International Transfer Applicants
Caltech is at the leading edge of science, so we strive to enroll a student body that includes the brightest students from around the world.
How does Caltech define an international applicant?
Caltech defines international applicants as students who are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending school outside of the United States. If you are in the U.S. as an asylee, refugee, or undocumented student, you are a domestic applicant.
Regardless of where you live or attend school, we will review your application in the context of your school.
We will not review your application if any part is not translated in English.
Transcripts and Evaluations
We require official documents (transcripts) that note your class titles, grades, and predicted grades (if applicable); the transcript must be sent to us directly from your school. If the language of instruction in your school is not English, we require the original document and an English translation. Consider asking an English teacher or school official to translate the document. Caltech admissions officers are trained to understand your education system, so there is no need to translate or convert grades to the American system.
Caltech requires two college faculty evaluations from math, science, or engineering professors.
Fee Waivers
If the application fee presents a hardship for your family, we offer fee waivers.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is not available for international transfer and 3/2 applicants. International citizens who apply and are offered transfer admission or admission through the 3/2 program should expect to cover the full cost of attendance to Caltech without any assistance from the Institute.
International transfer and 3/2 students will be required to agree to the policies outlined in the International Financial Aid Statement of Intent.
English Proficiency Exams
Caltech will challenge your English skills, and we want to make sure that you will thrive in our classrooms and community. English Proficiency Exam scores are required of all international applicants unless 1) your native language is English or 2) English is the primary language of instruction in your secondary school and college/university. We accept the Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL.
The English proficiency exam must be taken prior to the application deadline.
| Test | Minimum Total | Minimum in each area |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7 | 7 |
| TOEFL | 100 | 25 |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 | 130 |
InitialView
At Caltech, you will be called upon regularly to engage with leading professors and classmates who will challenge you. As a result, international students are encouraged to provide us with an InitialView conversation and writing sample. If the cost of InitialView is prohibitive for you, fee waivers are available. Please contact InitialView with any questions.
InitialView Questions and Answers
No, InitialView is not graded and it is not a test. It does not replace the English proficiency exam requirement. English proficiency scores are required of all international applicants unless 1) your native language is English or 2) English is the primary language of instruction in your secondary school. We accept the Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS, or the TOEFL. English proficiency exams must be taken prior to the application deadline.
InitialView is recommended but not required for international students. You are welcome to provide supplemental materials that you believe will help our admissions committee learn more about you. Submit your external portfolio through the Beaver Breakroom, the application portal.
Your InitialView should be recorded by the application deadline.
We recommend InitialView for all international applicants. InitialView unscripted conversations and writing samples are recorded and give Admissions Officers insight into how you communicate and think. InitialView's interview experts are trained to engage you in conversation - no two experiences will ever be the same!
Head to InitialView's Frequently Asked Questions or contact InitialView via email at [email protected]. If you have questions for Caltech about using InitialView, reach out before the application deadline to [email protected].
Global Student Haven Initiative
Caltech has joined the Global Student Haven Initiative (GSHI), a new consortium that aims to support more effectively student refugees from around the world. The consortium aims to lower the educational barriers some student refugees face in the midst of crisis, and also to equip and prepare these scholars and researchers for eventual return to their home nation.
For more information about the program, visit the Global Student Haven Initiative website. For questions, please contact Jann Lacoss, at +1 626-395-6341 or [email protected].