CU Denver International Admissions considers a number of factors in determining an applicant’s level of academic preparation and success. We interpret the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and CU Denver freshman and transfer admission standards in an internally consistent manner, while also taking into account the wide variety of educational backgrounds and experiences international students bring to the university.

Applicants are considered for admission as first-year students if applying to university for the first time after completing their secondary education (comparable to US high school completion) or a relevant high school equivalency exam. Applicants are considered for admission as transfer students if they have completed any amount of post-secondary coursework. In unusual or unique cases, International Admissions may elect to use either the first-year or transfer admission criteria in order to base our admission decision on the best available set of evidence regarding the applicant’s likelihood for academic success at CU Denver.

For detailed information about CDHE and CU Denver admission criteria for undergraduate applicants, please see this page.

How to Apply for First-Year Admission

1. Complete and submit your application online via the International Admissions website. First-year students may also apply via the Common Application.
2. Pay your $75 non-refundable application fee. Note: you can provide a fee waiver code, or request a fee waiver, before submitting your application.
3. Provide the following documents:
   1. Complete transcripts from all high schools you have attended - even if you did not graduate from the school.
      1. You may provide official or unofficial transcripts to use for the application and admission process. If you are admitted using unofficial transcripts and enroll at CU Denver, you will be required to provide the official or original document(s) during your first semester of enrollment.
      2. If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the transcript. CU Denver does not have a preferred translation provider; we recommend that you use an ATA member company. Note: You do not need to provide an external evaluation of your transcript. International Admissions will evaluate your transcript during the application process. You only need to provide a translation.
   2. High school completion examination scores, as appropriate for your country or situation. Please see this list for documentation requirements from around the world.
   3. Proof of English language proficiency (ELP). Please see this page for more information. Note: applicants who do not provide proof of ELP, or who do not meet the ELP requirement, will be considered for conditional admission and encouraged to attend CU Denver's ESL Academy before starting their degree studies.
   4. After reviewing your file, International Admissions may determine that we require additional documents. In this case, you must provide all requested documents in order to complete your application.

How to Apply for Transfer Admission

1. Complete and submit your application online via the International Admissions website.
2. Pay your $75 non-refundable application fee. Note: you can provide a fee waiver code, or request a fee waiver, before submitting your application.
3. Provide the following documents:
   1. Complete transcripts from all colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions of any kind that you have attended - even if you did not complete a degree at the institution.
      1. You may provide official or unofficial transcripts to use for the application and admission process. If you are admitted using unofficial transcripts and enroll at CU Denver, you will be required to provide the official or original document(s) during your first semester of enrollment.
      2. If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the transcript. CU Denver does not have a preferred translation provider; we recommend that you use an ATA member company.
         Note: You do not need to provide an external evaluation of your transcript. International Admissions will evaluate your transcript during the application process. You only need to provide a translation.
   2. If you have completed less than 24 US semester credits or one year of post-secondary study, you must also provide complete transcripts from all high schools you have attended. Please follow the high school transcript instructions listed under “How to Apply for First-Year Admission” above.
   3. Proof of English language proficiency (ELP). Please see this page for more information. Note: applicants who do not provide proof of ELP, or who do not meet the ELP requirement, will be considered for conditional admission and encouraged to attend CU Denver's ESL Academy before starting their degree studies.
   4. After reviewing your file, International Admissions may determine that we require additional documents. In this case, you must provide all requested documents in order to complete your application.