International Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

Concordia University welcomes applications from international students. The opportunities which occur when interacting with students of varied backgrounds and cultures are exciting and encouraging.

Recommended Deadlines for submitting application:

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1

The Application

You must complete the application for undergraduate admission to Concordia University. You may also choose to download the print application and submit it with a $50 fee to the Office of Admission.

Please note that there are additional requirements for application to the following programs:

Honors Program:

  1. Two letters of recommendation from teachers who have had you as a student in class. You only need to submit one letter if the recommendation you submitted for your undergraduate application to CU was written by a teacher.
  2. A 500-word essay describing the academic, social and spiritual qualities of your ideal university. Consider the following questions as you write your essay (though you should not answer each of these questions in a mechanical manner): What does your ideal university "look like" and "feel like"? What is its purpose? What is the role of teachers? Of students? Of the wider community? What is YOUR role? The Admissions Committee is looking for substance and creativity in your responses. This essay is a way to let the Admissions Committee know "who you are." This theme should be word-processed and double-spaced.

Degree Completion:

Concordia University has a rolling admission process, however, it is strongly recommended that students begin the application process 6-8 weeks before the cohort in which they plan to begin.

  1. Submit your on-line application. Apply online now.
  2. Coordinate with Concordia University for your transcript release. Fill out the transcript release form and return to Concordia University. If there are further questions, an Admissions Counselor will contact you.
  3. Request that an instructor or employer/supervisor submit a recommendation to CU on your behalf. CU will accept your recommendation on the downloadable recommendation form or as a personal letter.
  4. Submit a current resume or a summary of your professional experience relating to the program to which you are applying.
  5. BS Social Work majors only: Submit a Document of Relevant Social Work Experience.

Nursing Program:

Due to the high demand for positions in this program, the admissions process is more specific and stringent than that for traditional freshmen or transfer students.

There are two ways to enter the nursing program.

  1. Students with less than 12 semester credits or 18 quarter credits should follow the freshman application process.
  2. Students with more than 12 semester credits or 18 quarter credits should follow the transfer application process.

Supporting Credentials

Freshmen applicants must submit all supporting credentials Concordia University's Office of Admission.

Concordia University Admissions
2811 NE Holman Street
Portland, OR 97211

High School Transcript(s)

Submit official copies of your secondary school transcripts for all grading periods completed at the time of application. If you are enrolled in an international curriculum with national exams, submit these results as well.

College/University Transcript(s)

If you're applying to Concordia as a freshman and have completed college or university coursework, you must submit official transcripts from these courses. If you've enrolled at a college or university as a candidate for a degree, you must apply to Concordia University as a transfer student.

Standardized Testing

Submit your results from ether SAT-I or the ACT. The college code numbers for the tests are: SAT 4079; ACT 3458.

Letter of Recommendation

Request that a teacher or guidance counselor submit a recommendation to Concordia on your behalf. The university will accept your recommendation on the downloadable recommendation form or as a personal letter.

English Profienciency

English is the language of instruction at Concordia University. You must be able to understand rapid, idiomatic English and express yourself clearly in speech and writing.

If your first language or the primary language spoken in your home is not English, you must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The University TOEFL code is 4079.

The required test scores are:

Internet Based Test: 71 or above

Computer Based Test: 195 or above

Paper Based Test: 525 or above

Students with no TOEFL score or TOEFL scores less than the above specifications may be conditionally admitted based on completion of final level at ELS Language Centers.