International Transfer Students
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 freshmen 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.
For admission purposes, you are a transfer student if you have registered at a college or university after graduating from high school. Applicants are required to have performed well in a strong academic program and have typically completed at least 24 college credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher by the time they submit their application. Restricted majors may have different admission criteria.
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 transcripts records showing successful completion of academic work in progress.
Connect with the Admissions Team
Step 1: Apply Online
We offer two application options (apply using just one). There is a $50 application fee.
Apply: Common App Apply: SUNY App
Step 2: Send Us Your Academic Credentials
Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, and home address on all correspondence. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application credentials are received.
- Required: Have your official transcript(s) sent from every college/university you have attended electronically or mailed to Stony Brook University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 118 Administration Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-1901.
- If you have completed fewer than 24 credits after high school from a college or university
at the time of application, you must submit the following:
An official, final high school transcript must be sent to us by a school to our email directly 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
Note: Transfer students with more than 56 credits must indicate a major on their application to be eligible for financial aid. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application credentials are received and that a final college transcript is sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office prior to orientation. Applicants who expect to be degree recipients (AA or AS) should present evidence of receipt of the degree prior to orientation for advising purposes.
English Proficiency/Test Scores
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): Exams taken prior to 1/21/2026 | 80 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based): Exams taken after 1/21/2026 | 4 |
| 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 |
Step 3: 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, or review and submit and additionally requested items
Transfer Admissions Decision Notification Schedule
- FALL: Beginning in mid-February
- SPRING: Beginning in mid-November
- It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that all credentials are received. Space in our class is limited.
Restricted Majors
Admission to Stony Brook University does not guarantee acceptance into the following restricted majors, which have additional admission requirements.
In addition to our regular admission criteria, successful applicants in these majors will typically have the following completed courses transferable to Stony Brook
Course equivalents from your prior university to Stony Brook University can be found in the Transfer Equivalency Database using the below SBU course codes.
Computer Science & Information Systems:
- Advanced Object Programming/Object-Oriented Programming (CSE 114)
- Calculus I (MAT131)
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA
- B grades or higher in prerequisite courses indicated above
- No retakes in prerequisite courses listed above
Data Science:
- Advanced Object Programing/Object Oriented Programing (CSE 114)
- Data Structures (CSE 214)
- Calculus III (MAT 203) or Foundations of Computer Science (CSE 113)
- 3.0+ GPA
- B grades or higher in prerequisites course indicated above
- At most one course retake
Engineering:
- Two semesters of Calculus-Based Physics (PHY 131/133 and PHY 132/134)
- Calculus I and II (MAT 131 and MAT 132)
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA (Chemical and Molecular 3.2+ cumulative GPA and Chemistry I and II CHE 131/133 and CHE 132/134))
- B grades in all prerequisite courses indicated above
- No retakes in prerequisite courses listed above
Applied Mathematics and Statistics:
- Linear Algebra (MAT211)
- Calculus III (MAT 203)
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA
- B- grades or higher in prerequisite courses indicated above
Course equivalents from your prior university to Stony Brook University can be found in the Transfer Equivalency Database.
CEAS majors include:
- 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
Those enrolled in Joint Admission Programs at Suffolk County Community College or Nassau Community College will be reviewed for admission in accordance with the program guidelines.
In addition to our regular admission criteria, successful applicants will have a more competitive grade point average. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is typically required.
Those enrolled in Joint Admission Programs at Suffolk County Community College or Nassau Community College will be reviewed for admission in accordance with the program guidelines.
Applying for Creative Writing
To be reviewed for the Creative Writing major, please submit the Creative Writing Supplemental through the StartSBU Portal. This supplemental includes a statement of purpose and writing sample.
Creative Writing supplemental materials are due by the application deadline to be considered for the program.
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.
All transfer Music applicants if admitted are admitted as Pre-Music and will need to audition for admission directly to the major. Auditions and required placement exams are offered at the beginning of each semester. Interested students should be in touch with the Undergraduate Studies Director, Deborah Heckert (deborah.heckert@stonybrook.edu).
These majors are upper-division and require completion of 57 college credits and specific courses/grade prerequisites.
First-year students interested in these majors will initially enter through the College of Arts and Sciences, where they enroll in the required course prerequisites.
Transfer applicants who have not yet completed the prerequisites for an upper-division health science program should complete the required courses for that program prior to applying for admission. You will learn more about the admissions requirements for the program, including specific courses prerequisites, minimum GPA, and related healthcare experience. You will also learn about the application deadline and start date. When possible, it is advisable to complete any specific course prerequisites you still need at your current institution.
Additional International Requirements
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 academic 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 that is not part of the University Preparation program.
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 accessVIS portal will receive an I-20. Financial documentation is not needed for an admission decision.
Related Links
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.