Equipping church leaders around the world

Luther Seminary is blessed with students from many parts of the world. This diverse community of many traditions, ethnicities and ages is united by a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Together, seminarians study, serve, worship and pray to better equip themselves to minister to God’s world.

The Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) is committed to providing international students the best experience while at Luther Seminary.

Scholarships

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.

International applicants admitted to Luther Seminary receive full-tuition support through our generous donors to the Jubilee Scholarship fund. International applicants are encouraged to apply to the M.A., Th.M., or Ph.D. degree programs.

Application process

Luther Seminary welcomes applications from international students who want to apply directly to Luther Seminary.

Please note: no new international Master of Arts (MA) applications will be considered for Fall 2026. 

International applicants must meet English language proficiency as part of their admissions requirements. International applicants may be required to submit either a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 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. International applicants must have the following minimum test scores to qualify for admission:

Master of Arts or Master of Divinity

• TOEFL: Composite score of 80 or above
• IELTS: 6.5 or above

Master of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, or Doctor of Ministry

• TOEFL: Composite score of 80 or above (reading at least 22; listening at least 20; speaking at least 18; writing at least 20).
• IELTS: 7.0 or above

Luther Seminary’s test code with the Educational Testing Service, which administers the TOEFL, is 6377.

Housing

Luther Seminary is committed to providing you with housing options and assisting you with your initial adjustment. There are a limited number of on-campus, furnished dormitory rooms available for individual students.

Student life

Luther Seminary’s international students are just some of the students who make up the ecumenical and diverse student body.

While your main point of contact at Luther Seminary is the Office of International Students and Scholar Affairs, you are encouraged to engage fully with the entire seminary community. You can serve on Student Council or in student groups, participate in worship services and community events, apply for an on-campus job, and so much more!

International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA)

The Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA):

• Supports the Admissions Office with international application processes.
• Partners with the Academic Dean’s Office on international scholar invitations.
• Prepares appropriate immigration documentation for F-1 students and J-1 students and scholars, including reviewing financial solvency documents.
• Coordinates financial resources and administers scholarship funds for all international students and scholars.
• Provides relevant services and support for international students and scholars at Luther Seminary.
• Leads the seminary in compliance with U.S. Federal regulations as they relate to international students and scholars who come to study, research, teach, and relate at the seminary.
• Works alongside leadership for the internationalization efforts of the seminary.

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 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 M.A. 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.