International Supplemental Application

In addition to the Application for Admission to Oakland University Graduate School, international applicants must submit an International Student Supplemental Application.

International University Transcripts

International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will only accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Many applicants use World Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).  NACES membership can be confirmed by visiting www.naces.org/members. Graduate programs requiring more detailed information may require an applicant to submit a course-by-course (or detailed) evaluation report rather than the general evaluation report. Official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University since official transcripts must be submitted to and verified by the evaluation service. However, applicants must submit photocopies of their foreign transcripts with their application materials.

Notarized Bank Statement and Affidavit of Financial Support

International applicants who are applying for graduate admission with an F1 or J1 visa status must certify sufficient funds for university expenses including tuition, books, supplies, insurance, and living expenses (travel is not included). To certify finances, the applicant must submit an affidavit of financial support and a notarized bank statement in U.S dollars for required published amount. These documents are required for the student F-1 or J-1 visa petition at the American embassy or consulate in the home country.

English Language Proficiency

Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening English is needed for students to be successful when completing an academic degree in the United States.  All matriculating international applicants, other visa holders, permanent residents and applicants whose first language is not English, must be proficient in English as a requirement to enroll in courses for credit at Oakland University.  Such applicants will be required to demonstrate English proficiency by meeting one of the following conditions listed below.  The English proficiency scores must be two years old or less at the time of the applicant’s intended enrollment at Oakland University. 

Some programs at Oakland University may require a higher level of proficiency than listed below.  Applicants should examine the program descriptions for their field of study for information about additional English proficiency requirements and furnish proof as part of the admission process.  Please visit the ESL Institute or Graduate Admissions for additional information.

Applicants, with evidence of an English Proficiency exam with the following scores, AND determined academically qualified for admission to a graduate program,  will be required to enroll in an ESL course sequence, as determined by the ESL Institute, along with required academic program courses starting in their first semester of registration and each subsequent semester until successful ESL completion. 

It is expected that applicants, granted admission with limited standing for ESL requirements, will successfully complete the required ESL course sequence within one year.  Students not making satisfactory progress in the ESL course sequence and/or academic program courses will be denied full admission and further enrollment in their academic graduate program.

The ESL Institute will monitor progress and provide written notification to the Graduate School, when the student has successfully completed three level 7 courses with a minimum of an A- or three level 8 courses with a minimum of B-, and if the student is in good academic standing, the Graduate School may extend the student full admission to the graduate program. 

APPLICANTS - ALL VISA TYPE

Admission to Intensive English Program

Prospective students, who do not have adequate English Proficiency scores for full admission or admission with ESL course sequence requirements can apply directly to the ESL Institute at Oakland University.  Course placement is done by the ESL Institute using the ESL Online Placement Test, reported English proficiency test scores, and/or other assessment tools. During the students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English Proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English Proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.

Upon completion of the Intensive English Program in the ESL Institute at Oakland University, students may (re)apply for admission to Oakland University.
 

Exemption of English proficiency requirement

A TOEFL exemption exists for students from countries where English is both the official language and the language of instruction in higher education.  Below is a list of countries with English as an official language and the language of Instruction in Higher Education.  Non- US applicants, with citizenship in one of the countries listed, are exempt from the Test of English proficiency requirement.

International applicants already studying in U.S.

International applicants who are presently in the United States on a student status may be required to provide a statement from the International Student Adviser at their current institution. International students who do not enroll during their indicated semester of admission must submit an application to update at least eight weeks prior to the start of the term (fall or winter) in which they wish to enroll.

International applicants to distance learning programs delivered 100% online

An international applicant is anyone who is not a US citizen at the time of application to Oakland University.

Non-US citizens applying for admissions to a distance learning program that does NOT require any on-campus instruction at Oakland University (100% online) do not require a non-immigrant visa. Therefore, the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9) does not need to be completed.

Non-US citizens, including those applying for admissions to a distance learning program that requires on-campus instruction at Oakland University (50-99% online) do require a non-immigrant visa.  These applicants must complete the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9).