International Applicants and Non-native English Speakers
The University of Minnesota greatly values international students and the College of Pharmacy has students from more than 15 different countries! Many international pharmacists with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree have chosen to pursue the PharmD program at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy to further develop their clinical skills and broaden their career options.
Application Process
International applicants follow the same admissions process as all other applicants, with the additional requirement of submitting a foreign coursework evaluation and TOEFL (or other approved exam), depending on the circumstances explained below.
International Coursework
The University of Minnesota requires using World Education Services (WES) evaluation services for a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation (FTE). This evaluation must be sent directly to PharmCAS.
A WES course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation showing all coursework completed at the time of application is required for all applicants who have taken international coursework, unless the credit appears as transfer credit on a U.S. transcript or was taken at a Canadian college or university at which the language of instruction is English (French Canadian institutions require a foreign transcript evaluation). More information can be found on the PharmCAS website. Foreign transcript evaluations must be sent directly to PharmCAS.
Verify Your Prerequisites
After you have your course-by-course evaluation, you can verify that your international coursework fulfills the prerequisites by submitting the Request for Prerequisite Evaluation. It’s a good idea to do this as early as possible in order to know which prerequisites you still need to complete. We strongly encourage you to submit a WES course-by-course FTE to ensure an accurate review of your prerequisites. If you submit another type of evaluation, there is a risk of WES not evaluating the courses in the same manner which could result in differences in what prerequisite requirements are considered fulfilled.
Completion of a bachelor’s degree outside of the United States does NOT automatically fulfill the public speaking/international communication, advanced English composition, or social/behavioral science prerequisites.
English Language Requirements
Applicable if English is not your native language
English language proficiency: all applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency either by taking an approved exam (TOEFL preferred) or receiving a waiver from the College of Pharmacy.
Minimum Score: Applicants must earn a score of at least 79 on the TOEFL to be eligible for consideration. Visit the Graduate School website for a list of other approved exams and minimum scores.
Waiver: The College of Pharmacy may waive the English proficiency exam requirement for applicants who successfully demonstrate English proficiency in another manner, including:
- Through coursework; see the Graduate School website for specific criteria
- Through professional or other significant experience in an English-speaking country; waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis
The TOEFL (or other approved exam) will automatically be assigned to all applicants whose PharmCAS application indicates a native language other than English, but there is a process to request a waiver of this exam. Waivers are not automatic and are granted on a case-by-case basis by the College of Pharmacy. Contact us at pharmacy@umn.edu for the waiver request form.
Taking the PCAT Abroad
The PCAT is optional; click to learn more. You can identify available test centers at Pearson VUE.
Financing Your Education
US citizens and permanent residents may apply for financial aid through the federal government by completing the FAFSA. International students must secure their own funding for their PharmD education and submit a financial certification showing their ability to pay for the first year of the PharmD program when their are admitted into the program. Check the current cost of attendance.
All students, including international students, are eligible for College of Pharmacy scholarships. Scholarships range from one-time $1,000 scholarships to recurring $11,000 per year scholarships; there are also a very limited number of scholarships that cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. There are no scholarships that cover full tuition.