On This Page: Admission Requirements International Student Checklist Frequently Asked Questions Start Your College Career at UAH We make applying to UAH as an international student easy, and we look forward to welcoming you to our campus. On this page, we'll walk you through the admissions process and application requirements for international students. If you have any questions along the way, contact us! Fast Facts about International Students 6 Continents of Origin 59 Countries of Origin Admissions Deadlines International students seeking a F-1 Visa MUST be admitted in order to request an I-20 immigration form, and I-20 forms MUST be requested before the following dates: Fall Semester: August 1 Spring Semester: December 1 Summer Semester: May 1 Two Ways to Apply After creating your Charger Status account, you can submit your application, pay your nonrefundable $40 application fee, view a to-do list of the next steps to help keep yourself on track and track which items have been received by the Admissions Office. We also provide information about student visa sponsorship and an international applicant checklist to ensure you’ve covered all necessary documentation. APPLY WITH CHARGER STATUS You also have the convenient option to apply for admission with the Common Application. Apply With The Common Application International Admissions Requirements Provide Official Transcripts New freshman applicants are required to submit an official high school transcript. A freshman applicant with a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA is considered a strong candidate for admission. Transfer student applicants are required to submit transcripts from all previously attended colleges. Here are the following academic standards and admissions requirements for transfer applicants: Applicant must hold a minimum overall college "C" average (2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale), along with a minimum "C" average (2.0 GPA) in all transferable courses. Applicant's previous institution(s) must be regionally accredited. Applicant must be in good standing at previous institution(s). Applicants who have completed less than 24 academic credit hours must also have a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA. An official final transcript will be required as soon as it is available for any work completed after submitting the application for admission. If you completed coursework at a high school or college in a foreign country, you may be requested to provide a document-by-document or course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts if your transcript is not in English or does not include a cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. You will be notified if a transcript evaluation is required. As an applicant, you are responsible for contacting a credentialed evaluation agency directly so that the agency can send the official evaluation report to UAH; copies will not be accepted by UAH. Acceptable evaluation services are as follows: World Education Services Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) International Education Evaluations (IEE) SpanTran Language Proficiency All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate the English language proficiency necessary to succeed in degree programs at UAH as indicated by completing at least one of the following standardized English proficiency exams with the respective minimum score listed below. TOEFL iBT: 72 (no sub-score below 18) - UAH TOEFL School Code: 1854 IELTS: 5.5 (no sub-score below 5.5; students with an overall IELTS score of 5.5 and no more than one sub-score between 5.0 and 5.5 will be evaluated on an individual basis) Duolingo: 95 (no sub-score below 95) Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): Students must achieve a total score of 48 TOEIC: 600 (listening/reading only) You do not need to submit an English proficiency score if: You graduated from an accredited high school or university in the United States. You graduated from an International Baccalaureate high school with an IB diploma. Your first language is English and you completed your schooling in English in a country where English is an official language. Qualified Countries American Samoa Anguilla Antigua Australia Bahamas Barbados Bermuda Belize Botswana British Virgin Islands Canada (except Quebec) Cayman Islands Christmas Islands Cook Islands Dominica Falkland Islands Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Gibraltar The Gambia Guyana Ghana Grenada Guam Hong Kong Ireland Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Liberia Malawi Malta Marshall Islands Mauritius Montserrat Namibia Nauru New Zealand Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Sandwich Islands Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa (English-speaking, i.e. not Afrikaans) South Georgia Islands Swaziland Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda United States United Kingdom US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John) Zambia Zimbabwe Other important information: UAH only accepts English language proficiency test scores that were taken within two years of when the UAH application was submitted. UAH does not accept My Best Scores from TOEFL. You will need to submit individual test date score reports with your application. UAH reserves the right to verify and double-check the applicant’s English proficiency when deemed necessary. Language proficiency is only one factor in admission decisions. To confirm the full admission requirements for specific degree programs, please refer to the application for your particular degree. Required Documentation Regarding Citizenship Status If you are an F1 or a J1 student, you must also submit an Affidavit of Financial Support and documents (such as an official bank letter) that prove that you or your sponsor have access to fluid funds sufficient to cover at least one year's tuition and living expenses. U.S. permanent residents will be required to submit a copy of their permanent resident card. If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at (256) 824-2773 or admissions@uah.edu. Types of Student Visas Sponsored by UAH UAH is authorized to issue the necessary immigration documents (I-20 for F status and DS-2019 for J status) to international students. An F1 visa is what most international students use to come to the United States for specified academic studies. A J1 visa is for students who come to the United States for educational or cultural exchange programs. These students are usually not seeking a degree and are here for shorter educational experiences. Once you are admitted, you will receive an email notification on how to obtain your necessary documents. The information provided will enable you to make your consulate appointment in order to get your appropriate visa. Learn about visa basics and when and where to set up your appointments with your consulate. Read Visa 101 Find general resources, student and department forms, and FAQs here. Access Forms The Office of International Services (OIS) is a resource to support international students, faculty, and staff at UAH. Explore the OIS Keep Track of Your Application Process Follow the instructions below to help ensure you complete all necessary steps before arriving at UAH. Exploration Choose your program of study. Take our virtual campus tour. Application Create your Charger Status account. Submit the application for admission and pay the nonrefundable $40 application fee. Submit all required checklist items, including transcripts, English language proficiency scores, passport biometric page, and more. Submit financial documentation upon acceptance. Financial Aid and Scholarships Determine financial need Browse and apply for scholarships, loans, etc. Frequently Asked Questions Is there an application fee for international student admissions? Yes. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $50. What is a visa? How do I obtain one? A visa is a document in your passport that grants you permission to enter the country on a temporary basis. It’s required for all travelers coming to the United States, including international college students. We provide admitted students documentation to apply for visas. Visit our Visa 101 page for more details on this process. Do I need to submit letters of recommendation or an essay? No. UAH does not require letters of recommendation or an essay for admission consideration. High school coursework and test scores (ACT/SAT) are the main points of consideration. Can I apply if I don’t have a TOEFL or IELTS? Yes. We now accept a variety of English proficiency assessment options. However, TOEFL and IELTS are preferred. What is it like going to university in the United States? Attending university is unique for everyone. You will meet new friends and learn life lessons, and there will likely be cultural differences that are new to you. We encourage you to attend orientation and enjoy the new experiences that college life brings. How do I apply for financial aid as an international student? We have many resources for international students, including financial aid and visa information. You can find financial aid resources at the International Student and Scholar Services website. I am a current university student in another country. Do I apply as an international student? Yes. You will apply as an international student, not a transfer. When you’re admitted to UAH, there is a form that states your intention to transfer schools. Contact our admissions office for more information on transferring credits, the application process, etc. When will I receive my I-20 for the F1 visa? Once you are admitted, you will receive an email notification on how to obtain your necessary documents. The information provided will enable you to make your consulate appointment. Will my scholarship award show on my I-20? Yes; any current scholarship awards will show as funding on your I-20.