International Admission

We welcome students from all over the world to The Theatre School.  As part of the application review process, DePaul University conducts a free course-by-course transcript evaluation for coursework completed outside of the U.S. These evaluations can be used for DePaul admission purposes only. If you would like to take advantage of this service, you will need to upload complete academic documents for all post-secondary levels of study at the time of application. These should be in original language with English translation (as needed).

If you choose to "opt-out" of DePaul's credential evaluation, you will need to provide your own course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the companies listed below.  The agencies require those with non-US educational credentials to submit their original educational credentials (transcripts, mark sheets, degree certificates) and evaluation fee directly to one of the three evaluation companies below. You must request an evaluation that will provide us with a course by course evaluation of your record which will be used during the admission process. Official transcript evaluations must be sent to us directly from the credential agency.

• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.)
  Evaluation Request
• Educational Perspectives
  Evaluation Request
• One Earth International Credential Evaluation
  Evaluation Request

If you choose to use one of these external credential evaluation companies, please direct any questions about required credentials to the evaluation company you have selected and not to our admission office. The Theatre School's preferred outside evaluation agencies are the three list above.  Your application will not be reviewed until we receive the completed evaluation from the company you select.

Transcripts submitted to The Theatre School for any administrative purpose will become property of The Theatre School and will not be returned. Documents can be obtained from the institution or organization that originally issued the document.

Students who earned a bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. must present proof of English proficiency to be considered for admission. The Theatre School accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English or Duolingo English Test (DET) as proof of English proficiency.  TOEFL, IELTS and PTE exam scores are valid for two years. Scores that are older will not be accepted. If your English proficiency scores are below the minimum requirements, you may be considered for conditional admission.  Applicant files will not be reviewed until all documents have been received.

The English proficiency requirement can be waived for applicants who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher in the following countries:

• United States
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Solomon Islands
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• Vanuatu

Once we receive a transcript evaluation verifying that you have received a degree in one of these countries, the English proficiency requirement will be waived for you.

An admission email will be sent to provide next steps.  Admitted international students seeking an F-1 or J-1 student visa must take the following steps: 

Step 1: Pay Your $500 Graduate Tuition Deposit (effective June 25, 2025) 

• This creates your DePaul student record. 
• The Graduate Tuition Deposit is non-refundable, even in the case of a visa denial. 
• The Graduate Tuition Deposit is credited towards your first term tuition.

Step 2: Submit Your Intent to Enroll Form 

• This tells us that you plan to join the DePaul community.  
• Approximately 3-5 days after you complete both Step 1 and Step 2, you will receive an email invitation to request your I-20.

You can find more information on the I20 request process here.  The I20 document checklist can be found here.   

Submit official transcripts, in the original language, from all high schools/secondary schools attended, for all years attended. If the official transcript is in a language other than English, you will also need to submit word-for-word English translations of all pages.  

Students educated outside the U.S. for secondary school (high school) are required to submit an exam score that meets our English proficiency requirement.  If your English proficiency scores are below the minimum requirement, you might be considered for Conditional Admission.  Students can demonstrate proof of English proficiency by one of the following:

TOEFL, IELTS Academic and PTE Academic exam scores are valid for two years.  SAT and ACT exam scores are valid for five years.  Scores that are older will not be accepted.

We will waive the English proficiency exam requirement for students who have completed the following coursework and achieved the minimum following results:

Exception: Students whose secondary education (for all years of secondary/high school) took place in one of the countries below are exempt from the English proficiency requirement.  Students born in one of these countries, yet educated elsewhere for secondary education, are required to satisfy the English proficiency requirement.

Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (English speaking provinces), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Leeward Islands, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Uganda, United Kingdom (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Vanuatu, Windward Islands, and Zambia.