University of Missouri

This is MU.

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Missouri, as the first public university west of the Mississippi River. Often called MU or Mizzou and with more than 31,000 students, Mizzou is the largest public research university in the state of Missouri, including more than 2500 International students from over 100 countries.

International Partnerships

MU has formal agreements with more than 200 universities and government agencies around the world and welcomes an estimated 1,000 international visiting scholars and researchers each year. The student to faculty ratio is 19:1 and more than 90% of the full-time faculty hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field.

Points of Pride

Home to the world’s first school in journalism, the Missouri School of Journalism has been constantly ranked among the US’s top journalism schools. In 2017, Mizzou was ranked No.6 among best U.S. colleges and universities for safety resources. Among more than 4,000 higher education institutions in the US, Mizzou was ranked No.51 among public higher education institutions by U.S. News & World Report rankings in 2017. Mizzou was also named a ‘Best Buy’ in the 2018 Fiske Guide. The Trulaske College of Business at Mizzou is one of only 35 business schools around the globe to earn the distinction by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

Location

The University is in Columbia halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis, a two-hour drive from each and about six hours from Chicago. The city also has its own regional airport. Columbia’s 119,000 residents enjoy more than 200 restaurants and entertainment venues.

Accommodation

Mizzou has several housing locations available on-campus, where close to 2,000 students participate in more than 100 freshman interest groups. The University offers four residential dining facilities, six a la carte kitchens and several restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores. The campus is a unique learning ground with more than 600 student groups that include many international and cultural student organizations as well.

Admissions

The application deadline for the fall semester is 1 June. Students are strongly encouraged to start their application six to 10 months before the beginning of the semester.

Freshmen:

1. Must complete the required coursework with the required grades and submit high school transcripts from grades 9 through 11. The 12th grade transcripts can be submitted upon successful completion. For admission application, students can submit unofficial transcripts, however, official transcripts will be required before beginning their Mizzou studies.
2. Must meet the English language requirement (varies by program). More details in the Admission section.

Top Employers of MU:

• Anheuser Busch - Inbev
• AT&T
• Boeing
• Cargill
• Ernst & Young
• Hyatt Hotels
• KPMG
• Monsanto
• NBC News
• Nestle/Purina
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Thomson Reuters

The University of Missouri ‘s undergraduate degree programs are offered across 19 different schools and colleges within the University. Mizzou offers more than 300 degree programs through 19 schools and colleges including the Honors College; College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; College of Arts and Science; College of Business; College of Education; College of Engineering; School of Health Professions; College of Human Environmental Sciences; School of Journalism, Professional Schools (Veterinary Medicine and Medicine) and the School of Nursing. The University also allows students to custom design their own program.

Mizzou has an extraordinary faculty team whose members are experts in their respective fields and dedicated to the teaching profession. Mizzou’s nationally prominent scholars and scientists bring discoveries into the classroom, publish more than 1,600 books and scholarly articles each year, and attract multi-million-dollar research grants.

MU also offers an honors college for high-achievers and unmatched real-world experiences, including operating a floral shop (Tiger Garden), preparing income taxes for families, studying abroad, volunteering for credit, providing health care, working at the USA’s only university-owned TV network affiliate (KOMU), performing at Carnegie Hall and co-authoring articles in leading scientific journals.  Mizzou students also hold patents and create startup companies.

Undergraduate Research

Unlike most classroom experiences, undergraduate research programs at Mizzou allow students to explore the unknown through hands-on work with faculty mentors.

The University of Missouri Graduate Studies offers nearly 100 master’s degree programs, over 70 doctoral degree programs, and 6 educational specialist degree programs; 13 graduate minors; and 40+ graduate certificates. Opportunities for e-learning, including online graduate degrees, are available. An A-Z list of graduate degrees is available in this catalog as part of a total MU degrees listing.

Interdisciplinary Research

Interdisciplinary research is an important part of the MU Graduate Community because it allows students to design their research programs utilizing the unique attributes of multiple departments. Through cooperative research programs, students participate in studies that combine the best resources from across the University. The University is home to 11 Interdisciplinary Research Centers: Interdisciplinary Center on Aging, MU Research Reactor, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Health Activity Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research, National Swine Resource and Research Center, and Animal Science Research Center. 

As Missouri’s major public research university, the University of Missouri is known for collaborative discovery, where faculty and students work together to solve problems and improve lives. MU is one of only 34 public U.S. universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the Association of American Universities and designated “Doctoral/Research Extensive” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. AAU members are the USA’s most prestigious research institutions.

MU conducts interdisciplinary research in solar, wind, biofuels, biomass, energy logistics and energy policy.

