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Admission of International Students

All international students will meet the same freshman and transfer requirements for regular admission to the University. All international students will complete the Application for Admission and submit a $35 application fee. All documents must be in English. Official transcripts must be evaluated, at the student's expense, through an approved NACES service for the evaluation of international transcripts. Students who have earned college/ university credit must request a course by course evaluation. The following additional requirements must be met:

  1. Electronic submission of required immunization records to approved third party vendor.
  2. Students will purchase the International Insurance Policy offered through Union University. Exceptions must be cleared through the International Student Officer and only if the student has a policy that meets or exceeds the plan benefits provided by Union University.
  3. Each international student is required to submit the Union University Declaration of Finances form and original bank statements showing proof of finances for one academic year (fall and spring semesters) to include tuition, room, board, insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses.
  4. Students will submit TOEFL score reports of not less than 550 paper-based or 80 internet-based, iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency) score of not less than 3.9, a Duolingo score of not less than 105, or an IELTS score of not less than 6.5 to be considered for full admission. Exceptions to this requirement may be considered for students from a country where the native language is English who present adequate verbal/ English scores on the SAT (530 SAT Evidenced-based Reading and Writing), or ACT (18 English subsection and 22 Reading sub-section) indicating college readiness.
  5. The ACT/SAT(R)/CLT score requirement will normally be waived if the minimum TOEFL, iTEP, or IELTS score requirement has been met.
  6. TOEFL, Duolingo, iTEP, or IELTS requirements will normally be waived for International Students who transfer to Union with at least 24 semester hours of transferable credit (including at least 6 credit hours of English composition or equivalent courses approved by Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement) and who present evidence of English proficiency by earning a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3 from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States OR who hold a Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university OR who have completed four years of U.S. high school and meet high school competency requirements and Union University admissions standards.
  7. Students whose native language is not English may be required to participate in an interview with the Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement. This interview may be conducted either in person or by phone. A placement test may also be required.

Students transferring from another accredited institution of higher learning in the United States will be required to meet the same requirements for admission as all other transfer students.

An I-20 form may be issued only after admission requirements and the above monetary requirements have been satisfied.

As a condition of their admission, each international student will normally be required to enroll as a full-time student in course work tailored for their unique orientation needs to include, but not be limited to: ENG 111, ENG 112, and ICS 105.

Union University, and in particular the Center for Intercultural Engagement, has a long-standing commitment of providing comprehensive support for its third-culture students. As part of this support, ICS 110, Introduction to Intercultural Studies, is a required course for dependents of missionaries and other overseas professionals. These students take ICS 110 during their first semester at Union. This course, an exploration of the theoretical and practical issues related to intercultural engagement, provides a framework for third culture students to navigate complex intercultural terrains. 

In certain situations, exceptions may be granted by the Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement. International students will be advised by an international student advisor, as well as by an assigned faculty advisor in their major department, during their first year. Both the Senior International Officer and the departmental advisor must be consulted in registration decisions.

For students who have obtained their permanent residency card or official Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) documents, the following requirements must be met:

  1. Submit the Application for Undergraduate Admission with a $35 application fee.
  2. Meet all requirements for regular admission.
  3. Submit a copy of permanent residency card or official DACA documents.