The University of Montana is the state's flagship liberal arts and research university, in Missoula, a mountain town on the Clark Fork River. It is best known for forestry and conservation, wildlife biology, journalism, business, creative writing and pharmacy, with an outdoor lifestyle few campuses can match. Choose it for an environment- or media-focused degree in one of the most scenic settings in the US.
Missoula, United States
Official website: umt.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
One of the top-ranked programmes in the US
More than 30 — among the most of any US public university
$27,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on umt.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Forestry
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Master of Public Health
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Wildlife Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation — a leader in wildlife and wilderness research.
Journalism — a century-old school with strong environmental and documentary reporting.
Mount Sentinel — the hillside "M" above campus and trails from the door.
Missoula — a river town with fly fishing, skiing and Glacier National Park nearby.
Graduates join the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Montana's tech firms and conservation NGOs.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Journalism alumni work at NPR, national newspapers and documentary studios.
Business graduates move into Missoula's growing software and outdoor-industry companies.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 220-acre campus sits at the base of Mount Sentinel beside the Clark Fork River, with the Oval and Main Hall at its centre and the library, student centre and residence halls a few minutes' walk apart.
Missoula is a town of about 75,000 people with a lively downtown, rivers running through it and mountains on every side. Rent has risen but remains moderate, and winters are cold and snowy.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Montana
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most closing between 15 January and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May). Computer science and forestry master's programmes admit for both fall and spring, while the MBA, business analytics and public health master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. Global Engagement issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, business analytics, the MBA, forestry and public health attract the most international applicants, along with wildlife biology. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE is optional for most programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date, and strong applicants can receive awards that offset the non-resident tuition rate. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in forestry and the sciences.
