Graduate Admissions

International Students

UWF is home to international students from a wide range of countries and nationalities. Applicants to the University are considered international if they are not U.S. citizens, dual citizens, or permanent residents. Please review the following information as it pertains to all graduate international applicants.

International Admission Requirements

University Level Required Admission Documents

• International Graduate Application and Application Fee ▼
  International graduate applicants may print the international application.* The application for graduate admission and a nonrefundable $30 processing fee payable to the University of West Florida should be submitted six to nine months prior to the semester for which admission is requested. It is the policy of the University not to defer or waive the application processing fee.

  The application processing fee must be in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank.

  The international graduate application should be sent to:

  The University of West Florida
  Graduate Admissions
  11000 University Pkwy., Bldg 11
  Pensacola, FL 32514-5750

  The application processing fee should be sent to:

  The University of West Florida
  Cashier's Office
  11000 University Pkwy., Bldg 20E
  Pensacola, FL 32514-5750

  *International graduate students in F-1 visa status are required to take 6 credit hours of face-to-face coursework per semester, according to 8 CFR 214.2 (f) (6) (i) (G). Please be aware of this if/when you are applying to a fully online program.
• Application Deadlines ▼
  Because international documents have a longer distance to travel in the mail, applications and supplemental application materials should be submitted as early as possible.

  The UWF final deadlines for applications and supporting documents for graduate applicants are:

  Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:	Summer Semester:
  June 1	October 1	March 1

  Because some departments have earlier deadlines, applicants should contact the Graduate Program Director and review the graduate program admission requirements for departmental deadlines. It is in an applicant's best interest to apply early. Files completed after the published deadlines may not be processed in time for the student to be considered for enrollment in the desired semester.
• Official College Transcripts ▼
  Applicants must submit one official transcript from each college and university attended to the Graduate School. Students who received their undergraduate degree from UWF do not need to provide UWF transcripts. Transcripts are considered official when they are sent from a college or university directly to the Graduate School and bear an official seal and signature. Transcripts bearing the statement "Issued to Student," faxed transcripts, or transcripts submitted by the applicants are not considered official. Original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents may be submitted by the student only when institutions outside the U.S. will not send academic records to other institutions. The verifying signature preferably should be that of an officer of the institution attended. All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
• Official Credential Evaluation ▼
  International applicants must submit original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents, as well as certified translations of all documents that are not in English. International applicants must also have their foreign credentials evaluated by one of the four evaluation services listed below. The evaluation should contain a course-by-course description and a grade point average from each institution attended. Applicants have the responsibility to contact the evaluation agency directly and have the evaluation agency send the official evaluation report to UWF. The official evaluation report must be received by the application deadline for the semester the applicant plans to attend. The acceptable evaluation services are the following:

  Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  P.O. Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
  Ph: (414) 289-3400
  Fax: (414) 289-3411
  www.ece.org
  eval@ece.org

  International Education Evaluators (IEE)
  P.O. Box 545863
  Surfside, FL 33154
  Ph: (305) 503-9063
  Fax: (305) 993-5550
  www.iee-usa.com
  info@iee-usa.com

  Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
  International Education Consultants
  7101 SW 102 Avenue
  Miami, FL 33173
  Ph: (305) 273-1616
  Fax: (305) 273-1338
  Translation Fax: (305) 273-1984
  www.jsilny.com
  info@jsilny.com

  World Education Services, Inc.
  P.O. Box 5087
  Bowling Green Station
  New York, NY 10274-5087
  Ph: (212) 966-6311
  Fax: (212) 739-6120
  www.wes.org
• English Proficiency Test ▼
  If the international applicant's native language is not English or the applicant is from a country in which the primary language is not English or the applicant does not hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, he or she must take one of the following tests before consideration of admission.
  

  1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  2. International English Language Test System (IELTS)
  3. Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

  Minimum scores required by the University are listed in the table below. However, individual departments may require higher scores.

  Test Type	Basic Score	Listening / Comprehension Score
  Paper-based TOEFL	550	53
  Computer-based TOEFL	213	20
  Internet-based TOEFL	79/80	19
  IELTS	6.5	7
  MELAB	78	not applicable

  English proficiency test scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Graduate School from the Educational Testing Service, Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541-6151, USA. English proficiency test information and registration forms are available in many locations outside the U.S., usually at U.S. embassies and consulates, at offices of the U.S. Information Agency (U.S.I.A.), from U.S. educational commissions and foundations, at Binational Centers, and from many private organizations such as the Institute of International Education (IIE), American-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), and the African-American Institute (AAI).
• Graduate Admission Test Scores ▼
  Official test results from a nationally standardized graduate admission test are required for all applicants. The University of West Florida accepts the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).
  

  Applicants should contact the Graduate Program Director for which he/she applied to inquire as to which test is acceptable for that program.
  

  It is recommended that the graduate admission test be taken no later than April for the fall semester, August for the spring semester, or January for the summer semester. The test scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Graduate School from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official. Applicants to the Ed.D. program should take the GRE or MAT one year prior to desired admission. The GRE, GMAT, and MAT are offered several times a year at numerous testing centers in the U.S. and abroad. Advanced registration is required. Registration forms, as well as detailed information on the availability and character of the examinations, may be obtained from the UWF Testing Center.
• Immigration Requirements ▼

  Certification of Finances

  Certification of finances must be completed and returned to the International Student Office (link to International Student Office) before the student visa, "Certificate of Eligibility" (Form I-20 or DS 2019), is issued. The University is required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration authorities to check the financial resources of each student prior to issuing Form I-20 or DS 2019. Therefore, it is important for the applicant to know the costs of attending the University and have the necessary funds for the entire period of enrollment. Funds for one year of study and living expenses must be documented and approved by the University before an I-20 or DS 2019 is issued.
  

