International

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International

How to Apply

First Year Transfer International Second Degree Readmission Early Action

Freshman Launch Year (FLY)

Common vocabulary in US applications

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First Year Deadlines

Applications will be accepted after these deadlines on a space-available basis.

ENTRY TERM:

Fall 2026

EARLY ACTION DEADLINE:

November 1

REGULAR DECISION DEADLINE:

January 15

ENTRY TERM:

Spring 2026

PRIORITY DEADLINE:

November 1

Transfer Deadlines

Applications will be accepted after these deadlines on a space-available basis.

ENTRY TERM:

Fall 2026

PRIORITY DEADLINE:

May 1

ENTRY TERM:

Spring 2026

PRIORITY DEADLINE:

November 1

WELCOME, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!

Stony Brook University offers a world of possibilities, with more than 200 academic programs, exciting undergraduate research opportunities and an ideal location for learning on Long Island's North Shore — just 60 miles from New York City.

CONNECT WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND ADMISSIONS TEAM

APPLICATION TYPES:

An international student is a person who requires an F-1 visa to study in the United States. All international students will complete either a first year or transfer application. There is no separate international application.

First year students or freshman are those still in high school or have completed high school but have not attended college after high school.
Transfer students are anyone who, after high school graduation, has enrolled in university-level courses either in the US or another country.

When completing the application, your citizenship as well as your intended visa (and if applicable current visa) will identify you as an international student.

International students are students who:

Wish to study in the US under a student (F-1) visa. Those with valid B-1 or B-2 visas, must change their status to F-1, or:
Currently hold an F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 visa.

First Year Deadlines

Fall 2025

EARLY ACTION DEADLINENovember 1

REGULAR DECISION DEADLINEJanuary 15

Transfer Deadline

Fall 2025

PRIORITY DEADLINEMay 1

STEP1 Apply Online

Ready to take the first step toward your future at SBU? Get started on your application today! We offer two application options (apply using just one). There is a $50 application fee.

Option 1

THE COMMON APP

APPLY: COMMON APP

Option 2

THE SUNY APPLICATION

APPLY: SUNY APP

STEP2 What You'll Need to Apply

For First Year Applicants

Grades for the three most recently completed years of secondary school must be submitted in English for an application to be reviewed. This may include academic results from both middle school and high school. If you have already graduated, please submit grades from the last four years of school. All transcripts must be sent directly from your school. Your counselor may upload official transcripts electronically through your application system or email them to enrollintl@stonybrook.edu

Submit your English Proficiency via an official score report* for the TOEFL, Duolingo, SAT, ACT, IELTS, AP, IB, A levels or PTE Academic.

SAT and TOEFL Code: 2548, ACT Code: 2952
*Stony Brook is test optional for applicants. International students are still expected to submit proof of English Proficiency by way of one of the exams below. Applicants from native English-speaking countries may be exempt from submitting an English proficiency test score. If you have attended high school in the United States for 3 years, you may be exempt as well.
Students who do not meet English Proficiency requirements may be considered for conditional admission.

For those who do not meet the criteria above, one of the following exams is required:

Exam	Minimum Score
TOEFL (Internet-based & Home Edition)	80
TOEFL Essentials	9
IELTS	6.5
Duolingo	105
ACT English	19
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (New Exam)	480
IB English Higher Level	5
AP English Language/Comp or Literature/Com exam	3
A -level (Advanced) English	C
PTE Academic	53
GaoKao	125 (out of 150)
CSAT	Rank 1

One letter of recommendation is required from a teacher or counselor. This may be submitted electronically through your application portal using the Teacher/Counselor Evaluation Form or the recommender can email us the document to enroll@stonybrook.edu. Send two Teacher Evaluations if you are applying for any of our honors programs. If you are applying to WISE, at least one evaluation should be from a science or math teacher.

An essay on the topic of your choice is required and can be submitted with your application or uploaded to your StartSBU Portal.

An appropriate use of an AI tool is to help you explore admission essay ideas or to refine your admission essay based on the topic selected; however, it is important that the final work be yours. AI tools should be used as a resource, similar to resources you may use at your school, e.g. a counselor or teacher. As with counselors and teachers who are not writing your essay for you, AI should not either. This guidance extends to essays written for any university admission purpose*, including essays and short answers for our University Honors Programs and Simons STEM Scholars Program.

*For applicants to our Creative Writing program, which requires a writing sample be submitted; AI generated or assisted writing samples are not acceptable for consideration. The foundation of the review of the writing sample is to gauge how potential students write. Writing samples are assessed by Creative Writing staff for originality and if any concerns are present the sample is submitted for review to an AI detector.

Applicants for Honors Programs

Honors College, WISE, and University Scholars

Honors Programs consider applicants for fall semester only.

