Choose the correct application route first
ASU separates international undergraduate first-year, undergraduate transfer and graduate admission. A first-year applicant is generally applying from secondary school without a substantial record of college-level transfer credits; ASU’s transfer office evaluates prior university work, while graduate applicants must select a specific master’s, doctoral or professional programme. The route changes the documents, academic assessment and deadline. Use ASU’s Degree Search to confirm the actual degree, college and campus before beginning an application, because some majors impose higher entry or English thresholds. Applying once is important: ASU says it accepts either its own application or the Common Application and will cancel a duplicate submission. An international nonresident undergraduate application fee is listed as USD 90 for on-campus study; the fee is nonrefundable. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment method when submitting.
Source: International first-year student
First-year application documents
The international first-year checklist begins with an online undergraduate application, the application fee, official school transcripts and examination results sent by the school or exam board, and certified English translations for records not issued in English. ASU asks applicants to document completed courses, marks or grades, and certificates or degrees awarded. English proficiency evidence is a separate item: ASU lists TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and Cambridge English routes, with some major-specific minimums. Review the detailed score page for the test date and programme because TOEFL requirements changed for examinations taken on or after Jan. 21, 2026. The international application page also provides a way to locate a regional representative and country-specific credential guidance. A translated transcript is not a substitute for an official academic record, and applicants should check the portal after submission to see whether a document has been marked received.
Source: International first-year student
Transfer applicants need a credit-by-credit assessment
International transfer eligibility depends on how many transferable university credits have been earned, the transfer GPA and the intended major. ASU states a minimum cumulative transfer GPA of 2.50 for applicants with 24 or more transferable credits; applicants with 12–23 credits also need to meet first-year admission requirements. A separate pathway for applicants with an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited higher-education institution lists a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA. These published minimums do not guarantee admission to a selective major, and ASU notes that some programmes set higher requirements. Submit official transcripts from every secondary and postsecondary institution attended, whether or not a degree was completed. Use the transfer-credit tool and programme Degree Search entry to determine which previous courses may count toward requirements; do not assume that a course with a similar title will satisfy an ASU prerequisite.
Source: International transfer student
Graduate admission is decided by the academic programme
Graduate applicants choose the degree and department before checking application materials. ASU’s international graduate page says programme offices set and enforce application deadlines; Degree Search programme descriptions give the relevant schedule. Depending on the field, a file may include transcripts, an English score, statement of purpose, CV or résumé, writing sample, portfolio, recommendations or official test scores. Graduate Admission Services provides institutional minimum standards, but each programme may expect more competitive grades or discipline-specific preparation. International records must be in the original language with a complete, official English translation. ASU may accept certain third-party course-by-course evaluations in addition to official academic records, but an evaluation does not replace the underlying transcript. Ask the department whether all documents must arrive by its deadline and whether an application is reviewed on a rolling basis.
Source: International graduate student
Published dates and processing time
For the international first-year route, the page currently shows a Spring 2027 priority application deadline of Nov. 1, 2026, a first-year deposit date of Dec. 1, 2026 and a Jan. 11, 2027 start of classes. The Fall 2026 dates on that page are already historical as of this review. Do not carry Spring dates forward to Fall 2027 or treat the university’s general domestic calendar as an international-specific deadline. Graduate programme deadlines are set by the department and may be earlier than central immigration processing deadlines. After admission, international students must still complete the financial guarantee and visa process; an I-20 deadline is not an admissions deadline. Submit early enough to correct missing translations, test reports or credential questions, but follow the exact term listed for the degree.
Source: International first-year student
A practical submission sequence
Before applying, save the exact degree page and note its campus, entry term, prerequisite courses, English minimum and programme deadline. Prepare official academic records and certified translations, then choose one application platform and pay the fee. Arrange electronic test reporting according to ASU’s code and testing instructions; confirm whether your programme needs an additional score or portfolio. Review the status portal after submitting, respond to document requests and retain copies of all records. If admitted, compare the offer’s campus and academic programme with the original choice, accept by the stated date, arrange funding documentation and begin the I-20/DS-2019 process. Graduate candidates should correspond with the department about assistantships or research fit separately from the admissions decision. These steps help avoid common sequencing problems, but the official checklist and the academic programme’s current page control.
Source: I-20 Process