Applying for Admission: International Students
International students may apply for admission to associates, bachelor's and graduate degrees. Applications for admission from international students must reach the Office of Admissions and the Registrar before March 1 for the fall semester and Sept. 1 for the spring semester.
Processing applications for international students takes several months. International students must complete all UAF application requirements as well as meet requirements for U.S. immigration agencies.
More information regarding the process for application to associates, baccalaureate or graduate programs can be found in the Getting Started section of this catalog.
Note to prospective international students: I-20s Certification of Eligibility for F-1 Status cannot be issued for programs that are offered only through distance delivery. I-20s will not be issued for the AAS degree in professional piloting.
Undergraduate Applicants
- Apply for admission
- Send secondary school and/or university transcripts to a credential evaluation agency (certified official, translated into English)
- Send secondary school and/or university transcripts to UAF's Office of Admissions and the Registrar (certified official, translated into English)
The Office of Admissions and the Registrar requires official transcripts of all high school and/or college-level course work signed and sealed by the registrar of the institution(s) attended. Transcripts must be issued in the original language and also must include certified English translations. Please see Applying for Admission: Bachelor's Degree Programs for undergraduate student transcript requirements. - Submit test scores from the SAT or ACT Plus Writing (each degree program has different requirements)
- Submit official TOEFL or IELTS test scores
- Send a copy of your passport identification page to the UAF Office of Admissions
- Complete UAF's financial statement and provide supporting documentation
International students must sign a financial statement and provide documentation that they have funds available to pay all expenses at UAF, as well as round-trip transportation between their home and Alaska. Because the application for F-1 visas requires international students to affirm that they do not intend to live in the United States permanently, they are not eligible for resident tuition fees.
Graduate Applicants
- Review your department's requirements and application deadlines
- Apply for admission
- Send university transcripts to UAF's Office of Admissions and the Registrar (certified official, translated into English). Please see Applying for Admission: Graduate Degree Programs for graduate student transcript requirements.
- Submit official GRE or GMAT test scores (if required by your department or you have less than a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale)
- Submit your resumé/curriculum vitae
- Submit your statement of goals
- Submit three letters of recommendation
- Submit official TOEFL or IELTS test results
- Submit a copy of your passport identification page
- Complete UAF's financial statement and provide supporting documentation
International students must sign a financial statement and provide documentation that they have funds available to pay all expenses at UAF, as well as round-trip transportation between their home and Alaska. Because the application for F-1 visas requires international students to affirm that they do not intend to live in the United States permanently, they are not eligible for resident tuition fees. - Immigration requirements
Once a student has been accepted to UAF, the Office of International Programs and Initiatives will issue a Form I-20, which students must present at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of citizenship in order to obtain an F-1 (student) visa. The I-20 form requires the university to certify to U.S. immigration agencies that a student has been accepted for full-time enrollment and has sufficient funds to meet estimated expenses for an academic program.
Anyone who is already in the United States on an F-1 visa must maintain a full-time course load and may not enroll as a part-time student (less than 12 credits per semester for undergraduate students, or less than 9 credits per semester for graduate students).
The minimum estimated cost for one school year at UAF for an international student is $30,640 for undergraduate students, and $30,135 for graduate students. This covers university fees, room and board on campus, and a reasonable amount of personal expenses. It does not include transportation to and from Alaska, summer living or winter clothing costs. Add approximately $4,500 for summer living expenses.
Residents of countries which hold approved sister city/sister province agreements qualify for resident tuition. A complete list of sister cities and provinces can be found at www.alaska.edu/bor/policy-regulations/ in Chapter 5.10, Tuition and Student Fees. For additional information see Estimated 2013 - 2014 UAF Annual Costs.
English Proficiency Requirements
Students on an F-1 visa are required to submit scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam unless English is the primary language of their country of origin (i.e., Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia or Canada [except Quebec]). English proficiency may be demonstrated by:
- Passing the TOEFL with a minimum score of 79 (Internet-based exam), or 213 (computer-based exam), or 550 (paper-based exam) or
- Passing the IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5.
A score from the TOEFL or IELTS is required and cannot be waived even though English may be the language of instruction in your educational system. Additionally, some graduate departments may require a higher TOEFL or IELTS score in order to qualify for admission.
Requests for exception to this policy must be submitted in writing to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar. At minimum, students must demonstrate:
- Successful completion (C or higher) of college-level, non-ESL English composition course; or
- Other substantiation acceptable to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar. Other tests may be required to satisfy application requirements for specific undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
For clarification on TOEFL waivers, please contact the Office of Admissions and the Registrar.
Request to Postpone
If unable to attend, applicants must notify the Office of Admissions and the Registrar and the Office of International Programs and Initiatives. Applicants may request a postponement. UAF's financial statement and any outstanding transcripts will need to be resubmitted.
Office of Admissions and the Registrar
University of Alaska Fairbanks
First Floor, Signers' Hall
P.O. Box 757480
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7480
Email: uaf-admissions@alaska.edu
Online undergraduate requirements: www.uaf.edu/admissions/international/undergrad/
Online graduate requirements: www.uaf.edu/admissions/international/grad/
Telephone: 907-474-7500
Toll-free: 800-478-1823
Fax: 907-474-7097
Office of International Programs and Initiatives
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 757760
215 Eielson Building
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7760
Email: fyisa@uaf.edu
Online: www.uaf.edu/oip/
Telephone: 907-474-5327
Fax: 907-474-5979