international students

Students from other countries are valued members of our university community. They bring knowledge and experience from other cultures that greatly enrich graduate studies at UTB/TSC. In many cases, moving to another country to attend graduate school is very expensive and requires great personal and family commitment. It is important that international students enter graduate studies at UTB/TSC with a clear understanding of their obligations and responsibilities and of the university’s commitment to them.

International Students applying for admission to the graduate program must comply with the following:

Apply for graduate admission.

Pay $30 application fee.

Submit Application Essay/Statement of Goals.

Submit official transcripts on all undergraduate and graduate college work previously completed whether taken in a foreign country or in the United States. Foreign transcripts may be officially translated when necessary. Information on these services is available at the Office of Graduate Studies. International students from Mexico who have applied for the Título will be allowed to enroll for a 12-month period until the document is completely processed. Proof that the paperwork has been submitted for the Título must be provided to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Send official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) directly from Educational Testing Service to the Testing Office. GRE and GMAT scores more than five years old will be accepted only by permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies.

All international applicants must submit an official score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be eligible for admission. The test score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old, less than 550 on the written version of the exam, or less than 213 on the computerized version. A waiver of the TOEFL requirement may be granted at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Studies if the applicant is from a country in which English is the primary language, or is a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, or holds an undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degree from a U.S. college or university. All International students for whom English is not the mother tongue must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Students (except those from Mexico) who enter the country under the provisions of an I-20 must qualify for unconditional admission status to the University. Individuals who are required to obtain the legal status of international student must request the form I-20 A-B from the Admissions Office (only after being admitted unconditionally). To obtain the I-20 form, you must submit the following:

tentative Program of Study from the academic department

an affidavit of financial support

proof of economic solvency (i.e. bank statement or bank letter)

Obtain F-1 visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate with an I-20 form and valid passport.

Present immigration documents to the Admissions Office, Tandy Hall 115, prior to registration.

Residency Classifications

Under state statutes, and under rules and regulations of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, prospective graduate students are classified as residents of Texas, nonresidents, or foreign students. Resident students are defined as students under 18 whose families have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration, or students 18 or over who have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration.

Residents are individuals who are either U.S. citizens, national or permanent resident aliens or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have otherwise met the state requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes.
Nonresidents are citizens, national or permanent residents of the U.S. or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have not met the state’s requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes. While these state requirements for establishing residency are complex and should be referred to in each particular circumstance, they generally require a minimum of 12 months residence in Texas prior to enrollment.
Foreign students are aliens who are not permanent residents of the U.S. or have not been permitted by Congress to adopt the U.S. as their domicile. An individual classified as a nonresident or foreign student may qualify, under certain exceptions specified in these rules, for resident tuition rates and other charges while continuing to be classified as a nonresident or a foreign student. Information on residency, reclassification, tuition exceptions and waivers is available at the Admissions Office and/or Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Health Insurance For International Students

A waiver from this fee may be obtained by providing proof of an acceptable alternate insurance to the Student Health Services Director. Proof of insurance with coverage of at least $100,000 in medical benefits must include an identification card with insurer’s name, policy coverage, and effective and expiration dates. It must be in English. If the required medical evacuation and repatriation coverage are not included, these may be purchased separately at the Business Office, Tandy Hall #109 for $35 (annual fee). For information contact the International Student Counselor, Tandy Hall #205.

U.S. residents who wish to purchase health insurance may contact Student Health Services at the Cortez Building.