Colleges and universities in the United States vary considerably in their admissions standards and requirements. General requirements for undergraduate and graduate admission include:

• Educational credentials: including certified copies of transcripts (Declaração de Notas) for each year of secondary school or university completed, as well as diplomas and Certificados de Habilitações
• Standardized test scores: may be required to assess your academic ability and English proficiency level.
• Recommendation letters: from academic and/or professional references familiar with your work.
• Essays/personal statements: describing your interests, long-term goals, and strengths.
• Evidence of extra-curricular activities: to evaluate your leadership experience, interests, and discipline. U.S. colleges and universities are interested in each student as a whole person, inside and outside of the classroom.

Undergraduate Study

“Undergraduate” refers to first-level university degrees (Bachelor’s or Associate’s). Colleges and universities in the United States vary considerably in their admissions standards and requirements for undergraduate applicants. To be eligible for admission at a U.S. institution, students must either be currently enrolled in their final year of secondary school or have graduated within a year of their intended university enrollment date, with a strong academic record.

University students who have completed more than one semester of university in Mozambique and wish to complete their studies in the U.S. are considered transfer students. Transfer students may receive U.S. university credit for coursework already completed.

Most colleges and universities in the United States require standardized testing for undergraduate admissions.  Admissions requirements vary, so be sure to confirm which test(s) you need with the institutions that interest you.

ACT: a curriculum-based multiple-choice assessment that tests reading, English, mathematics, and science, with an optional essay section.  The ACT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, and hundreds of institutions around the world.

SAT: a test that measures critical reading, writing, and mathematical abilities.  The SAT Subject Tests measure knowledge in specific subject areas. The SAT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, and hundreds of institutions around the world.

Graduate Study

“Graduate” refers to Master’s or PhD degrees. Graduate applicants must possess a Bachelor’s (Licenciatura) or Master’s Degree from a recognized university. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are requirements for admission to most graduate programs. Letters of recommendation and statements of purpose and/or research interests are also required. For some professional programs, applicants are strongly encouraged to have some work experience in the field.

English Proficiency

English proficiency is necessary for study in the United States. Institutions require international students whose native language is not English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) , International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo in order to prove that their academic, spoken, and written English is proficient to succeed at the university level in America. Individuals who attended English-speaking secondary schools or universities may be exempted from this requirement.

The TOEFL test is offered at the American Center on a biweekly basis. To see available dates and schedule a test, please visit the ETS website www.ets.org/toefl, select the test you wish to take, the location and test center-American Embassy and you should see the available dates for the tests.

Once you schedule a test, please reach out to the American Center at MaputoAmericanCenter@state.gov to learn about the requirements to enter the building. Should you fail to do so you might be denied admission to the building.

We recommend that test takers contact the American Center at least one week prior to their scheduled test date.  Please note that the American Center cannot address issues with scheduling, payment, and accommodations.  These should be addressed with ETS by following the link: https://www.ets.org/contact/testing-programs/toefl/test-takers.html

Please note that personal electronic devices are not permitted in the American Center.