Application Process
You are considered ‘international’ for admissions purposes if you are not a US citizen or US Permanent Resident and require a non-immigrant visa. U.S. citizens and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents (green card holders) should apply through the Office of Admissions and not International Admissions. Individuals that have established temporary residence as an asylee or refugee are processed through domestic admissions.
Search all of our programs here: /academics/programs. Co-majors and minors are also available.
Applications and all materials are submitted online at .
Yes, you may apply by uploading unofficial copies of your academic transcripts and test scores. However, if you are admitted, you will be required to provide official copies.
Yes, all non-native speakers of English are required to submit an English language proficiency test. We accept many test types, including TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, the SAT reading test, and others. Visit our website for more information: /admissions/proficiency.
The deadline to apply for Fall (August) is April 15. Spring (January) deadline is October 1. Summer (May) deadline February 1. Applications may be considered after this date but graduate students should contact their program directly to confirm before submitting their application. Late applications will be reviewed at the discretion of the International Admissions office.
The non-refundable $50 (USD) application fee is required of all applicants. MasterCard and Visa are accepted credit cards. In the instance a credit card payment is not available, international checks, bank drafts or money orders must be drawn from a U.S. banking institution, made payable in U.S. dollars to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and mailed directly to the Office of International Admissions.
Yes, but each application must be submitted separately and the application fee paid on each.
A complete undergraduate application typically requires 4-6 weeks for decisions, and a complete graduate application 8-10 weeks. Please be mindful that decision times may vary during the peak application season.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ offers conditional admission pending English proficiency. Students who have not satisfied the English language requirement but meet all other academic criteria for admission may be conditionally admitted pending completion of an Intensive English Program (IEP) or the Monarch English Transition (MET) program, depending on their level of English proficiency at the time of application. Conditional Admission is not available for distance (online) students.
Yes, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has an English Language Center that offers English courses. Please see the above information on conditional admission.
Neither the SAT nor ACT standardized test is required for admission. However, these tests are recommended if applying for the ISS Undergraduate scholarship. Sufficient verbal scores on either test may satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.
The College Examination Entrance Board (CEEB) code for all standardized test reporting to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is 005126.
Most bachelor’s degrees take 4 years on average to complete, master’s 2 years, and Ph.D.s 4-5 years.
Funding/Tuition
The Office of International Admissions offers a competitive, merit based scholarship, renewable (up to 4 years) for newly admitted, initial Bachelor's degree seeking international students. For eligible recipients, the ISS scholarship offers up to $16,000 USD per academic year to be applied to out-of-state tuition costs.
Contact the Graduate Program Director of your intended program of study directly for graduate, teaching or research assistantship opportunities.
Students studying on F-1 or J-1 student visas are not eligible for in-state tuition; however, other non-immigrant categories may qualify and would need to submit an application for in-state tuition to be evaluated.
Health Insurance is required for those in F-1 or J-1 visa status and is listed as a required expense on the visa document. Students are automatically enrolled and billed for the University health insurance policy for the duration of their studies. Dependents in F-2 status are not required to purchase the University sanctioned plan; however, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ strongly encourages health insurance coverage for your spouse and children while residing in the United States. Dependents in J-2 status, per federal law, must maintain health insurance that meets the requirements outlined by the Department of State.
Tuition and fee payments are due on strict deadlines at the start of each semester following course registration. Plan to have sufficient funds for the initial semester in a readily exchangeable form upon arrival. Payments may be made online, by mail, or in person. International payments may be made via Flywire ,and traveler's checks, MasterCard and Visa may also be used. Payments may be made via cash, but carrying a large amount of cash around at any time is highly discouraged.
Yes, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ offers a payment plan through which tuition, fees, health insurance and on-campus housing costs may be paid in 4 installments during the semester. Students must enroll in the payment plan in their MyºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ portal and pay a $40 payment plan fee each semester.
If sponsored by an employer, governmental or private organization, and direct billing of your tuition and fees is requested, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ must obtain current billing authorization and contact information. Invoice approval is sanctioned by a dated financial guarantee written on official organization stationary. The total funding amount, duration of funds, and any additional related terms and or restrictions, such as specific course of study registration, must be clearly stated. Visit Third Party Payments for additional information.
Students in F-1 status can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, or full time while not in session. Off-campus internships in the form of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may also be available after your first academic year.
Degree Equivalency/Evaluation
Applicants are encouraged to apply to the academic level for which they think they qualify. Degree determination is a component of the application process, and notification is given if a different level of study is more appropriate. Some evaluation companies will allow you to do a pre-evaluation for free to get a preliminary answer on whether your degree is considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s; however, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ makes all final determinations. As a service to applicants, the Office of International Admissions evaluates all foreign academic credentials.
