Welcome, international students!
Are you interested in studying nursing at the University of Colorado as an international student, or do you have international credentials? We're excited you're considering us! This guide will help you understand what programs you can join and what steps you'll need to take.
Can I study at CU Nursing as an international student?
Yes! CU Nursing welcomes international students who need an F-1 visa for our on-campus and hybrid programs. Not all students with international credentials need an F1 visa, and online-only programs don't qualify for F-1 visas.
Programs you can join on an F-1 visa
Hybrid programs
Getting your F-1 visa: step-by-step
You can start the visa process only after you've been officially admitted. Here's what to do:
1
Understand when you need to be on campus
- For on-campus programs: Check the program's schedule online to see when classes start and end.
- For hybrid programs: Contact our Admissions team to find out which courses require you to be on campus. Even if most of your program is online, you'll still need an F-1 visa for the in-person part (also known as on-campus requirements, which are minimal).
2
After you're admitted
- Our Admissions team will let the University's International Student & Scholar Services know you need an I-20 (your Certificate of Eligibility).
- The International office will contact you about the documents they need.
- Important: Respond quickly to their requests to avoid delays in your enrollment!
If you have questions about visas, contact the University of Colorado International Student & Scholar Services. If you're not sure about your program's on-campus requirements, schedule a meeting with one of our enrollment advisors.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to show your English skills in one of these ways:
- You're from a country where English is the official language (like Australia, UK, Canada except Quebec, etc.)
- You scored at least 560 on the paper TOEFL (with 50+ on the TSE) or 83 on the Internet TOEFL (with 26+ on the speaking section)
- You scored at least 6.5 overall on IELTS with 8+ on the speaking part
- You graduated from the University of Colorado Denver's ESL Academy
- You graduated from a US/UK accredited school abroad that taught in English
- You earned a bachelor's degree in the US or completed at least 2 full-time semesters in a US master's program
International transcripts and credentials
Foreign transcripts
If you studied at a school outside the US:
- List all schools in your NursingCAS application
- Submit a course-by-course evaluation of your foreign transcript to NursingCAS
- Your international courses must be equivalent to CU Nursing's requirements
Study abroad credits
If you studied abroad through a US school:
- We can accept credits if your US transcript shows the course title, credits, and letter grades
- If your US transcript only shows Pass/Fail or Transfer credit, you'll need to submit the original transcript from the foreign school
Nursing license requirements
Many graduate programs require a current nursing license. If you're not sure if your international nursing credentials meet US standards, consider using CGFNS International for evaluation.