International Admissions

Yes. International students in F-1 or J-1 status may work on campus while enrolled full-time and maintaining their immigration status. During the academic term, eligible students may work up to 20 hours per week total across all on-campus jobs. During official vacation periods, eligible students may work full-time. International students are not eligible for federal work-study, so they should look for department-funded campus jobs, assistantships and other approved opportunities. 

Students should always confirm with the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) before accepting any job that may be considered off-campus or is paid by a non-UML employer.

UMass Lowell offers multiple scholarships for international graduate students. Graduate students may also be eligible for teaching or research assistantships through their academic departments.

First-time, first-year international undergraduate applicants may be considered for select merit scholarships and fellowship opportunities. In addition, current students can apply for certain endowed scholarships through the River Hawk Scholarship Portal. 

Because international students must provide proof of financial support before receiving an I-20 or DS-2019, it is best to view scholarships and assistantships as helpful opportunities rather than guaranteed funding. See the International Students & Scholars Office information on Financial Resources to learn more.

UMass Lowell combines strong overall career outcomes with support tailored to international students. In our most recent career outcomes report, 93% of undergraduate alumni were working or continuing their education, with a high average salary. International students also have dedicated support through the Career & Co-op Center, including advising, Handshake, GoinGlobal and resources focused on internships, co-ops and U.S. employment planning. Students can also build experience through internships, co-ops, clinicals, research and other career-connected opportunities while enrolled. 

LINC is a major UMass Lowell-led development that is bringing new research space, industry partnerships, workforce development and technology jobs to downtown Lowell. For international students, that can mean closer connections to employers, more opportunities to network with industry and additional avenues to pursue research, internships and other career-connected experiences for pay or academic credit while enrolled. At the same time, any internship or job must still align with the F-1 and J-1 immigration regulations requirements and, when required, CPT or OPT authorization. 

UMass Lowell continues to welcome international students and issue visa documents for prospective international students. The International Students & Scholars Office regularly posts immigration updates and current alerts, offers advising appointments, and asks F-1 and J-1 students to consult ISSO before traveling outside the U.S. to help avoid complications. The Office of Multicultural Affairs also provides year-round support for international students through success coaching, peer support, cultural programming and community-building resources, so students have both immigration guidance and broader campus support when policies or conditions shift. 

No. International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid, so they should not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, UMass Lowell offers other forms of financial support for international students, including select merit scholarships for eligible first-year undergraduate applicants and, in some cases, alternative loans with a qualified U.S. cosigner.

UMass Lowell uses rolling admissions for many programs, but international students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Undergraduate international applicants are advised to begin the process at least 12 months before their intended enrollment date, and graduate applicants are also encouraged to apply early because some programs have specific deadlines, and early applicants may receive stronger consideration for merit awards.

Please note: international students should also keep visa timing in mind, since ISSO has separate deadlines for issuing visa documents. 

You can check your application status through the appropriate UMass Lowell application status portal. Undergraduate, graduate, and online/professional studies applicants each have status-check options, and international graduate applicants can also contact Graduate Admissions for additional help.

International students should contact the  International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) with immigration-related questions. ISSO supports students with visa and status guidance, work authorization information, travel questions, document requests, and other immigration matters. Students can also schedule an advising appointment with an ISSO advisor or use the UMass Visa Information Portal for secure document and status-related services.

After the ISSO receives all required documents, you should generally allow about 5 to 7 business days for I-20 or DS-2019 processing. To avoid delays, please submit all required financial and identity documents promptly and follow the steps in the UMass Visa Information Portal. Students should also keep the ISSO visa document deadlines in mind.

Yes. UMass Lowell awards credit for both Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. AP credit may be awarded for qualifying scores, and IB credit is awarded for Higher Level (HL) exams. Students may receive up to 30 total credits through approved external exam programs, and official scores should be submitted at the time of matriculation for the most straightforward review. Please see the Policies for Advanced Standing Through Exams page for more information.