must submit the online application supplement and complete an audition. The application supplement and audition will only be used to determine your eligibility for admission into the School of Music and will not be used in the review of your eligibility for admission to UMD.

11. Terps Application Portal

Within two business days of submitting your application, whether via Common App or StandOut Admissions Network, you will receive an email from our office with instructions on how to create a Terps Application Portal account. Once you've created your account, you can access this portal to track your application status and confirm receipt of required materials. This is also where you will receive your electronic admission decision when it becomes available.

Submitting Your Application

Applications are considered complete when the online application and all required documents have been submitted. All materials must be submitted electronically or postmarked by the appropriate deadline for consideration. You can track your application status and confirm receipt of application materials online through your StandOut Admissions Network account by visiting the Colleges section and reviewing your UMD checklist. It may take up to 10 business days for recently submitted materials to be listed as received on your checklist and it is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm receipt of all application materials through StandOut Admissions Network. Visit our Submitting Documents page to learn how you can submit the items below for a completed application.

You do not need to submit your visa, certification of finances and other supporting international documents for a completed application; however, you will need to submit them if you are admitted to the university.

1. Completed online application