How to apply · Graduate
Applying for a master’s or doctorate: ten steps, in order
A graduate application differs from an undergraduate one in two decisive ways: transcripts must be sent directly by your university, and the financial threshold is higher. This page works through each step and names where files get stuck.
Enter agent code VNI on your application — five seconds, and the most valuable thing you will do on the form
The International Application has a field for an agent code. Enter VNI. It tells the admissions office that your application came through Arkansas State University’s Vietnam Office, and it is what puts the two things below on your file.
The tuition rate A-State publishes for students from Vietnam
Worth up to $7,350 a year against the standard international rate, taken off the tuition bill itself rather than refunded later. The published table on our cost page is the undergraduate one; graduate study is charged on its own per-credit rate, so ask the office for the figure that applies to your programme. This schedule is published for students from Vietnam; the agent code identifies your file, it is not a discount code anyone can type.
Free support across the whole application
The office stays with your file from submission to enrolment: reviewing documents before they are sent, chasing your previous university about transcripts, dealing with the Graduate School directly when something is missing, tracking the I-20, and guiding you through the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 and the interview. No service fee.
Enter it while you are completing the application — that is the reliable moment. If you have already submitted without it, contact the Vietnam Office straight away: adding it later means admissions has to amend your record, and it gets harder the longer it is left.
VNI
The agent code to enter on the form
$50
Application fee, cannot be waived
$23,000
Minimum funds to evidence
2
MMR certificates required
Ten steps to a graduate application
Work in order: each step needs the result of the one before it.
- 1
Check the entry requirements
Read both the Graduate School’s requirements and those of your specific programme — they can differ, and the programme usually sets the higher bar.
- 2
Complete the International Application
Use the form for international students, not the domestic one.
- Choose the right form: International Application.
- Enter agent code: VNI — the Vietnam Office’s code.
- The name on the form must match your passport exactly.
- 3
Pay the application fee
The fee is $50 for every programme. It cannot be waived and is not accepted by bank transfer.
- 4
Studying in the US already: complete the transfer form
Applicants currently enrolled at a US institution must complete the international transfer form before the file moves forward.
- 5
Provide financial evidence
A financial statement in English from a bank or financial institution, plus a sponsor’s letter where applicable. The documents must evidence at least $23,000.
- The letter must be in English and state the balance clearly.
- With a sponsor, add a financial sponsorship letter.
- This is what allows the university to issue an I-20 — no I-20, no visa.
- 6
Submit a copy of your passport
- A clear scan of the photo page.
- Details must match the name on your application, degree certificate and transcripts.
- 7
Submit two MMR certificates
Graduate applicants provide two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination certificates. Without them you will be vaccinated after arrival.
- 8
Submit your degree certificate
An official copy of your bachelor’s degree certificate with an English translation.
- 9
Transcripts — sent directly by your university
This is the biggest difference from an undergraduate application, and the most common place files stall.
- An official copy of your university transcript with an English translation.
- The transcript must be sent DIRECTLY from your university to A-State — a copy you carry yourself does not count as official.
- Your GPA must satisfy both the Graduate School and the programme.
- 10
Send everything to the right address
Send the application and required documents to the addresses below, or ask the Vietnam Office to handle it at no charge.
The four things that stall graduate files
- Carrying transcripts yourself instead of having the university send them
- A financial letter below the threshold, or not in English
- Sending one MMR certificate when two are required
- Sending a courier package to a P.O. Box
Official mailing addresses
Official transcripts must be sealed and sent by your university. The two addresses below are the International Admissions addresses Arkansas State University publishes — use the postal address for regular mail and the shipping address for DHL, FedEx or UPS.
| Method | Address |
|---|---|
| Postal | International Admissions P.O. Box 1800 State University, AR 72467 USA |
| Courier | International Admissions 105 North Caraway Rd #1800 State University, AR 72467 USA |
Couriers cannot deliver to a P.O. Box — the wrong address means the package is returned and your university has to send it again. If your institution uses an electronic transcript service A-State recognises, no paper copy is needed.
Source: astate.edu — Admissions & Aid · astate.edu — Tuition & Fees (International) · Updated Aug 22, 2026
Graduate application questions
Which application form do I use?
The “International Application”. The domestic form cannot process an international file.
What is the agent code?
Enter VNI. It is A-State’s Vietnam Office code; entering it applies the tuition schedule the university publishes for students from Vietnam and puts the office on your file at no charge.
How much is the graduate application fee?
$50 for every programme. It cannot be waived.
Can I send my own transcripts?
No. Transcripts count as official only when sent directly from your university to A-State. A copy you carry can be used for reference while the official one is in transit.
How much do I need to evidence financially?
Your financial documents must evidence at least $23,000. With a sponsor, add a sponsorship letter.
Are there programmes without a GRE or GMAT requirement?
Some programmes do not require them, but this varies by programme and changes over time. Confirm with the office for the specific programme before assembling your file.
You are reading the graduate guide
Applying to something else? Pick the right route below.
Want your file checked before you submit?
The Vietnam Office runs the checklist, reviews documents, chases your previous university about transcripts and tells you what is missing before anything is sent — at no charge.