Important Information about the 2027-2028 Application Cycle
Luther Seminary has updated its international application guidelines for the Fall 2027 entry term. To ensure all prospective students receive appropriate support, designated eligibility criteria have been established for Master’s applications and a mandatory pre-application form has been introduced for international applicants to all degree programs.
Who is eligible to apply for the Master of Arts (M.A.) program for Fall 2027? International applications to the M.A. program are open to candidates who are either recommended by a member church of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) or candidates currently residing in the United States.
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 2027? Yes, the office of Advanced Theological Education will continue to accept and review applications to the Th.M. and Ph.D. programs for Fall 2027. You must already hold a qualifying first 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 is the Mandatory Pre-Application Form requirement? Before beginning an application, all international applicants must complete a mandatory pre-application form to confirm their eligibility for their intended program. Once eligibility is verified, instructions to complete the official application will be provided.
Can I start my Master’s program in Fall 2027 if I deferred from Fall 2026? Yes. An approved deferral allows you to start your coursework and transfer your scholarship to Fall 2027. Please continue working with International Student and Scholar Affairs to update your immigration documentation.
When will the application for Fall 2027 open and will I be able to apply then? The application for Fall 2027 will open in September 2026.
If I am a member of an LWF church, should I apply to the ELCA International Leaders Program? Yes! You are encouraged to complete 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 while you simultaneously apply to Luther Seminary.
Regardless of my eligibility to apply for Fall 2027, what should I do to strengthen my application for future admission cycles? We advise that you continue 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. It is also highly recommended to pursue formal and informal theological studies in your local community or online.
Are there other opportunities to learn from Luther Seminary? Yes! We strongly encourage checking out Faith+Lead and the many on-demand courses, certificates, live webinars, podcasts, ebooks, toolkits and other digital resources available through the platform. Also, you can free access resources through the Global Partners Resource Guide, created by the Luther Seminary library. Participating in formal and informal theological training such as these offerings can help strengthen an application to seminary, though it does not guarantee admission.
When will the application for Fall 2028 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 2028. Please stay tuned for more information.
If you are applying to the Th.M. or Ph.D., you currently reside in the U.S., or you are a member of an LWF Church, please review these application instructions:
1. Complete Mandatory Pre-Application Form
Your first step, regardless of the program to which you plan to apply, is to submit the Mandatory Pre-Application Form. This form must be completed before you open an application to Luther Seminary. Instructions for those who meet eligibility requirements will be provided upon submission of the form.
2. 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.
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, 2027
- M.A. or Th.M. Application Deadline: March 1, 2027
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.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 seminary’s online student orientation.
- 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.