Admissions

Office of Admissions | Donaldson Student Services Center, 2nd Floor | (501) 569-3127 | fax (501) 569-8956 | ualr.edu/admissions

How to Apply for Undergraduate Admission to UA Little Rock

1. Visit apply.ualr.edu to complete an application for undergraduate admission and submit the $40 non-refundable application fee.
2. Applicants with fewer than 12 transferable college credit hours should request that an official high school transcript or GED scores be sent to the Office of Admissions. Only official transcripts will be accepted and must be submitted in a sealed, stamped envelope from the issuing institution or sent via electronic data interchange from the high school.
3. Applicants with fewer than 12 transferable college credit hours may need to request official ACT or SAT scores from the testing agency (UA Little Rock ACT Code 0132; UA Little Rock SAT code 6368) if the official high school transcript does not include scores and the student did not indicate UA Little Rock as a score recipient at the time of testing. ACT, SAT, COMPASS or Accuplacer scores must be from tests taken within the last five years. Students have the option of taking the Accuplacer test available through UA Little Rock Testing Services.
4. Any applicant previously enrolled at another institution(s) must request that an official college transcript(s) be sent to the Office of Admissions. Only official transcripts will be accepted and must be submitted in a sealed, stamped envelope from the issuing institution or sent via electronic data interchange from the previous institution. Students may submit an official “In Progress” transcript from the institution at which s/he is currently enrolled for admission purposes, but will still be required to submit a final, official transcript once all grades have been posted. Freshmen who completed high school concurrent credit at an institution other than UA Little Rock must submit an official college transcript.
5. Students born after January 1, 1957, must submit proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations.

Admission Types

Freshmen

Students who have no college credit or earned college credit while in high school or during the summer immediately after high school graduation are classified as first-time entering freshmen. High school students can be admitted for a future term (after graduation) as early as completion of the eleventh grade. These students are expected to continue their academic success in high school and submit a final transcript after graduation. In order to be considered for admission, first-time entering freshman applicants are required to submit:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu.
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
• An official high school transcript or GED scores.
• Official ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or COMPASS scores taken within the last five
• Freshmen who completed high school concurrent credit at an institution other than UA Little Rock must submit an official college transcript.

Unconditional Admission

Students with all of the following academic qualifications will be unconditionally admitted:

• A cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• An ACT composite score of 19 or a 990 SAT (test date March 2016 or later) or SAT I score of at least 910 combined Critical Reading/Math (test date prior to March 2016) or comparable Accuplacer or COMPASS score.
• Successful completion of the high school college preparatory core in effect at the time of graduation from high school.

Home-schooled graduates, online high school graduates, or those with a GED are unconditionally admitted if they have an ACT composite score of 19 or a combined verbal/math SAT I score of at least 910, or a comparable COMPASS score.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who do not meet requirements for unconditional admission may be considered for conditional admission. Students who present one of the following qualifications will be conditionally admitted:

• An ACT composite score of 18 or higher, or
• An ACT composite of at least 15 combined with a cumulative high school GPA of at least a 2.6 on a 4.0 scale, or
• An ACT composite of at least 15 combined with 5 or fewer D’s and F’s in college preparatory courses on the final high school transcript.

Freshmen Transfers

Students with fewer than 12 transferable college credit hours earned after high school are classified as freshman transfers. Freshman transfers are required to submit both freshman and transfer credentials. These students will be admitted if they are in good standing at their last college or university and meet freshman admission standards.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who have been enrolled previously in a post-secondary institution and have earned at least 12 transferable college credit hours with a grade point average of at least 2.00 on all previous regionally accredited college coursework will be granted unconditional admission. Applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu.
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
• Official transcript(s) from each college previously enrolled submitted in a sealed, stamped envelope from issuing institution or sent via electronic data interchange from the previous institution.

UA Little Rock Office of Admissions
2801 South University
Little Rock, AR 72204

A previously enrolled student who has attended another institution since attending UA Little Rock must reapply for admission and submit the additional official transcript(s).

Any applicant whose admission is denied admission may, with the submission of additional information, request reconsideration by contacting the Office of Admissions.

