International Applicants
Students from Around the World
WPI is proud of the strong presence of international students on our campus. Each brings unique perspectives and cultural diversity that strengthen our community. The graduate research they do here is a vital part of our campus work.
Our international graduate students come from more than 50 countries and comprise more than one-third of our full-time graduate student population. The graduate studies they embark upon here helps solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.
Various funding opportunities exist to help pay for international students’ education, including scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and financial aid.
International House
From immigration information, including getting a Visa, to programs in English as a second language and cultural immersion, the professionals at WPI’s International House are dedicated to supporting global international applicants.
Diversity and Inclusion
WPI faculty, staff, and students are an eclectic group of people with diverse backgrounds and interests, yet each shares WPI’s spirit of collaboration and inclusivity. Students from around the world are what makes a WPI education a global one.
Admissions Required Test Information
English Language Proficiency Requirement
Applicants seeking to attend WPI whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. WPI also accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition and UKVI IELTS but does not accept paper IELTS test report forms.
Most programs require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 84, TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, IELTS score of 7 (minimum sub-score of 6.5), or Duolingo score of 115.
The Business Masters programs require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90, TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, IELTS score of 7 (minimum sub-score of 6.5), or Duolingo score of 115.
The Business PhD program requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100,TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, or IELTS score of 7.5 (minimum sub-score of 6.5), or Duolingo score of 115.
The English proficiency test score requirement is waived for applicants who have either completed two years of full-time, continuous study in a college or university in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or the Anglophone regions of Africa, Canada, and the Caribbean within five years of matriculating at WPI or been in the U.S. for three or more years working. View English speaking countries.
If an applicant from an Anglophone country indicates a native language other than English on their application, the system will request an English proficiency test score. If an application believes they qualify for an ESL wavier, they may contact WPI's Office of Graduate Admissions at grad@wpi.edu with the subject line "ESL Waiver" and a summary of their English Language credentials/ability and country of origin.
Students who have studied at English-language schools in nations where the lingua franca is not English do not qualify for a wavier. For example, a non-native English speaker who studied at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, must submit TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, or Duolingo scores, even though the language of instruction at AUC is English.
Learn more about our ESL waiver policies.
GRE Requirement
Several WPI programs require or strongly recommend the GRE. Please review the application requirements page to identify if the test is required. There are no minimum GRE scores, but the average for admitted students is typically 150 verbal, 165 quantitative, and 3.0 analytical.
Transcript Information
All required application credentials should be uploaded electronically through the application. WPI accepts unofficial transcripts during the application process. All international applicants must upload a copy of their original transcript in the official language as well as an English translation to their application. Paper documents mailed will be discarded.
Applicants who enroll at WPI will be required to submit final and official transcripts from any university that issued a degree or where classes were taken towards a degree. Mailed final and official transcripts will be accepted.
STEM Optional Practical Training
The U.S. government has recognized the importance of STEM education by offering certain privileges to STEM degree recipients who are foreign nationals, including a 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Nearly all of WPI’s graduate programs are eligible for this extension, including data science, information technology, and operations analytics and management. Learn more about this opportunity at the STEM OPT Hub.