The Office of Graduate Studies administers the application, admission, and readmission process for all degree-seeking and non-degree graduate students. It also assists prospective graduate students in obtaining information about UWF.
The University of West Florida encourages applications for admission from qualified students regardless of gender, culture, religion, ethnic background, age, marital status, or disability. Students with documented visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor impairments, or specific learning disabilities may petition for substitution of admission requirements provided such substitution does not significantly alter the nature of the program for which admission is being sought. For more information about the University’s admission requirement substitution policy, contact the Office of Graduate Studies.
Admission of students to the University of West Florida is within the jurisdiction of the University, but subject to the minimum standards adopted by the UWF Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors.
The Office of Graduate Studies will notify the applicants of the admission decision. Admission to the University is often contingent upon the subsequent receipt of satisfactory and official college or university transcripts and verification of baccalaureate degrees. Failure to submit such documents before the end of the second week of class of the initial academic semester may result in the cancellation of admission.
All credentials and documents submitted become the property of the University of West Florida. The originals or copies of the originals will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution, agency, or person.
If it is found that an applicant has made a false or fraudulent statement or a deliberate omission on the application for admission, the residency statement, or any other accompanying documents or statements, the applicant may be denied admission. If the student is already enrolled when the fraud is discovered, the case will be adjudicated using the procedures specified for violations of the UWF Student Conduct System as contained in the Student Planner and Handbook at thezonelive.com/zone/public/6/schoolHom
e.asp?i=12706.
Applicants are admitted to the University only for the semester for which they apply. Students who do not enroll in the semester for which they have been admitted and want consideration for a different semester must reapply for admission. Applicants will be considered for admission under the policies in effect at that time. Admission is not automatic. If a student has attended another collegiate institution prior to updating the application, the student must provide an official transcript of all work attempted.
Applicants for graduate admission must provide the Office of Graduate Studies with the following documents:
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Students must apply for graduate level admission online. All UWF applications are available online. Follow instructions from the UWF Home Page, uwf.edu, and click on Admissions. The international application may be printed from the same website.
The application for admission and a nonrefundable $30 processing fee payable to the University of West Florida should be submitted six to nine months prior to the semester for which admission is requested. It is the policy of the University not to defer or waive the application processing fee. The application processing fee must be in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank. There is an option to pay via MasterCard, Visa, or American Express credit card when the web application is submitted.
COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS
Applicants must submit two official transcripts from each college and university attended to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who received their undergraduate degree from UWF do not need to provide UWF transcripts. Transcripts are considered official when they are sent from a college or university directly to the Office of Graduate Studies and bear an official seal and signature. Transcripts bearing the statement “Issued to Student,” faxed transcripts, or transcripts submitted by the applicants are not considered official.
Original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents may be submitted by the student only when institutions outside the U.S. will not send academic records to other institutions. The verifying signature preferably should be that of an officer of the institution attended. All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
TEST SCORES
Official test results from a nationally standardized graduate admission test are required for all applicants. The University of West Florida accepts the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Applicants should contact the graduate department for which he/she applied to inquire as to which test is acceptable for that program. It is recommended that the graduate admission test be taken no later than April for the fall semester, August for the spring semester, or January for the summer semester. The test scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official. Applicants to the Ed.D. program should take the GRE or MAT one year prior to desired admission.
The GRE, GMAT, and MAT are offered several times a year at numerous testing centers in the U.S. and abroad. Advance application is required. Application forms, as well as detailed information on the availability and character of the examinations, may be obtained from the UWF Testing Office.
DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Some departments require additional information such as auditions, portfolios, goal statements, letters of recommendation, departmental applications, writing samples, personal interviews, and diagnostic testing. Applicants should contact the department directly regarding any special requirements. These items should be sent directly to the department.
The final deadlines for applications and supporting documents for graduate applicants with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status are:
Fall Semester June 1
Spring Semester October 1
Summer Semester March 1
Because some departments have earlier deadlines, applicants should contact specific academic departments for departmental deadlines. It is in an applicant’s best interest to apply early. Files completed after the published deadlines may not be processed in time for the student to be considered for enrollment in the desired semester.
Admission to a UWF graduate program is a selective process that is governed by university requirements and department requirements that may exceed university-level requirements. Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of credentials in which multiple criteria are used to judge the appropriateness of an applicant to pursue graduate study. Each department selects factors it considers will help predict probable success in the graduate program and may include, but are not limited to, the quality of the applicant’s undergraduate or graduate preparation as determined by the undergraduate or graduate institution attended, undergraduate or graduate grade point average, and performance in specific courses; scores on standardized admission tests; the motivation and attitude of the applicant as determined by a personal statement, letters of reference and/or a personal interview or other means; and writing ability. Preference for admission to any semester is given to students whose credentials indicate the greatest promise for academic success. Because of factors related to a department’s enrollment capacity, the fact that a student meets minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to a specific program. Admissions requirements shall not include preferences in the admissions process for applicants because of race, national origin, or gender.
