We live in a global society and international students enrich our collective learning and the Mandel School, university and Cleveland communities. We encourage you to apply for admission to all of our academic programs.
- Scholarships help make your education affordable
- An internal Office of International Affairs helps with your transition to the Mandel School and the United States
- Membership with LINK (Local InterNational Konnection) student group offers leadership development opportunities and diverse community to support your experience at Mandel School
- The Office of International Student Resources and Engagement at Case Western Reserve University provides additional support
Fall 2025 MSW and MNO Application Deadlines
- Priority admission and scholarship deadline: Dec. 1
- International application fall 2025 deadline: January 15th
Fall 2025 PhD in Social Welfare Application Deadlines
- Final PhD Deadline: Dec. 1
In addition to our standard application requirements, international students must also provide the following information:
Demonstration of English Proficiency
If English is not recognized as your country's official language, you will be required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score. The Mandel School code for TOEFL is 1105.
- The minimum TOEFL required scores are 577 (paper-based) or 90 (internet-based)
- The minimum score for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is 7.0
Official results of this test must be forwarded to the Mandel School Office of Admissions.
You are exempt from proficiency testing if you meet any of the following criteria:
- English is recognized as your country of birth's official language according to the CIA World Factbook
- You have graduated from an institution in the United States
Transcript Evaluation (required)
Starting with the Fall 2025 admissions cycle, all MSW and MNO applicants who completed their bachelor's degree outside of the United States or Canada will be required to submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation.
Below are two Transcript evaluation organizations that are recommended by the Mandel School.
Proof of Financial Support
If admitted to the program, international students must provide proof of financial support. Once admitted, you will be asked to provide original bank documents as evidence of support to cover educational and living expenses for one academic year. This supporting documentation will be required to confirm enrollment and initiate the appropriate immigration and visa process. The proof of financial support can include your scholarship awards from the Mandel School.
PhD in Social Welfare
We consider your career goals, and how well they match our program, and your personal statement and research interests to make sure there is a good match between you and our faculty members’ research interests. Learn how to apply to our PhD program.
Frequently Asked Questions
International students are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by the December 1 and no later than January 15th deadline. This will ensure ample time to secure the necessary immigration and visa documents.
Yes, you will be required to submit a transcript evaluation if you completed your degree outside of the US or Canada.
The World Education Services (WES) and The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) are two preferred organizations that provide evaluation services.
We understand the evaluation may take time to be finalized by the company. You can submit your application before the evaluation is completed by the evaluation company. The completed evaluation can be sent to us directly from the evaluation company after the application deadline. Once we've received your completed application and all required materials, including the transcript evaluation, our Admissions Committee will review your application.
Yes. International applicants will be considered for merit based scholarships. The scholarships are determined based on your overall application. Most scholarships are partial tuition scholarships and cover a portion of the tuition charge. In addition to scholarship support, MSW students will receive a field award each semester they are enrolled in field education.
No, the MSW and MNO programs do not offer graduate assistantships that cover tuition.
Our tuition rates are the same for domestic and international students regardless of the program to which you are applying. Please visit our tuition and fees page to review our estimated cost of attendance.
International students in the MSW and MNO programs are expected to pay 50% of your fall semester net tuition balance by August 1st. The net tuition balance is based on your total tuition and fees for the fall term and subtracting out the fall term’s scholarship allocation.
The Mandel School will recognize a three-year bachelor’s degree as long as the evaluation from WES or The Evaluation Company indicates that the degree is equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in the United States.
No, international students are not eligible to enroll in the online MSW program at this time. International students are eligible to enroll in our on-campus weekly MSW program, our MNO program, and the PhD program.
Congratulations on your admission! First, you will need to Accept or Decline our offer of admission by logging back into the online application system and completing the Enrollment Confirmation Form - this sets the process in motion with the VISA Office to begin working on your visa and I-20 paperwork. This will include gaining access to Terra Dotta, a system that will collect information needed to process your I-20.
International Student Services will process all paperwork related to your travel and stay in the U.S. You will hear from ISS after you receive your official acceptance letter from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School and Accept our offer of admission. Once you confirm your enrollment, you will receive step by step information on starting your visa process in Terra Dotta. ISS will not start your visa unless you have accepted the offer from Mandel School in the online application system. ISS will communicate with students via Terra Dotta for processing your paperwork.
The proof of financial support requires that you provide proof of funding for one year of tuition and estimated living expenses at the Mandel School. For the Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 academic year, the annual tuition amount is $49,500 and the estimated living expenses are $18,825. This combined amount of $68,325 is the estimated amount that you will be required to show proof of funding for your first year at the Mandel School. Your proof of funding can include one year of your Mandel School Scholarship Support. If you were also awarded a field award, one year of the field award can also be used as proof of funding toward the total amount needed. The remaining balance and proof of funding must be provided via external support. For example, bank statements, with liquid assets, may be used to provide proof of funding.
There are many steps required to support an international students successful start at the Mandel School. Below is a timeline that we recommend that you follow:
September - November
- Explore our programs, tuition and scholarship opportunities
- Work on your application for admission
- Complete your apply by December 1st
December - February
- Identify your personal funding sources for proof of funding requirement.
- Review the steps to obtain a visa and study in the US provided by the Visa and Immigration Services and Advisors Office.
- Confirm your admission no later than March 15th
March
- In March, you will gain access to Terra Dotta, a system managed by the Visa & Immigration Services & Advisors (VISA) Office.
- Please complete the steps in Terra Dotta by March 31st.
- Once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019, you should apply for a visa as soon as possible.
- This is important to ensure enough time to secure a visa interview with the consulate.
April
- Contact the consulate and secure a visa interview.
- Prepare for the visa interview.
May - July
- It is critical that your visa interview be scheduled no later than July 31st.
- Prepare travel arrangements
- Explore graduate student housing options. Please note that the University does not have on-campus graduate housing. Please use this website to explore off campus graduate housing.
August
- International students in the MSW and/or MNO programs are expected to pay 50% of your fall semester net tuition balance by August 1st.
- Arrive in Cleveland between August 1 - August 9th.
- Students are expected to attend New Student Orientation the week of August 11th.
- If your visa is not approved and you are not able to arrive prior to New Student Orientation, the Mandel School may defer your enrollment.
- Start Classes the week of August 25, 2025!