International Admissions Requirements
Preparing for your UC/US education
International student applicants must follow the requirements for general Freshman or Transfer admission, depending on the applicable enrollment status, as well as additional requirements related to transcript submission, demonstration of English proficiency, and the issuance of a student visa.
The University of Charleston considers an international applicant to be anyone that is not a U.S. Permanent Resident or U.S. Citizen. The University of Charleston has a rolling admissions process which means you can apply at any time. However, international applicants should keep in mind that the student visa interview process can take a significant amount of time to complete.
It is recommend that international applicants complete the application process at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the desired semester. Please find all necessary documents and links below to aid in the application process.
First-year students must submit the following:
- Application and Application Fee/valid Application Fee Waiver.
- Transcripts (Official transcripts as well as an official English translation from all prior and currently attended secondary institutions are required for an admission decision. Official transcripts may be scanned and submitted via email.) All official secondary school scholastic records submitted in support of your application should demonstrate a minimum 2.5 GPA and include English translations. English translations do not need to be official, but they should be literal (word-for-word, not interpretive) translations.
- Applicants whose mode of instruction is not English or who do not take the ACT or SAT exams must submit one standardized English test score. (minimum score requirements are listed below under “English Exam Requirements”).
A transfer student is an applicant who has earned 12 or more college-level credits (generally, courses numbered 100 and above) at another institution. Transfer students should submit the following to apply to UC:
- Application and Application Fee/valid Application Fee Waiver.
- Course-by-Course NACES member evaluation of transcripts from institutions outside of the US (NACES website) demonstrating a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
- Applicants whose mode of instruction is not English or who do not take the ACT or SAT exams must submit one standardized English test score. (minimum score requirements are listed below under “English Exam Requirements”).
English Exam Requirements
International Students who do not take the ACT, SAT, or IGCSE exam must submit a standardized English test score*. The College Board’s Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo , GTEC, and PTE exams are accepted. Other standardized English exams are accepted only upon pre-approval from the Director of International Students. Minimum score requirements include:
Internet-based test (IBT) on the TOEFL: 68
IELTS: 5.5
Duolingo: 90
Cambridge: B2
PTE: 46
Applicants who have not demonstrated the minimum English proficiency standards may be considered for conditional admission with additional documentation to demonstrate the potential for academic success.
International students whose primary language is not English and whose English proficiency scores fall into the lower quartile of accepted scores will be required to take an English diagnostic exam, which includes a writing sample, upon arrival on campus. The results will be used for placement purposes. Based on their scores, some students will be required to enroll an ESL course, which must be passed with a grade of “P” upon completion. If the needed ESL coursework is not offered, the University of Charleston reserves the right to refer the student to an Intensive English Language Program.
Current or previous study at an American institution may be considered in determining English proficiency.
*Students from the following list of countries do not need to submit an ESL test score but should still submit an SAT or ACT score;
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (English-speaking provinces), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Federal States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tabago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom and Ireland, US Virgin Island
Other International Admissions Requirements
ACT/SAT/IGCSE
The American College Test (ACT), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) are recommended for international students whose first language is not English. Applicants should submit the results when they have taken one of these tests. These results will help Admissions staff make an informed decision about placement.
- ACT – 19
- SAT – 900
Evaluation of College Coursework
The University of Charleston requires that transfer applicants seek foreign educational credential evaluations from NACES® members. NACES® is an association of private foreign educational credential evaluation services committed to formulating and maintaining ethical standards in the field of foreign educational evaluation. A list of these evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org/members.
Student Visa Application Requirements
Once an international applicant has been granted General Admission to the University, they must complete the following steps to be issued a student visa (I20) prior to completing an interview at their country’s embassy:
- Provide proof of adequate financial resources to support study in the United States is required to be provided an application for student visa. An official statement specifying these resources is required before an international student may gain entry into the United States for study. If the financial documentation is not in the applicant’s name, the account holder or sponsor must submit a Letter of Support stating their relation to the applicant and verifying they are financially responsible for the entirety of the applicant’s studies while enrolled at the Institution.
- Payment of SEVIS fee and submissions of corresponding documentation
- Copy of current passport
We understand that finances can be a concern for all of our students. If you have specific questions about your invoice or tuition including payment deadlines, please contact the Student Solutions Center at 304-357-4947. If you have inquiries about financial aid or scholarships, you can contact Financial Aid at 304-357-4944 for assistance.
This admissions service will assist you in having your international transcripts evaluated. Once your application is submitted, and your evaluation is complete, a copy of your assessment will come directly to UC.
Immunizations Required for All Charleston and Beckley Students. Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur on US campuses and pose a significant threat to the public health of campus communities.
