International Applicant FAQs

If you're not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you'll create a non-member Church account.

BYU defines each citizenship option as follows. Select the option that fits your situation:

• U.S. Citizen/Dual Citizen: Applicants with a U.S. citizenship/social security number/passport.
• Permanent Resident: Applicants who have completed this immigration process and have a USCIS number (have received your green card).
• International: Applicants who have or require documentation/a visa to enter the U.S. You'll need an F1 or J1 visa to enter the U.S.
• None of the Above: Applicants where none of these statuses define their current situation.

Yes. All international students are required to select an intended major when applying to BYU. This doesn't prevent you from changing your major later.

If you're seeing this page, you must complete this requirement before submitting your application. Once we receive your test scores, they'll appear on this page.

For more information, view English Proficiency Requirement.

The Ecclesiastical Endorsement is required for all applicants. The endorsement includes two interviews, which focus on the honor code and a student’s efforts to grow spiritually.

• Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: You'll interview with your bishop and stake president.
• Current Missionaries: You'll need only one interview with your mission president.
• Not a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: You can choose to do the first interview either with a bishop from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or with a leader of your own faith. The second interview will be done with the BYU chaplain.

If you're from Mainland China or another area of the world where you feel unsafe/uncomfortable reaching out to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contact the International Admissions Coordinator.

You can apply to BYU even without attending seminary or institute. If you haven't attended seminary or institute, you'll explain your situation in the application.

This answer determines whether you receive a “Secondary Education Evaluation” requirement.

• Public U.S. High School: A public high school located in the U.S.
• Private U.S. High School: A private high school located in the U.S.
• U.S. Charter School: A charter school located in the U.S.
• Homeschool/non-US-accredited: Homeschool program not accredited by one of BYU’s approved companies.
• International High School: Any high school located outside the U.S.

Only enter your classes from a US-accredited high school. You will see the transcript requirement in the application.

For each school year:

• If you only attended a non-US-accredited international school, do not enter classes.
• If you only attended a US-accredited school, enter all classes for that year.
• If you attended both accredited and non-US-accredited schools during the same year, only enter the US-accredited classes for that year.
• We won't be able to review your application unless all the information is accurate. Contact the International Admissions Coordinator if you have questions.

You will not know whether this is required until we receive your transcript evaluation and college transcript (if applicable), and you have completed the transcript section of the application (if applicable).

If it's required, you'll need to take the test before submitting your application. If it's optional, you need to answer the yes/no question on that page before this section will be marked as complete.

Freshman applicants may be required to have up to three recommendations submitted on your behalf, depending on individual circumstances:

• Seminary Recommendation: This will be required if you are currently in seminary.
• Academic Recommendation: High school teacher (any teacher who taught a class that counted towards the completion of either a math, English, science, or social science requirement in your junior or senior year of high school).
  
  • Required if you have attended high school in the last three years.
• Other Recommendation: Non-relative of your choosing. Required for all applicants.

Transfer applicants are only required to complete the Other Recommendation.

We email your recommender a recommendation form with specific questions. Let your recommenders know that the recommendation form will come from noreply@mailing.byu.edu. No other forms/letters of recommendation that are sent to us will be accepted.

Paying the $35 fee does not submit your application.

After paying, you must return to the application and click 'Submit Application'.

If your payment doesn't go through, submit a support case at hub.byu.edu.