George Mason University
Overview
George Mason is a top-ranked public university just 45 minutes from Washington, DC. Students benefit from incredible research opportunities while living on a safe and diverse campus.
- 84% of employed students are in positions related to their career goals (Mason Career Plans Survey 2017).
- #22 Nationwide for Top Internship Opportunities (The Princeton Review 2018).
- #22 Most Diverse University in the US (U.S. News & World Report 2018).
- #136 National Universities (U.S. News and World Report 2019).
- #78 Best Undergraduate Business Programs (U.S. News & World Report 2018).
Quick facts
- Founded in 1972
- Nationalities represented: 130+
- Number of international students: 2,600+
- Total number of students: 34,000+
Why This University
Courses
International Year One
International Year One allows students to begin earning credits toward their degree even if they don’t meet the academic and English requirements for direct entry.
- International Year One in Business
- International Year One in Engineering, Computing and Statistics
- International Year One in Human and Social Development
- International Year One in Humanities and Social Sciences
- International Year One in Science
Transfer Program
A customized program allowing students to transfer credits and apply them toward their degree.
- Undergraduate Transfer Program
Direct Entry
If your student meets the academic and English language requirements for the degree program, they can apply directly to the university program.
Integrated Master’s Program
Students who meet the English language requirements for the graduate degree program and need additional academic and cultural support can apply directly to the university program and receive extra support customized for international students.
- View Integrated Master’s Program courses
Graduate Pathway
Graduate Pathway program offering the academic foundation, essential language skills and GMAT/GRE test preparation to successfully move on to master’s degrees.
- Graduate Pathway in Data Analytics
- Graduate Pathway in Education
- Graduate Pathway in Finance
Academic English
An intensive program offering students rapid progress in preparation for an academic degree.
- Academic English
Study Abroad With English
Academic English and undergraduate courses that earn credits toward an undergraduate degree.
- Study Abroad with English
Top subjects
- Cybersecurity
- Criminology
- Special Education
- Systems Engineering
- Healthcare Management
- Public Policy Analysis
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Business
Key rankings
- 84% of employed students are in positions related to their career goals (Mason Career Plans Survey 2017).
- #22 Nationwide for Top Internship Opportunities (The Princeton Review 2018).
- #22 Most Diverse University in the US (U.S. News & World Report 2018).
- #136 National Universities (U.S. News and World Report 2019).
- #78 Best Undergraduate Business Programs (U.S. News & World Report 2018).
Student success
Take a look at our student progression results in all programs for 2018-19:
Eligible: 93% of students who successfully completed the Pathway program and qualified for admission as degree-seeking students.
Enrolled: 97.5% of students who enrolled as degree-seeking students in their next term of degree study at their host university.
INTO North America Progression Record 2018-19, 31st of October 2019
Campus and location
1. Fairfax Campus
Want to study in a large metropolitan area or on a quiet, tree-lined campus? Become a George Mason University student and you’ll get the best of both worlds. At Mason’s Fairfax, Virginia campus, you’ll be part of a safe, suburban community with students from all over the world. The best part? You’ll still have all the benefits of the big city, with easy access to all kinds of exciting things to see, learn and experience in the Washington, DC, area. The city of Fairfax is ranked #3 on the Top 25 Places to Live Well (Forbes 2009). You can walk to downtown Fairfax to enjoy unique restaurants, free community festivals and boutique shops. You can also take a free shuttle from campus to the metro, and 45 minutes later, you can find yourself in front of the White House or some of the world-famous (and free) Smithsonian museums. Shop along the Georgetown Waterfront, hike in the Blue Ridge mountains, or visit historic US sites like George Washington’s home. You’ll never run out of things to do with your new friends.
2. Arlington Campus
Located just 15 minutes outside of Washington, DC, the Arlington Campus is situated in the urban neighborhood of Virginia Square. The campus has a strong focus on professional education courses, so students on this graduate campus will have access to endless opportunities for career and professional development, in addition to the state-of-the-art educational spaces, libraries and technology.
Accommodation
For students applying for direct entry to university accommodation information can be found on the university website.
Student Residences
- Residence hall close to INTO Centre
- Choice of single or double rooms
- 24-hour support with on-site assistants
University facilities
Students can take advantage of three on-campus recreation facilities that offer fitness and wellness programs. The Student Health Services provide quality health care. Downtown Fairfax offers a mix of cafes, boutique shopping and designer stores.