Provisional Admission of Transfer Students

Transfer students who have not submitted all official academic credentials necessary for admission may be admitted provisionally provided that unofficial or in-progress transcripts support admissibility. In such cases, the student will be admitted with the provision that he or she submits the official, complete credentials prior to being permitted to register for a future term. Transfer work will be evaluated upon receipt of all required official academic transcript(s). If an evaluation of the final academic transcript shows that the provisionally admitted student does not meet UA Little Rock’s minimum admission requirements, the student will be immediately placed on academic probation and required to earn a minimum 2.0 UA Little Rock grade point average in their first semester to continue enrollment.

Students who are granted provisional admission and do not submit the missing credentials by the end of the term will not be permitted to enroll in subsequent terms until the admission requirements have been satisfied. Students admitted provisionally may not be changed to non-degree seeking student status.

UA Little Rock cannot accurately evaluate transfer hours, advise, or release financial aid funding for which students may be eligible, or guarantee registration in degree appropriate courses until all final, official admission credentials have been received and processed.

Dual Enrolled High School Students

Current high school students who wish to attend classes on the UA Little Rock campus may be considered for admission as dual-enrolled high school students with the following qualifications:

• Cumulative 3.0 high school grade point average, or
• An ACT composite score of 21 or a combined Critical Reading/Math SAT I score of at least 990 or comparable COMPASS score.
• Additional requirements or testing may be necessary.

Dual-Enrolled applicants must submit:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu.
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations.
• An official high school transcript.
• Official ACT, SAT, or COMPASS scores.
• Letter of permission from parent/legal guardian.
• Letter of permission from the instructor of the course(s) in which she/he plans to register.

UA Little Rock is not responsible for guaranteeing high school diplomas under this arrangement; however, campus officials will cooperate with state or local school administrators concerning regulations for awarding a diploma to successful participants in this program. College credit earned as a dual-enrolled student may apply toward a degree at UA Little Rock. Students in this category are not eligible for scholarships or financial aid. Admission under these guidelines does not guarantee that a student may be enrolled in a particular course. University departments may restrict enrollment into specific courses.

Concurrent High School Students

UA Little Rock offers concurrent enrollment through a number of Arkansas high schools. High school concurrent students enroll in UA Little Rock courses offered on their high school campus. Prospective students for high school concurrent enrollment should contact the concurrent enrollment coordinator at their high school. Official academic credentials will be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the high school’s concurrent enrollment coordinator.

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible for high school concurrent enrollment:

• Completion of at least 50% of college preparatory courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.5, or
• Cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or
• An ACT composite of 21 or higher.

Admission under these guidelines does not guarantee that a student may be eligible for a particular course. University departments may restrict enrollment into specific courses.

Non-degree Seeking Students

Non-degree seeking status is available on a limited basis to students who wish to enroll in courses for personal enrichment or career development and do not plan to earn a certificate or degree at UA Little Rock. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for student financial aid or veteran’s benefits. Students who later wish to be classified as degree-seeking must reapply for a future term and submit all required academic credentials for consideration.

Non-degree seeking applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu.
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)

Post-baccalaureate Students

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to take additional undergraduate courses may be admitted as post-baccalaureate students.

Applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu.
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (Required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
• Official transcript from the institution that granted the bachelor’s degree with the date of degree conferral.

Reapplicants

Students who have not enrolled at UA Little Rock for two years or longer must reapply for admission online at apply.ualr.edu and submit the non-refundable $40 application fee. Students who have attended other institutions in the interim must apply as a transfer student.

Visiting Students

Students enrolled in an institution of higher education to which they intend to return can be admitted as a visiting student. This status is limited to one semester. Further enrollment in this status is not permitted until the student has returned to his or her original institution, attended another institution before returning to UA Little Rock, or re-applied as a degree-seeking student at UA Little Rock. Applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission and non-refundable $40 application fee at apply.ualr.edu
• Official transcript indicating that the student is in good standing from the institution in which they are currently enrolled.

International Students

International students must apply online and submit complete credentials before being considered for admission. The application and credential deadlines are as follows: Fall semester – July 15, Spring semester – November 15, and Summer semester – May 15.

