The international education and programs administered by our office encompass a variety of educational, travel and personal-enrichment opportunities. Whether it is a United States student looking for opportunities abroad or a foreign student seeking to study here, the office accommodates student needs through guidance, counseling and professional programs.

The following provides a brief introduction to the myriad programs. More information can be obtained on each of these through the links on the left side of the page.

• For our international students, the first stop is the International Student Office. Because UWF hosts hundreds of international students from literally all over the world, the staff offers personal assistance to prepare legal documents for admission to the U.S., information on immigration regulations, help in preparing documents that allow students to work and much more. If regulations change, students are notified by the staff. And if problems arise for students at any point during the admission process or regarding immigration issues, our staff will provide the necessary assistance.

• The Intensive English Program is designed for international students seeking to master the English language and prepare for the TOEFL exam, a test to determine the English proficiency of students that is required for admission to American colleges and universities. Classes are offered for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. A TOEFL preparation class assists students who soon will take the test to enter a university, and the program also offers an ENS class for currently enrolled foreign students who need additional assistance with language-skill development for the purpose of meeting course requirements, such as English composition. In addition to offering English instruction, students also are exposed to various aspects of the American culture.

• The Florida-China Linkage Institute and the Florida-Japan Linkage Institute work toward stronger economic, social and educational ties between Florida and those countries. They do that through educational programs that offer in-state tuition waivers for Chinese and Japanese students interested in attending a Florida university and by providing opportunities for U.S. students to study their countries. They also coordinate faculty teaching abroad and offer travel opportunities to Japan and China, along with cultural activities at UWF.

• The UWF Japan Center administers the Florida-Japan Linkage Institute, along with the Jikei-American Center, Japan House, and the Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida. It also offers credit and non-credit Japanese language courses.

• Conversational language courses for business and travel are offered on a regular basis to provide basic skills for participants to learn foreign languages for business, vacation or simply to learn more about different cultures. These short-term courses include Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Italian and Spanish instruction. Please check our website calendar for the class schedules as they vary each semester.

• The Study Abroad Program provides U.S. students the opportunity to study at more than 20 institutions in foreign countries. Our staff assists with application preparation, orientation for foreign travel, international health insurance and more.

• Finally, the office assists those applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program, which offers students, faculty, administrators and professionals the opportunity to engage in international research, to teach or to attend seminars in foreign countries.