International students must submit transcripts from all international institutions through World Education Services (WES) for translation. International applicants who are non-native speakers of English and who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from a US institution must take a test of English as a foreign language.

A test of English as a foreign language must be taken by the VMCAS deadline and results submitted by mail as soon as available to the following address:

Michigan State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Office of Admissions and Scholarships
784 Wilson Road - Room G-155
East Lansing, MI 48824

Note: Citizens of Puerto Rico are US citizens and therefore do not need to send English language test results.

All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be able to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standards on any one of the following tests:

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Tests taken prior to January 21, 2026, a total score of 550 with no subscores below 52, or 80 with no subscore below 19 (22 for writing section) (Internet-based version) is required. Tests taken after January 21, 2026, scores of 4.5 with a minimum score of 4 in reading and speaking, and a minimum score of 4.5 in listening and writing. The official report must be received by the Office of Admissions directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS).
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum average score of 6.5 is required, with no subscore below 6.0. The official report must be received by the Office of Admissions directly from IELTS.
3. Michigan State University English Language Test (English Language Center [ELC], Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824–1035, USA). An average score of 80 to 85 with no subscores below 80, or a minimum average score of 85 with no subscores below 78 is required.
4. Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A). Minimum overall score of 53; no subscore below 51 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 59.
5. Michigan State University Certificate of English Language Proficiency (CELP). Regular admission: score of 65 with no subscore below 15 (17 for writing section).

All of the above tests must have been taken within two years of a student's application. The Graduate School website has up-to-date information: https://grad.msu.edu/english-language-competency.

The MSU Office of Financial Aid projects average tuition and living costs for different categories of students. International students must provide evidence of the non-resident total before an I-20 is granted. This evidence must be supplied upon request from the MSU Registrar’s Office after being admitted to the program.