Location
United States
International students
990
THE World Ranking
301
The University of Colorado - Denver (CU Denver) was established in 1973 and is the state's premier R1 Urban Public Research Institution. CU Denver offers a modern education with multiple paths to success delivered when, where and how students want it. In addition to the high-quality degree programs on offer, a CU Denver education is characterized by research, internship, and apprenticeship experiences, giving students real-work skills and job experience along the way.
CU Denver offers over 150 academic degrees across seven schools and colleges and a host of certificate and specialty programs. The university's world-class faculty work across a broad range of programs in the arts, sciences, humanities, business, and more, and create an engaging, real-world environment for students to learn in.
At CU Denver, students get to work alongside experienced faculty to tackle complex challenges through groundbreaking innovation, research, and creative work. The campus' proximity to downtown Denver and the city's business, political, and arts corridor opens up avenues to enhance careers and professional networks. CU Denver has over 57 STEM OPT-eligible programs.
Student life in downtown Denver, with views of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the skyline of the city to the east, can be enriching and exciting. From nearly 300 days of sunny weather, beautiful architecture and high-tech startups to sprawling parks and farm-to-table restaurants, Denver caters to a variety of tastes and interests. There are also performing arts venues, retail shops, coffee shops, art galleries, and more located within easy walking distance of the university.
International Admissions at CU Denver is students' first point of contact for understanding application requirements for international applicants. Entry requirements for courses at CU Denver may vary on a courses-by-course basis – especially at the postgraduate level. Prospective students are encouraged to consult individual course pages for information on specific entry requirements for courses and transfer criteria.
Entry criteria is different for first year and transfer undergraduate students. For first year admission to undergraduate courses at CU Denver, international applicants are required to submit complete transcripts from any high/secondary schools attended. CU Denver International Admissions provides the exact documentation required by the university, conveniently listed by country of study. For transfer admission to undergraduate courses at CU Denver, international applicants are required to submit complete transcripts from any post-secondary institutions attended.
For admission to graduate courses CU Denver requires all post-secondary transcripts and evaluates international credentials in-house. For specific program admissions criteria (GRE, GMAT, Letters of Recommendation, CV/Resume, and Statement of Purpose), students should visit the admissions website of the school or college to which they are applying.
All applicants are required to demonstrate they meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency before commencing their studies. International students are required to have a minimum TOEFL iBT test score of 79 overall, an IELTS Academic test score of 6.5 overall, a PTE Academic test score of 58 overall, or a Duolingo English test score of 105 overall. Applicants will also need to meet the required subscores in each subject area. A full list of acceptable tests and scores are available via the International Admissions website. If applicants do not meet English language proficiency requirements for courses at CU Denver, they can undertake English language courses at the university's ESL academy.
The University of Colorado Denver provides its students with a range of state-of-the-art subject specific facilities across both its Denver and Anschutz campuses. With open green spaces surrounding industry-standard learning facilities on the west side of CU Denver's campus, and three modern high-rise teaching buildings nestled in the heart of the city's bustling downtown district to the east, students enjoy the best of all that the city of Denver has to offer.
At CU Denver, students can choose to live either on campus or off campus. Within the on campus accommodations, the gathering areas, dining options, and student access to academic support, as well as a variety of co-curricular success services, are designed to support all students and help them build new connections with each other, faculty, and staff. The City Heights Residence Hall is home to over 500 residents and is located in the center of the CU Denver campus. Lynx Crossing Housing, meanwhile, has six distinct floor plans for students to choose from and a range of entertainment and recreational facilities.
One of the standout facilities at CU Denver is The Lola & Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center. This 85,000-square-foot facility provides students with three floors of flexible study and recreational spaces to enjoy. From study rooms to a pool, state of the art exercise equipment to climbing walls, the building has everything students need to socialize, exercise, study and relax.
Take a virtual tour of the campus here!
At CU Denver, students' health, well-being, safety, and academic success are top priorities and the university offers many support resources. CU Denver supports its international students with a dedicated Office of International Affairs on-campus. The International Student Transition & Engagement Team and student Global Ambassadors help international students navigate their new home in Denver and organizes a range of social events throughout the academic year.
Other student support services at the university include a dedicated learning resources center that provides in-person and virtual learning support services, mental health counseling services, bespoke coaching services, and 24/7 tutoring and resources. The LynxConnect service is the university's one-stop-shop for career support. LynxConnect expands the global career perspective of students by providing internship opportunities, campus employment opportunities and a whole host of further career development opportunities. With a recently completed 15,000 square foot LynxConnect center on-campus, students can expect to be workplace-ready upon the completion of their studies.
At CU Denver there is a dedicated disability service which ensures that the university's educational environment is inclusive and accessible for all students. There is also mental health support available through the university's student and community counseling center (SCCC) and a health center on-campus.
Support also comes in the form of ensuring safety and security. The Auraria Campus Police Department are on-hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week to serve and protect the university's community in all their activities.
The University of Colorado Denver works to ensure all its students graduate from the university with the transferable knowledge and skills needed to enjoy future success in professional careers. All courses at the university have been designed to ensure that students are equipped with relevant, subject-specific experiences which will help them enter competitive global job markets upon graduation. The Career Center at LynxConnect is always on hand to support students plans for future career success. Students can start using the Career Center services as soon as their admitted to review their resume and get support with endeavors like finding an on campus job. Their services include resume writing support, job search support, interview preparation and graduate school preparation. LynxConnect also provides students with access to a range of networking opportunities and events throughout their time at the university to help match them with relevant employers at both a global and local level.
CU Denver's ISSS team supports international students in learning about Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT), including holding workshops to learn about applying for OPT. Our 57+ STEM OPT -eligible programs can be found on the international admissions website.
CU Denver has a fantastic track record of producing a network of talented alumni who transform their university education into professional success. On average, alumni of CU Denver earn eight percent higher salaries than students who study at any other four-year institutions in the state of Colorado. Moreover, over 67 percent of CU Denver alumni stay in Colorado after they graduate as a result of the career development pathways provided by the university in the local area.
CU Denver offers its students a choice of 41 bachelor's degrees at undergraduate level and 59 master's degrees at postgraduate level. Additionally, there are 14 doctoral degrees students can apply for, as well as 76 career specific certificate programs. CU Denver certificate programs span a diverse range of professional fields from computing and engineering to education and public administration.
At CU Denver, courses are overseen by the university's seven specialist colleges and schools. These are:
Students can also study a range of health sciences courses at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The six professional schools at CU Anschutz are:
School of Medicine
College of Nursing
Skaggs School of Pharmacy
School of Dental Medicine
Colorado School of Public Health
Graduate School
Additionally, the university's Intensive English Program and LynxDirect Pathway Program are overseen by the ESL Academy, which also operates out of the Auraria campus.
The University of Colorado Denver works hard to ensure that all international students are supported throughout their studies. There are a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities available at CU Denver which provide international students with the best possible opportunities for long-term personal success and financial stability. All students admitted to CU Denver get access to a scholarship database where they can find thousands of scholarships for which they can apply.
International undergraduate students admitted to the university may be eligible for automatic merit-based scholarships of USD 5,000-10,000 per academic year, depending on their cumulative Grade Point Average. International undergraduate applicants admitted to CU Denver can also apply for additional merit scholarships.
Once students are admitted, they get access to the Handshake employment portal where they can apply to part-time on campus jobs. International graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships on campus to assist in funding their education.
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