Requirements & Deadlines 

An official transcript, whether a physical copy or a secure .pdf document, ensures authenticity and content accuracy. Official transcripts must contain the University's seal and the signature of the University Registrar, Principal, Controller of Examinations, or Minister of Education. You must provide transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions for us to process your application. A transcript is considered official if it is sent directly from the applicant's home institution to the Pinkie Gordan Lane Graduate School in one of the following ways: 

• Electronic: We accept electronic submissions of official transcripts over a secure network from a service such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, SPEEDE, eScript-Safe, or your institution’s electronic delivery system. If using one of these services, please have transcripts delivered to [email protected].
• Mail: A sealed original transcript sent from the issuing institution by postal mail directly to graduate admissions. Transcripts sent directly to departments must be submitted to graduate admissions sealed from the applicant or department representative.
  
  Official hard copy transcripts can be mailed or hand delivered to:
  Louisiana State University
  Office of Graduate Admissions
  114 West David Boyd Hall
  Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
• In-Person: Applicants or departments may hand deliver with sealed copies of their official records to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Envelopes which have been opened or appear to have been tampered with will be considered unofficial. Students are strongly encouraged  to schedule an appointment (see button below) to drop off documents. 
  
  schedule a document drop off appointment 
• LSU Departments: Official transcripts sent directly to academic departments must follow the transcript submission requirements. Unsealed transcripts submitted from prospective students to academic departments are not considered official. If a department submits an unsealed official transcript, graduate admissions must verify the transcript was sealed upon receipt. 
• LSU A&M Current/Former Students: Applicants who have previously attended LSU A&M (LSU Baton Rouge) do not need to request their LSU A&M official transcript. All other LSU system schools transcripts must be submitted.
• Final Transcripts: If at the time of admission, we do not have an applicant's degree conferral or there is coursework in progress, a final transcript will be requested. 

Applicants can submit unofficial transcripts to expedite the admissions process. Please note, these copies of transcripts are not considered official. All admitted students are required to submit official transcripts. Applicants may qualify for admission to the Graduate School on a provisional basis until official transcripts are received. All provisionally admitted students must submit official transcripts within 30 days after classes begin in the semester of entry. If official transcripts are not submitted 30 days after the first day of class, an admissions hold will be placed on the admitted student's academic record preventing future registration.

Unsealed transcripts submitted from prospective students to academic departments are not considered official. If a department submits an unsealed official transcript, the Office of Graduate Admissions must verify the transcript was sealed upon receipt.

Photocopies or other duplications of a transcript, such as notarized copies, faxed, or scanned documents are not considered official.

Please Note: The official transcript requirement will remain "Outstanding" on your Slate application checklist. However, this will not prevent your application from proceeding to "Departmental Review."

Official transcripts will be compared to any unofficial documents used for admission. If discrepancies are identified, your admission may be rescinded.

• The Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School does not require the submission of official standardized admission test scores from nationally standardized graduate admission test, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or an equivalent test. Because these tests are required by departments rather than by the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School, contact the program of interest for more information.
• These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official.
• Please use ETS Institution Code 6373 to have the agency send scores to LSU.
  • Note: Although there is not a grad school option, we can access your scores if the correct institution code is used.
• GRE/GMAT
• If applying to MS in Athletic Training using ATCAS. use the following code: 4927 (LSU-MS Athletic Training-ATCAS-Grad)

English Language Proficiency

LSU requires every international student to submit official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson's Test of English (PTE). Minimum score requirements for admission to the Graduate School are:

• TOEFL
  • Internet-Based Minimum Score: 79
  • Paper-Based Minimum Score: 550
  • Computer-Based Minimum Score: 213
• IELTS
  • Minimum Score: 6.5
• PTE
  • Minimum Score: 59
• Duolingo English
  • Minimum Score: 110
• Michigan English Test (4-Part Skill Test)
  • Minimum Score: 53 (B2)

Important Details:

• TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years after the test date. Applicants with expired scores will need to retest and provide updated scores.
• The minimum score to satisfy the English proficiency requirement must be acquired in a single test.
• The Graduate School does not recognize Superscoring or MyBest Score as a valid cumulative score for admission purposes.

English Language Proficiency Exemptions

U.S. Post-Secondary Degree

Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirements if they have completed one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree earned from an accredited U.S. institution
• A college-level degree showing the completion of post-secondary education in a country listed below where English is the primary official language

Official documents are required showing completion of one of the above before a student can be exempted from the English Language Proficiency requirement. The Office of Graduate Student Services reserves the right to require a satisfactory English Language Proficiency score from any applicant.  

Country of Origin

International applicants from official English language-qualifying countries are not required to submit English language proficiency score. The country of origin list is subject to change. Contact Graduate Admissions with specific questions.  Exemption Note: With few exceptions, international students (including those who were exempted from English proficiency requirements) are required to sit for an English Placement Exam.

• Recommendation letters are a departmental requirement. The recommender can be added during the application process. 
• A link is emailed to each recommender with detailed instructions on how to submit the letter directly to the Graduate School.