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International Admissions for F-1 Visa Students

If you are unsure whether to apply as a domestic or international student, please contact the Office of Admissions before submitting your application. Applicants should apply as an international student if they require an F-1 visa to study in the United States or are currently in the United States on an F-1 visa and wish to transfer to WUST. International applicants seeking admission to complete the program 100% online in their home country should also apply as international students.

Please note that F-1 students cannot enroll in a 100% online program in accordance with the rules and regulations of their F-1 visa.

Admission Requirements 

* Financial documents are required for international (F-1 visa) students, as per SEVIS requirements.

** This is an online learning assessment tool for all applicants to complete and submit at the time of application to assess whether they have the technical skills, competencies, and access to technology necessary to succeed in and benefit from a distance education environment prior to enrolment (ACCSC Standards of Accreditation, Substantive Standards, Section IX (F)(1)(2)). The assessment tool can be found at https://www.wust.edu/de-self-assessment

1) Application Forms:

Get your application started by submitting an online application! Once the application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and may begin submitting your documents for review by our Office of Admissions.

2 & 3) Previous Degree and Official Transcripts:

For undergraduate admissions, applicants must provide high school/ higher secondary diploma and transcripts. The diploma must be equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.

For graduate admissions, applicants must provide their bachelor degree and full academic transcript. The degree must be equivalent to a U.S. 4-year bachelor degree from an accredited institution to be eligible for any graduate program, as per SCHEV standards. Exceptions may be made for applicants who have been fully admitted to an accredited U.S. university or college at the same program level. Such applicants will be eligible for full admission to any available degrees at the same degree level offered by WUST.

All applicants who obtained their previous degree/diploma from an institution outside the United States must have a formal degree evaluation conducted to determine if the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree of the same program level. Applicants can have a general degree evaluation conducted by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). In most cases, the university will have a degree evaluation conducted on the applicant’s behalf before the time of enrollment. In some cases, at the university’s discretion, the university may require the evaluation at the time of application.

If there is any issue in the validity of an applicant’s diploma or the diploma is not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the admissions officer will contact the secondary school to verify the information and give the applicant two weeks to resubmit the required documentation. If it is not verified by the secondary school or the applicant can’t submit the application, the application will be canceled.

Note: If the original educational documents are not in English, an official English translation will be required along with the original documents.

4) English Proficiency

Applicants are required to provide evidence of English proficiency to be admitted into the university. WUST accepts the following English proficiency tests: 

  • TOEFL score of 78 (iBT) or,

  • IELTS score of 6.0 or, iTEP score of 3.7 or,

  • PTE score of 50 or, WAEC score of C6 or,

  • DET (Duolingo English Test) score of 100 or,

  • TOEIC score of 800 or,

  • Cambridge Assessment International Education AS Level or A Level in English Language

A student who successfully completes the advanced level (CEFR B2 level) of an English Language program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and submits proof of completion will be considered to have satisfactory English proficiency. Students who scored 3.5 on the iTEP test might also be admitted upon a written and verbal interview with a qualified ESL specialist at WUST.

Any applicant who has received at least 4 years of instruction in English from an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom is not required to submit proof of English proficiency.

Citizens from the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Helena, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbab
we.

5) Financial Documents

Original or otherwise certified (notarized) copy of bank statement(s) showing transaction history, dated within 6 months of the time of application, showing that the student has adequate funds available to cover the cost of one (1) academic year of study in the U.S. This amount is:

  • For Undergraduate programs: $22,785.00, and

  • For Graduate programs: $21,300.00

If the bank account statement is not in the student’s name, an Affidavit of Financial Support Form must be completed by the sponsor. It must be signed by the student and the sponsor.

6) ID or Passport

F-1 visa applicants must submit a copy of their passport (inside cover and signature page).

International students seeking admission to the 100% online program may submit their passport or any other government issued ID.

Students are required to present their visa before arriving in the U.S. or upon transferring into the university.

7) Statement of Purpose

At this time, the statement or purpose is not required, but it is highly recommended. Applicants may submit 150-250 words about why they want to attend WUST or their goals and aspirations.

8) Distance Education Assessment (DEA)

This is an online learning assessment tool for all applicants to complete and submit at the time of application to assess whether they have the technical skills, competencies, and access to technology necessary to succeed in and benefit from a distance education environment prior to enrollment (ACCSC Standards of Accreditation, Substantive Standards, Section IX (F)(1)(2)). This assessment tool can be found at https://www.wust.edu/de-self-assessment. The DEA is required of all applicants.

Transfer-In Students

In addition to the above documents, transfer-in students are also required to submit a copy of their student visa, their most recent I-94 or change of status to F-1 approval notice, all previous I-20 forms and letters of academic admission at the time of application.

A transfer-in student who has studied in a degree awarding program at an accredited U.S. institution and provides an official transcript from their previous institution does not need to provide:

  1. Proof of English proficiency

  2. A degree evaluation

Official transcripts can be sent electronically through Parchment or physically mailed to the university. If sending official transcripts electronically, please have them sent to your Admission Officer’s email address or to admissions@wust.edu.

If mailing transcripts, please have them sent to:

Office of Admissions

Washington University of Science and Technology

2900 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314

Note about transfer credits: Any applicant who wants to transfer credits from their previous institution must submit an official transcript. The university cannot guarantee transfer credits. For more information about our transfer credit policy, including transferring credit by exam, course matching, and transferring your full associate's degree, please see https://www.wust.edu/transfer-credits-and-course-matching.

Conditional Admission Process

Students seeking admission to WUST who do not meet the English Proficiency requirement may be eligible for conditional acceptance. Students who wish to apply for conditional admittance do not need to provide proof of English proficiency or financial documents during the application process, but will be required to during the transfer-in process.

Conditional Admission Requirements:

  • Copy of International Passport

  • Copy of Previous Degree(s)

  • Bachelor’s diploma and transcript for Graduate Applicants

  • High School diploma and transcript for Undergraduate Applicants

All applications of students seeking conditional acceptance will be processed within three business days and will be referred to one of our partner schools upon the payment of the application fee and a $1,000 (One Thousand Dollar) deposit to WUST.

After the student arrives in the United States to attend the English Language Program, the student will be required to update WUST on their progress at least every three months. When the student has completed the program or completed up to an Advanced Level of ESL, they will need to provide an official transcript or certificate from the language school as proof of English proficiency as well as proof of funding for one academic year at WUST.

What to Expect After You Are Accepted

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