Official Transcript Requirements

Applicants should upload unofficial transcripts through the MSU Graduate Application portal for evaluation purposes only. Official transcripts are not required during the admissions review process.

Students who are offered admission must provide official degree-granting transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, including undergraduate and any previously completed graduate degree programs.

Submitting Official Transcripts

Electronic Submission (U.S. Institutions)

Official electronic transcripts may be sent directly to admis@msu.edu  through an approved transcript service, such as:

• Parchment https://www.parchment.com/students/order-status/
• National Student Clearinghouse https://tsorder.studentclearinghouse.org/school/select 

Mail Submission (U.S. and International Institutions)

Official transcripts may be mailed directly to:

Michigan State University
Graduate Admissions Office
Hannah Administration Building, Room 250
426 Auditorium Road
East Lansing, MI 48824-2603

International Transcript Requirements

Michigan State University requires official copies of all postsecondary academic records, including:

• Transcripts
• Degree certificates or diplomas (when applicable)

Documents must be issued by the awarding institution and submitted in a sealed official envelope.

Because many international transcripts do not indicate degree conferral, applicants may be required to provide both official transcripts and a diploma or degree certificate as proof that the degree was awarded.

Additional Requirements for International Transcript

• Academic records not issued in English must be accompanied by a complete, word-for-word English translation.
• Translations may be provided by:
  • The issuing institution;
  • An authorized translator in the applicant's home country; or
  • An American Translators Association (ATA)-certified translator.
• Official documents may be mailed directly by the institution or delivered by the student, provided the institutional envelope remains sealed and unopened.
• Applicants should not submit their only original copies of transcripts, diplomas, or certificates. Documents submitted to Michigan State University become part of the admissions record and will not be returned.

Country-Specific Requirements

China

Applicants educated in China may submit electronic CSSD/CHESICC verification reports for:

1. Postsecondary transcripts
2. Degree certificates

CSSD/CHESICC reports may be sent electronically to Michigan State University through the CSSD/CHESICC system via Parchment.

India

For admissions purposes, Michigan State University generally considers a three-year bachelor's degree plus a two-year master's degree, earned at a recognized institution in India, to be equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree.

Iran

Applicants educated in Iran should request the following documents as early as possible:

1. Official transcripts in both Farsi and English
2. Official bachelor's degree (Karshenasi) diploma in both Farsi and English

Only documents received in official, sealed envelopes from the issuing university or appropriate ministry will be accepted as official.

Applicants may authorize a friend or family member to assist in obtaining official documents; however, all documents must remain in the institution's sealed envelope and be mailed or delivered unopened to Michigan State University.

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