• I am an international student. What do I need to do?
• Admission Requirements
• Estimated Expenses for the 2007-2008 academic year (9 months)*
• Financial Assistance
• Acceptance Letter and Form I-20
• Passports, Visas, and I-901 fee

I am an international student. What do I need to do?

1. Application Deadlines - For the fall semester, the deadline is June 15. For the spring semester, the deadline is November 10.
2. Living Accommodations - UA Fort Smith offers on-campus apartment living. Please visit the Sebastian Commons web site for more information. If you have further questions, please contact Mark Lloyd at 479-788-7635 or email him at mlloyd@uafortsmith.edu or Andrea McCaleb at 479-788-7409 or e-mail her at amccaleb@uafortsmith.edu.

Admission Requirements

1. A completed International Student Application for Admission. Please see this checklist.
2. A completed Student Certificate of Health. This form must be signed and stamped by a licensed physician. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella is required- one dose of rubella, one dose of mumps, and two of measles.
3. Official academic records:
   • Submit secondary school transcripts indicating graduation. All academic records must be originals or certified copies in a sealed envelope from the institution. Copies must be certified (both signed with the seal/stamp affixed) by a school official. Notarized copies will not be accepted. In addition, an official English translation must be provided.
   • Submit official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities or a letter stating full-time attendance if the last school was an intensive language institute. All foreign transcripts must have a course by course evaluation by an academic credential evaluation service before courses will be articulated as transfer work. We use World Education Services for this service. Please visit their web site at www.wes.org for more information.
   • All prospective students are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. Students may be required to take the Compass on campus for additional placement purposes. No fax, photocopy, or unofficial copies will be accepted.
4. Complete the Declaration and Confirmation of Financial Resources form and provide evidence that sufficient funds are available to meet University costs and personal living expenses. UA Fort Smith requires that a student must be prepared to finance his or her stay in the U.S. without help from the University.
   1. Each student must provide in English:
   • A letter verifying assistance from the party providing the student's financial support. This letter should state their willingness to provide financial assistance for the student's school and personal living expenses. The total USD amount required to cover these expenses should be stated in the letter.
   • Certification from the sponsor's bank on offical bank letterhead stationary signed and stamped by a bank official and other supporting doucments regarding the sponsor's financial position to cover the the $17,307 total estimated cost of attendance. Proof guaranteeing the funds specified in the letter from the bank must accompany the bank’s letter. E.g. bank statement for checking, savings, certificates of deposit, mutual stock, or bond funds; and/or other accessible funds or account bearing the bank official’s original signature and the banking seal are required.*Note*: A student should not plan to finance his or her educational program by income from employment. A student is not permitted to work in the U.S. unless permission has first been granted by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
5. English fluency: This requirement may be waived for natural born citizens of the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand and Canada (except Quebec). This fluency may be proved by:
   • A score of 500 on the paper-based, 173 on the computer-based or a 61 on the Internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language-institution code: 6220); or
   • Passing two standard English composition courses at an accredited postsecondary institution in the United States with a "C" or better; or
   • Graduation from an accredited high school in the United States and placement on the reading and writing portion of the COMPASS/ACT exam; or
   • Other means of proving English fluency as determined and approved by the dean, Enrollment Management.
6. Students are required to obtain medical insurance through UA Fort Smith before enrolling in class.

Estimated Expenses for the 2007-2008 academic year (9 months)*

Tuition and fees are computed at $296 per credit hour for 15 hours a semester (fall/spring). In addition there is a $25 registration fee and a $10 fitness center access fee paid once each semester.

the 2007-2008 academic year (9 months)
Tuition and fees	8,950
Books	1,000
Room	4,078
Food	1,494
Personal	765
Insurance	1,020**
Total Estimated expenses	$17,307

• There are additional estimated costs for bringing a dependent spouse and children. $3,600 for the spouse and $2,800 for each additional dependent.

* Costs subject to change.

** Students are billed for five months in the fall and seven months in the spring for 12 months of coverage.

Financial Assistance

UA Fort Smith scholarships and loans are not available to international students.

Acceptance Letter and Form I-20

When all the admission documents have arrived in the International Student Office at UA Fort Smith and if the student meets the admission requirements, an acceptance letter and Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) will be mailed to the student.

Passports, Visas, and I-901 fee

In order to come to the United States for study, a student must obtain a passport from his or her government and a visa from the U.S. Embassy. Please visit the following link for information regarding the I-901 fee that must be paid.

Care must be taken to observe all regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including the requirement that the student must be enrolled full-time (twelve or more credit hours—only three of which may be considered distance learning).

School Transfer (F-1 Student Only)

Please contact the International Student Office if transferring from another U.S. institution.