Home > International Students > Admissions and Pre-Enrollment Information 

Admissions and Pre-Enrollment Information 

Main Content

Welcome to the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences! 

Now that you have decided to study with us, you will need to prepare for your arrival to get ready for your first semester at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. All students entering Rutgers University for the first time – regardless of having completed coursework at another institution – have several steps they must complete before the start of the semester. International students must additionally meet federally mandated requirements to stay in legal compliance.  

Applicant Types

  • First-Year Applicants are students who are currently enrolled in high school or have recently completed high school and do not already have 12+ college credits before enrolling at Rutgers.
  • Transfer Applicants are students who have already completed high school AND have completed 12+ college credits before enrolling at Rutgers (e.g., you are currently enrolled in a community college or other 4-year institution and will complete 12+ credits by the time you come to Rutgers).
  • Graduate Applicants: Students who currently hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and would like to continue their studies in a master’s program or Ph.D. program should apply to Rutgers through the School for Graduate Studies. Students interested in graduate programs within SEBS should visit the specific academic department page for more detailed information. 
  • International Double Degree Applicants are students who are currently enrolled at a Rutgers University partner institution with a specialized pathway to Rutgers. In the application process, double degree students should follow the same steps as a transfer student.

Undergraduate Application Types and Process

  • Common Application: Rutgers has officially joined the Common App! This process is for first-year, first time applicants interested in fall enrollment. Applicants may choose to use the Common App or the standard Rutgers Application. 
  • Rutgers Application: Students interested in transferring to Rutgers, Double Degree Students, or students who wish to enroll in the spring or summer should use the standard Rutgers Application. 
  • International students must complete supplementary steps when applying to Rutgers in addition to completing the appropriate application. The Rutgers Admissions Office continues to offer the most up-to-date information, but students should plan for the following information:
    • Documents not in English should be accompanied by English translations completed by a verified translation professor or service provider.
    • English Proficiency Examination: Regardless of U.S. residency, students whose secondary education has been outside the U.S. in a language other than English MUST complete a language proficiency examination. Students may select from a variety of options. Minimum score is dependent on undergraduate or graduate application status. Graduate applicants should consult the academic department for testing and placement requirements. 
    • Currently enrolled secondary/high school students must complete a self-reported academic record while transfer applicants must submit an official transcript for all previous institutions. Students with less than 24 college credits are required to submit a secondary/high school transcript. While it is not required for students transferring with more than 24 college credits to submit a secondary/high school transcript, it is recommended.

Immigration and Federal Regulations

  • Financial Documentation and the I-20: All incoming international students who will hold an F-1 student visa MUST illustrate that they will be able to financially support themselves while enrolled at Rutgers. Students will be required to submit a completed International Student Financial Statement form as well as bank statements/letters on bank issued letterhead with denomination amounts in U.S. dollars. The most up-to-date information can be found on the Rutgers Admissions Website.
  • Applying for a Visa: Once you receive your I-20 in the mail you can start the visa application process. Visit the Immigration & Customs Enforcement for important next steps. You will need to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee through the Department of Homeland Security at least 3 business days before your scheduled interview. You will need your SEVIS ID, which can be found on your I-20, to pay this fee. Schedule your visa interview appointment with the appropriate U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your home country.
  • Transfer Applicants already in the U.S.: You MUST notify your current foreign student advisor of your planned departure in addition to completing the SEVIS transfer information section in your Rutgers Global portal. You will also need to demonstrate an ability to pay for Rutgers Tuition.

First-Semester Preparation

  • Rutgers NetID and Email: All Rutgers students are assigned a unique identifier known as a NetID, comprised of initials and numbers (e.g., qtz351). This identifier will be used for all course registration processes and for your Rutgers email. ALL OFFICIAL RUTGERS COMMUNICATION WILL GO TO YOUR RUTGERS EMAIL ACCOUNT ONCE YOU ACCEPT ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY. Please activate your NetID and Rutgers email account as soon as possible. The NetID and associated password you set will be used for most web-based services while you are enrolled at Rutgers.
  • Placement Testing: All first-year and transfer students are required to complete a placement test in English and math before the start of the first semester. 

    Placement tests are available online beginning on March 1st and must be completed no later than June 1st for fall enrollment and advising purposes. A desktop or laptop with reliable internet access is required for testing. This is not a test you can pass or fail – it is simply a measurement of proficiency to determine the most suitable math and English writing courses to take in your first semester. You can take the English test once and the math test twice. 

    Students can find additional information and preparation material through the Rutgers Learning Centers.
  • Academic Planning and Advising (APA) and STAR Days: All incoming first-year and transfer students must attend an Academic Planning and Advising Day (First-Year) or STAR Day (Transfer) session. SEBS academic advisors and faculty members will assist you with reviewing the requirements for your degree and selecting your first-semester classes. You do not need to have completed high school or your AP/IB tests to schedule your summer advising. 

    To schedule your APA/STAR Day you will need to log into your Rutgers Email and accept the invitation to the appropriate course on the Canvas Learning Platform. On the site you will see a pre-registration information form, which you should complete in advance of your advising day. There will be a specialized international advising session which will be emailed to your Rutgers email in the mid-spring, but you may attend a different APA/STAR Day if the international session does not fit within your schedule. It is extremely important that you attend an APA/STAR Day to prepare for your first semester at SEBS, especially if you have transfer classes requiring evaluation.