1. International Admissions
  2. Admissions Process
  3. Freshman
  4. Currently Attending a non-U.S. Secondary School

Currently Attending a non-U.S. Secondary School

Learn about the requirements for international students currently attending a secondary school outside of the U.S.

Academic Requirements

High School Diploma

You must have graduated by the time you start at NIU in order to be admitted.

Grades

You must have passing grades equivalent to a U.S. C+ average on all transcripts and/or exam scores.

Documentation Requirements

Incoming freshmen will need to submit the following to be considered for admission to NIU:

Proof of English Ability

Students enrolling at NIU must first prove they can communicate in English at a university level.

Any one of the following will be considered as adequate proof of English proficiency:

  • Official TOEFL or IELTS score report:
    • Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 71 (NIU’s TOEFL code: 1559)
    • Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 527
    • IELTS: Minimum required overall band score of 6.0
  • PTE Academic English: minimum score of 48
  • Duolingo English Test: Minimum score of 105
  • IGCSE, GCSE or GCE O-level or A-level English test subject (minimum passing grade of C)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB): Score of 4 or higher on English A Standard Level exam
  • Completion of ELS level 112 for Academic Purpose offered by ELS Language Centers
  • High school diploma from Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
    • Students will need to submit official school records

Contact Us

All supporting documents necessary to process your application must be sent to:

International Admissions
Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Highway
DeKalb, IL 60115
USA

Phone:
815-753-8276

Email:
IntlAdmissions@niu.edu