Princeton welcomes applications from students around the world. We review all applications in the same manner, regardless of citizenship or country of residence.

We are familiar with the educational systems of most countries. You are, of course, welcome to provide additional information about the schools you have attended.

Princeton does not accept applications for admission from students who have already enrolled in a university. We do not have a transfer admission process, and we consider anyone who has begun university elsewhere to be a transfer applicant.

Princeton is need-blind for all applicants, U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Your family’s ability to pay for your university education is not a factor in our admission decision. Students who qualify for financial aid will receive a grant and a term-time job (7-8 hours per week) to meet their need as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Loans are not required in Princeton’s aid package.

Our financial aid program is entirely need-based. Princeton does not offer academic or athletic merit scholarships. Financial aid awards cover the difference between Princeton’s costs and the amount your parents are expected to contribute to your education. The parental contribution is based on our evaluation of your financial aid application.

We recommend international students to submit either the Princeton International Secondary School Report (ISSR) or the Common Application SSR with the International Supplement. The questions on these forms are better suited to the educational systems in countries other than the United States. Other than the ISSR or International Supplement, you will use the same application forms as students applying from schools in the United States.

If you attend a secondary school where English is not the primary language of instruction, and if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). To register to take the test in your country, go to www.toefl.org.  

We encourage applicants attending schools outside the U.S. or Canada to complete their required standardized testing by the December test date if possible (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT, and two SAT Subject Tests, and TOEFL, if applicable). In our experience, scores from the January test date for testers outside the U.S. do not always reach us in time. However, if January is the only time you can take the test, please sit for the test in January and have your scores reported to us by the testing agency.

If the SAT tests are not offered in your country, we will consider your application without SAT results.  However, we will have less information to consider when evaluating your application than we will have for applicants who are able to take the required tests. In some countries where the SAT is not offered, the ACT is available. If you cannot take the SAT, but the ACT is available, please take the ACT.

If your school does not have an adviser for students applying to university, please ask a school official, such as a principal, vice-principal or dean, to complete your International Secondary School Report.  

If the person you ask to complete a teacher reference form or International Secondary School Report is not comfortable writing in English, they may complete the forms in another language. However, you will need to have the forms officially translated before they are submitted to the Admission Office.