International Instructions
Drexel takes into consideration a number of criteria when determining admission, including your high school performance and/or college performance, letters of recommendation, and essay.
Prerequisites and Deadlines
Before beginning your application to Drexel, please review our Admission Prerequisites and Application Deadlines.
Required Materials
Complete an application for Undergraduate Admission. We prefer that you apply online to Drexel. We accept the following online applications:
• Drexel's Online Application
• Drexel's VIP Application
• The Common Application
If you do not wish to apply online, you may download and print either of the following:
• Drexel's Undergraduate Full-Time Admission Application [PDF]
• The Common Application and Drexel's Supplemental Application [PDF]
You may only submit one application. To expedite the application process, please write your full name (no nicknames, please) on all items submitted. If you need to change your major or co-op selection after submitting your application, please Email Admissions or call 215-895-2400.
We encourage you to apply online to expedite the admission process.
All applicants (except Nursing ACE applicants) must submit a 250- to 500-word essay online. We do not accept essays submitted on paper.
Westphal College of Media Arts & Design applicants: Relate your essay topic to your interest in your intended major. To confirm that your intended major is in Westphal, view our Undergraduate Majors.
BA/BS/JD applicants: Relate your essay topic to your interest in obtaining a juris doctorate degree at Drexel and your motivation for pursuing a career in law. You can include information about your academic and personal backgrounds that is relevant to preparing you for this program. Note: Transfer students are ineligible for this program.
BS/PhD applicants: Describe any research involvement. Note: Transfer students are ineligible for this program.
BS/MS in Psychology applicants: Qualified applicants will be requested to submit an additional essay. Note: Transfer students are ineligible for this program.
Custom-Designed major applicants: Qualified applicants will be requested to submit additional admission materials.
All other applicants: You may write about why you are interested in your choice of major, or you may write on any subject you choose.
All international applicants are required to submit an official academic record (with notarized English translation) from every secondary or postsecondary school attended. A transcript is official only when it is sent directly from an institution to Admissions, or when it is officially signed, stamped in color, and sealed. Transcripts must include all coursework from grades 9, 10, and 11. Twelfth (12th) grade coursework in process should also be included. You may print the Transcript Request Form [PDF] and use it to request official transcripts from your school counselor and/or registrar.
Transfer Students: Transfer applicants must submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Syllabus/course descriptions must accompany transcripts for evaluation of transfer credits.
If you have completed fewer than 24 credits at the time of application, you must also submit an official copy of your secondary school transcript.
Note: Radiologic Technology applicants are required to submit a high school transcript regardless of the number of completed college credits. |
All Nursing ACE and Radiologic Technology applicants who have coursework from an institution outside of the United States — except Study Abroad — must have their transcripts evaluated by one of these agencies:
• World Education Services (WES)
• International Consultants of Delaware
• Educational Credential Evaluators
International freshman applicants whose native language is English or who attend high school in the United States are required to take the SAT or ACT. Students may choose to submit the TOEFL or IELTS in addition to the SAT or ACT.
All other international freshman applicants may take the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS. Drexel strongly prefers that applicants submit both the SAT and either the TOEFL or IELTS; candidates who do so will be considered more competitive.
Results must be forwarded to Admissions. All students should use the following codes to send score reports to Drexel: SAT and TOEFL 2194 and ACT 3556.
Drexel encourages you to submit scores each time you take the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS test. The University will consider your highest section scores across all test dates submitted. Final admission decisions are made using only the highest scores. Each time you submit scores, the University updates your record with any new high scores. If you submit ACT scores and the composite score is higher than the SAT section scores, the ACT scores will be considered for admission.
Transfer Students: If you have completed 24 or more college-level credits, including English Composition I and II, and earning a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, you are not required to submit standardized test scores. Otherwise you must take either the TOEFL or IELTS and request that the results be forwarded to Admissions. |
All Nursing ACE and BSN Co-op applicants: Applicants born outside of the United States are required to take the TOEFL examination. Results must be forwarded to Admissions. Drexel encourages you to submit scores each time you take this exam. All students should use the following code to send score reports to Drexel: TOEFL 2194.
Passing test scores for Nursing ACE and BSN Co-op applicants only:
• TOEFL iBT: Minimum combined score of 79 with a 26 score or higher in the speaking section.
OR
• TOEFL paper-based exam: Total score of 550 and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) exam with a minimum score of 55.
The TOEFL can be waived if the applicant falls into one of these categories:
• Born on a U.S. military base.
• Completed four years of high school and received a high school diploma from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Ireland.