International Freshman

Applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission to at ualr.edu.
• Non-refundable $40 application
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957). This document must be in English, signed by a physician, and list the dates of the two MMR immunizations.
• Proof of English language proficiency (see the following section)
• Freshman applicants: Official high school transcript or official secondary school completion
• Online Immigration Verification Form at ualr.edu/international/ivinstructions. See International Student Services for more information.

International Transfer Students

Applicants must submit the following:

• An application for admission at apply.ualr.edu.
• Non-refundable $40 application
• Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations. (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957). This document must be in English, signed by a physician, and list the dates of the two MMR immunizations.
• Proof of English language proficiency (see the following section)
• Online Immigration Verification Form at ualr.edu/international/ivinstructions (See International Student Services for more information.)
• Transfer applicants: Official course-by-course transcript evaluation from all post-secondary institutions from WES (or other evaluation service approved by Director of Admissions)
• Freshman applicants: Official high school transcript or official secondary school completion credential.
• Transfer applicants: Official course-by-course transcript evaluation from all post-secondary institutions from WES (or other evaluation service approved by Director of Admissions.)

Proof of English Language Proficiency for International Students

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit proof of English language and academic skill proficiency before admission to UA Little Rock. All other admission criteria must be met. Students may satisfy the English language requirement in one of the following ways:

• A score of at least 525 (paper-based) or 61 (iBT) earned within the last two years on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (UA Little Rock Code is 6368); or
• A score of at least 6 on the IELTS earned within the last two years; or
• Completion of Composition I and II at a regionally accredited post-secondary U.S. institution with a grade of C or better; or
• Attendance at a U.S. school for the past six years; or
• Successful completion of the UA Little Rock Intensive English Language Program through the final level. (Please call (501) 569-3467 for additional information.); or
• An official ACT score of at least 19 on both the English and Reading sections of ACT earned with the last five years; or
• An official SAT score of at least 510 Critical Reading and490 Writing; or
• Citizenship of an exempt country: Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or the Commonwealth Caribbean.

Senior Citizens

Arkansas residents who are at least 60 years of age and have been admitted as a student at UA Little Rock are eligible for a tuition waiver by submitting proof of age to the Bursar’s Office. Students qualifying for the waiver will be permitted to register only on the last day of the regular and late registration periods each academic term. If a course section has no available slots and additional students are attempting to register, students receiving the waiver may be removed from that course section. Exceptions may be granted to students who agree to forgo the waiver of tuition.

Residency

Student residency status is governed by the UA Board of Trustees policy 520.8.

Students classified as nonresidents of Arkansas must pay non-resident tuition in addition to regular registration fees. Residents of contiguous states who are admitted unconditionally as degree-seeking may be eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition charges (excludes Bowen School of Law).

Residency information regarding reclassification and residency appeals is available at ualr.edu/admissions/residency. Questions regarding residency should be directed to the Director of Admissions.

Veterans

Application fee waiver and special tuition rate

All military students, (i.e., active-duty, guard, reserve, and veterans who were separated under honorable conditions) are eligible to receive a waiver of the $40 admission fee and a special tuition rate which excludes most fees associated with enrollment (Technology Lab Fees and the Nursing Lab Fee will still be assessed).

During completion of the undergraduate admission application, the military fee waiver form will become available to print. Complete the application until payment is requested, then close the application and submit this form to the Office of Admissions with a copy of one of the following documents:

• Military ID
• Military orders
• DD Form 214

Once you apply, have any military transcripts (CCAF or JST) and/or transcripts from other institutions sent to this address:

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Office of Admissions
2801 S. University Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72204

Residency Status and Fees for Veterans and Military Personnel and their Spouses and Dependents

Per UA Board Policy 520.7, members of the armed forces, honorably discharged veterans, spouses, and some dependents are eligible for the in-state rate for the purpose of tuition and fees applicable for all programs of study, including distance learning programs.