DEADLINE FOR HONORS CONSIDERATION

The priority deadline to apply for Fall 2025 is November 1. Our regular decision deadline is January 15.

HOW TO APPLY

Indicate your interest in your StartSBU Portal after you submit your application.

Submit your SUNY application, Common Application, or Coalition Application.
After you have submitted your application, you will get access to the StartSBU Portal.
In our Portal, indicate your interest for the Honors Program(s) you would like to be considered for (you can select more than one, but must indicate a preference for one).

Students will be able to upload supporting documents, such as resumes or honors essays, through their StartSBU Portal.

Learn more about the honors programs and their criteria.

Essay/Statement Requirements:

Honors, WISE, and University Scholars:

Upload to your Stony Brook Applicant Portal one brief statement on “Why you believe you will be a good fit for your preferred honors program." Applicant should keep their statement to approximately 250 words.

Teacher/Counselor Evaluations or Letters of Recommendation:

Two total Teacher/Counselor Evaluations or Letters of Recommendation are required. These recommendations must be sent only by the person who wrote the letter, such as a teacher or school counselor. The letters can be attached to your application or emailed from the recommender to enroll@stonybrook.edu.
- WISE Applicants: At least one recommendation or evaluation should be from a science or math teacher

1. General admission decision.

Student are notified of their admission decision first (see below for honors decision timeline).
Decisions go out on a rolling basis through April 1.
Your honors consideration does not affect your admission decision.

2. Admitted students are then considered for their honors program(s) of interest.

Honors College, WISE, University Scholars will typically notify qualified applicants of their decision in mid to late March.

FOR TRANSFER APPLICANTS

Applying as a Transfer Student

Transfer Applicants: If you have attended any college or university after graduating from secondary school, you must apply as a transfer student. Applicants are required to have performed well in a strong academic program, having completed at least 24 credits with a GPA of 2.8 or higher by the time they submit their application. If the applicant has earned fewer than 24 credits, high school transcripts must also be submitted.

If you have completed less than 24 credits from a college or university at the time of application:

Required: A final high school transcript must sent to us by email to ugprocessing@stonybrook.edu or mailed to Stony Brook University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 118 Administration Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1901.
Optional: You may submit your official SAT or ACT scores sent directly from the testing agency
- SAT Code: 2548
- ACT Code: 2952

See below for the admission criteria for restricted majors, including those in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Business, and others.

Special consideration will be given to qualified graduates of university-parallel programs, i.e., AA and AS degree recipients from colleges within the State University of New York and City University of New York systems. Students are not, however, guaranteed admission into the program of their choice. Graduates of career-oriented programs (AAS and AOS) will be considered for admission on an individual basis and in competition with other transfer applicants.

Applicants who do not specify a major on their application are considered for admission to the University rather than to a particular major. Transfer students with more than 56 credits must indicate a major on their application to be eligible for financial aid.

Offers of admission are conditional, pending receipt of all official records showing successful completion of academic work in progress.

RELATED LINKS

Submit your English Proficiency via an official score report* for the TOEFL, Duolingo, SAT, ACT, IELTS, AP, IB, A levels or PTE Academic. Transfer students who have completed a college-level writing course at a US college (and have received a C or above) are also not required to submit scores from one of these exams.

SAT and TOEFL Code: 2548, ACT Code: 2952
*Stony Brook is test optional for applicants. International students are still expected to submit proof of English Proficiency by way of one of the exams below. Applicants from native English-speaking countries may be exempt from submitting an English proficiency test score. If you have attended high school in the United States for 3 years, you may be exempt as well.

For those who do not meet the criteria above, one of the following exams is required:

Exam	Minimum Score
TOEFL (Internet-based & Home Edition)	80
TOEFL Essentials	9
IELTS	6.5
Duolingo	105
ACT English	19
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (New Exam)	480
IB English Higher Level	5
AP English Language/Comp or Literature/Com exam	3
A -level (Advanced) English	C
PTE Academic	53
GaoKao	125 (out of 150)
CSAT	Rank 1

TRANSFER COURSE EQUIVALENCES

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES

FOR FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS

Restricted Majors

Applicants who do not specify a major on their application are considered for admission to the University rather than to a particular major. Admission to Stony Brook University does not guarantee acceptance into the following restricted majors, which have additional admission requirements.

Successful applicants in these majors will, in addition to our general admission criteria, are required to have:

4 units of maths including Calculus for most CEAS majors
4 units of science including Physics for most CEAS majors

Strong applicants typically have earned outstanding grades in high school calculus and physics, and performed exceptionally well on the Math section of the SAT and/or ACT. Stony Brook is test optional for applicants. Consideration is given to students who have performed well in advanced science and math courses, as well as those who have participated in science, math, and research competitions.

Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Science
Information Systems
Mechanical Engineering
Technological Systems Management

Successful applicants will, in addition to our general admission criteria, typically display evidence of achievement in mathematics and writing and will have performed particularly well on both the Math and Critical Reading sections of the SAT and/or ACT. Stony Brook is test optional for applicants.

Admission to the BFA in Creative Writing requires a statement of purpose, writing sample and letter of recommendation submitted in the application portal.

In addition to the application to the University, a separate Music Major Application is required. Students who perform successfully in the audition and their theory placement and musicianship exams will be admitted to the music major upon admission to the University. In addition, students participating in this audition process may be considered for scholarship offers and the opportunity to study with Performance Faculty.

These health sciences majors are upper-division and require completion of 57 college credits and specific courses/grade prerequisites. Those interested in these upper-division majors may apply for admission as a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, where they can enroll in the course prerequisites. An application to the upper-division program will need to be filed through the Health Sciences Center Office of Student Services the year in which you anticipate completing all prerequisites.

Nursing
Social Work

Social Work is an upper-division major at Stony Brook University, requiring at least 57 credits and specific prerequisites. First-year applicants are considered for admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, where students are offered the opportunity to complete prerequisite courses prior to applying to the Social Work major.

Get more information

For Admitted Students Only

International students, if accepted, must document their ability to meet educational and living expenses for one year of study so that Stony Brook University can issue a Certiﬁcate of Visa Eligibility (I-20). Admitted students will receive login instructions for accessVIS, Stony Brook's portal for visa and immigration services for Fall after March 1 and for Spring after October 1. For information on requesting your I-20 (after admission), documents needed and details on estimated expenses for your I-20, visit the VIS webpage. Only admitted and deposited students who complete their I-20 request through the Accevss VIS portal will receive an I-20. Financial documentation is not needed for an admission decision.

CHECK YOUR APPLICATION STATUS

Within two weeks of submitting your application to Stony Brook, we will send you login information to access your SBU Applicant Portal. You'll be able to:

Monitor your status and view your decision
Confirm receipt of items
Upload supplements, including essays and resumes

FRESHMAN: NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE

FALL:

Early Action Applicant: End of January
Regular Decision Applicant: End of March

SPRING: Beginning Mid-November

TRANSFER: NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE

FALL: Beginning Late-March

SPRING: Beginning Mid-November

It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that all credentials are received. Space in our class is limited.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

Students who meet the academic criteria for admission, but lack satisfactory English proficiency, may be considered for conditional admission to the University Preparation Program (UP) through the Intensive English Center (IEC). Students in the UP program will have the opportunity to study English and either 1-2 academic classes depending on English proficiency test scores. Upon receiving a passing grade in the highest level of IEC and a C or above in each of your academics courses, you may enroll in full-time matriculated studies.

Admission to restricted majors may have higher course grades needed.

Students who do not meet minimum scores for the University Preparation program may be offered conditional admission to take English courses in the Intensive English Center (IEC) without the ability to take academic courses however must meet the following English criteria along with meeting academic eligibility for admission:

iBT 55+
IELTS 4.5+
DET 80+

Other exams considered for regular admission will not be considered for conditional admission not part of University Preparation program.

State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits Stony Brook University admission applications from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, the College shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony if such individual seeks campus housing or participation in clinical or field experiences, internships (where a criminal history background check is required) or study abroad programs. The information required to be disclosed under SUNY policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law, and other applicable law.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.

Why Choose Stony Brook?

The QS World University Rankings lists Stony Brook among the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world
U.S. News & World Report ranks SBU among the top 100 universities and top 40 public universities in the nation
98% of tenured/tenure-track faculty hold doctoral degrees or the highest degrees in their fields
You'll find first-rate opportunities for research at facilities such as Brookhaven National Laboratory
Stony Brook is a member of the prestigious, invitation-only Association of American Universities — along with Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale, America’s top research universities

Did You Know?

Our award-winning faculty include the winners of Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur Fellowships, the Fields Medal in Mathematics, and Grammy Awards.
C.N. Yang, Albert Einstein Professor Emeritus of the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, was Stony Brook’s first Nobel Prize winner.
The MRI technology that won the Nobel Prize for Medicine was invented at Stony Brook.

Kick Start Your Stony Brook Education

Enroll in the Global Summer Institute

Earn academic credit toward your degree
Practice and improve your English language skills
Make friends and get to know our campus
Go on field trips to New York City

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Choose one of our four options to advance your academic and professional goals. You will expand your cultural horizons and have a one-of-a-kind experience. Join us this summer to enjoy the natural beauty of Long Island and the cosmopolitan flair of New York City!

Stony Brook now offers an exciting undergraduate curriculum at SUNY Korea, located in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), just one hour west of Seoul, Korea.