Admission Requirement

The application process consists of three steps. All three must be completed before admission to the university is official.

1) Complete an Application File, including:

   Associate/Undergraduate Program Applicants

• A completed and signed Application Form
• Recommendation Letters (2)
• An Essay (Personal and Religious Background with Vision Statement)
• Copy of High School Diploma and Official Transcript
• Secondary school and College-level Transcripts (if applicable)
• SAT or ACT score (if applicable)
• Non-refundable Application Fee

  Graduate Program Applicants

• A completed and signed Application Form
• Recommendation Letters (3)
• An Essay (Personal and Religious Background with Vision Statement)
• College-level Transcript which indicates Bachelor degree is granted.
• Copy of Bachelor Diploma
• Non-refundable Application Fee

  International Applicants

• Undergraduate or graduate program applicant requirements as listed above; those not in English should be accompanied by an English translation. Transcripts should include an explanation of the grading system.
• I-20 processing fee. No application can be processed until this fee is received.
• TOEFL or IELTS score* or a successful completion of advanced levels of Shepherd ESL program
• Financial Statement
• Affidavit of Support

            *TOEFL or IELTS score
              Undergraduate
                 TOEFL minimum 500 PBT, 173 CBT, or 61 iBT
                 IELTS minimum 6.0 (academic module)

              Graduate
                 TOEFL minimum 550 PBT, 213 CBT, or 79~80 iBT
                 IELTS minimum 6.5 (academic module)

For more details, refer to each department’s admission criteria. 

Arrange for official transcripts to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office from your high school and, if applicable, from all universities, colleges, or professional schools you’ve attended. (GED may be substituted for high school diploma.) A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a recognized school is required for admission into our Master’s programs. If you are still enrolled in high school, then an incomplete transcript (not showing graduation) will be sufficient. However, as soon as possible, a complete, official transcript (indicating a graduation date) is required.

2) Letter of Acceptance

University officials will review your Application Package when it is complete. It is our goal to send you written notification within two weeks of the application deadline. At any time, however, you may contact the Registrar’s Office to inquire as to the status of your application.

If you receive a letter of acceptance, it will include information regarding subsequent steps.

Upon your letter of acceptance, you need to read the Student Handbook at www.shpherduniversity.edu and should return a signed Community Commitment form at the end of the Student Handbook to the Registrar’s Office immediately. If you can’t access the school’s website, the school will send you the hardcopy of the Community Commitment form by mail upon your request.

Along with your acceptance letter you will receive a Physical Readiness Report that is to be completed by a licensed physician and returned to Registrar’s Office. The acceptance letter will also ask that you provide a recent photograph of yourself. This photo will help us to recognize you at orientation and therefore, better serve you.

Finally, you should send the tuition deposit along with Physical Readiness Report, and the Community Commitment form in order to confirm your enrollment.

If the university is unable to accept you for enrollment in the upcoming semester, we will advise you regarding the steps you should take before resubmitting your application.

3) Intent to Enroll

By returning your Physical Readiness Report, the statement regarding the Student Handbook, and your tuition deposit, you are informing the university that you intend to enroll and to register for classes in the upcoming semester. We will pre-register you in courses, and will help you find suitable housing.