Transfer Student Services

Charles W. Donaldson Student Services Center, Suite 218 | (501) 682-1273 | Toll-free Voice: (888) 848-7188 | fax: (501) 569-8168 | Email: transfer@ualr.edu | ualr.edu/transfer

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomes transfer students and is committed to making their transition to campus and transfer of credit a smooth process. The Office of Transfer Student Services (OTSS) was established to expedite the articulation of general transfer credit and provide dynamic student service to meet the transfer credit evaluation needs of transfer students. Our main goal is to make transferring to UA Little Rock easier for students to accomplish and the transfer process easier to understand. We provide a friendly starting place for transfer students to connect with essential information and resources.

IMPORTANT NOTE: UA Little Rock cannot accurately evaluate transfer hours, advise, release financial aid funding for which students may be eligible, or guarantee registration in degree appropriate courses until ALL final admission credentials have been received and processed. Students may receive an unofficial evaluation of general core curriculum transfer credits prior to admission to UA Little Rock by requesting an evaluation from the Office of Transfer Students Services (OTSS) online at ualr.edu/transfer/future-students/ask-a-transfer-specialist. Unofficial evaluations require submission of transcripts to OTSS.

Transferring Credit to UA Little Rock

Credit can be transferred to UA Little Rock in a variety of ways, but please be aware that UA Little Rock does not accept the following types of credits:

• Remedial/developmental/study skill courses. (These course(s) are posted to the UA Little Rock transcript but no credit hours are transferred.)
• Courses marked “in progress.”
• Courses from post-secondary institutions which do not have accredited or candidacy status in a regional accrediting association. (See Accreditation Requirements for details.)
• Courses designated as credit/no credit, pass/fail, audit or satisfactory.
• Earlier attempts of a course repeated at a transfer college or university (for courses not otherwise designated as repeatable courses). Only the credit hours earned on the latest attempted course will transfer.

Transfer Credit Policies

D Transfer Policy

Only courses with grades of C or greater will transfer automatically; however, a student may request to transfer as many as 6 credit hours with a grade of D from any regionally accredited college or university. Credit for the hours will be accepted as transfer credit if the course satisfies a degree program requirement and if the student would be allowed to earn a grade of D were the class offered at UA Little Rock. A student may take advantage of this policy at any time prior to the awarding of an undergraduate degree. For more information on the transfer of D grades, please see UA Little Rock Policy 501.10.

Limitations on Transfer Credit

There is no limit on a number of credits that a student may transfer to UA Little Rock, but students graduating with four-year degrees (baccalaureate) must earn 30 hours in residence at UA Little Rock. Students graduating with two-year degrees (associate) must earn 15 hours of credit in residence at UA Little Rock. Please note that some degree programs may have restrictions on the number of upper-level courses that may be used to satisfy major or minor program requirements. For certain degree programs, some credits may not be applied to satisfy a degree requirement due to when the course was earned or content changes over time.

Transfer Students and Undergraduate Catalog Choice

Transfer Students may choose to follow requirements of an older undergraduate catalog of requirements at UA Little Rock. A student transferring to UA Little Rock from regionally accredited four-year institutions, community colleges, or junior colleges with 13 or more hours of accepted credit may graduate under the provisions of a UA Little Rock Undergraduate Catalog in effect during any semester of the previous five years in which they were enrolled at the other institution. Note: At no time may a student follow the provisions of a UA Little Rock Undergraduate Catalog that is more than five years old at the time of the student’s entry into UA Little Rock.

Accreditation Requirements

UA Little Rock recognizes academic credits earned at other regionally accredited post-secondary institutions. Regional accreditation means that an institution of higher learning is accredited by one of the six regionally stipulated accreditation agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), including: Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and Western Association of Colleges and Schools Accrediting Commission. Transcripts from institutions not accredited by the regional accrediting associations will be handled at the discretion of the Registrar. Students presenting such transcripts may appeal for consideration of credit transfer to the Registrar. Only official transcripts including complete records of the courses taken and sent to UA Little Rock by the institution(s) attended will be accepted for evaluation. The Registrar may also request that a course description or syllabus be presented.

