International Students
Students who receive their secondary education outside of the United States must demonstrate their ability to perform college-level work in the U.S.
Required Items
- Submit the admissions application. You can complete the application online at RochesterU.edu/apply. The application deadline is June 1 for the fall semester, and November 1 for the spring semester.
- Submit official original transcripts, which must be in English, showing that you have successfully completed 12 years of education (U.S. high school equivalent). These credentials must display your ability to perform college-level work in the United States. If your official transcripts are not in English, they must be evaluated and certified by a third party evaluation company such as World Education Services, Inc. or Educational Credentials Evaluators, Inc. The transcripts should be in a course-by-course format. Photocopies are not acceptable. If you have completed college or university coursework and wish to transfer those credits to RU, you must also submit original transcripts from the college or university you attended. See the section “Transferring Credit” below for information on how to have transcripts evaluated and certified.
- All student visa applicants born in a country whose native language* is not English must submit “official test documentation” of English language proficiency by submitting one of the following:
- Student visa applicants residing outside of the United States and Canada need to take the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL) and score at least:
- Student visa applicants already residing in the United States or in Canada should take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and score 70 or above.
- Student visa applicants need to successfully complete Level 112 at an ELS Language Center in the U.S. or one of 18 other countries. The ELS Language Center website (www.els.com) has information on registration and center locations.
Once Rochester University receives all the required items described above, applications are evaluated. If you are accepted, you will receive an official letter of acceptance. All students educated outside the U.S. or Canada automatically enter Rochester University on academic alert, which may limit the number of hours for which they can enroll.
* A native language is a language that is acquired during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, as, for example, part of a person's formal education.
Transferring Credit for International Students
Canadian Credit
Rochester University may transfer credits from Canadian colleges or universities for which a grade of C- (1.7 on a four-point scale) or higher was earned, provided that: 1) the institution uses English-based curriculum*; 2) the institution grants a baccalaureate or associate degree; 3) the courses presented for transfer are shown to have equivalency or are determined to be of traditional academic nature and are acceptable to a Rochester University Department; and 4) the courses are taught by faculty with a master’s degree or above.
If the requirements above are met, the student’s transcripts will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and the appropriate faculty in accordance with RU’s transfer admission practices.
*Canadian students with transcripts from French-based curriculum institutions are required to have transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (https://www.wes.org/).
International Credit
College coursework from institutions not in the U.S. or Canada may be accepted for transfer credit. Coursework should be evaluated by a third party evaluation company that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), such as World Education Services, Inc. or Educational Credentials Evaluators, Inc. The expense for transcript evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant.
World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
www.wes.org
Educational Credentials Evaluators
www.ece.org
In order to receive full credit, applicants should select a course-by-course evaluation.
International student athletes are encouraged to have their coursework evaluated by Incred International Credential Evaluations (www.playnaia.org), as they will also determine a student’s eligibility for the NAIA.
Transfer will only be considered if coursework is deemed by a third party evaluation company to be equivalent to coursework at a U.S. Regionally Accredited Institution.
The third party transcript evaluation report required for transfer must be submitted to Rochester University’s Admissions department. This report will then be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and the appropriate faculty in accordance with RU’s transfer admission practices.
Verification of Financial Resources and Student Account Payment for International Students
The details of the cost of attendance at Rochester University, financial documentation required, and tuition payment schedule are contained in the International Student Statement of Finances, which can be obtained from the Admissions Office. Once the ability to pay for education at Rochester University has been established, the university will issue a SEVIS Form I-20, which can be used to apply for a student visa (F-1).
Immigration Procedures
When an international student has been accepted into Rochester University and all required financial statements and deposits have been received, the university issues an I-20, a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Students that is used to show reason for entry into the United States and is, in effect, an invitation to attend school. Once the I-20 is received from Rochester University, an appointment at the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate must be made to apply for an F-1 student visa. It is important to understand that the nature of an F-1 student visa assumes that the student will return to the student's home country upon completion of studies and any authorized practical training. Each country is different in how it processes student visas. It may be possible to make an appointment prior to receiving the I-20 as long as the student possesses the I-20 at the time of the appointment. Please contact the nearest embassy or consulate for specific details. Also note that in many countries several attempts are required to receive an F-1 student visa, so the student should be prepared to try again if the application is initially denied. Once granted an F-1 student visa by the embassy or consulate, the international student should contact Rochester University to confirm the starting date and whether assistance is needed with travel plans to Michigan. International students may not move to the United States earlier than 30 days prior to the start of classes.
On-campus work is authorized under the F-1 visa for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time when school is out of session if a position is available. Off-campus employment is generally not available to F-1 students except through application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Financial Aid for International Students
No state or federal aid is available to international students who are in the United States on student visas. However, international students are eligible to receive institutional scholarships for athletics and academics, as well as other tuition discounts from Rochester University.
Academic scholarships for international students are very limited due to the lack of equivalent measure for academic ability. Most institutional scholarships are based upon the results of one of two standardized tests used in the U.S., the ACT or SAT, and high school grade point average. Since international students do not automatically take these tests, we do not require either for admission. However, if an international student decides to take either the ACT or SAT and have the scores sent to Rochester University, the student will be considered for academic scholarships. Information on the ACT or SAT and the nearest testing center can be found at www.act.org or www.collegeboard.org. No other standardized academic test is accepted.
Institutional scholarships and tuition discounts are awarded by the admissions department and are based on the applicant’s academic credentials and need.