Academic Requirements for International Students

Accredited Institution

The university or universities that you have attended must be fully accredited. In most cases, students who have attended universities exclusively outside the United States have chosen to supplement their studies with at least a year of course work at an accredited university in the United States.

Official Transcripts

Each college or university you have attended must send an official transcript directly to Vanderbilt. It is your responsibility to make these arrangements. Each of the courses listed in Vanderbilt's Admission Requirements must be represented by a letter or number grade.

Financial and Visa

If you need a student visa (F-1 or J-1), you must be able to document that you have the financial resources to pay for (at a minimum) one year's expenses each year. For more information on visas necessary for studying at Vanderbilt, see Office of International Services .

If you need financial aid, you may apply for institutional need-based funding to determine eligibility. To be eligible for Federal loans, you need a permanent resident visa or an immigrant visa if you are not a U.S. citizen. Private funding sources may be available. A helpful website is Financial Aid for International Students. International students can generally obtain a private alternative loan if a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is willing to co-sign the loan.

The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).