Undergraduate Admissions

You are considered an undergraduate applicant if you have completed:

• secondary school only or
• some university work, but have not earned a degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the university at all levels is selective. To be competitive, you must:

• Complete the entire primary and secondary, college-preparatory program in your country of residence.
• Receive above-average and steady or improving grades throughout your secondary and/or university program. * Students should demonstrate an average grade of B or above.
• Admission requirements from specific countries may be found on our international admission requirements page. If you have taken A-level, International Baccalaureate, or similar exams visit credit by examination for admission requirements.

In addition, the following requirements must be met as appropriate for your level and degree program.

Don't know if you are a freshman or transfer student? Categories of Admissions in the Undergraduate Catalog will tell you.

• Entrance Information for Freshmen
• Entrance Information for Transfer Students

A note on average grades and class rank for international students.

Additional requirements for selective programs*:

• Freshmen Requirements for Selective Programs
• Transfer Deadlines and Requirements for Selective Programs

*Selective programs include College of Business, Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Honors Tutorial College, School of Music, School of Dance, and many schools in the Scripps College of Communication, the College of Health Sciences and Professions, and the College of Education and Human Services.

Prospective Transfer Students, please note: Students who have completed 50% or more of a major at another post-secondary institution will not be considered for admission to Ohio University in that same major and sometimes college; however, applicants may pursue a different major.

If you are interested in a master's or doctorate degree, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies.

Deadlines and Entry Terms

The Ohio University academic calendar is based on a quarter system. Three quarters comprise the academic year: fall, winter, and spring. Each quarter lasts approximately ten weeks, with an additional week for final examinations. There is a break between each quarter, one for winter holidays and one for spring break. Summer classes are also available on a more limited basis.

Financial estimates are provided for three quarters. Students may enroll in summer classes, but additional fees for classes, room and meals will be incurred.

*To assure prompt processing please apply by this date. We will accept applications after this date if time allows.
(from note above) - Honors Tutorial College, the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, and the School of Visual Communication have earlier deadlines. Special deadlines may apply to students transferring from other institutions. Please see Requirements for Selective Programs above for more information

Required Application Documents and Procedures

To apply for admission as a freshman or transfer student, the following items are required. You may also download an Application checklist.

1. Complete the application form online. You can also download a paper form (.pdf), but it may take longer to process.

• Honors Tutorial College: the application supplement is required.
• E. W. Scripps School of Journalism: application essay and SAT or ACT scores are required. Students without ACT or SAT scores may be admitted to Ohio University and apply to the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at a later date.
• School of Dance or School of Music: please send audition materials.

2. Submit the $45.00 USD application fee.

• To apply online you must pay with a credit card.
• To apply by paper please send a check or money order drawn on a US bank or affiliate and paid to Ohio University.

3. Request official academic records from every institution you have attended, with a certified or attested translation if the original document is not in English. Visit international admissions requirementsto determine exactly what credentials are required.

These must be official documents sent directly from the institution or in sealed and stamped envelopes. We cannot accept scanned or faxed copies of your academic records.

4. Submit evidence of sufficient funding to support your educational and living expenses for a 9-month period Click here for the necessary amount. Generally accepted financial documentation includes:

• A letter from your sponsor confirming the amount of funding that will be provided and stating your relationship to the sponsor.
  AND
• A letter or statement from your sponsor's bank confirming that the funding is available in an accessible account. The name on the bank document must match the sponsor letter and must be written in English.

5. Statement of activities. If there has been a period of six months or longer during which you have not been enrolled in a degree program, attach a brief explanation of your activities during that time.

6. Exams for scholarship consideration. For freshmen merit scholarships SAT or ACT examination results must be submitted directly from the testing agency. Ohio University considers SAT combined Math and Critical Reading scores only. Institutional codes are:

• SAT - 1593
• ACT - 3314

7. Official TOEFL or IELTS results if available. Students with low English scores or no scores can still be conditionally admitted to Ohio University, but will be required to attend classes in the Ohio Program of Intensive English until the required levels of English proficiency (see details below) are attained. TOEFL and IELTS Exams should be taken within the last 12 months. See our http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/international/English.cfm for more information.
Only official score reports are accepted. IELTS reports should be sent directly from the testing agency. TOEFL results should be sent electronically directly from the testing agency. Ohio University's TOEFL institution code is 1593.

8. Mail your supporting documents to:
120 Chubb Hall
Athens, OH 45701 - USA
+740-593-4100

Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirements

English proficiency exams are not required for undergraduate admission. All international students are required to take an English proficiency test when they arrive on campus unless they meet one of the exceptions below.

Students who do not meet the English proficiency requirements of their program of study will be placed in the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) for further English language preparation.

Students may waive this requirement if they fulfill one of the following conditions:

• Have sufficient TOEFL or IELTS results to begin directly in academic study.

TOEFL and IELTS results must be sent directly to Ohio University Office of Undergraduate Admissions from the testing agency. Ohio University's TOEFL institution code is 1593; IELTS results must be sent by paper.

• Have recently completed at least three years in a U.S. high school including three years of high school English (not ESL) courses with a grade of B or better.
• Submitted an ACT composite score of 21 and English score of 21
• Submitted an SAT composite score of 990 (Math and Critical Reading sections only) with a score of 540 in Critical Reading.
• Have completed the equivalent of Ohio University's English 151: Writing and Rhetoric (Freshman Composition) with a grade of C or better. Course equivalency will be determined during the application process.

Requesting a Change of Entry Term. In most cases, a student's offer of admission to Ohio University is valid for one academic year. An updated Undergraduate Application for Admission and Scholarship is required in order to change the intended entry term. Because of the previous application, a request form can be submitted to waive the application fee. Note: Students may be required to provide updated financial documentation.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

If you just wish to study English as a Second Language (ESL), visit our Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) for application information. (Note: admission to OPIE does not guarantee admission to a degree program. A separate application is required for degree study. Please refer to the links above.)

Summer Sessions

If you wish to study at Ohio University for the summer months only and do not intend to obtain a a degree, visit our Office of Summer Sessions. (Note: summer sessions run from June through August.)

Obtaining a Student VISA

Type of VISA

Students are usually given an F-1 visa. Spouses and children of F-1 visa holders are assigned an F-2 visa. J-1 visas are given to researchers, scholars, and students who are sponsored by government agencies or universities. Spouses and children of these visitors are assigned J-2 visas. The visa is only important for entry or re-entry to the United States. You do not need to worry if it expires while you are here. If you need to leave the U.S. temporarily, the Office of International Student and Faculty Services will counsel you on how to obtain a new visa.

Obtaining a VISA

If you have been admitted to Ohio University (OU) and completed all the necessary requirements, the OU Undergraduate Admissions office will issue you one of the following documents:

Form I-20
[Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F-1)Status ]

DS-2019
[Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status].

U.S. Embassy/Consulate Requirements

When you appear for your interview, make sure that you have:

• Ohio University's Form I-20 or DS-2019 signed by the Designated School Official (DSO) or sponsoring agency's DS-2019 specifying Ohio University
• Valid passport for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the U.S.
• Payment receipt for the SEVIS I-901 fee
• Evidence of your funding, which must be sufficient to defray all living and school expenses during the first academic year of anticipated study in the United States
• When you receive your visa, you will also be given a sealed envelope containing your I-20 or DS-2019 form. This envelope must remain sealed until you give it to the U.S.C.I.S. office when you apply for entry to the United States.

References

• International Admissions