International Transfer Requirements for Fall 2025
Students are considered transfer applicants if they have completed a high school diploma or the equivalent and earned at least 12 semester hours of college credit after graduating from high school.
Final admissions decisions will be released to transfer applicants by the Rice University Admissions Office (not the Shepherd School of Music) by the end of May.
Submit items 1-10 to Rice University Admissions Office
| Step | Checklist | Date Due |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Common Application and Rice Writing Supplement | March 15 |
| 2 | A $75 nonrefundable application fee | March 15 |
| 3 | Final Official high school transcript | March 15 |
| 4 | All Official College Transcripts: GPA 3.2 or better in recent college work, must show courses in progress | March 15 |
| 5 | The College Report | March 15 |
| 6 | Two College Instructor Evaluations | March 15 |
| 7 OR | Last applicable ACT (Rice Code is 4152). Rice University recommends but does not require submitting ACT test scores for admission. Standardized Testing Information for Rice Admissions | February |
| 8 | Last applicable SAT (Rice Code is 6609). Rice University recommends but does not require submitting SAT test scores for admission. Standardized Testing Information for Rice Admissions | March |
| 9 | Financial Aid Forms: available in your Rice Admissions Student Portal after you submit your application | March 15 is the priority deadline for the Shepherd School of Music applicants |
| 10 | TOEFL: If your first language and language of instruction is English OR you have received two years of full-time instruction in English at a high school or college, you are not required to submit the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Otherwise, you are required to take the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL Internet-based test is 100 or a 75 on the paper-delivered test. The minimum acceptable score on the IELTS is 7. The minimum acceptable score on Duolingo is 130. Rice's TOEFL code is 6609. | February 15 |
Submit items 11-13 to the Shepherd School Office of Music Admissions
| Step | Checklist | Date Due |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Please use the following links for the appropriate prescreening or interview information for the Undergraduate Preliminary Submission: Composition Music History Performance | December 1 |
| 12 | Recommendation from your private music teacher. Please have them email their recommendation to Isabella Kruger-Seiler. | December 1 |
| 13 | Shepherd School Financial Assistance Application is a fillable Google form that is required if you wish to be considered for a SSM merit scholarship or Rice University financial aid (where applicable). After completing the form, your responses will be emailed to you - please save the email as a .PDF file to upload to your Undergraduate Preliminary Submission. | December 1 |