Core Transfer Reciprocity Policy

1. Transfer students from public Arkansas institutions shall be deemed to have met all UA Little Rock core requirements and shall not be required to complete any additional core courses if they transfer in a completed designated transfer degree (an AA, AS, or AAT) or 60 completed hours that include 35 hours of the state minimum core.
2. Transfer students from public Arkansas institutions shall be deemed to have met a specific core requirement and shall not be required to complete an additional core course for that requirement if they transfer in a course included in the Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) that matches a course in the UA Little Rock core.
3. Transfer students from public Arkansas institutions, including students transferring between UA Little Rock colleges, shall be deemed to have met the requirements of a specific core curricular area and shall not be required to complete an additional core course in that area if they transfer in a course taken to meet a core curricular area requirement at the sending institution or UA Little Rock college.
4. Transfer students from regionally accredited out of state or private institutions, including those transferring in completed associate degrees, who have completed 35 credit hours of coursework in the following distribution shall be deemed to have met the core requirement in that core curricular area and shall only be required to take coursework from the area(s) they are missing:

English/Communications: 6-9 hours
Math: 3 hours
Science: 8 hours
Fine Arts/Humanities: 6-9 hours
Social Sciences: 9-12 hours, including 3 hours of US History or American National Government

1. A “designated transfer degree” is an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Arts in Teaching – or any future associate degree program approved by ADHE–that includes a 35-hour state core curriculum.
2. “Core curricular area” refers to one of the five categories established in the State Minimum Core Curriculum by Act 98 of 1989: English/Communications, Math, Science, Fine Arts/Humanities, and Social Sciences.
3. This policy shall not keep individual programs from requiring students to complete specific core courses as (1) degree program requirements, (2) prerequisites for degree program requirements, or (3) licensing requirements.

Special Transfer Credit

Transferring Credit by Examination

Students who take CLEP, AP, DANTES, International Baccalaureate, and Excelsior College Examinations must have official score reports sent directly to the UA Little Rock Office of Testing Services for evaluation. Credit obtained through examination is recorded as approved hours on the student’s official transcript without a grade. Course credit from examinations will not count toward residency requirements or GPA calculation. A maximum of 30 hours may be awarded for all forms of Credit by Examination. Because there are a variety of ways whereby a student may achieve credit for a specific course (for instance (IB, AP, CLEP, placement test, concurrent, transfer course, UA Little Rock course) under no circumstances should a student receive multiple credits for the same course. Additional information may be obtained from Testing Services by calling (501) 569-3198 or on the Testing Services website.

Transferring Military Service Credit

In 2008, the Faculty Senate by unanimous vote approved accepting military credit certified by ACE as equivalent to college-level courses for transfer to UA Little Rock. Official transcripts must be provided for evaluation and should be requested based on the branch of service (Joint Services Transcript). Military transcripts should be submitted to UA Little Rock’s Office of Admission, which after document imaging will forward on to the Office of Transfer Services, to evaluate for the awarding of potential academic credit. Please note that UA Little Rock does not automatically transfer military credits based on evaluations by other universities.

Transferring Technical and/or Vocational Credit

UA Little Rock does not automatically transfer technical and/or vocational credits from other universities. Students with technical and/or vocational credits who would like this credit considered for application toward a specific degree program may consult with their departmental advisor after officially declaring a major. Any transfer of technical and/or vocational credit requires the signature of a departmental advisor on a Request to Receive Credit for Technical and/or Military Credit form to be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration for processing.

Transferring International Credit

Students who have earned college-level credit at an international college or university should submit officially evaluated post-secondary school transcripts to the Office of Admissions (If obtained from a foreign institution, transcripts must be evaluated and translated by International Education Evaluations, Inc. (foreigntranscripts.com) or a NACES approved agencies (naces.org) with a document by document/course by course evaluation). International transfer students must meet additional admission requirements as detailed in the Office of Admissions portion of this catalog.

After international transfer credits are verified and posted to the UA Little Rock transcript, and once all admission credentials have been received and processed, the student’s file will be forwarded to the Office of Transfer Student Services to evaluate the application of transfer credits. In order for international transfer credits to be articulated, the student must provide English translations of course descriptions to the Office of Transfer Student Services.

Transferring Occupational Programs Credit

UA Little Rock will accept up to 16 hours of lower-level undesignated elective credit for occupational programs from accredited institutions. Students to whom this might apply should consult with their major degree program advisor to see if this is an option for them, and submit transcripts to the Office of Records and Registration (501) 569-3110. An evaluation of credit will not be made until after a student is enrolled at UA Little Rock.