Requirements for regular admission to a Master’s program: Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements.
Departments may establish standards that exceed these university requirements or require additional application materials.
Departments may accept an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or from an institution accredited by an equivalent accrediting body in lieu of the bachelor’s degree and required standardized admission test.
Requirements for regular admission to an Education Specialist Program: Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements.
Requirements for regular admission to a Doctoral Program: Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements.
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION
With approval from the department, students who do not have all application materials available at the time of admission may be granted provisional admission by the Office of Graduate Studies. Provisional admission is appropriate for circumstances such as when the undergraduate institution has not posted the awarding of the baccalaureate degree, when graduate admissions has not received the applicant’s official standardized test score, or when information required by the department is incomplete. Students who are granted provisional admission must submit all application materials during the first semester of graduate study or risk removal by the Office of Graduate Studies of their status to pursue graduate study.
CONDITIONAL ADMISSION
Students who do not meet the criteria for regular admission may be admitted by a department on a conditional basis. Also, students who have graduated from a recognized, although non-accredited, institution may be admitted on a conditional basis. Students admitted on a conditional basis are permitted to register for up to 12 semester hours, identified by the department as appropriate to the degree, and must earn at least a grade of “B” on each of those courses or risk removal of their status to pursue graduate study. Admission on a conditional basis should not be routine.
Applicants to the University are considered international if they are not U.S. Citizens, dual citizens, or permanent residents. In addition to the policies and procedures stated for the different categories of admission, the following information pertains to international applicants.
International Education and Programs (IEP)
International Education and Programs provides immigration assistance to all international students, scholars, and employees at the University of West Florida. Among the services offered are:
The Office of Diversity & International Education & Programs is located in Building 71. Please see additional information for International Students and available services at uwf.edu/internationaloffice.
Academic Records
International applicants must submit original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents, as well as certified translations of all documents that are not in English.
International applicants must also have their foreign credentials evaluated by one of the four evaluation services listed below. The evaluation should contain a course-by-course description and a grade point average from each institution attended. Applicants have the responsibility to contact the evaluation agency directly and have the evaluation agency send the official evaluation report to UWF. The official evaluation report must be received by the application deadline for the semester the applicant plans to attend. The acceptable evaluation services are:
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
Ph: (414) 289-3400
Fax: (414) 289-3411
www.ece.org
eval@ece.org
International Education Evaluators (IEE)
P.O. Box 545863
Surfside, FL 33154
Ph: (305) 503-9063
Fax: (305) 993-5550
www.iee-usa.com
info@iee-usa.com
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
International Education Consultants
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Ph: (305) 273-1616
Fax: (305) 273-1338
Translation Fax: (305) 273-1984
www.jsilny.com
info@jsilny.com
English Proficiency Test
If the international applicant’s native language is not English, or the applicant is from a country in which the primary language is not English, he or she must take one of the following tests before consideration of admission.
Minimum scores required by the University are listed below. However, individual departments may require higher scores.
Test |
Minimum |
Paper-based TOEFL |
550 |
Computer-based TOEFL |
213 |
Internet-based TOEFL |
79/80 |
IELTS |
6.5 |
MELAB |
78 |
English proficiency test scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies from the Educational Testing Service, Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541-6151, USA.
English proficiency test information and registration forms are available in many locations outside the U.S., usually at U.S. embassies and consulates, at offices of the U.S. Information Agency (U.S.I.A.), from U.S. educational commissions and foundations, at Binational Centers, and from many private organizations such as the Institute of International Education (IIE), American-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), and the African-American Institute (AAI).
All international students who must take an English Proficiency Test for admission are also required to demonstrate proficiency in English by either passing the English Entry Exam or completing a course in English for Non-Native Speakers. The English entrance exam is required in addition to the English Proficiency Test for admission. Students will be required to take the English Entry Exam at the University prior to initial registration. Students failing to pass the exam must take the required English for Non-Native Speakers course. Students who fail this course must retake the course the next semester.
International students expecting to receive appointments as teaching assistants also are required to pass a test of spoken English.
