At Parsons, we value diversity in our students, faculty, and staff. The growing international population, which makes up about a third of the student body, is an important part of that diversity.
In addition to fulfilling the general application requirements, international students must address the requirements listed below. Please read the instructions for each item carefully. If you have questions, contact International Student Services or the Office of Admission (see contact information listed on the right side of this page).
1. English Language Requirements
Applicants who are not native English speakers are required to submit
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language),
IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or
PTE (Pearson Test of English) results. International students should register to take the exam on the earliest date possible.
The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores for applicants:
- Whose native language is English
- Who have attended a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years' attendance)
- Who have successfully completed two full semesters of non-ESL college-level expository writing
- Who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years' attendance)
Upon review of your application, the Office of Admission reserves the right to request a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. The minimum TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE score requirements for degree programs at Parsons are as follows:
- Bachelor's degree (BBA, BFA) applicants: TOEFL Internet-based test score of 92 / IELTS score of 7.0 / PTE score of 63
- BA/BFA pathway applicants: TOEFL Internet-based test score of 100 / IELTS score of 7.0 / PTE score of 68
- Associate's degree (AAS) applicants: TOEFL Internet-based test score of 79 / IELTS score of 6.5 / PTE score of 53
- Master's degree (MA, MArch, MFA, MS) applicants: TOEFL Internet-based test score of 92 / IELTS score of 7.0 / PTE score of 63
Please note: Regardless of test scores submitted during the application stage, all admitted students whose native language is not English will be required to take the internal English Placement Exam prior to attending classes. This step has been implemented to ensure that submitted tests scores reflect students' current English fluency and that all students are prepared to take on the rigorous Parsons curriculum.
Undergraduate applicants who meet Parsons' academic and portfolio requirements but do not meet English language proficiency requirements can receive conditional admittance. Students who have been conditionally admitted must complete the required level of ESL certification at The New School (Level 5 for associate's degrees and Level 6 for bachelor's and master's degrees). Students who do not wish to complete the requirement are free to apply to a new term with new test results. Readmission is not guaranteed upon reapplication. Conditional admittance is not available for students applying to graduate degree programs.
Parsons and the Schools of Public Engagement together offer an ESL + Design certificate program that enables students to gain English language proficiency while taking courses in art and design. For more information, visit the
ESL + Design program page. The New School offers
additional ESL learning options.
2. International Transcripts
Bachelor's degree and AAS applicants who attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States are required to have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation must be prepared for each transcript. A very small number of schools are exempt from this process. Please email thinkparsons@newschool.edu for more information.
Master's degree applicants must provide certified translations for all transcripts not written in English or have them evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). In the absence of an evaluation, the Admission Committee will do its best to render a decision. Please note: In some cases, a review cannot be made without an evaluation and a committee decision will be delayed. The Admission Office reserves the right to request a transcript evaluation if necessary.
If using WES, visit wes.org for instructions and to begin the application process. The Required Documents section explains what to send. If you request your report online, search for “New School Parsons” when selecting our institution. WES will send your completed evaluation directly to The New School.
If using another NACES provider, follow instructions for that provider. Mailed evaluations and translations should be sent to the mailing address provided for supporting materials.
If your provider is unable to send the report directly to Parsons, please obtain a copy and send it to the Parsons Office of Admission along with the appropriate Materials Cover Sheet.
If you request your report online, search for "The New School" when selecting our institution.
3. Visas
International students who need the I-20 or DS-2019 form to obtain a visa will receive a link to the online International Student Application Packet in their acceptance letters; they can also access the link through the Accepted Student tab in MyNewSchool. This Web page includes information about applying for the I-20 or DS-2019, guidelines for providing financial documents, instructions and procedures for F-1 transfer students, and other important forms and information.
For more information, visit the
International Student Services website.
4. English Course Placement Test
All new Parsons students who are not native English speakers must take the English course placement test before they begin classes. If English is not your first language, you must take the test regardless of your fluency in English, previous English courses, degrees or diplomas from U.S. institutions, TOEFL score, or SAT score. There are no exceptions. The English placement test is administered before each semester during Orientation Week. Your scores will determine whether you will be required to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at The New School and whether any English course transfer credits can be applied to Parsons' first-year writing course requirement. The test is composed of the following sections: listening comprehension (recorded speech followed by multiple-choice questions), grammar questions (multiple choice), reading comprehension questions (multiple choice), one 30-minute essay (choice of two topics), and a brief oral interview.
5. Tuition and Scholarships
Tuition is the same for international and domestic applicants. Visit the
Tuition and Fees page to learn more about the cost of attendance.
Merit-based scholarship consideration is the same for all students and occurs automatically at the time of application, provided that students have applied by the priority scholarship deadline.