Transferring Credit after Enrollment at UA Little Rock

UA Little Rock students may choose to enroll at another regionally accredited academic institution while attending or intending to return to UA Little Rock as a degree-seeking student. In order to assure that the credit received elsewhere meets UA Little Rock degree program requirements, students are strongly advised to consult with their academic advisor (if declared majors) or if they intend to take core curriculum courses at another college or university before the declaration of a major, students should consult with the Office of Transfer Student Services at (501) 682-1273. International students should always consult with the Office of International Student Services before taking any courses offered by an institution other than UA Little Rock after they have enrolled at UA Little Rock.

Application of Transfer Credit to Degree Program Requirements

Transfer students must be academically advised before registering for classes. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising for an initial assessment and next steps. Students may potentially enroll in UA Little Rock courses prior to final transcript credit articulation. Transfer credit articulation is an ongoing process that can only be completed once a student submits all final transfer credits and the credits are posted to the UA Little Rock transcript. Because transfer credit articulation impacts course placement and registration, transfer students with a provisional admission status may need registration overrides into core, major, or minor courses during the first semester on campus. The process of transfer credit articulation may take a minimum of several weeks to process after a student has been fully admitted to UA Little Rock.

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and equitable treatment in the application of credits for admissions and degree requirements. Students may complete specified General Education courses anywhere in the public system as well as many courses in the degree/major that have been pre-identified for transfer. We hope this site is helpful for students, parents and campus personnel. This system is designed to assist in planning from the high school level through the adult workforce.

The transfer equivalency guide (TEG) for Arkansas and other regional schools is available on the Records and Registration website and includes upper-level (junior and senior) courses that are not part of ACTS. Please note that if a particular institution of higher learning does not appear in the TEG, it does not mean that UA Little Rock will not accept coursework from that institution. Also, if an institution appears in the guide, but the particular course you are seeking is only listed as being accepted for general elective credit, please consult further with your academic advisor. One often misunderstood point is that a given course may be accepted toward the total hours required for a degree at UA Little Rock, but may not be accepted as meeting a specific course requirement for the core curriculum or for a major or minor.

Office of International Student Services

Education Building, Room 101 | (501) 683-7566 | fax (501) 683-7567

The mission of the Office of International Student Services (OISS) is to actively promote international and intercultural understanding and to cultivate a mutual commitment and support for international education throughout the campus community. OISS serves all incoming and currently enrolled international students and scholars at UA Little Rock. Our office provides assistance to prospective international undergraduate applicants, supports current international students and scholars in immigration advising, social, cultural, and academic issues during their stay. In addition, ISS always seeks to increase international ambiance on campus by identifying and implementing new opportunities between domestic and international students through workshops, collaboration with the International Club for social programs, trips, and cultural excursions.

Admissions

Students seeking admission into UA Little Rock should consider the following:

• Graduate admissions for prospective graduate certificate, masters, and doctoral students are handled through the Graduate School. Identify the program you are interested in and research their webpage, course catalog, and course descriptions. Graduate students will want to be in touch with their Graduate Coordinator for degree-specific application information. and ask questions to their graduate program coordinator to ensure that it is the right degree program for their academic goals.
• Decide when to begin your studies at UA Little Rock. Take note of the program deadlines. Some programs have strictly enforced deadlines, while others have rolling admission. Application for admission can be submitted up to twelve months in advance of the semester in which you wish to begin your studies at UA Little Rock. Any applications received after the deadlines will automatically be deferred to the next semester.
• Summer Start Date: F and J students considering beginning a program in the summer must be sure there are enough on-campus classes to be enrolled full-time.

