If you are an international student interested in our online undergraduate programs, some of the policies that apply to your case vary a little from those that apply to the case of US citizen students.
Important Information for Online Undergraduate International Student Applications
- All of SAU's online undergraduate programs are delivered virtually, which means physical
presence in the U.S. is not required to study in these programs. Therefore, per federal
laws, SAU is unable to issue I-20s for F-1 visas for these virtual programs at this
time. If you wish to stay in your country and study at SAU without the need for a
U.S. visa, you may explore our online programs. Please note that no programs with
required internships (i.e., BSW and also RN to BSN) may be attended from outside of
the United States. Programs that may be applied for from outside the United States
are Bachelor’s degrees in Management and Human Services.
- If you are already in the U.S. legally on a visa other than a student or visitor visa and
you do not need SAU to provide an I-20 to remain in the U.S. legally, you can inquire
about any program of study at SAU by emailing [email protected]. For a listing of
U.S. visas that allow study in the U.S. virtually or in person, visit ICE listing of U.S. visas.
- SAU's traditional undergraduate programs on the main campus are offered in person and do require physical presence in the U.S. to attend. SAU may issue I-20s for these programs. If you are interested in one of these programs, please contact us.
SAU Online International Student Admission Policy
Admissions Requirements
International students will need to meet the criteria designated for their online undergraduate program and submit the following additional materials:
- Proof of English language proficiency if English is not the student's native language
- Evidence of financial resources
- Transcript evaluations of all postsecondary coursework completed outside of the United States and (if under 12 university credits) of all high school coursework completed outside of the United States
- Evidence of medical insurance (if the program requires a residency)
International students will also need to take the following steps:
- Obtain a visitor visa (if the program requires a residency).
- Arrange to pay tuition and fees in U.S. currency.
Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirements
The international applicant must possess written and oral proficiency in the English language; therefore, the student is required to submit one of the following proofs of English language proficiency: test score, graduation from an English-language school, or residency in an English-speaking country for a sufficient length of time.
International applicants from countries where English is not the primary language and who did not graduate from an English-language school must demonstrate written and oral proficiency in the English language using one of the tests below. Please note that the Duolingo test is not accepted. Official test scores must come from the testing agency itself. Please access the testing website for information on costs and instructions on these tests.
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language — toefl.org
For TOEFL scores to be sent to Spring Arbor University, enter our code 1732 on your
registration form.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System — ielts.org
For IELTS scores to be sent to Spring Arbor University, please include our address
on your registration form: Spring Arbor University, Office of Admissions, 106 E Main
Street, Spring Arbor, MI 49283.
MET: The Michigan English Test — MichiganAssessment.org
For MET scores to be sent to Spring Arbor University, please include our address on
your registration form: Spring Arbor University, Office of Admissions, 106 E Main
Street, Spring Arbor, MI 49283.
SAT: The Scholastic Aptitude Test - satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat
For SAT scores to be sent to Spring Arbor University, enter our code 1732 on your
registration form.
ACT: The American College Test - act.org
For ACT scores to be sent to Spring Arbor University, enter our code 2056 on your
registration form.
Note: Students submitting coursework from other U.S. universities (including ESL schools) must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or MET scores (no more than six months old). If they have not yet been in the United States or other English-speaking country for a minimum of two years.
Applicants can provide official transcripts and an international transcript evaluation reflecting the completion of a degree earned at a high school or at an institution of higher education in a primarily English-speaking country or at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. Study must have been completed within the immediate five years preceding admission to SAU.
Applicants can provide evidence of a minimum of two years of residence within the last five years in a primarily English-speaking country. Evidence can include travel documents, visas, employment contracts, etc. Documents must reflect the comprehensive dates of residency.
The following chart explains the exam scores necessary to obtain admission.
| Test | Test Type | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL | iBT | 79 | No subscore lower than 17 |
| TOEFL | PBT | 550 | No subscore lower than 52, writing score 4 |
| IELTS | Academic | 6.5 | No band lower than 6 |
| MET | 64 | Section score 59 or higher | |
| ACT | 20 | Same minimum score as for native English speakers |
Evidence of Financial Resources
International students will need to submit the Affidavit of Support form and accompanying banking documentation to demonstrate that they possess the financial resources necessary to complete their desired degree. This is because educational costs at U.S.-based institutions can differ from educational costs at institutions based in other countries.
International students should schedule a Zoom meeting or phone call to go over the financial resources paperwork with their admissions representative before submitting it, in order to ensure that everything has been filled out correctly.
Transcripts and Evaluation
Incoming students must submit their transcripts for coursework completed at non-U.S. institutions via a transcript evaluation service. Acceptable evaluation services can be found via the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Our preferred service is the World Education Services (WES) ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package).
Submitting your WES Application
International students should complete the WES online application to begin their transcript evaluation request. SAU's code number is 1732. Do not pay for the WES evaluation until you are certain that the required documentation (see below) was received by WES. You may check with WES via email or telephone using your full name and account reference number.
Carefully follow WES instructions for submitting your documents. Requirements can vary by country. View the required documents for individual countries. In most cases, you will need:
- A photocopy of your college/high school diploma(s) or certificate(s). You will mail this directly to WES.
- Official transcripts issued by the institution(s) attended for all postsecondary programs of academic study (and all high school programs, if you have fewer than 12 postsecondary credits with a GPA-style grade of “2.00” or higher). Request that your university (and high school, if applicable) mail your official transcripts directly to WES, not yourself, for the evaluation.
Transcripts not in English must first be translated into English. Then the translation company must send a certified translation of your transcripts together with your original language transcripts directly to WES.
Reminder: Be sure to select the WES ICAP option that stores your verified transcripts and WES evaluation report. Academic institutions receive a package that contains your evaluation report together with copies of the academic transcripts that are stored at WES. Your transcript and evaluation are ready to be sent in one comprehensive package to any educational institution, at any time, even many years later.
WES Address
*Check with WES before sending materials to ensure that the address below is still correct.
To send documents via postal mail, address them to:
World Education Services
P.O. Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
USA
To send documents via express courier, address them to:
World Education Services
64 Beaver St., #146
New York, NY 10004
USA
Contact Us
Stella Tippin
International Admission Representative
Call or Text: +1.517.750.6607
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +1.313.528.0227
Spring Arbor University has been awarded the Open Doors 75 Seal of Excellence, recognizing
the institution’s long-standing commitment to international educational exchange.