Frequently Asked Questions

Application

BGSU accepts new students for the fall (August) and spring (January) semesters.

For fall enrollment, we recommend applications and all supporting materials be submitted no later than July 15th, and for spring enrollment, we recommend applications and all supporting materials be submitted no later than November 15th.

  • For undergraduate students, all documents should be sent to BGSU by mail to the following address:
                Bowling Green State University
                Office of Admissions
                200 University Hall
                Bowling Green, OH USA 43403-0085
  • For graduate students, all documents should be sent to BGSU by mail to the following address:
                Graduate Enrollment
                200 University Hall
                Bowling Green State University
                Bowling Green, OH 43403-0085
  • For undergraduate students, the preferred GPA is 2.50 for first-year students and 2.00 for transfer students.
  • For graduate students, please check with the Graduate College and your respective department. On average, graduate applicants should have a 3.0 GPA or higher for admission.
  • For undergraduate students, please submit one (or more) of the following recommended minimums from the list below:
    71 TOEFL IBT (BGSU College Code:  1069)
    69 MELAB
    6.0 IELTS
    48 on Pearson Test of English
    Completion of ELS Intensive English for Academic Purposes Level 112
    Acceptable SAT composite score in verbal and math (BGSU’s College Codes: SAT – 1069)
    Acceptable ACT composite score with a competitive English band score (BGSU’s College Codes: ACT – 3240)

*Students transferring in 24 college credits (non-remedial) or more from a U.S. institution do not need to submit an English language test score.

  • For graduate students, official TOEFL, MELAB, IELTS score report recommended minimums are:
    80 TOEFL IBT
    77 MELAB
    6.5 IELTS
    Completion of ELS Intensive English for Academic Purposes Level 112
  • Yes, for undergraduate students, transfer credit evaluations are conducted by the Transfer & Evaluation Office. More information on this can be found at http://www.bgsu.edu/admissions/apply-now/transfer-students/transfer-of-credits.html.
  • For graduate students, as a general rule, students can transfer in no more than 9 credits towards their program; however, we recommend that you contact the Graduate College and your respective department for more information.

The expected time for completion will depend on a variety of factors, including whether you will be required to enroll in English as a Second Language classes, if you have transfer credit, and your program of choice. In general, bachelor’s degrees require 4 years, master’s degrees require 2 years, and doctoral programs can take approximately 4-5 years for completion.

Yes, BGSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additional program-specific accreditations can be found at the Provost's page.

Each program at BGSU has its own website, which includes information on the program’s faculty members. To find your program, simply refer to the question regarding the information on programs and majors offered at BGSU.

Yes! Please visit here to do so.

Undergraduate students are required to live on campus for their first two years at BGSU. For more information on the housing policies, please visit http://www.bgsu.edu/residence-life/forms-and-resources/housing-policies.html.

Charges will vary depending on the room you select on campus. For information about the various rooms available and relevant costs, please visit http://www.bgsu.edu/residence-life/comparison.html.

For housing and living costs, please estimate approximately $9,000 per academic year. Please note that an academic year incudes the fall and spring semesters; summer is separate.

ADMISSION, I-20 & VISA

  • For undergraduate applicants, once all required documents are received, an admission decision should be reached within approximately 2 weeks. To see if any additional documents are need for your application or to check on your status, please contact the Office of Admission at choosebgsu@bgsu.edu.
  • For graduate applicants, please contact the Graduate College at gradcol@bgsu.edu for inquiries related to your application or admission status.

Applicants will be informed via email of their admission decision to BGSU.

Once you are admitted to BGSU, you will receive instructions from the International Student Services department regarding the documents required to obtain your I-20. Once these items are received, your I-20 will be generated, and you will then request and pay for your shipping in order to receive your I-20.

Once you receive your I-20 and before you schedule a visa interview, you will need to pay the mandatory SEVIS fee of $200 at www.fmjfee.com. To do so, you will need your SEVIS ID number, which is located on your I-20.

  • For undergraduate students, to discuss deferring your enrollment, please contact the Office of Admissions at choosebgsu@bgsu.edu.
  • For graduate students, to discuss deferring your enrollment, please contact the Graduate College at
    gradcol@bgsu.edu and your respective graduate department.

ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION

An initial F1 student is permitted to enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date indicated on the student’s I-20. All students should plan to arrive approximately 3-5 days before the orientation program in order to adjust and secure housing, if needed. For information on arrival and orientation, please visit http://www.bgsu.edu/international-programs-and-partnerships/international-student-services/future-students/orientation.html.

Upon arrival to the U.S., you will interact with U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Be sure that you pack your passport, visa, I-20, admission letter, and financial supporting documents in your carry-on baggage, as you will need to easily access these for the border agents.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Toledo Metropolitan Airport are two options near Bowling Green State University.

If needed, BGSU provides airport transportation for new students from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) on predetermined dates and times. Students will receive communication about the available shuttles once they have received their visa to attend BGSU. Be sure you follow the respective deadlines to ensure that space will be available for you. Students who reserve a BGSU shuttle and fail to utilize this service will be charged a fee.

Yes! The International Programs & Partnerships Office spends countless hours arranging an orientation program that will prepare your for success at BGSU and allow you to meet several key faculty and staff members, as well as your fellow students. Please plan to attend all activities included on the orientation agenda, unless they are specifically noted as being optional.

For the spring 2017 semester, orientation will begin on January 4, 2017. All students should plan to arrive approximately 2-3 days before the orientation program in order to acclimate and secure housing, if needed. For information on arrival and orientation, please visit http://www.bgsu.edu/international-programs-and-partnerships/international-student-services/future-students/orientation.html.

All new international students are charged a $100 orientation fee regardless of whether you attend or not. It is to your benefit to attend!

Undergraduate students register for classes during student orientation, which occurs after the international student orientation program. Graduate students register with the assistance of their respective graduate department upon their arrival to BGSU.

In the U.S. you will find a variety of climates. Bowling Green is located in Northwest Ohio, which has a temperate climate. In the summer, you can expect temperatures in the high 90s (Fahrenheit), while during the winter, you can expect temperatures often in low teens (Fahrenheit). The spring and fall seasons are mild and pleasant. You can also expect that most houses and public buildings are equipped with proper heating and cooling units that keep interior temperatures comfortable during all seasons.

Updated: 03/23/2023 12:46PM