  Confidential Financial Statement

  The "Confidential Financial Statement" form must be completed, signed by the student, and verified by the student's or sponsor's bank or financial institution with a statement of deposit. It must be accurate and documented to avoid unnecessary delay in processing. Before completing the "Confidential Financial Statement," the applicant should review the estimate of institutional costs and living expenses. The total amount of funds available to the student must be listed for each year of planned attendance and must equal or exceed the total estimate of institutional costs and living expenses. Click here for the "Confidential Financial Statement" form. This form must be accurate and documented to avoid unnecessary delay in processing.
  

  The "Confidential Financial Statement" and supporting documents from the student's or sponsor's bank or financial institution should be submitted to:
  

  The University of West Florida
  International Student Office
  11000 University Pkwy., Bldg. 71
  Pensacola, FL 32514-5750
• Health Requirements ▼

  Student Health Form

  Applicants must submit a "Student Health Form" completed in its entirety by a physician. Documentation of measles (rubella and rubeola) immunization must be submitted. Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. Florida law also requires that students residing on campus must provide proof of immunization for meningitis and hepatitis B, or sign a waiver indicating their informed decision not to be vaccinated. Go to the Student Health Center for more information.
  

  Health Insurance

  International students are required to show proof of adequate medical insurance coverage for illness or accidental injury before they will be permitted to register or to continue enrollment. An adequate medical insurance policy must meet a number of requirements, including that the insurance proceeds are payable in U.S. currency. Insurance may be obtained at the University before registration.
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  University Level Admission Requirements

• Requirements For Regular Admission To A Masters Program ▼
  Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:

  1. An earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or from an institution accredited by an equivalent accrediting body or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale, or a 3.0 (GPA) on a 4-point scale on the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree.
  2. Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
  3. A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the program to which the student is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Approval by the department offering the degree to which the applicant is applying.
  5. Approval by the department offering the specialization to which the applicant is applying.

  Departments may establish standards that exceed these university requirements or require additional application materials. Departments may accept an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or from an institution accredited by an equivalent accrediting body in lieu of the bachelor's degree and required standardized admission test.

• Requirements For Regular Admission To A Specialist Program ▼
  Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:

  1. An earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or from an institution accredited by an equivalent accrediting body or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale, or a 3.0 (GPA) on a 4-point scale on the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree.
  2. Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
  3. A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the program to which the student is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Other requirements as specified by each specialization for the degree.
  5. Approval by the department offering the degree to which the applicant is applying.
• Requirements For Regular Admission To A Doctoral Program ▼
  Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:

  1. An earned master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or from an institution accredited by an equivalent accrediting body or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 on a 4-point scale.
  2. Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
  3. A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the program to which the student is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Other requirements as specified by each specialization for the degree.
• Important Overview of Departmental Admission Requirements

  Some graduate departments have additional admission requirements such as auditions, portfolios, goal statements, letters of recommendation, departmental applications, writing samples, personal interviews, and diagnostic testing. Applicants should contact the Graduate Program Director and review the graduate program admission requirements regarding any departmental admission requirements. These items should be sent directly to the department.

  Click here to view the departmental admission requirement table. Also make sure to go to graduate programs, select the program of your choice, and print out the detailed admission requirements checklist that includes the departmental admission requirements.

  Students who do not meet the minimum University requirements may still be eligible for admission via provisional or conditional admission:
• Provisional Admission ▼
  With approval from the department, students who do not have all application materials available at the time of admission may be granted provisional admission by the Graduate School. Provisional admission is appropriate for circumstances such as when the undergraduate institution has not posted the awarding of the baccalaureate degree, when graduate admissions has not received the applicant's official standardized test score, or when information required by the department is incomplete. Students who are granted provisional admission must submit all application materials during the first semester of graduate study or risk removal by the Graduate School of their status to pursue graduate study.
• Conditional Admission ▼
  Students who do not meet the criteria for regular admission may be admitted by a department on a conditional basis. Also, students who have graduated from a recognized, although non-accredited, institution may be admitted on a conditional basis. Students admitted on a conditional basis are permitted to register for up to 12 semester hours, identified by the department as appropriate to the degree, and must earn at least a grade of "B" on each of those courses or risk removal of their status to pursue graduate study. Admission on a conditional basis should not be routine.
  
  

  International Student Resources

• International Student Office ▼
  The International Student Office provides immigration assistance to all international students, scholars, and employees at the University of West Florida. Among the services offered are advising on immigration rules, regulations, responsibilities, and deadlines, processing immigration requests and forms such as:

  1. travel documents
     
  2. employment authorizations
     
  3. dependent documents
     
  4. social security card applications/approvals
     
  5. Optional Practical Training (OPT ) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshops.

  We encourage you to explore the International Students Office Web site.
• International Student Orientation ▼
  As required by U.S. law and to assist you with your new life as a UWF student, the International Student Orientation covers Immigration Law, UWF Student Life & Services, U.S. culture, and the U.S. Higher Education System, and more. This orientation is mandatory for all international students.
  

  Click here to see the upcoming International Student Orientation dates.
• Intensive English Program ▼
  The Intensive English Program offers programs designed to help non-native speakers develop English skills for personal, academic, and professional purposes. IEP classes are similar to university classes in teaching style and content; therefore, students are required to have studied at least one year of English before attending the IEP.
  

  The academic Intensive English Program improves the listening, speaking, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills needed to study at an American university and includes TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) practice for advanced students. The official TOEFL is given on campus at the UWF Testing Centers.
  

  We invite you to explore the Intensive English Program website.
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