Application Process for International Students

You will submit two essays within the online application in response to the following prompts:

• Essay 1: [in 175-225 words] Explain why you want to participate in Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs and what you hope to gain from the experience. 
• Essay 2: [in 100-125 words] The diversity of its student population is a key element of the educational experience of students in Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs. Please explain how your participation in the Program and/or how your prior experiences reflect a commitment to diversity through one or more of the following: unique life experience, experience with engineering or lack thereof, socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, status as a first-generation college student, nationality, or place of origin, etc. 

First, ask a high school or college math, science, engineering, robotics, or computer science teacher if they are willing to write a recommendation for you. Second, you will provide their name and email address through our online application. After you complete the recommendation section and confirm their contact information, your teacher will automatically receive an email from us detailing how to submit the recommendation on your behalf.

Instead of completing the online form, the teacher may write a letter of recommendation that includes information about the student’s aptitude in science and/or math; motivation and maturity; ability to tackle new material independently; ability to collaborate with a team; and one area in which the student could use improvement. The letter should be emailed to [email protected]. 

Engineering Innovation requires students taking our courses to have adequate English language proficiency. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been enrolled in a school where English is the primary language of instruction for at least three years must submit proof of their proficiency in English before they can be offered admission to an Engineering Innovation course.

International students must submit TOEFL, DET, or IELTS scores unless they have attended an English language school for at least the past three years.

TOEFL, IELTS, the Duolingo English Test (DET), or the Cambridge English Exam are recommended for applicants whose primary language is not English or students who have not attended an English language school for the last three years.

Though not required, applicants who score below 690 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section of the new SAT or below 30 or more on both the ACT Reading and English sections are encouraged to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores, as it will often present them in the best light for their language preparation. Johns Hopkins prefers a score of 690 on the written test.

Applicants should typically receive a minimum of 100 total for the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) with preferred sub-scores of:

– 26 (Reading)
– 26 (Listening)
– 22 (Writing)
– 25 (Speaking)

A score of 7.0 or higher on each band is expected on IELTS.

A composite score of 120 or higher is expected for the Duolingo English Test (DET) with preferred sub-scores of:
– 125 (Literacy)
– 120 (Conversation)
– 135 (Comprehension)
– 105 (Production).

C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency is expected with a Cambridge English score of 185 or higher.

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If your high school has a copy of your results from any of the following tests, please ask that they send them to [email protected].

• PSAT
• SAT
• ACT
• Cambridge English Exam
• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Duolingo English Test (DET)

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If your school cannot send your test scores, please follow the instructions below to have TOEFL or ILETS results sent directly to our office.

TOEFL: Results should be sent directly to the Whiting School of Engineering by ETS using our TOEFL institution code (C559).

IETLS: Applicants should contact the test center where they took the test directly and request that test scores be sent electronically to the Whiting School of Engineering Graduate Admissions Office using the IELTS Global Recognition System.

Duolingo (DET): Please have your scores emailed directly to us at [email protected]

So that we may more easily match your record to you application, please email us the following information to [email protected]:

1. The email address you used for your ETS (TOEFL) and/or IELTS test account, and if applicable, different spelling or formatting of your name.
2. The date you requested to send your scores from the vendor (ETS for TOEFL or IELTS).
3. Include your TOEFL test appointment number (without spaces) to verify ETS scores sent to code C559, and/or the Test Report Form Number to verify IELTS.

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If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact us at [email protected].

A non-refundable application fee of $85 paid online when you submit your application using a credit card or checking account information. The application does not have to be completed in one sitting; this fee is collected when you submit.

Give this transcript request form to your guidance counselor or other school personnel.

Ask them to send us your high school transcript, as well as interim grades for the classes that you are currently taking. Your school should send your transcripts by email to [email protected] (recommended) or by postal mail to: 

Johns Hopkins University
Whiting School of Engineering Dean’s Office
ATTN: Engineering Innovation
3500 San Martin Drive, First Floor
Baltimore, MD 21218 

Transcripts from international schools should be translated into English by an official service provider and emailed to our office with the original transcript.

If your school uses Parchment, Gradelink, PowerSchool SIS, National Student Clearinghouse, or the like, they may send the transcript that way. When sending with this software, a cover sheet (Official Transcript Request form) is not required. 

Please note that we will not contact your school to request a copy of your transcript; this is the responsibility of the applicant.

We do accept transcripts from parents for homeschool students.