international student questions
why must i take english courses? my toefl or ielts score are only a little lower than required. i will work very hard and will improve my english by taking other classes.
The state of Texas requires international students from non-English speaking countries to take an English proficiency exam. I you do not pass the exam, you must take the classes. For an explanation of the testing guidelines please visit our web site at http://bbl.utsa.edu/esl/elap.asp
Link: http://bbl.utsa.edu/esl/elap.asp
what is a practical training?
Practical Training is a one-year period of employment following completion of a degree program. The purpose of this is to allow the student to gain experience in their chosen field. Students must apply for Practical Training during their final year of study. Only one Practical Training will be approved, even if the student completes more than one degree program.
can i work to support myself in part or in full while i am a student?
No. Student Visas do not have Work Permits. The United States Government issues the student visa with the expectation that the student will be full time and will devote his/her time to studies.
is it possible to work on campus?
Yes. International Students do not need a Work Permit to accept a campus job. It must not exceed 20 hours a week and must be paid from local (not governmental) funds. Can I earn enough to pay my way with a campus job?
No, students are not guaranteed a job on campus. The amount earned will not be sufficient to pay room rent, tuition and fees, and purchase books. You might be able to earn enough for meals. However, you should not plan on receiving any income from a job when preparing your personal budget.
what is the fcsa? do i need to request an evaluation report?
The Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) is a private corporation that writes evaluations of foreign school credentials; explains how they equate to the US education system. All applicants who have earned university level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit transcripts from non-U.S. schools, colleges, and universities through this service. They charge $75 for a detailed report for UTSA and for the applicant. If you need a request form, click on Application Information and Instructions, scroll down to item 7 and click on Printable FCSA form.
Link: http://www.utsa.edu/admissions/International_Admissions/UTSAFCSA.pdf
will the admissions office tell me that my application has been received? will you tell me if any additional documents need to be sent?
Receipt of applications is acknowledged by email. The email will also list documents that have not yet been received. Upon receipt of additional documents, we will email you to say that an additional document(s) has been received and list the documents that are still needed. You are also welcome to check your admission status online. Please visit our status page with printable instructions that explain how to check your application status online.
Link: http://www.utsa.edu/admissions/International_Admissions/intl_chkl.html
what are the "personal expenses" listed in the international student budget? why are they included?
Personal expenses are listed in the budget because we want students to have a reasonably good idea of the total expense. The budget is intended to cover all expenses except transportation to and from San Antonio. It is, of course, a conservative guess. Some students spend more than other students. Included in this estimate is money for city bus fare, an occasional movie ticket or other entertainment, purchase of personal toiletries, etc... This is the most difficult estimate to make as students' personal preferences vary greatly.
what is a semester hour credit?
A semester hour is a measure of time spent in lecture classes. One semester credit hour represents one hour per week for fifteen weeks. Almost all UTSA courses are 3 semester hours credit. Students are expected to spend approximately two hours outside class on readings, library research, and written assignments for each hour of lecture.
i do not want to buy my textbooks. can i check them out of the university library?
Please, do not count on doing this. The library does not maintain a stock of textbooks. If they do have the one you want, it is likely to be on a two hour reserve.
does utsa have a conditional admission program? can i be accepted for admission even though my toefl is slightly below ibt 61, computer generated 173, or my ielts is below 5?
Yes, for Bachelor's Degree students only. Master's Degree students will not be accepted with less than 173.
Applicants whose TOEFL scores fall between 32 and 61 on the internet based examination, between 97 and173 on the computer generated examination, or score between 3/5 and 5 on IELTS, and who meet all academic criteria for admission, will be offered admission to the Intensive English Program with a guarantee that they will be accepted to the degree program of their choice as soon as they have achieved the appropriate level of English proficiency. The I-20 issued by the university will cover both the Intensive English Program and the Bachelor's Degree Program. A separate application is not required.
Link: http://iep.utsa.edu
where can i find more information about the toefl and ielts including the date and location of the next examination? how do i make an appointment for the test?
Please visit www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org for more information on these examinations.
i am confused about the application process. what should i do first?
1. Make arrangements to take the TOEFL or IETLS. Make sure to list the UTSA code number so that your scores will be sent to UTSA. 2. Go to www.applytexas.org and complete the international application for admission to UTSA. 3. Mail all necessary documents, example: transcripts. 4. Mail your financial confirmation papers. 5. Apply for scholarships, to the Honors College, or other special programs.
i am from mexico and i am applying for the border counties program. can i substitute that for my confirmation of financial resources?
No! If you do qualify and are awarded a tuition waiver through the Border Counties Program, it will cover part of your tuition. It will not cover all tuition and other expenses. Therefore, you must send a Confirmation of Financial Resources. You will be able to use the Border Counties award as part of your financial statement.
do you require all international applicants to submit a financial statement as a part of their application?
Yes. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) require all universities to obtain reliable documentation that the student has financial resources adequate to meet expenses while studying at their university. The university is required to review and determine whether a student has sufficient funding to meet his or her educational and living expenses. The school is required to obtain actual documentation that funds exist at least for the students first year of study, and that, barring unforeseen circumstances; adequate funding will be available from the same or equally dependable sources for subsequent years.
Link: http://www.utsa.edu/admissions/International_Admissions/Internationalcost.html
can i use a different evaluation service?
Yes, any of the agencies listed on the www.naces.org web site will be acceptable. If you have already had an evaluation written by an agency not on this list, send a copy to our office so we can determine whether it will be acceptable.
Link: http://www.naces.org
can i take english second language classes at the same time as my degree program classes? is there a charge for the english classes?
The English for International Students courses in the undergraduate catalog have the same tuition and fees as any other undergraduate courses. To register for these classes a person must be admitted to a degree program at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students do take courses from their degree curriculum at the same time, but should not exceed a total of 15 semester hours credit.
If a students TOEFL is less than 173 (500), or IELTS score is less than 5, and they enter the Intensive English Program, they are not eligible to take degree program courses at the same time. The Intensive English Program is full time. There is a flat rate for tuition, fees, books, and health insurance. For information and applications, write to ESL Services at eslservices@utsa.edu
Link: mailto:eslservices@utsa.edu