New Freshmen

New freshmen students are those who 1) have never attended a college or university, or 2) are in high school and university courses at the same time (concurrently). Admission is based on secondary school transcript and certificate/diploma.

Admission Requirements | Application Process | After You Apply | Upon Admission |  Additional Notes

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants with the equivalent of 12 years of schooling may be eligible for admission to the University if their secondary school record shows above average performance. Students' secondary school curriculum is expected to include:

  • Studies of their native language
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Natural and/or physical science
  • Social science
  • The humanities

Applicants from countries where the primary-secondary system only includes eleven standard years may be considered for admission if they 1) have achieved a strong academic record and 2) can submit the final official leaving-school certificate. Those who have received Certificates of Education or Leaving School Certificates (i.e. GCSE, SPM, MCE, WASC), must have a minimum of five GCSE equivalent passes in subjects. These must be substantially equivalent to those studied in the U.S., including English.

Students should submit official copies of academic work. They are also encouraged to submit a letter from their headmaster or principal indicating their class ranking and the total number enrolled. We recommend that freshmen applicants sit for the SAT.

We only recognize diplomas, certificates and degrees completed at a school recognized by the home country ministry of education. Students are expected to have completed appropriate course work in natural and/or physical science, mathematics, social science, humanities, and language. International students with four or less semesters of U.S. schooling should refer to their country specific requirements

  • Original secondary school transcripts.
    • Transcripts must include the original native language transcript and an English language translation.
    • Copies and English language translations must be stamped or embossed by the issuing institution to confirm they are literal translations.
  • Certificate or diploma
    Submit a certificate or diploma confirming graduation from a secondary education institution.
    • You must submit the original certificate or diploma in your native language. You must also submit an English translation that has been stamped or embossed by the issuing institution to confirm it is a literal translation.
    • The issuing institution must also stamp or emboss copies to confirm they are legitimate.

The SAT or ACT is required for academic advisement and placement into University of Arkansas courses. If we do not receive the official score before your arrival to campus, you will be given a placement test before you are allowed to enroll.

The SAT or ACT is required to be considered for a scholarship. This University's ACT code is 0144 and the SAT code is 6866. Official scores must be received by the scholarship deadline.

Submit the Supplemental and Financial Information form and a bank statement or letter showing sufficient support for the first year of study in order to be issued an I-20. You will still be evaluated for admission if you do not submit the bank statement. However, the I-20 will not be sent until the bank statement requirement has been satisfied.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Complete the online Application for Admission.

Once you submit the application, you will be directed to your Applicant Portal. This is where you will pay the application fee and upload most of the required documents to complete your application.

The non-refundable application fee for international students is USD $65 for every new application, even if you have applied before. Methods of payment include:

  • Credit card

If you apply for admission using the online application, you may pay this fee with a credit card in your Applicant Portal at any time.

Do not email or send us your credit card information. In order to protect your personal information, we will not process any transactions with credit card information that is sent to us via email or physical copy. All such information is immediately destroyed and cannot be accessed by us.

  • Check or money order

You may send a check or money order, drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars (USD). Many international banks have a corresponding U.S. bank; contact your local bank for assistance.

Download and complete the Summary of Educational Experience form.

Log-in to your Applicant Portal and to upload the form.

TOEFL scores must be sent from ETS using our institution code: 6866. IELTS scores can be sent to institution code 232 or you can email your TRF number to intlapp@uark.edu. PTE-A scores can be sent to the University of Arkansas.  The minimum required score for the TOEFL is 79 iBT, IELTS is 6.5, and PTE-A is 58.

Upload unofficial copies of academic records/transcripts/mark sheets into your Applicant Portal as an Academic Record. For evaluation purposes, you may submit an unofficial copy of each transcript needed. Review of your application will begin once all documents needed for evaluation have been submitted.

If admitted, you must submit official transcripts and certificates. To be official, the documents must be stamped or embossed by the issuing institution and be sent directly from the institution OR you may submit the official documents in an enveloped sealed by the institution (and not opened by you). For documents not issued in English, a translation must accompany the submitted transcripts and certificates. Translations must be stamped or embossed by the issuing institutions to verify that it is a literal translation.

Login to your Applicant Portal to upload a copy of the Name page of your passport.

Submit official SAT (Code 6866) or ACT (Code 0144) test scores, which are used for academic advisement and placement into courses. These must be sent directly from the testing agency.

A SAT or ACT must be submitted to be considered for scholarships. If SAT or ACT scores are not submitted, you will be required to take the Accuplacer test when you arrive on campus.

AFTER YOU APPLY

  • Submit all required documents and test scores.
  • Please allow 2-3 weeks to complete your application review.
  • You may track your application progress through your Applicant Portal. Visit Check Your Status for instructions on how to view your application status.
  • We will notify you by email when the admission decision has been made. You can view your decision in your Applicant Portal.
  • If an I-20 has been requested, you will see any items needed for issuing your I-20 in your "To-Do List" in your UAConnect Applicant Center.

 

UPON ADMISSION

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Arkansas! We are happy you have chosen to join the Razorback family. Now that you have been admitted, there are a few steps you need to take prior to your arrival on campus. The list below will help guide you on what to do next.

You can now accept your offer of admission by logging into your Applicant Portal.

If any more items are needed before to enrolling (such as final transcripts or official test scores), you should submit these items as soon as possible. If you do not, you will not be able to enroll.

  • Upload the Supplemental and Financial Information form and a bank statement or letter in your Applicant Portal. These must verify the source and amount of your funding.
  • Upload financial verification in your Applicant Portal. Use the Tuition Estimator to roughly figure costs of attendance. You must show the full amount for issuance of your 1-20 or DS-2019. Please add USD $5,780 to your total estimated cost of attendance for each dependent (spouse and/or children) who will accompany you.
  • Official, certified transcripts in a sealed and stamped envelope must be mailed to:

    International Admissions Office
    340 N. Campus Drive/ Gearhart Hall 213
    1 University of Arkansas
    Fayetteville, AR 72701
    USA

    Login to your Applicant Portal here.

If you are requesting an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1) or DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor J-1), you will need to upload the Supplemental and Financial Information form into your Applicant Portal. Upload supporting documents as well, such as a bank statement (See "Funding Your Studies"). Bank statements or letters of support should be combined into one PDF document to upload as Financial Verification. See our Estimated Cost of Attendance section, to determine the amount you need to show.

Once the financial documents are verified by our Admissions Office, you will receive an email asking you to confirm the address where where you want the I-20 to be mailed. If you wish to expedite your I-20 at your expense, you will have 5 days to respond. Be sure to check your UARK email often.

Please beware all persons applying for student visas must pay a one-time SEVIS processing fee of $350 USD (F-1) or $220 USD (J-1) This fee is called the I-901 fee. We encourage you to pay the fee as soon as you can to avoid delays in applying for your visa. This one-time fee is valid for any U.S. university you choose.

You will need to bring a receipt for payment to you visa interview. Keep this receipt with you always, even after you have obtained you visa! You may need to present it again at the U.S. port of entry or at future visa interviews.

Visit International Students and Scholars Pre-Arrival & Orientation page for next steps (This will take you to the link on the left navigation)

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • When submitting your online application, you must list all institutions attended. Failure to do so is a violation of University of Arkansas policy and may lead to revocation of your admission.
  • Application information, supporting materials, and admission status are confidential. They can be discussed ONLY with the applicant and persons designated on the Supplemental and Financial Information Form.
  • All official documents submitted become the property of the University of Arkansas and will not be returned.

  • Contact Graduate and International Education Admissions on WhatsApp   479-387-9102