Yes, students with a GED or who have 5 O-level passes are eligible to apply.
The Office of International Admissions awards general education and elective undergraduate course credit from classes taken at accredited post-secondary institutions. Core departmental course credit is awarded by academic advisors within the appropriate academic department or college. Course/catalog descriptions officially translated into English are required and will expedite the evaluation process. Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits are awarded once official scores are received.
All graduate level transfer credit is determined by the Graduate Program Director.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ evaluates all foreign credentials in-house. All academic credentials must be sealed, stamped/attested by a school official (Registrar, Principal or Controller of Exams) and sent directly from the institution to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ to be evaluated. Evaluations completed by a credential evaluation agency or service are not accepted as official; however, the report can serve as an English translation.
Non-Degree Studies
A complete non-degree application includes copies of final certificates, highest earned diploma or degree, demonstrated English language proficiency, and a copy of one's non-immigrant visa and passport identification page. Enrollment in non-degree studies does not qualify a student for the F or J student visa status, so one must already be in the U.S. in another status that allows non-degree studies or these must be completed from abroad. Non-degree study while in F-1 status is allowed only by approval during a summer session or a practical training program. Dependents in F-2 status may enroll in recreational or English language training courses. There are no non-degree study restrictions for J-2 visa holders. Contact the Office of International Admissions if you are unsure about eligibility for non-degree study.
Those interested in yearly exchange programs should contact the Office of Study Abroad for a list of institutions with which ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ currently administers exchange agreements. International students are also eligible to participate in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Study Abroad programs.
Many international visitors join ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ as researchers and faculty on a J visa scholar program administered by the Department of State. Please direct inquiries to the Visa and Immigration Services Office.
International students may apply for Distance Learning programs, with the exception of F-1 and J-1 students, who must enroll in face-to-face classes on the Norfolk campus.
Admitted Students
International students are eligible to defer their admission for up to one academic year. Requests to push admission beyond this timeframe will require the student to re-apply with transcripts and a new application fee.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is approved to host students on both the F-1 and J-1 student visas. With sufficient proof of funding, the University will issue a Certificate of Eligibility document that allows the student to apply for the appropriate visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad. More detail will be given on this process once you are admitted.
Once admitted, those seeking an F-1 or J-1 student visa must submit supporting finances to the Office of International Admissions in the International Student Portal. These financial documents must indicate sufficient funding for the first year of expenses, including tuition/fees, living/personal costs, and mandatory health insurance. All financial documents must be original or certified, dated, and show the equivalent numerical balance of funds to cover the 9-month academic year. Once funding is received and approved your I-20 or DS-2019 will be issued within two weeks. You will also need to be prepared to show your financial documents during your visa interview and travel to the U.S.
F-1 School Code: WAS214F10145000
J-1 Program Code: P-1-03464
Yes. Each family member in F-2 or J-2 status will require their own visa eligibility certificate and will have to apply for their visa separately. Please note that additional funding is required for each dependent, and any sponsorship funding must note and be adjusted accordingly to reflect whether it includes dependent expenses. A copy of each dependent's passport information page is also required.
No; all new F-1 and J-1 international students must first arrive in the U.S. and complete their immigration check-in with the visa office before course registration can proceed.
At this time the University does not offer assistance with airport pick up, unless you are participating in the MINT Orientation Program in the Fall semester.
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to apply for on-campus housing. Campus housing for graduate students is very limited and only offered on a 10 month contract beginning in the fall semester. However, there are plenty of housing options very near to campus, and ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has off-campus housing resources to help students find accommodations.
After admission to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, request that your current school/international student advisor transfer your electronic SEVIS record to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Records must be transferred before starting any classes or employment at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, or before the return from any international travel, if applicable. Your previous institution must complete a SEVIS Transfer-In Form and the student must submit sufficient proof of financial support. Once these items are complete, a new I-20 or DS-2019 will be issued once the SEVIS transfer takes place.
There are a number of mandatory orientation programs which you must attend before the academic year begins, so it is recommended that all new students arrive at least one week before classes begin. Graduate students receiving a graduate assistantship have an additional training they must attend or may have to schedule to take the SPEAK test before beginning their positions. Tax and employment paperwork will also have to be completed with the Visa Office before beginning any employment.
F/J visa holders are eligible to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days in advance of the program start date listed on the I-20/DS-2019 visa document. Be sure your passport is valid at least six months beyond the program start date or your visa may not be issued or you may not be allowed to enter the U.S.