Tuition fees
Undergraduate New Student Fee: This is a mandatory, non-refundable, one-time fee. The fee
is charged to the account of every newly admitted, degree-seeking student at the time of
registration, regardless of orientation attendance or enrollment status. The new student fee is $335
for undergraduate students and $250 for transfer students.
Please Note: In addition to the tuition and fees described below, various course and lab fees may
be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Additional information is
available on the Student Accounts Office web site
Admission Requirements & Deadline
Application Deadlines & Admissions Requirements
- October 1 for spring (January) semester
- November 1 Early Action and Scholarship Priority Deadline
- April 1 final scholarship deadline
- June 1 final deadline for fall (August) semester
- July 1 deposit deadline
- October 1 for spring (January) semester
- March 1 for fall (August) semester
If you are an international student who requires a F1 or J1 Visa to study in the United States, we have specific deadlines for the processing of the I-20. The deadlines given below are the last possible day the Office of Graduate Admissions can process admissions decisions. Please plan on applying to your program and submitting application materials at least 60 days in advance of this deadline to give enough time to process and review applications for a decision.
Cut-off dates for Admissions for International Students:
Spring 2020: November 30th
Fall 2020: July 1st
*These deadlines refer to applicants who require a new F1 or J1 Visa. Transfer students can be admitted after these cut off dates.
Deadlines vary by academic program. Check with the department or school for program specific deadlines.
The following factors are considered when reviewing applications for admission:
- Completed online application and application fee
- Certified official, original transcripts from all secondary schools as well as official results from any leaving certificates or university entrance exams taken. A certified English translation must be submitted for any documents not already in English. All application materials are property of George Mason University and will not be returned to the applicant, nor shared with another individual, institution, or organization under any circumstances.
- Official scores from SAT or ACT. International students may be considered for admission with no SAT or ACT test score via the score optional admission program. This program allows for highly qualified students to be evaluated with no SAT or ACT score. More information can be found on our Score Optional information page. International applicants to engineering or computer science majors within the Volgenau School of Engineering are required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
- Verification of English language proficiency. See the English Proficiency requirements page.
- Secondary School Report (PDF) and counselor recommendations. We suggest sending two (2) letters of recommendation, one from a high school counselor and one from a teacher. There is no special recommendation form and letters can be submitted electronically or via e-mail to [email protected].
- Essay or personal statement on a topic of your choice.
Scholarship
We support you
We are committed to helping talented and ambitious international students like you achieve their goals of studying at George Mason University. We award scholarships for our Pathway programs in amounts that are typically between $1,000 to $18,000 per program per qualified student.
Do I qualify for a scholarship?
To find out whether you are eligible to apply, you’ll need to take a look at the requirements for each individual scholarship. If you are not eligible for one particular scholarship, there may be another you can apply for instead.
What types of scholarship are available?
You may be eligible for a regional scholarship of varying values depending on the program you are applying for.
- Undergraduate Transfer Program (UTP) – $1,000- $5,000
- International Year One (1-semester) – $2,500- $8,000
- International Year One (2-semester) – $5,000- $15,000
- International Year One (3-semester) – $6,000- $18,000
- Graduate Pathway (1-semester) – $2,500- $5,000
- Graduate Pathway (2-Semester) – $5,000- $10,000
Maximum value | $18,000 |
Eligibility |
|
Course | International Year One Graduate Pathway |
Maximum value | $10,000 |
Eligibility |
|
Course | International Year One Graduate Pathway |
Maximum value | $10,000 |
Eligibility |
|
This merit based scholarship is split into two values – $6,000 for students achieving the higher GPA, and $3,000 for those meeting the lower GPA. To learn more about this scholarship, contact your INTO regional officer, Enrollment Services Advisor
Course | International Year One |
Maximum value | $18,000 |
Eligibility |
|
If you apply directly to Mason, you are automatically considered for this scholarship. For more information about this merit-based scholarship please visit the Mason Scholarships page.
Maximum value | $15,000 |
Eligibility |
|
English Requirements
IELTS Undergraduate
6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each subsection
IELTS Graduate
- School of Business Graduate: 7 overall, with a minimum of 7.0 in each subsection
- All other graduate programs- 6.5 total band score
Pearson Academic Test of English
A minimum score of 59, all applicants
Duolingo English Test Undergraduate (Fall 2020 only)
Minimum score of 120
Duolingo English Test Graduate (Fall 2020 only)
Minimum score of 125
SAT I
Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher (new exam). Mason’s SAT testing code is 5827. Undergraduate applicants only