Students who meet the above requirements and wish to request a waiver of the TOEFL exam must submit a copy of their high school transcript(s) reflecting all four years of attendance and graduation date. Transcripts may be sent via mail, email, or fax. Students may send emails to enroll@drexel.edu; faxes can be sent to 215-895-1285.
Two letters of recommendation are required. At least one must be completed by a high school counselor. You may submit our online Letter of Recommendation form or print and submit the Recommendation Forms [PDF]. Recommendations on official letterhead will also be accepted.
Note: Nursing ACE applicants are not required to submit recommendations.
| Transfer Students: Letters of recommendation are not required. |
For students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, proof of financial responsibility showing sufficient financial support for education in the United States is required to obtain a student visa. Drexel prefers that you submit the following materials with your complete application. All documents must be notarized and written in English:
- I-20 Application Form [PDF]
- A current official bank letter in either your name or your sponsor's name. The signature of the bank official must attest to the amount of funds available in the account.
- A non-Drexel scholarship award letter in your name. Enclose a signed letter or affidavit of support giving full details regarding the promise of support, and the specific amount of money in U.S. dollars.
You are required to submit a sample of your creative work with a maximum of 12 images of drawings, paintings, photographs, or other visual materials or a website. All work submitted becomes part of the application and will not be returned. Your portfolio must be submitted online at HighSchoolPortfolios.com.
Dance applicants are required to audition. Visit the Westphal College Dance website for more information.
Freshman applicants only: To be considered for Early Decision, please refer to our Early Decision Admission Process for additional requirements.
Invasive Cardiovascular Technology applicants are required to submit a copy of their ARRT certification.
Mailing Addresses
| By Postal Mail |
By Express Courier
(DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) |
Drexel University
Application Processing
PO Box 34789
Philadelphia, PA 19101 |
Drexel University
Application Processing
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2876 |
Admission Decisions
Under Drexel's Early Decision plan, students who complete their application by the November 15 deadline will receive an admission decision in mid-December, much earlier than the rest of the applicant pool. Students accepted under Early Decision must attend Drexel as the decision is binding and withdraw any applications submitted to other schools. Accepted students must confirm their intent to enroll by submitting the tuition and housing deposits by January 15.
Students not applying under Drexel's Early Decision plan will apply Regular Decision. Drexel will review Regular Decision applications after the January 15 deadline with admission decisions being released by April 1. Drexel University subscribes to the National Candidates' Reply Date of May 1 and students accepted under Regular Decision must submit the tuition and housing deposits by this date to reserve their seat in the incoming freshman class.
Applications for transfer applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Check Your Application Status Online
During the admission process, you'll have the opportunity to check your admission status online. Once your application materials have been processed, you'll receive an email providing you with a Student ID and PIN that will give you access to the Discover Drexel Portal.
If you are offered admission to Drexel, be sure to review our information for Accepted Students.
Admission Decision Appeals
An applicant who has been denied admission to the University may appeal. Reversals on a decision are rare, and if considered, are done based on changes in the applicant's academic criteria, or personal circumstances that could not be considered adequately through the standard admission review process.
An applicant appealing a decision should compose a letter to the Academic Appeal Chairperson stating the reason for the appeal and provide updated documentation. The appeal should be clear and concise, and provide new information. Your letter should not repeat information already presented in your initial application. The appeal should be emailed to the attention of the Academic Appeal Committee Chairperson at enroll@drexel.edu.
Notification of the decision of the committee is final and will be made known to the applicant by mail within two to three weeks.
Notices and Disclosures
Please refer to Drexel's Consumer Information and Student Right to Know for policies that pertain to all prospective and enrolled students.
Drexel University abides by the provisions of Public Law 93-380, which grants the student the right to examine admission files that are part of the student's permanent "Educational Record." Please note that "Applicants for Admission" are not granted rights under this legislation. Once an "Applicant for Admission" becomes a "Student" by enrolling and attending Drexel, any admission file that becomes a part of the student's permanent "Educational Record" becomes available to the student for review. Applicants should understand that only the transcripts, CEEB, SAT, Achievement Test Score Reports, and those portions of the application generated by the student will become part of the student's permanent "Educational Record" upon enrollment.
No other information or material gathered or submitted in the admission process will be retained as part of the student's permanent "Educational Record." Statements or evaluations provided by any individual do not become part of the student's permanent "Educational Record" and will not be available for the student's review.
All documents that you submit, or are submitted on your behalf, in support of this application for admission to Drexel University become the property of the University and will under no circumstances be released to you or any other party. In accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, all admission decisions are given to the applicant only. No decisions on applications are revealed over the telephone.