INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students must be proficient in English and academically
proficient students in their own countries before they are accepted
to FMU. The course of study must include course selections from
English, history, mathematics, and science, and the application
must include appropriate test scores. International students should
attain the educational equivalent of an American high school diploma
to be considered for admission to FMU. Further information about
these requirements can be obtained from the educational system in
the applicant's own country or from the Office of Admissions at
Francis Marion University.
The following steps must be completed in order for international
students to be considered for admission to FMU:
1. Application Form The student must submit
a completed application for admission. The principal or headmaster
of the school the applicant now attends or last attended must answer
all questions on the application form in the designated areas. The
application form must be accompanied by a $30 non-refundable application
fee.
2. Financial Certification An applicant must
provide proof of his or her ability to pay expenses. This support
can come from the applicant's family or sponsor. The cost of attendance
changes annually. Please call the Admissions Office or check the
website for current information. This sum includes tuition, room,
food, books, and miscellaneous expenses. The University requires
an official statement from a bank, employer or sponsor or some other
official affidavit of support. Financial certification must be sent
to the University before an I-20 can be sent to the student. The
student can expect to use one-half of the total each semester. Financial
certification should come directly from the source. No facsimiles
will be accepted.
3. School Records An applicant should request
a transcript or certificates of satisfactory study from each institution
attended. Examples of this include "A" or "O"
levels, baccalaureate, bachillerato, Reifezeufgnis, or other school
certificates. These records should include an English translation
of the subjects studied, grades received in those subjects, and
degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned. An explanation of the
school's grading system should accompany the transcripts. To be
considered official documents, all transcripts must come directly
to FMU from the educational institution attended. No facsimiles
will be accepted.
4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The TOEFL is required of all international students except those
whose native language is English. An acceptable TOEFL score of at
least a 500 (173 on the computerized version) is required.
Information about the TOEFL can be found at many schools or at
U.S. embassies, consulates, or offices of the United States Information
Service. If information is not available in the applicant's country,
it can be obtained by writing to TOEFL, Box 6161, Princeton, New
Jersey 08541-6161, USA.
In some instances students who are transferring from other post-secondary
educational institutions in the United States may be accepted for
admission to Francis Marion University without TOEFL scores. This
could occur if the student has a high verbal score on the SAT and/or
acceptable grades on Freshman English courses at the institution
from which the student is transferring.
Back
to top