General Questions

• U of A
• International Admissions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• General Questions

1. Why do I want to study at the University of Arkansas?

The University of Arkansas offers you a place to achieve your goals in a comfortable, friendly, and safe setting. Located in Fayetteville, AR, in the beautiful northwest corner of the state. You may hear Northwest Arkansas, as this encompasses the entire area including Fayetteville. We are now connecting over 1,545 international students from over 114 countries to success through our fully accredited academic programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and EdD degrees.

2. How long will it take me to complete my undergraduate (bachelors) degree at the U of A?

Bachelor degrees are considered 4 year degrees, because this is the average time for completion. Students who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years will need to take a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester.

Time of completion will vary for transfer students and will depend upon the number of earned transferable credit hours. No more than 68 transfer credit hours of lower-level credit can be applied to a degree plan. All upper-level transferable credits can be applied to a degree plan, but a minimum of 30 upper-level credit hours must be completed on campus.

3. How long will it take me to complete my graduate degree at the U of A?

Our master’s and doctoral degrees are both considered graduate degrees. The time of completion for a master’s degree is roughly 2 years but you have up to 6 years to complete. A doctoral degree will vary in length, but will range from 4 to 7 years.

4. I have completed two years of undergraduate work in my home country. How long will it take me to complete a bachelor’s degree at the U of A?

If the two years of work were in the same discipline as the bachelor’s degree you will complete here, and if the course content is similar, it will probably take you 2 to 2.5 years, but it’s hard to say for sure. We would urge you to apply as soon as you can, have official transcripts sent, and provide us with course descriptions/syllabi. As soon as the admission decision is made, an evaluation of transfer credit will be done. The evaluation will be sent to the appropriate advisor in the college of your major for further evaluation. When you arrive, you and your academic advisor will sit down and go through the evaluation together, seeing what credits you have satisfied and what credits you still must earn.

5. Is the TOEFL or IELTS always required for Admission?

Yes — unless your native language is English (please see list of countries where English is the native language). If your native language is not English, but your schooling was in English, the TOEFL or IELTS or PTE-A is still required unless you have an earned master’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution. If any of your scores indicate weakness in your English proficiency, English Language and Culture (ELAC) courses will be required.

6. What about academics? Are all programs fully accredited and nationally recognized?

All academic programs on our campus are fully accredited by their disciplines’ national accreditation organizations and many are nationally ranked.

• The Sam M. Walton College of Business has several highly ranked programs, including:
  • The undergraduate accounting program ranked 35^th among public and private universities
  • The College of Engineering is ranked 64^th among all undergraduate engineering programs at national public institutions by U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges of 2015” annual report.
  • The Fay Jones School of Architecture recently was ranked 19^th in the nation in the annual survey of “America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools”, a study conducted by the Design Futures Council.
  • The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences was ranked 51^st in the world and 22^nd in the U.S. in the 2013 QS World University Rankings.
  • The Recreation and Sport Management program at the University of Arkansas was recently ranked 14^th in the country by the 2014 Sports Management Degree Guide

• U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Walton College supply chain specialty 13^th among all undergraduate programs nationally.
• The undergraduate business program was ranked 43^rd among top public undergraduate programs and 83^rdamong public and privates.

• The Atlantic Monthly designated the university’s creative writing program as one of the top five programs of its kind in the country.

• Other graduate programs that ranked nationally—per the U.S. News & World Report survey—are rehabilitation education and research (15^th); biological engineering (16^th); and industrial engineering (26^th).
• Our Law School has the only agricultural law master’s degree (LLM) program in the U.S.

7. What is the average class size and faculty/student ratio?

The average class size is difficult to pinpoint. It depends on the class and your year in school. A science lecture could have as many as 300 students, compared to English composition that may have as little as 30 students. As you move further along in your program of study, class sizes tend to become smaller. The current student to faculty ratio is 19:1.

8. Will I be the only student from my country at the U of A?

Probably not. We currently have over 1,545 international students representing over 114 countries, and we have an excellent Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) to assist you in getting comfortable on campus and making new friends. You can find information on our international community here. A thorough International Student Orientation is offered to you upon arrival to campus by ISS.

9. Is the campus safe?

Yes, this is a safe campus, with very few crimes against persons. All public sidewalks are well lighted. The University Police Department provides police services and protection 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Your safety and security are their number one priority. Police officers are on call in the evenings to escort you wherever you need to go on campus. Residence halls are monitored 24 hours a day and guests must be accompanied by a resident of the hall at all times. Remember, Fayetteville is a city with a very low crime rate.

10. Where will I live while attending the U of A?

Our University Housing office will assist you in securing on-campus housing. Single students can find residence hall accommodations readily available in a variety of settings. Meal Plans are available to students living on or off campus.
Off Campus Connections can assist you with off campus housing options, but you must make your own arrangements. Some restrictions apply (freshman under 21 must live on campus unless special permission has been obtained from University Housing).

11. Can I enroll in courses before I arrive to campus?

New incoming students cannot enroll prior to arrival. Once you arrive on campus, you will be highly encouraged to attend International Student Orientation. During this time, you will register for your courses. Students transferring from a U.S. institution, who have contacted ISS before arrival, can enroll in courses prior to orientation.

12. How can I get involved while a student at the University of Arkansas?

There are over 380 Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s) and lots of campus activities offered by our Office of Student Activities to keep you connected and engaged all while staying on campus.