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California State University, Chico

How to Apply: International Transfer

Dare to take the next step in your educational journey by joining the Wildcat Family. Chico State’s international student bachelor’s degree application is open for fall (August) and spring (January) start through Cal State Apply, the application for all CSU campuses.

Application Open Dates

Fall (August) Start: October 1–May 1
Spring (January) Start: August 1–September 30

Get Started

  1. Review Admissions Criteria
    Admissions requirements for international transfer students depend on the location of your college/university studies and the number of credits/units completed. No SAT or ACT exam scores required! An English proficiency exam may be needed.

  2. Submit Your Application
    Applications to Chico State are submitted online through Cal State Apply. Visit the Help Center for application tips, troubleshooting, and more. When creating your account, please select "F-1 visa" as an international student.

  3. Pay Your Fee
    There is a $70 application fee.

  4. Upload Supporting Documents
    Our document upload process is simple. Submit copies of your:
    • Transcripts and professional English translations (if not originally issues in English)
    • English exam scores (if applicable)
    • Passport bio page
    • Financial support documents (optional)

  5. Keep in Touch
    Make sure you add apply@csuchico.edu to your contact list. Email is our primary form of communication and how we will keep in contact with you throughout the admissions process.

Musical Theatre BFA Applicants
Audition materials are expected to be submitted through GetAcceptd within two weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application. More information is available through the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. 

Application Processing

We process and admit applicants on a rolling basis so you may receive an admissions decision as soon as two weeks after submitting all materials—expect longer wait times during the busiest periods.

  • Check Your Status
    After applying online, log in to your Portal and navigate to the Student Center to check your admission status. You will also be notified of admissions decisions by email.

  • Submit Additional Documents (if requested)
    If your application is complete, we may have enough information to make an admission decision. If, after reviewing your application, it is determined we need more information, including additional transcripts or test scores, we will notify you by email with instructions and a specific deadline.

Your international transcript will be evaluated in two phases:

  • Phase I evaluation (initial evaluation): an Admission Advisor will determine if you are eligible for admission to Chico State.

  • Phase II evaluation (secondary evaluation) once you are admitted and you notify Chico State of your intent to enroll, you are eligible to have your international transfer credits evaluated. Your Admission Advisor will assist you with this process.

  • Accept Admissions Offer
    Once you have been offered admission, commit to Chico State by submitting your intent to enroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to CSU policy, international applicants are not eligible for application fee waivers.

International Admission decisions are initially based on unofficial copies of your transcripts and exam scores. Immediately after submitting your online application, upload digital copies of all transcripts on the Supporting Documents webpage. If admitted and you decide to enroll, International Admissions will require official academic records (transcript(s), diploma, exam results, etc.). Official transcripts will be used to verify your self-reported information and any misreporting will jeopardize your admission status.

After you’ve been admitted, send official transcripts from your institution(s) to:

Mailed Transcripts
International Admissions & Outreach
Student Services Center 440
400 W First St
Chico, CA 95929-0680

Electronic Transcripts
International Admissions & Outreach
apply@csuchico.edu 

US document standards are different than other countries and education systems.
To be considered official, a transcript must be in a sealed envelope and be:

  • Issued directly from the secondary/high school or university/college;
  • A certified copy issued by a government office (example: Kuwait Cultural Office); or
  • Sent electronically via an official transcript transmission agency like Parchment
Further details are available on the International Admissions website.

Yes, all international applicants need to choose a major in the Cal State Apply application. We encourage you to explore our majors. Choosing a major on the application also helps us send you the right information and connect you to specific resources (advising, special events, etc.) before you arrive at Chico State.

No, financial documents are not initially required. We request these documents early so that if you are admitted, we can quickly issue your Form I-20 and you can move forward with the F-1 visa application process.

Applicants who don’t meet the English language requirements may apply for conditional admission by enrolling in a language program at one of our partner schools. When the appropriate language proficiency is reached, students can then begin their academic program at the University. 

The advantages to conditional admission?

  1. No English language proficiency exam is required! That means, no TOEFL or IELTS score is needed for you to attend.  We will accept successful completion of a partner language school program as a substitute for a TOEFL or IELTS score.

  2. You can begin your studies in the US now! Conditional admission allows you to begin your US classroom experience right away. Studies show language proficiency increases much more rapidly with full language and cultural immersion.

Learn more about conditional admission.