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Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. To ensure evaluation for the desired starting term, applications and all required documents must be ready for review at least two months prior to the start of the term. Late applications that cannot be processed in time for the desired starting term will be considered for the next available term.

1. An earned master's degree with a GPA of at least 3.25 from a regionally accredited institution and with an appropriate major. (see program-specific admission requirements under individual programs). 
2. Online application and non-refundable $50.
3. Essay.
4. Sealed official transcripts from every institution ever attended.
5. Three letters of recommendation from three people who are familiar with your academic and/or professional capabilities and able to assess your intellectual abilities, maturity, and motivation. Recommendations from your professors are preferred. Recommendations are unacceptable if they are from family members, friends, those without experience in the research-based doctorate, or from those unable to evaluate your academic potential to succeed in the program to which you are applying. Letters of recommendations are requested and submitted electronically after you submit your online application.
6. A resume/curriculum vitae (CV) that provides a short account of your academic background and professional experience.
7. Proficiency in the English language. (Ph.D. students are expected to write numerous papers and a dissertation. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and writing that does not express ideas clearly will affect a student’s grades and the completion of his or her degree. The faculty will not provide remedial help concerning grammatical errors or other writing problems. Applicants who are unable to write correctly and clearly are urged to seek remedial help before applying to any of the college’s programs.)

The college may request additional documentation to support the application. In addition, the applicants may submit standardized test scores or any additional documentation to strengthen their application.

You may request official transcripts and/or test score reports to be sent by mail to the address below:

Nova Southeastern University
Attn: Enrollment Processing Services (EPS)
3301 College Avenue
P. O. Box 299000
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33329-9905

Your previous institution may submit an official electronic transcript to: electronictranscript@nova.edu

Once you have submitted your application, you may view your supplemental items on your profile account and upload certain documents. If you want to upload additional documentation that are not listed, please inform the Office of Admissions. 

Program-specific admission requirements

1. Our doctoral programs do not offer a full-time, on campus format. Therefore, an I-20 cannot be issued for our doctoral programs. Please confer with the Office of International Students and Scholars for details about your status as an international student. 

2. If the degree was completed outside of the United States, it must be equivalent to a regionally-accredited United States master's degree in a related field with an equivalent GPA of at least 3.25. To enable the school to determine equivalencies, applicants must have their degrees evaluated by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course transcript evaluation with a GPA calculation is required. For current information on evaluation agencies visit www.naces.org/members.html.

3. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. The following standardized tests satisfy the university's English requirement for nonnative English speakers. Minimum scores must be met. Official test results must be sent directly from the testing agency to Nova Southeastern University. Institution codes for sending official scores are listed respectively. 

1. • Duolingo English Test
     Minimum Score: 105
     Institution Code: Nova Southeastern University - Graduate  
     *Please notify the graduate admissions office when you have sent your test results to our institution. Allow at least two days for the score to be received.

   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 
     Minimum score: 6.0 on the Academic test module
     Institution Code: 136840 - Nova Southeastern University

   • Pearson Test of English – (PTE-Academic) 
     Minimum score: 54 on the computer-based test.
     Institution Code: 88M
     *Please provide the graduate admissions office with your Score Report Code (SRC) once you receive it.

   • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 
     Minimum score: 80 on the Internet-based test
     Institution Code: 5514 - Nova Southeastern University 

An applicant can qualify for an exemption from taking an English proficiency examination if one of the following criteria is met:

• • Successful completion of at least a bachelor's degree at a regionally-accredited U.S. institution of higher education.
  • Passing Level 9 at Talk International Language School.
  • Completion of a degree at an institution in one of the following countries: Australia, English speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.

For more information on obtaining a student visa or an I-20 and other requirements for international students, please visit the university's Office of International Students and Scholars.