Terp Young Scholars

International Applicant Eligibility

International applicants must:

• Be at least 16 and no more than 19 years of age by July 1, 2026
• Be attending high school as a rising high school sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior; and
• Have an unweighted academic average of 3.0 or better (on a U.S. scale).
  • If extenuating circumstances have negatively impacted an applicant’s GPA, they may still be considered by submitting a GPA Exception Appeal form before applying to the Terp Young Scholars program.
  • The form must include a:
    1. High school transcript
    2. Letter of support from a teacher or administrator
    3. Statement explaining the extenuating circumstances and how the applicant plans to succeed in the program

International Applicants Requiring an F-1 visa and I-20

• International applicants requiring an F-1 visa and I-20s may only apply for the online option. The University does not issue I-20s for 100% online programs. Applicants for the online option must complete Steps 1-4 by the posted deadline.
• The campus option is not open to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. The University will not issue the required documentation. There will be no refund of the non-refundable application fee.
• B visas are not permitted. See U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs – Visitor Visa.

Select the Online Option

• The campus option is not available to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. International students requiring a visa must select the online option. There are no refunds of the application fee or program deposit if the wrong option is selected.
  • Note: The Terp Young Scholars program does not offer campus housing.

Review the Policies on Grade, Credits, and Attendance

See Grade, Credits, and Attendance Policy.

Application Fee and Program Deposit

•  New Applicant: A non-refundable $75 application fee and non-refundable $250 program deposit are required. The program deposit will be credited towards a student’s total bill within one week of charges posting. The application fee and program deposit are not waived unless the applicant is a returning student.
• Returning Student: May request an application fee waiver code.
  • Contact program staff at tys@umd.edu, noting that you are a returning student. Staff will verify prior participation and provide a waiver code.
  • Returning students must complete the application as outlined below.
  • Students dismissed from the program in previous years are not eligible to return.

Required Information and Documentation (in PDF, JPG, or PNG format)

To complete the Terp Young Scholars Application, ensure the following items are available (in PDF, JPG, or PNG format):

• Health Insurance Card
• High School Transcript/Report Card
  • An English language copy of the secondary school transcript (report card) showing grades and cumulative GPA for all work completed as well as coursework in progress must be uploaded to the application. An unofficial transcript is acceptable.
• Citizenship Documentation
  • International Applicants Residing in the U.S. with a Visa Permitting Study must submit:
    1. A copy of the student’s passport (all pages)
    2. U.S. Visa
    3. I-94 card
    4. I-20/DS-2019 (all pages)
    5. A statement from the sponsor/institution granting permission to enroll in Terp Young Scholars
  • Permanent Residents must submit a copy of the student’s permanent residency card.
  • English Proficiency (through TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Required overall minimum score of 95. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Required minimum band score of 7 in each section. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • Duolingo English Test (DET): Required passing score of 120.
    • Note: Students from English-speaking countries or who attend a U.S. high school should upload a letter attesting to such in this application field.
• Electronic Payment Method (Credit/Debit Card)
  • Application Fee and Program Deposit must be submitted with the application.

Instructions

Note: The Terp Young Scholars 2025 application is now closed.

Need Help?

Information is posted on the TerpEngage webpage.

Notification

• Applications are reviewed and admission offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Reminder notices regarding missing items are sent to the email address provided on the application; check the spam folder.
• To inquire about the status of your application, contact program staff at tys@umd.edu.