International Undergraduate Students

WVU welcomes students from around the world. Over 2,000 students from 108 nations study at WVU. You are considered an international student if you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

How to Apply as an International Student

If you are applying as an international graduate student, please follow the steps for international graduate applicants. To apply to as an international undergraduate student, please complete the following steps:

How to Submit Materials

All application materials should be submitted together at the same time, if possible. Please review our instructions for applicants from Chinese institutions and an important note about names on submitted documents. Any supporting material should be forwarded by mail or sent by any express carrier to the following address:

Please note: Documents received by WVU, including original documents, become the property of WVU and cannot be returned to or copied for the applicant.

Applicants for undergraduate programs must submit all secondary school records as well as all university-level records. Undergraduate transfer applicants should submit course descriptions or syllabi for all courses completed at the university level.

Applicants from Chinese institutions

Applicants from Chinese institutions should request and submit official transcripts directly through CHESICC. Requests are processed by CHESICC and will be sent electronically to WVU’s admissions office. You will not need to submit a paper copy of your transcript. Visit CHESICC to get started.

Important Note about Names on Submitted Documents

Materials from applicants are retained alphabetically, under the family name, as indicated by the applicant on the International Student Admission Application. It is important that all forms, records and correspondence use the same name and spelling. Your name needs to be as it appears or will appear in your passport. Materials often cannot be matched to files when papers arrive with different names.

Admission Requirements for International Students

The following are the minimum admissions requirements for international students applying as freshman or undergraduate transfer students.

Freshman:

• Must have at least a 2.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale for general admission.
• Must meet English Proficiency or request conditional admission and admission to the Intensive English Program (IEP).
• Please be advised that some Engineering majors may reach capacity and therefore will be restricted from entry.
• For direct admission to some colleges and majors, SAT or ACT scores are required and must be sent to WVU directly from the respective testing services. Please review the program requirements. For all other majors, international students are encouraged but not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, if available. SAT/ACT scores are useful for determining scholarship eligibility.
• WVU welcomes applications from students with IGCSE and O-Level Certificates from Cambridge International for admissions consideration. We require a minimum of five subject passes, of which two must be English and Mathematics. The average of the grades must be at least a 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). A passing grade in the subject of English will be accepted as evidence of sufficient English ability.

Transfer:

• Must have at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all college work attempted.
• Must meet English Proficiency or request conditional admission and admission to the Intensive English Program (IEP).
• In addition, transfer students who have fewer than 24 transferable credit hours, must also meet freshman admission standards and submit secondary school/high school transcripts. 
• Some individual programs and majors have different course requirements and higher grade point average requirements; please review the various program requirements.
• Grades and credits are transferable for college-level courses from regionally accredited U.S. institutions.

English Language Proficiency Requirements (undergraduate levels only)

Generally undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English must submit adequate (TOEFL) or (IELTS) results before an application can be considered for academic admission to WVU:

TOEFL Internet-Based = 61
TOEFL Paper-Based = 500
IELTS = 6.0

TOEFL results are not required for applicants who have received a high school diploma from a U.S. high school and have obtained the required minimum ACT or SAT test scores, or for those who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in the United States.

In some cases, SAT Reading Test or ACT English scores may be used to meet English Proficiency.

A passing grade in the subject of English on the IGCSE or GCSE Certificates from Cambridge International will also be accepted for English Proficiency.

Applicants who have completed English composition courses at a U.S. institution, which WVU determines are equivalent to the WVU’s English 101 and 102 with a “B” average, are not required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores. Many online English composition courses are not considered equivalent and will require review and approval from the English department.

In some cases, it may be possible to consider applicants who lack adequate TOEFL or IELTS scores. Such applicants must enroll in the WVU Intensive English Program prior to beginning their academic program. Applicants who wish to be considered for this option must notify the Office of Admissions when they submit their application. Additional information about the Intensive English Program can be obtained by emailing iep@mail.wvu.edu.

Application Deadlines

For an applicant to be considered for admission and to be able to process immigration papers, all application materials and supporting documents must be received by these dates:

• Fall semester – Apply by June 1. All academic documents must be received by July 1.

• Spring semester – Apply by October 1. All academic documents must be received by November 1.

• Summer semester – Apply by February 15. All academic documents must be received by April 1.

Applications submitted after the deadline and incomplete applications will be considered for the next term.

Questions

If you have a question about the application process or requirements for international students, please email us at InternationalAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu.

World Education Services (WES)

Any international applicant can elect to use World Education Services (WES) for high school and college credit evaluation prior to enrollment in order to expedite the application process. WES may also be used for the purpose of appealing a GPA decision from the Office of Admissions (international applicants only).

It is recommended, but not required, that all undergraduate students (both freshmen and transfer) who have attended high school, post-secondary educational institutions and colleges or universities outside the United States use WES to complete a professional credential evaluation of all academic work completed. Transfer applicants should request a "course-by-course" International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP). Freshman applicants should request a "document-by-document" International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP). ICAP evaluations include WES certified copies of official documents.

Financial

Scholarships

International scholarship information is available on Student Financial Support and Services' Scholarships page.

Documentation for Student Visa

Before WVU can issue the document necessary to apply for a student visa (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) the student must provide proof that he or she has the adequate financial resources to provide for his or her expenses incurred while studying at WVU. For more on the student visa process, visit the Office of Global Affairs.

Student Health Insurance

International students will be automatically enrolled in our student health plan unless an appropriate waiver has been submitted and approved. Information regarding the plan, enrollment information, waiver forms, etc., can be found at the Student Insurance Office.

Student Support and Organizations

Once you are admitted to WVU, the Office of Global Affairs offers support and various cross-cultural programs and activities in which you can be involved.