International Applicants

Ready to apply?

Our application for fall is open — and we can’t wait to read yours! Choose the application that you are most comfortable submitting.

USC Application Common App

Required Materials

All international freshman applicants must submit the following credentials:

Regardless of application type, you’ll provide your senior-year high school courses and grades, select your major, complete the essay and list your extracurricular activities, honors and awards. You’ll also choose whether you want your ACT or SAT scores considered in the review process.
Regardless of which application you select, you must pay the nonrefundable $100 application fee.
Official secondary transcripts must be from all secondary schools. If your transcript is not in English, you must submit a certified transcript translated into English by a school official. If you apply for admission before graduating from high school, you must submit an official (or attested copy) of all final transcript(s) after you graduate from high school.

A document is considered official if it is sent directly from the original source and remains unopened before reaching the university. Official documents include stamped and sealed envelopes received from your school, a credential evaluation service or a testing agency. Official documents may also be submitted electronically by a verifiable school.

All official documents can be sent to:

University of South Carolina
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
902 Sumter Street/Lieber College
Columbia, SC 29208
The test-optional policy for fall, spring and summer 2026 applies to international freshman applicants. You should decide if you want to include an ACT or SAT score for our review. Please note that proof of English proficiency is still required, depending on your country of citizenship.

If you choose to have your scores considered, we will superscore the SAT and ACT (ACT English, Math and Reading sections only) regardless of when the exam was taken. If you took either test more than once, we will superscore using all tests taken. 

USC’s deadline for receiving test scores aligns with the credentials deadline for your application type. If scores are not received by that deadline, your application will be reviewed on a space-available basis. Official test scores are required only if you enroll at USC.

USC’s SAT code is 5818, and the ACT code is 3880.

For additional details, review the frequently asked questions about USC's test-optional policy.

Exam	Minimum Score
TOEFL Internet Based	77
TOEFL Paper Based	550
IELTS	6.5
PTE	53
Duolingo	115
SAT	560 (Evidence-Based Reading Writing Subscore)
ACT	22 (English Subscore)

If you are unable to meet the minimum English proficiency requirement, English Programs for Internationals (EPI) may be an option. Undergraduate students interested in conditional admission should complete the undergraduate admissions application and indicate interest in both English Programs for Internationals (USC's intensive English program) and conditional admission. Students must also contact English Programs for Internationals directly to submit the EPI application.

You may also wish to explore the University of South Carolina’s International Accelerator Program, a one-year transition program for international students that leads to a four-year degree at the University of South Carolina.

English proficiency scores are not required for international students from countries where the primary language of instruction is English nor from graduates of high schools in the United States.

English proficiency exempt list:

American Samoa
Anguilla
Antigua
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Canada (note: residents of Quebec students must take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE)
Dominica
Gambia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Grenada
Grand Cayman
Guam
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Montserrat
New Zealand
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Tanzania
Trinidad/Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
United Kingdom
US Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Important Dates

Freshman applications must be submitted by the following deadlines::

Early Action Application Deadline

Apply by Oct. 15 to receive an admissions decision by mid-December. Credentials due by Nov. 1.*
Honors College Application Deadline

Apply by Nov. 15 to receive a decision by mid-February for the Honors College and our Top Scholar awards. Credentials due by Dec. 1.*
Regular Decision Application Deadline

Apply by Dec. 1 to receive an admissions decision by mid-March. Credentials due by Jan. 15.*

*Last date to submit any outstanding items listed on your USC Admissions Portal and to switch your preference on having test scores considered.

Application Review

International freshman admission is based primarily on a student's academic performance and english proficiency scores, if required. The admissions committee evaluates each applicant in that year's pool and selects applicants based on the following factors:

Part of our review process includes your choice of major. You have the option to choose a second choice major on your application. This ensures the highest consideration for admission based on the competitiveness of each class and the capacity of some majors. If you are unsure of your major, you can select “Undeclared” in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
You will choose an essay prompt from the list provided in the application, regardless of application type. The essay is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already in your application. The best essay topic is going to be the one you are most excited to write about and one that reflects on a personal experience. Make it less about the topic and more about you!
This section allows you to list and explain up to 10 extracurricular activities you’ve been involved in throughout high school. In the description, include your duties, recognitions or leadership roles. Explain the activity and your specific involvement. It’s more about quality than quantity in this section!

Questions about USC?

Frank McClary is the admissions representative for international students. Contact him at adminter@mailbox.sc.edu.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Apply

Tuition & Scholarships

Honors & Scholar Programs