Requirements

To apply for admission to UA Little Rock, all the following documents must be submitted:

1. Complete Application Form
   • Apply online at https://apply.ualr.edu.
   • Pay Application Fee of $40.00.
   • The application fee for undergraduate and graduate programs is $40 USD. Students can pay their application fee by major credit cards (e.g., Visa, Mastercard, Discover) or US bank checks. Cash or non-US bank checks are not accepted. Application fees are non-refundable.
2. Submit Academic Records
   • Submit transcripts of the applicant’s entire academic record in secondary school, college, or university. Originals or official copies with certified English translations are accepted. University records received at foreign institutions must be articulated with a course-by-course credential evaluation. Visit www.naces.org/members.htm for a list of nationally recognized accreditation services.
   • Undergraduate Students must submit any high school and post-secondary school transcripts, accompanied by translations and credential evaluations as needed. Minimum cumulative high school GPA: 2.5 out of 4.0. If transferring more than 12 credit hours at the undergraduate level, secondary school academic records are not required. Minimum cumulative university transfer credit GPA: 2.0 out of 4.0. Academic records should be sent to the Office of Admissions.
3. Submit Immigration Verification Form
   • To help us understand your current and future immigration status, submit the Immigration Verification Form along with required supporting documents. This is an electronic form and through this form, you will verify your legal name and date of birth, your current residence, your financial capability (for F-1 and J-1 visas), dependent information and method of shipping.
   • Complete Immigration Verification Form at https://ualr.edu/international/ivform.
   • Transfer Students with an active SEVIS record must submit the Transfer-In Request in addition to the Immigration Verification Form. The Transfer Request Form will be completed by the student and the International Advisor (DSO or ARO) of the previous institution.
   • H Visa holders must submit the H1/H4 approval notice, I-94 and travel visa stamp in your passport.
   • H4 visa holders will also include the spouse’s H1 visa approval notice, a letter from H1 spouse employer and/or your spouse’s recent pay-stubs.
4. Proof of Financial Support
   • Proof of financial support for the estimated cost of attendance is required for F-1 and J-1 students to receive the Form I-20 or DS-2019 (respectively). Dependent Forms I-20 or DS-2019 require additional funding ($4500 for a spouse; $2500 per child). Learn more about acceptable forms of financial proof.
5. Demonstrate Proof of English Proficiency
   • Proof of English proficiency can be demonstrated through TOEFL, IELTS, 2 years of U.S. coursework, completion of IELP (undergraduate only-See Admissions section for specific information.) or citizenship from an exempt country. Find the specific English requirements per educational level.
6. Submit Immunization Records
   • Before registering for classes, all students are required to submit proof of vaccinations for 2 doses of MMR. Additionally, non-citizens must take a T-Spot test for Tuberculosis screening from within the United States. These tests and shots may be taken after arrival through Student Health Services. If you have received one or both of the MMR vaccines, you may submit documentation to suffice the requirement.

Sending Documents for Undergraduate Applicants (Scan documents to admissions@ualr.edu)

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Office of Admissions
Student Services Center Room # 219
2801 South University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 722204 USA

Financial Guarantee

If you are joining UA Little Rock as an F-1 or J-1 student, you are only authorized for on-campus employment and must be able to finance your expenses apart from employment. Prior to issuance of I-20 or DS-2019, an applicant must provide documentation of financial resources for the tuition, fees, insurance, and cost of living for at least one academic year at UA Little Rock. Find the current estimated cost of attendance.

The proof of financial guarantee must be issued within the past 6 months and include the signature of a bank official. Funds for the dependents accompanying you to the U.S. must also be included. Form I-20 or DS-2019 may only be issued when you show satisfactory financial arrangements for meeting the expenses of his/her entire program of study.

Proof of financial guarantee may be provided as any of the following or a combination of several sources dated within the past 6 months. Bank letters may be from either US or foreign banks and foreign currency may be provided. All documentation must be in English.

• A personal bank reference letter from a bank official verifying that you possess all or a portion of the estimated cost of attendance
  • Note: A record of transactions is not required
• A sponsor’s bank reference letter verifying that he/she possesses all or a portion of the amount above and a written statement or affidavit from your sponsor verifying his or her intent to sponsor your education at UA Little Rock
• UA Little Rock Scholarship or Graduate Assistantship (GA) award letter
• Financial Guarantee from your government

While the proof of financial guarantee is only required for the first year, the funds must also be available for the duration of a student’s study. A subsequent financial guarantee is required if a student requests an extension of his or her program of study or changes the program level.

In addition to the estimated cost of attendance required for the principal F-1 or J-1, if a student is bringing a spouse or children, the student must also include additional financial support for their dependents. The additional amount required is $4500 for a spouse and $2500 per child.