The Office of Research has dedicated staff, who work hard to support three main goals:

• To facilitate the ability of MU's faculty, students and staff to engage in research, discovery, creation, scholarship and innovation.
• To create a research-centered academic environment by developing and articulating connections between MU's research and all of the institution's other activities, and by creating a broader foundation for research support with internal and external stakeholders.
• To help grow and financially sustain MU's research enterprise.

Admission requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study…

Undergraduate Admissions

• Official transcripts from all schools or colleges attended by the student need to be produced. If the transcripts are in a language other than English, students need to send both the original language transcripts and their English translations.
• International applicants may be required to provide SAT or ACT scores for selective admission consideration or scholarship (direct admission to Missouri School of Journalism, College of Engineering or for International scholarships)
• International students are expected to know English well enough to: comprehend oral lectures, participate in discussions, read textbooks with full comprehension and write effectively in English.

Each of the University’s constituent Schools and Colleges has its own specific requirement score for both TOEFL and IELTS.

Graduate Admissions

English Language Ability: All non-native English-speaking applicants are required to provide proof of English language ability. The minimum total TOEFL scores for graduate admission to MU are 550 (paper-based test) or 80 (Internet-based test). The minimum total academic IELTS score for graduate admission to MU is 5.5. These are campus wide minimum scores; individual programs of study may require significantly higher scores for acceptance to particular graduate programs, and these requirements supersede the Graduate School’s minimum requirements.

International applicants to Mizzou need to provide proof of having financial resources immediately available to cover 12 months of expenses.

Students must get in contact with the International admissions office for more details. 

Scholarships

For freshmen applicants, the University of Missouri offers two major scholarship opportunities.

1. International applicants with excellent academic records and SAT or ACT scores will be considered for the $5,000 International Merit Scholarship and $10,000 International Honors Scholarship, which includes admission to the MU Honors College.
2. International applicants with a parent that graduated from the University of Missouri will be considered for the Global Heritage Scholarship worth $15,000 annually.

For more specific requirements on these scholarships please visit the admissions page in the website

Campus Life

The Department of Student Life at the University of Missouri creates educationally purposeful experiences for students that promote involvement, learning, and success. Recognizing that growth and learning occur in all facets of campus life, Student Life staff-members collaborate with students, faculty, alumni, staff, and community leaders to provide innovative and intentional programs, activities, and services. Through these partnerships, the Student Life staff-members help to develop traditions, teach leadership skills, celebrate diversity, and enhance the overall quality of student lives.

With over 600 registered student organizations at Mizzou, students will find it easy to find one that is right for them or create new student organizations. Either way, limitless opportunity exists for students to get involved and make a difference during their time at Mizzou.

All extra-curricular activities are divided across a multitude of offices such as Black Culture Center, Box Office, Campus Activities, Center for Leadership Development & Community Involvement, Craft Studio, LGBTQ, Missouri Student Association, Mizzou After Dark, Multicultural Center and many more.

Advantages of Living on Campus:

Research indicates that living arrangements play a significant role in a college student’s success. Here’s what recent studies reveal about students who live in residence halls or Greek housing:

• Students living on campus generally have a higher Grade Point Average.
• Students living on campus have a higher probability of graduating from college.
• Students living on campus generally experience a higher degree of overall satisfaction with their college career.

Here’s what students at the University of Missouri have to say.

About adapting to being away from home…

“ For my first time going to the United States and being more than 20 hours away from home, [I asked] will I be able to handle all that environmental and cultural change? Most importantly, will I fit in with the local community and establish an extended family? Well, it’s all about perception. Mizzou has many student organizations based on your interests and you can even start your own!  My advice to incoming international students: Don’t worry, head out and have fun!  Of course, studies are equally important, but if you manage your time well, everything will fall into place.”-

Crysatline Poh, Singapore/
Pre-Respiratory Therapy

On getting involved in activities and organizations…

“ From day one I was involved in many things at Mizzou. I joined several organizations that helped me interact with people. There were many exhibits on Lowry Mall and there was another event where they had all the clubs and sports clubs gather on the same day so you could register for whatever you wanted. I encourage newcomers to do this and not be afraid to be the one that starts the conversation.”-

AbdelbakiZeghdoud, Algeria/
Electrical Engineering

About preparing for her future career…

“ I want to be a doctor (Ph.D.), so Mizzou gives me the opportunity to grow up in a personal and professional way. I can improve my English and create networks with people, and I have the opportunity to attend classes that I would not be able to in my country. I also got the chance to do a research internship over the summer.”-
Ana Maria Barbosa Lima Sousa, Brazil/
Food Science

About the classroom culture in the U.S…

“ Back in Malaysia, I was quiet in class. But everyone here is encouraged to talk a lot, so I began to talk, too. I answer a lot of questions so that the professor recognizes me. Classmates are helpful too by not judging me, even though my English is not [always] clear.”-

Fatin Hasan, Malaysia/
Psychology