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International ApplicantsStudents from different countries all over the world come to UIC every year to pursue a graduate education. International students constitute about a quarter of total graduate students at UIC. 1. Applicants to Graduate College programs should submit the materials listed below directly to the Graduate Admissions division of the Office of Admissions and Records. See item 2 for programs that require different processes.
2. Applicants to professional degree programs that are not part of the the Graduate College (Business Administration [MBA], Engineering [MEng], Public Health [MPH; DrPH], and Social Work [MSW]), applicants to Graduate College programs within the Liautaud Graduate School of Business (Accounting [MS], Business Adminitration [PhD], Management Information Systems [MS, PhD], and Real Estate [MA]), and applicants to Graduate College programs within the School of Public Health [MS, MHA, PhD] should follow the admission procedures of those units. 3. International applicants need to satisfy additional requirements for admission and to obtain a student visa. Please read the following sections carefully. Postsecondary Credentials Postsecondary CredentialsApplicants who have completed studies outside the United States must present all postsecondary school credentials. Such credentials must include a record of all studies completed to date; grades or examination results received (including failing as well as passing grades); maximum and minimum grades obtainable; rank in class; degrees, diplomas, and certificates earned; and length of the school year. Documents must be authentic, and those not written in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. Copies are acceptable when certified as authentic by the issuing institution. All documents should be sent directly to UIC by the issuing institution. For information on specific requirements for academic documents by country for graduate applicants, click here. Test of English as a Foreign Language and International English Language Testing SystemApplicants whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the exam of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The test score cannot be more than two years old. The TOEFL and IELTS are not required for students who have completed at least two academic years of full-time study in a country where English is the native language and in a school where English is the language of instruction within five years of the proposed date of enrollment in the University. In addition, the examination is not required of non-native English speakers who have a minimum of one year full-time employment in the U.S. or other country where the only official language of the country is English. Applicants must submit a letter from their employer verifying at least 12 consecutive months of employment and describing their English language skills. Visa CertificationInternational students granted admission receive from the Office of Admissions and Records all appropriate documents, including the certification forms that are required when applying for visas to enter the United States. Financial ArrangementsInternational students must be able to finance themselves fully, including room and board, tuition, books, other expenses, and travel to and from the United States. Only a limited number of assistantships are available, so applicants should not plan on any financial assistance from UIC unless they receive a written offer of aid from a department. All international applicants who plan to finance the cost of attending UIC from personal resources must certify that they will have available sufficient funds to cover their academic and living expenses for the academic year, plus living expenses for a summer. The exact amount required is set each year by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The amount is subject to change depending on tuition and room/board changes. The Declaration and Certification of Finances Form can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records or downloaded and printed. Applicants who are unable to provide satisfactory evidence of adequate finances or who have not sent a notarized certified statement verifying funds available and their source will not be granted admission. Official admission letters and visa documents cannot be sent until certification is received. International students may apply for fellowships, assistantships, and tuition waivers. These financial aids are awarded on the basis of outstanding scholarship and potential to undertake research. Contact the director of graduate studies of the program of interest for more information. Oral English Proficiency of Teaching AssistantsIllinois state law requires that the University attest to the English proficiency of all classroom instructors, including teaching assistants. Teaching assistants who are not native speakers of English (regardless of their citizenship status) must have their oral English proficiency assessed by the appointing department. The method of assessing English proficiency is at the discretion of the appointing unit and may include standardized tests and/or interviews. The department head of the hiring unit must certify in writing that the student has sufficient oral English proficiency to provide classroom instruction before the student's appointment papers will be processed. |
