International Education Systems and Curriculums
British-Patterned Education System (General)
Applicants educated through the British-patterned education system (general) and applying as first-year students or as transfer students are expected to hold one of the following credentials as evidence of secondary school completion
- General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level/GCE O-Level
- General Certificate of Secondary Education/GCSE
- International General Certificate of Secondary Education/IGCSE
A minimum of five academic subjects (including English, mathematics, natural/physical science, and social science) passed in these examinations with grades of A, B, or C or 5 – 9 (depending on grading scale) will be required for admission consideration. These credentials are comparable to US high school graduation only if a minimum of five exam passes are achieved. While this is the minimum requirement for admission, our most competitive applicants typically have at least two to three AS and/or A level exams in subjects related to their major. Submission of the above documents must be accompanied by academic records/transcripts from secondary education at the time of application. Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit a final transcript for all years of secondary school completed.
Virginia Tech recognizes Advanced Secondary school coursework which include the A-level examinations. College credits may be awarded to applicants who successfully complete A-level examinations and provide the following document:
- General Certificate of Education Advanced Level/GCE A-Level
Applicants educated through the British-patterned education system (general) and applying as transfer students must also submit the university transcript in addition to the evidence of secondary school completion.
British-Patterned Education System (Caribbean)
Applicants educated through the British-patterned education system (Caribbean) and applying as first-year students or as transfer students may provide one of the following credentials as evidence of secondary school completion:
- General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level/GCE O-Level
- General Certificate of Secondary Education/GCSE
- International General Certificate of Secondary Education/IGCSE
- Caribbean Examination Council Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate/CXC GSEC
- Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education/BGCSE
A minimum of five academic subjects (including English, mathematics, natural/physical science, and social science) passed in these examinations with grades of A, B, or C will be required for admission consideration. The credentials are comparable to US high school graduation only if a minimum of five exam passes achieved. Submission of the above examination results must be accompanied by academic records/transcripts from secondary education at the time of application. Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit a final transcript for all years of secondary school completed. Please note that countries in the Caribbean that follow the British-Patterned education system include Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and British Virgin Islands.
Virginia Tech recognizes advanced secondary school coursework which include the A-level examinations. College credits may be awarded to applicants who successfully complete A-level examinations and provide one of the following documents:
- General Certificate of Education Advanced Level/GCE A-Level
- Caribbean Examination Council Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination/CXC CAPE
Applicants educated through the British-patterned education system (Caribbean) and applying as transfer students must also submit the university transcript in addition to the evidence of secondary school completion.
International Baccalaureate Education System
Virginia Tech encourages prospective students to seek the most challenging high school courses possible. Students taking International Baccalaureate (IB) courses will be considered competitive for freshman admissions. An applicant's entire academic profile will be reviewed holistically.
To receive credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, an official transcript of examination results should be forward to the Registrar's Office directly from the issuing institution. To determine how many credits you may receive please visit the Registrar's website.
All first-year and transfer students accepting admission to Virginia Tech and seeking college credits for IB examinations must arrange for an official transcript of examination results to be sent to Virginia Tech by the IB Offices once available.
Chinese Education System
Applicants from China applying as first-year students must submit the following documents accompanied by certified English translations for admissions consideration at the point of application:
- Transcripts of grades for years 9, 10, and 11 if applicants have not yet graduated
- Final senior secondary school transcript for years 10, 11, and 12 if applicants have graduated.
Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit a final senior secondary school transcript including the results of years 10, 11, and 12 once available before classes begin.
Indian Education System
Applicants from India applying as first-year students must submit the following documents for admissions consideration at the point of application:
- Mark sheets and/or certificate for lower secondary education examination (standard 10) and transcript of results for grade 11 if applicants have not yet graduated.
- Mark sheets and/or certificates for lower and upper secondary education examinations (standard 10 and 12) if applicants have graduated.
Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit the final standard 10 and standard 12 examination mark sheets or certificates once available before classes begin.
Malaysian Education System
First-year applicants from Malaysia must submit the following documents accompanied by certified English translations as evidence of secondary school completion:
- Sijil Pelajaran Malaysian/SPM (Malaysia Certificate of Education)
- Transcripts for each year of secondary education study completed
Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit the final secondary school transcript for all years of study completed once available before classes begin.
French Education System
Applicants from France and its overseas departments applying as first-year students must submit the following documents for admissions consideration at the point of application:
- Transcript of grades for year 9 completed at a collège (junior secondary school) and years 10 and 11 completed at a lycée (senior secondary school) if applicants have not yet graduated.
- Baccalauréat de l’Enseignement Secondaire (Diploma of Secondary Education), the corresponding Relève de Notes (transcript of grades) from the final examination, and the final senior secondary school transcript if applicants have graduated.
Students accepting admission to Virginia Tech must submit the Baccalauréat de l’Enseignement Secondaire (Secondary Education Baccalaureate), the corresponding Relève de Notes (transcript of grades) from the final examination, and the final senior secondary school transcript once available before classes begin.