International applicants in or seeking F-1 student visa status will be considered for admission only as full–time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) degree–seeking students at the University of St. Thomas.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of International Student Services coordinate the admission process for undergraduate international students. The Office of International Student Services advises each F-1 visa status student’s compliance with United States immigration requirements.
Required for Admission Consideration
- Completed, signed University of St. Thomas application.
- There is no application fee. (excluding Transfer Nursing applicants)
- If applicable, a personal statement from the applicant may be requested by the Admissions Committee. Official transcripts certifying completion of secondary and/or post–secondary (college/university) levels. Academic records not issued in English must be in the original language and include a certified literal English translation prepared by either the Ministry of Education, Consulate/Embassy, Education USA, or a certified translation service.
- The Registrar’s office will provide a GPA evaluation of foreign credentials for students who have applied to the University of St. Thomas. These evaluations will be an internal document, permanently retained in the student’s record, for the sole purpose of admissions at UST. The results of the evaluation will be available to review upon request. If there is a disagreement about the conclusion of the evaluation, the student will be asked to have an outside evaluation performed at their own cost, by a NACES-approved evaluation company. Alternatively, the student may choose to decline UST’s internal foreign credential evaluation and provide an academic credentials evaluation conducted by a NACES-approved evaluation company at his or her own expense.The University requires a GPA evaluation of all foreign transcripts. If a program requires or a student wishes to bring in specific course credit, a course-by-course evaluation would need to be performed by a NACES-approved evaluation company.
- Official Test score of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (minimum paper–based score of 550 or internet-based of a 79) or ELS certificate of successful completion of Level 112 or 6.5 on the IELTS exam. TOEFL or equivalent is not ordinarily required of students from English–speaking countries. (The University school code for the TOEFL is 6880).
- For international transfer students only: English proficiency examinations may be waived if a student has completed both English Composition I and II at a U.S. college/university.
- Exceptions to the above requirements may arise if the university has an existing MOU agreement with a partner international institution.
Immigration Requirements
Upon acceptance, international students are required to submit the following to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services in order to receive form I-20.
- International Student Information Form
- An Undergraduate Affidavit of Financial Support Form
- Proof of financial responsibility in the form of a current bank letter written on bank letterhead, or in the form of a legally binding notarized affidavit of support from a sponsor. Documentation should be written in English, dated within the past six months, and indicated in U.S. dollars
- Copy of passport
- Admitted students who are already in the U.S.in F-1 status will need to provide a copy of their UST acceptance letter/email to their current/previous schools international student office and request to transfer their SEVIS record to UST (School Code HOU214F00102000). In addition, submission is also required of a copy of previous I-20s, F-1 visa if available and form I-94.