Graduate International Direct

Admission to GID programs are offered to international and multilingual students by two methods:

• Students may apply directly through the Gateway admissions process
• By referral from graduate admissions due to not having met the grade point average, English language proficiency, or other requirements for direct admission.

The minimum documentation required for admission include: application, mark sheets/transcripts (in English and the original language), degree certificates (in English and the original language) and other required items as outlined by the individual degree programs.

Entry requirements for non-College of Engineering and Computing GID programs:

• An undergraduate degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field as specified by the particular International Pathways program;
• Minimum undergraduate GPA equivalent based on the applicant's country/institutional scale; each master’s degree program has its own GPA requirement, but admissions are also holistic and not based strictly on GPA;
• Documentation demonstrating the minimum English proficiency levels as specified by the particular program. The general minimum scores are as follows:
  • TOEFL iBT: 80 overall (subscores of 17 required)
  • NEW TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (4.0 all subscores)
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall (subscores of 6.0 required)
  • Duolingo: 110 overall
  • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 6

Entry requirements for College of Engineering and Computing GID programs:

• An undergraduate degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field as specified by the particular International Pathways program;
• Minimum undergraduate GPA equivalent based on the applicant's country/institutional scale; each master’s degree program has its own GPA requirement, but admissions are also holistic and not based strictly on GPA.
• Documentation demonstrating the minimum English proficiency levels as specified by the particular program. The general minimum scores are as follows:
  • One-Term (Accelerated) and Bridge:
    • TOEFL iBT: 75 overall
    • NEW TOEFL iBT: 4.0 overall
    • IELTS: 6.0 overall
    • Duolingo: 110 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 6
  • Two-Term (Standard):
    • TOEFL iBT: 65 overall
    • NEW TOEFL iBT: 4.0 overall
    • IELTS: 6.0 overall
    • Duolingo: 110 overall
    • Successful completion of or waiver from Academic English Level 5

Prescribed courses for the GID programs include approximately 10-14 credits. The intent of these courses is to prepare students for the demands of the George Mason graduate curriculum. Further, the prescribed courses may include up to 12 credits of coursework toward the student's graduate degree during their GID program's term of study.

Each GID program enables students to continue directly into the degree program upon successful completion of GID coursework. No grades of NC or I are permitted.

Students admitted to the university through a GID program must remain in good academic standing with the university according to university policy. 

Due to the nature of GID programs as both English language development and academic coursework, students are subject to a limited reenrollment policy. Students who do not enroll after the first term or withdraw for reasons other than poor academic performance may request to reenroll in a GID program(s) the following term (e.g., spring) to continue making progress toward meeting program requirements, with advance permission from the executive director. Students who do not enroll for two consecutive terms (e.g., spring and fall) must apply for readmission to the program and be re-assessed for language proficiency. Summer terms are counted for students whose initial enrollment begins in spring semester. 

*Courses in this sequence are offered in half-semester sessions, and taken sequentially in the first-half and second-half of the semester.

*Courses in this sequence are offered in half-semester sessions, and taken sequentially in the first- and second-half of the semester.