Certification of Finances
Certification of finances must be completed and returned to the International Student Office, before the student visa, “Certificate of Eligibility” (Form I-20 or DS 2019), is issued. The University is required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration authorities to check the financial resources of each student prior to issuing Form I-20 or DS 2019. Therefore, it is important for the applicant to know the costs of attending the University and have the necessary funds for the entire period of enrollment. Funds for one year of study and living expenses must be documented and approved by the University before an I-20 or DS 2019 is issued.
The “Confidential Financial Statement” form must be completed, signed by the student, and verified by the student’s or sponsor’s bank or financial institution with a statement of deposit. It must be accurate and documented to avoid unnecessary delay in processing. Before completing the “Confidential Financial Statement,” the applicant should review the estimate of institutional costs and living expenses. The total amount of funds available to the student must be listed for each year of planned attendance and must equal or exceed the total estimate of institutional costs and living expenses. The “Confidential Financial Statement” form can be found at uwf.edu/internationaloffice/forms. This form must be accurate and documented to avoid unnecessary delay in processing. The “Confidential Financial Statement” and supporting documents from the student’s or sponsor’s bank or financial institution should be submitted to the International Student Office, Building 71, 11000 University Parkway, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, 32514, United States.
Health Form/Health Insurance
Applicants must submit a “Student Health Form” completed in its entirety by a physician. Documentation of measles (rubella and rubeola) immunization must be submitted. Any document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. Florida law also requires that students residing on campus must provide proof of immunization for meningitis and hepatitis B, or sign a waiver indicating their informed decision not to be vaccinated.
International students are required to show proof of adequate medical insurance coverage for illness or accidental injury before they will be permitted to register or to continue enrollment. An adequate medical insurance policy must meet a number of requirements, including that the insurance proceeds are payable in U.S. currency. Insurance may be obtained at the University before registration.
Deadlines for Applications and Supporting Documents
Fall Semester June 1
Spring Semester October 1
Summer Semester March 1
Notice of Admission
If a student’s application for admission to UWF is approved, an official notice of admission will be sent by the Office of Graduate Studies. Admission is for a specific semester only. If the student is unable to enroll for the semester indicated on the notice of admission, the Office of Graduate Studies should be informed immediately. Under no circumstances should an applicant make departure plans for Pensacola until official approval has been given by the Office of Graduate Studies and the student has received the Form I-20 from the International Student Advisor (see section on passports and visas). Students who come to the campus without first receiving an official notice of acceptance do so at their own risk. The student’s presence on the campus will not influence the decision on an application for admission.
Passports and Visas
Students meeting all admission requirements of the University will be mailed a “Certificate of Eligibility” by the International Student Advisor. Students possessing a valid Form I-20 or DS 2019 will be considered for a student visa (F-1 or J-1) by presenting it and the following documents to the nearest U.S. Embassy, or Consulate:
The student visa is stamped on a page in the passport.
Transfer of Funds
Prospective students should familiarize themselves with the current regulations of their own governments, as many restrict the purchase of U.S. dollars. Students should arrive with ample funds in U.S. dollars or traveler’s checks. Local banks provide exchange services, but this procedure can be lengthy and expensive.
International Student Advisor
The International Student Advisor is available to assist students with problems ranging from immigration to cultural and personal matters. Students should feel free to ask questions and seek assistance from this office at any time. The International Student Advisor may be reached at 850-474-2386.
Employment
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) specifically restricts permission for international students to accept employment off campus. Permission is not granted during the first year of study. Permission, if granted, is restricted to 20 working hours per week; this includes graduate assistantships. Permission to accept employment after completion of a degree for the purpose of practical training is not a right associated with a student visa, but a privilege. Any application for practical training must be approved by USCIS. This employment is for training purposes only, for a temporary period not to exceed one year.
Readmission to Master’s and Specialist Programs
Graduate students not in attendance during three or more academic semesters (including summer semester), but less than five years, must complete the “Application for Readmission” and provide any required documentation. The form must be filed according to readmission deadlines stated in the current Academic Calendar.
Degree-seeking students file the readmission application in the Office of Graduate Studies. Official transcripts from each college or university attended since previous enrollment at UWF must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to readmission. If a student is currently enrolled at another institution, the final transcript must be submitted when the term has ended.
Graduate students who last attended their graduate programs over five years ago must reapply to their program using the graduate application for admission.
Readmission to Ed.D. Program
Doctoral candidates who do not attend three consecutive semesters must formally reapply to the University and to the program. Readmission to the Doctoral Program is at the discretion of the Ed.D. Admissions Committee.
Denial of Admission to Graduate Programs
Applicants who have been denied admission to a graduate program at the University may appeal, in writing, to the appropriate college dean by the first day of classes of the semester for which admission was requested.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS