Important Information about the 2026-2027 Application Cycle
Due to the overwhelming positive number of new international applications and admissions this past year, Luther Seminary will be pausing new international admissions to the Master’s degree program, including the Master of Arts (M.A.) program for Fall 2026. This pause in new admissions will allow the seminary to best serve its incoming cohort of international students, some who have matriculated for Fall 2025, most who have deferred their admission and are expected to matriculate in Fall 2026. To that end, the Fall 2026 international Master’s degree class is full and will not be considering a waitlist.
What if I was admitted to the Master of Arts program for Fall 2025 but must defer to Fall 2026 – can I still start in Fall 2026? Yes, if you were already admitted for Fall 2025 and must defer your admission, you can start your coursework and move your scholarship to Fall 2026.
What if I am an ELCA International Leaders Program applicant – can I apply to the Master of Arts program for Fall 2026? Yes, if you have already completed an application to the ELCA International Leaders Program (please note: this application is through the ELCA, not Luther Seminary). To get started, you may inquire with the ELCA at GlobalScholars@elca.org to verify that you are a member of an ELCA companion church. Please note, applications to the ELCA ILP program are due by October 31 of the year prior to enrollment, and access instructions are distributed to companion church head offices each year. Applicants must be endorsed by their home church body in order to apply. When applying to ILP, you may indicate your interest in Luther Seminary. ELCA International Leaders Program will then submit a list to Luther Seminary at which point we will send instructions for applying to Luther Seminary.
What if I plan to apply to the Master of Theology (Th.M.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program – can I still apply for Fall 2026? Yes, the Advanced Theological Education office will continue to accept and review applications to the Th.M. and Ph.D. programs for Fall 2026. You must have a previous graduate-level theological degree to apply to these programs. Please review the full criteria for eligibility to apply to the Th.M. and the Ph.D. before starting an application.
What if I opened but did not complete an application for Fall 2025 – can I still apply for Fall 2026? No, if you were not already admitted, you will not be able to open a new application for Fall 2026. Please note, we will retain your previously-submitted application materials (i.e. transcripts) for three years and can apply those materials to a new application when it opens.
When will the application for Fall 2027 open and will I be able to apply then? The seminary will need to continue to evaluate the matriculation trends of its newest incoming international Master of Arts cohort before making a final determination about new admissions for Fall 2027. Please stay tuned for more information.
What can I do while I wait for the application to the Master of Arts degree program to reopen for international students? We highly recommend continuing to strengthen your academic record, develop your verbal and written skills in English, take advantage of cross-cultural experiences, and build a strong resume of ministry leadership and community service in your local community.
Are there other opportunities to learn from Luther Seminary? Yes! We highly recommend checking out Faith+Lead and the many on-demand courses, live webinars, podcasts, eBooks, toolkits and other digital resources available through the platform. Also, check out our open and accessible resources through the Global Partners Resource Guide, created by the Luther Seminary library.
If you are applying to the Th.M. or Ph.D., or you are an ELCA International Leaders Program Scholarship Recipient, please review these application instructions:
1. Start your application
The international student application applies to you if you are not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident.
Complete the online application form to get the process started. You can save your progress and return to complete your online application at any time. Applications for the Fall open in September and close March 1.
Please note: no new international Master of Arts (MA) applications will be considered for Fall 2026.
Individuals from the global church or communities abroad who are interested in short-term study or research at Luther Seminary (not leading to a degree) should contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs directly for application instructions (issa@luthersem.edu). Those interested in continuing education should contact Faith+Lead.
Note: The application process and deadlines for international students are different than those for U.S. citizens, as follows.
Application deadlines
The deadline for receiving all international application materials is:
- Ph.D. Application Deadline: January 8, 2026
- M.A. or Th.M. Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
Once your initial application is received, you will be sent an email that walks you through the next steps in the application process and notifies you of your missing materials. You can check your online admissions portal at anytime to track your application progress.
Additional notes for ELCA Global Companion Church candidates
International applicants whose church is a global companion of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) may be eligible to apply for generous scholarship support through the ELCA International Leaders Program, in partnership with Luther Seminary. ELCA scholarships provide additional financial support, including some living expenses, and can support students in the M.A., Th.M., or Ph.D. programs.
Applications to this program are due by October 31 of the year prior to enrollment, and access instructions are distributed to companion church head offices each year. Applicants must be endorsed by their home church body in order to apply. Luther Seminary works together with the ELCA International Leaders Program and companion churches to determine priorities for financial aid. You may contact the ELCA scholarship team at GlobalScholars@elca.org.
2. Additional Application components
In addition to the prerequisites listed for the specific degree program to which you are applying (M.Div., M.A., Th.M., or Ph.D.), most international applicants will need to submit the following:
TOEFL or IELTS score
- TOEFL scores: Composite score of 80 or above on iBT (213 on the computer-based or 550 on the paper-based).
- IELTS score of 6.5 or above (7.0 or above for Th.M. or Ph.D.).
Luther Seminary’s institutional code for TOEFL and GRE is 6377. Scores must not be more than two years old at the time of application. Other recognized test scores will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants requesting a waiver to this requirement must provide proof of completion of at least four semesters of English language study with an average grade of B or higher. If you do not meet this requirement, you can request a waiver as a part of the application process. We do not grant waivers without reviewing your completed application.
National church or institutional endorsement
International applicants will be asked to submit a national church/institutional endorsement form as one of their recommendations. Please see application for more details.
Estimate of expenses
International applicants will be asked to submit a sample Estimate of Expenses form as a way to develop awareness of the costs associated with studying in the United States and to make plans for how those costs will be covered. This exercise will be completed as part of the application process and then updated again, if admitted.
3. Once your application is complete
Once all of your materials are received, your application will be reviewed along with other international applications at the next regularly scheduled admissions committee meeting. You will be notified of their decision after the meeting.
If you are accepted, you will:
- Send an affirmation of intent form to the Admissions Office through the online application portal.
- Receive a follow-up letter with further instructions from the Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA).
- Receive communications from other departments at Luther Seminary with additional instructions and requirements.
Additional steps in the process include:
- Provide additional information as requested by ISSA, including passport copies, financial statements, and the completed Estimate of Expenses worksheet (you will be asked to complete the Estimate of Expenses before and after you apply).
- After ISSA has received and verified all requested documents, you will receive a Form I-20 (DS-2019, when applicable) to apply for a U.S. student visa (F-1 or J-1, as applicable). If you are within the United States, ISSA will work with you on your next actions.
- Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System’s (SEVIS) I-901 fee, when applicable; information is available at www.fmjfee.com.
- Schedule your visa interview with a U.S. Consulate.
- Obtain the appropriate visa from a U.S. Consulate.
- Complete the Writing and Research Workshop via email.
- Participate in the seminary’s three-week online orientation course in August.
- Provide your flight information and arrival plan to ISSA. If you are entering from outside the U.S., your arrival date cannot be more than 30 days prior to your start date.
Once you arrive at Luther Seminary:
- Meet with the Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) to complete the process.
- Participate in mandatory in-person International Student and Scholar Orientation.