Transcript requirements | International applicants | Michigan State University

Before submitting your transcripts, review the general requirements below. Following these guidelines will help ensure your documents are accepted and processed without delays.

You may also need to follow additional transcript requirements based on your country, region or education system.

General requirements

What to submit

Official external exam scores (Cambridge, Pearson/Edexcel, IB, Singapore-Cambridge, CXC, etc.), when applicable.
Official transcripts showing your internal grades.
Official secondary school (high school) transcripts for grades 9-12 to help ensure prompt processing.
Official transcripts from any dual enrollment or early/middle college programs.

What makes a transcript official?

Official transcripts are academic records issued by the appropriate authority in the education system you studied in, such as your school, ministry, exam board or another authorized organization. In some education systems, records must also be stamped or attested by the appropriate authority.

How to submit transcripts

Official transcripts from each school or institution you attended must be sent directly to MSU by school officials using one of the following methods.

Online services:

U.S. mail:
Office of Admissions
Hannah Administration Building
426 Auditorium Road, Room 250
East Lansing, MI 48824-2604

Note: Emailed transcripts and transcripts submitted by applicants are not considered official and will not be accepted.

Additional submission requirements

Mailed official academic records must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions in an official, sealed envelope.
Transcripts not issued in English must be submitted in the original language along with an English translation.
Emailed transcripts are not accepted because they are not considered official.
Transcripts submitted by applicants are not considered official.

For additional guidance, review the transcript submission FAQ.

Transcript requirements by country, region or education system

Review the list below and follow the transcript and exam requirements that apply to you.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Official transcripts from upper middle school/高中 (gaozhong) (grades 10-12), in both Chinese and English. Courses in progress or curriculum for grade 12. Also include an official study certificate from your school, confirming your enrollment.

If you completed upper secondary school:

The final, official school transcript from upper middle school/高中 (gaozhong) (grades 10-12), in both Chinese and English, as well as the diploma in Chinese and English.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Official, attested copy of grade 10 secondary school external exam board results. Internal, official school transcripts for coursework in grades 11 and 12.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Official, attested copy of grade 10 secondary school external exam board results. Official, attested copy of senior secondary school external exam board results.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copies of latest transcripts for grades 10, 11 and, if available, for grade 12. Students should be following STTB/SMA course of study.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copies of final transcripts for grades 10, 11 and 12 exams (STTB/SMA).

International Baccalaureate (IB)

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Official transcripts for grades 9, 10 and 11, and the latest available transcript for grade 12 (IB Diploma Programme).

If you completed upper secondary school:

Official transcripts for grades 9-12 (including official copies of IB certificate and IB diploma).

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copy of General Secondary School Transcript, including latest scores available, in Arabic and English.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copy of General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) and Transcript, covering grades 10, 11 and 12, in Arabic and English.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copies of your latest upper secondary school transcripts in both the original language and in English. For example, transcripts for grades 10, 11 and additional (if available) in Brazil; Certificado de Estudios de Bachillerato Basica and latest transcripts for upper secondary school in Colombia.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copies of upper secondary school transcripts and diploma in both the original language and in English. For example, transcripts for grades 10, 11 and 12, as well as Diploma/Certificado de Ensino Medio in Brazil; Certificado de Estudios de Bachillerato Basica, transcripts for final two years of upper secondary school, and Titulo Bachiller Academico/Bachillerato certificate in Colombia.
Caribbean: Certified copies of CSEC secondary school completion exams. If you completed CAPE exams, please request that certified copies of these are also sent.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copies of all available lower and upper secondary school external examinations. This may include those related to SPM (grades 10 and 11), plus additional latest available academic records (such as those related to STPM). Students must have additional schooling beyond SPM (or equivalent) to be considered for first-year admission to MSU.
Students should submit all academic records from any additional schooling. This may include IB, A Levels, STPM, AP and American degree transfer programs.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copies of all available lower and upper secondary school external examinations, such as those related to SPM and STPM. Students must have additional schooling beyond SPM (or equivalent) to be considered for first-year admission to MSU.
Students should submit all academic records from any additional schooling. This may include IB, A Levels, STPM, AP and American degree transfer programs.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copy of transcripts for grades 10 and 11, and latest (if available) for 12.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copy of final transcripts for grades 10, 11 and 12, indicating graduation.

UK curriculum and exams

Students at schools that follow a UK curriculum and exams should follow these directions. Please see the list of MSU-acceptable UK examination boards below.

If you are currently in upper secondary school:

Certified copy of the International/General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE or GCSE) exam board results – plus, grades listed for five academic subjects, including English, mathematics and science
Certified copy of the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) exam board results
If your AS or A-level courses are in progress, please submit predicted AS or A level exam board results
Official copies of internal, upper secondary school transcripts showing grades received, courses in progress, etc.

If you completed upper secondary school:

Certified copy of the International/General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE or GCSE) exam board results – plus, grades listed for five academic subjects, including English, mathematics and science
Certified copy of the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) exam board results and/or certified copy of the General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level (A-levels) exam board results
Official copies of internal, upper secondary school transcripts showing grades received

MSU-acceptable UK Examination Boards:

AQA – Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
CEA or CCEA – Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment
Pearson/Edexcel
OCR – Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
CIE – Cambridge International Examinations
WJEC/CBAC or WJEC – Welsh Joint Education Committee

Most recent transcript from US-based high school
All transcripts from schools attended outside of the US, from grades 9 through 12, even if the grades and courses from those schools appear on your US-based transcript

West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

Senior secondary school transcripts for years 10-12
WASSCE scratch card information (our office will verify results online)

Application is not complete unless WASSCE scratch card results have been verified by our office

International transcript requirements