General Admission Deadlines

Please note that the admission deadlines are strictly enforced and change program to program. We encourage you to check with both your prospective program and the Graduate School for specific upcoming deadlines.

Undergraduate English Requirements

*Scores from the TEOFL must be from tests taken within the past 2 years.

Report to the Office of International Student Services

Students should report to OISS within 10 days of arrival. The office is located in the Education Building Room #101. When you check-in, bring your passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and I-94. Once you have registered for classes and updated your U.S. address in BOSS, an international advisor will activate your immigration record in SEVIS. Failure to report OISS may result in loss of immigration status.

Employment Information

U.S. immigration laws permit F/J international students who are enrolled full-time and in good academic standing in UA Little Rock undergraduate and graduate programs to work on campus up to 20 hours a week during the academic year and full-time during university breaks, including summer, winter, and spring break. However, prior employment authorization must be obtained from OIS.

Tuition and Fees (See the Tuition and Fees chart for non-resident costs.)

Intensive English Language Program (IELP)

Stabler Hall, Room 301 | (501) 569-3468 | ualr.edu/ielp

The Intensive English Language Program (IELP) offers non-English speakers a full-time program in English language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. IELP courses are listed in the Department of World Languages (LANG). After completing IELP, students with the necessary academic qualifications may be admitted to UA Little Rock without taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Conditional admission to UA Little Rock may be granted to IELP students with acceptable secondary school, college, or university grades.

IELP provides language training as well as cultural and academic orientation programs for the following students:

• International undergraduate or graduate students applying for admission to a U.S. college or university who must first improve their language skills.
• International undergraduate or graduate students who have been admitted to UA Little Rock but require further language preparation.
• Community residents who want to improve their English language skills for personal or professional purposes.

IELP Objectives

• To help students improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and enable them to successfully undertake work in regular university classes.
• To enable students to participate actively in most conversational situations.
• To introduce students to American culture in terms of a typical U.S. campus and community.
• To foster international and intercultural awareness and understanding.

Eligibility

Only students who are 17 years of age or older are eligible for admission to IELP. No prior knowledge of English is necessary. Foreign students must provide documentation to establish their ability to support themselves while in the U.S.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Credit and non-credit courses in ESL are offered during the fall, spring, and summer sessions. Intensive English classes focus on preparation for university study. Placement testing for the three-level intensive English program is held at the beginning of each semester. Students receive English instruction at the appropriate level of difficulty.

• Placement: Upon arrival, students are placed at the appropriate level on the basis of diagnostic tests.
• Levels: The IELP offers three levels of instruction: Foundations, Intermediate, and Pre-university/TOEFL.
• Classes: Each student has at least 20 hours of instruction per week; every student works to acquire grammar, pronunciation, culture, reading, writing, listening, speaking, and study skills. TOEFL preparation is offered at the highest level.
• Time-frame: There are three semesters of instruction each year; each term is approximately fifteen weeks in length. Students may progress from foundations to the pre-university/TOEFL level in one year. However, determination and diligence determine how quickly an individual advances to the next level.

Visa Requirements

Prospective students who are not in the U.S. must follow standard U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service procedures for entry into the U.S. A student planning to study in the U.S. must obtain an F-1 visa. UA Little Rock is authorized to issue a Certificate of Student Eligibility (I-20) to eligible students. Students with the F-1 visa must remain full-time students to maintain F-1 status.

Application and Admission

The student should initiate the application process at least three months before planning to enter UA Little Rock. To apply:

• Complete and submit UA Little Rock’s Immigration Verification Form and choose “IELP” as student type.
• Submit supporting financial data (data must be verified by a bank stamp or the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate) and a copy of the student’s passport information page.
• An I-20 will be sent to qualified applicants. Please allow one month for return.

Tuition

Students should check the IELP website for up-to-date information on costs for tuition, medical insurance, and other fees.

Working While at IELP

IELP Students are not allowed to work while they are studying at IELP. Once an IELP student graduates from the program, he/she might be able to work on campus, but the student must obtain prior approval from the Office of International Services (Education Building, Room 101).