Follow the steps below to submit a complete and successful application.
Application Evaluation
Your application will be evaluated on the basis of your undergraduate (and subsequent graduate) preparation, graduate aptitude test scores (if required), congruence between your objectives and the program's goals, and any additional criteria established by the program to which you are applying.
Application fees are non-refundable.
Transcripts
Transcripts from institutions within the United States: For the purposes of application review, up-to-date unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the application. If an offer of admission is accepted, a final, official transcript must be sent directly from the institution and list a degree and conferral date. Transcripts may be sent to coe-admissions@lehigh.edu, or in a sealed envelope to Lehigh University, College of Education, Admissions Office, 111 Research Drive, B-306, Bethlehem, PA 18015.
Transcripts from institutions outside of the United States: Transcripts from institutions outside of the United States require a course-by-course evaluation. Lehigh University's College of Education accepts transcript evaluations from companies that are current members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. We encourage applicants to review the options as the cost and time to completion varies by company. Please request a course-by-course evaluation converted to U.S. credits and grades and/or translation. This document is required as part of the application review process, and is therefore necessary for an application to be considered complete. We can accept an unofficial transcript evaluation for the purposes of application review. If an offer of admission is accepted, an official transcript must be sent directly from the evaluation company.
Admissions Staff
Julia Aughenbaugh
Assistant Director, Global, Certificate, and Non-Degree Programs
English Proficiency
To empower students to be successful, both during their academic journey at Lehigh University as well as during their future careers, Lehigh requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Lehigh offers multiple paths to demonstrate English proficiency. These paths are defined below.
Option A
Speak English and are a citizen or permanent resident of a country where English is an official language.
Option B
At the time of enrollment, will have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university located in the U.S. Please note that you must have been physically present in the U.S. for the majority of your enrollment, a minimum of 2 consecutive years.
Option C
At the time of enrollment at Lehigh, will have earned the international equivalent of a U.S. degree from a college or university located in a country where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be indicated on the transcript/transcript evaluation or easily verified on the institution's website. Please note that you must have been physically present in the country of study or a minimum of 2 consecutive years.
Option E
TOEFL iBT, IELTS, DuoLingo or Cambridge scores. Unofficial test scores (provided via an uploaded digital copy of a score report, appointment number, or TRF number; Lehigh will not consider self-reported scores) are accepted to provide applicants with a preliminary assessment of their English language abilities. These unofficial scores will be considered during the initial evaluation of an application. However, official test scores must be submitted from the testing agencies directly as soon as an offer of admission is made. Official test scores will be required for matriculation into Lehigh.
Option D
At the time of enrollment at Lehigh, will have studied and/or worked full-time for at least 2 consecutive years with in the last 5 years in a country or employment setting where English is an official and widely spoken language. This experience must be noted on a transcript and/or described on a resume or CV. We will accept a combination of study and work—e.g., an applicant who completed a 1-year master’s degree in the U.S. followed by 1 year of OPT. If you are or were a student, the full-time study must have been for at least 2 consecutive academic years AND English must have been the language of instruction for your studies. Please note that you must have been physically present in the country of study for a minimum of 2 consecutive years.
Examples of Countries Where English is an Official Language
United States of America, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Botswana, Canada, Cayman Island, Dominica, England, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Montserrat, Pakistan, Republic of Ireland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, Wales.
The full graduate English proficiency policy may be found here. Please contact coe-admissions@lehigh.edu with any questions.
English Language Test Scores
For graduate applicants who fall into Option C above, the College of Education accepts:
TOEFL internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
IELTS
DuoLingo
Cambridge
TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, and Cambridge test scores are valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Test scores must be valid until an I-20 is issued. If test scores are expired or expected to expire before that time, an updated exam will be required.
Lehigh University school code: 2365
The following target scores refer to the minimum scores within the College of Education.
COE TOEFL iBT SCORES
Listening - 20
Reading - 23
Speaking - 26
Writing - 24
Overall score - 90
COE DuoLingo Scores
Listening - 115
Reading - 130
Speaking - 145
Writing - 140
Overall - 120
COE IELTS SCORES
Listening - 6.5
Reading - 7.0
Speaking - 7.5
Writing - 6.5
Overall score - 6.5
COE Cambridge Scores
Listening - 176
Reading - 186
Speaking - 191
Writing - 176
Overall - 176
English Language Support
For an unconditional offer of admission, applicants must:
- Obtain or exceed ALL minimum score sections
and - Obtain or exceed the COMPOSITE/OVERALL minimum score.
Lehigh uses a holistic admission process, as such, English language test scores are only one metric used in evaluating graduate student applications. Applicants with test scores that do not meet the above minimum requirements may be considered for admission with conditional English enhancement training required, such as Lehigh University's StepUp program or ESLP courses.
International Student Admissions
The College of Education welcomes applicants from around the world. We provide extensive support for our international students who come to Lehigh University to study. Lehigh's Office of International Students and Scholars offers a comprehensive set of services for international students to assist with the transition to campus life. This support includes immigration services, a pre-arrival checklist, orientation and counseling, cultural programs and English as a Second Language training.
Financial Aid
Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for financial aid in the form of loans. All students, including international students, are eligible to apply for teaching assistantships, research assistantships, graduate assistantships, fellowships and scholarships.
Transfer Credits
The College of Education does not accept transfer credits for doctoral degrees. For more information regarding transferring credits into a master’s program, please review the College of Education Graduate Handbook in Section VII, Item M.
- Complete one Graduate Course Credit Transfer Petition for each course that you wish to transfer into your master’s degree program.
- Complete all parts of the front of the form and secure the necessary signatures. (Please note: Departmental recommendations are used to inform the Registrar’s decision, but the Registrar is the final authority for the university.)
- Submit the completed petition form to the Office of the Registrar, along with all attachments. Students may also be asked for a statement from their former institution that the course has not been used toward a prior degree.
- Once a course has been approved for transfer, you must request that an official transcript be sent to: Office of the Registrar, Lehigh University, 27 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015.