International Student Admission

This web site is designed to answer questions international degree-seeking applicants have about applying to OU.

OU also has reciprocal exchange programs with a number of universities around the world. If you wish to be a reciprocal exchange student from one of our partner universities, you should go to OU’s Education Abroad website for information on applying.

Updated October 2009

I am pleased that you are considering becoming a student at the University of Oklahoma. OU is a major, comprehensive research university known around the world for its outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs and for the achievements of its faculty and alumni.At the University of Oklahoma, we are committed to helping our students achieve their educational goals and expand their personal horizons.

At OU, you will be joining more than 1,600 international students from 106 nations currently attending the University of Oklahoma. Our international students contribute to the vibrant diversity of our student body and join students from every ethnic group and every state in the United States. As an international student, you will have opportunities to participate with other students in a wide variety of educational and cultural activities, including the many international organizations.

I hope you will seriously consider applying for admission to the University of Oklahoma. Our faculty and staff look forward to being able to assist you in the achievement of your educational goals. If after reading the information in this brochure you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
David L. Boren, President

About the University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma is one of the major public universities in the United States. Founded in 1890, it has more than 191,964 alumni, including three astronauts; 26 Rhodes Scholars; more petroleum engineers than any other school in the world; award-winning actors; most of Oklahoma's physicians; attorneys, judges, mayors and governors in Oklahoma and other states; U.S. congressmen and senators; and ambassadors and high government officials in other nations. Forbes magazine ranks OU among the top colleges and universities in the nation for providing the undergraduate education of the corporate world's highest paid chief executives.

The student body of the University numbers more than 24,000 students on the 900-acre main campus in Norman and another 3,000 students at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. OU students come from across the United States and from 106 other countries. The University seeks to maintain a diverse student body and a campus environment that promotes cross-cultural communication and understanding.

An outstanding faculty serve as teachers, mentors, and role models to OU students through the challenges and rewards of their college years. Many OU professors are national leaders in their fields and their teaching is enriched with the newest research discoveries.

University Libraries house approximately 4.2 million volumes and maintain subscriptions to more than 17,500 journals and periodicals. Bizzell Memorial Library contains several internationally known special collections, including the Western History Collections, the Bass Business History Collection, and the History of Science Collections, which is perhaps the finest of its kind in the world. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, the largest in the world associated with a university, contains extensive archaeological, paleontological, and natural history collections.

The City of Norman has a population of 90,000 and is located only 18 miles from the state capital in Oklahoma City. Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, 25 minutes from the campus, provides convenient access to the University for students from throughout the world. The Norman community strongly supports international students and offers a variety of programs to make students from abroad feel at home in Norman.

The University is an accredited member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In addition, the University and its various colleges, schools and departments hold memberships in various professional organizations and accrediting agencies.

Please consult the OU General Catalog for additional information on the University, its programs and course offerings.

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Climate and Clothing

Because Oklahoma is in the temperate zone, students should come prepared for variable weather: cold days in the winter, hot days in the summer, as well as mild, pleasant days in between. The temperature frequently drops to -7 degrees C (20 degrees F) during the winter and rises to as high as 38 degrees C (100 degrees F) during the summer. Students should plan to wear warm clothing during the winter months (November-April). A heavy winter jacket is a necessity. Clothing for rainy weather is also needed. Casual dress is the norm on campus for both men and women students. However, we encourage international students to bring national costumes and appropriate attire to wear for certain campus events, "dress-up" occasions, and international celebrations.

Physical fitness goes hand in hand with mental fitness. A large number of OU students participate in an extensive intramural program that includes sports for men and women. OU's varsity athletic teams are among the finest in the nation. Campus recreation facilities include a physical fitness center with an indoor track, weight room, and basketball and racquetball courts; a swim complex with indoor, outdoor and diving pools; tennis courts; and a golf course.

A number of religious denominations have student centers close to OU's Norman campus. Each of these has extended a special invitation to all students from abroad, regardless of religious belief, to share in their fellowship and to join in their activities. A mosque is located close to campus for our students of the Islamic faith.

Music, drama, dance and the visual arts are readily available with performances and exhibitions scheduled year-round by students, faculty, and professional entertainers to meet almost every taste.

This institution in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admission, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

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Requirements for Admission

Undergraduate Applicants - Admission to the first year of the University is based on completion of a rigorous secondary school curriculum, demonstrated by a recognized certificate of completion that would qualify you for entrance into a university in your country. The quality of your work is judged from the grades (marks), "class" or "division" obtained. Minimum passing or average performance is not sufficient for admission to the University of Oklahoma. If the ACT or SAT examination is given in your country, you should make arrangements to take the exam and have your scores submitted to OU.

No college transfer credit is awarded for secondary school work through the 12th year of education. However, it is possible to earn college credit by achieving satisfactory grades on advanced standing exams conducted by the University.

Applicants who have attended a university or institution of higher learning must also show strong academic achievement.

Non-residents of Oklahoma applying for an engineering or computer science program must have a B grade point average (3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 scale) or its equivalent on all college work attempted to be admitted. Restrictions also exist on the number of non-residents who can be admitted to the University's Health Sciences Center. Students admitted to the Norman campus to complete prerequisite courses for Health Sciences Center programs must apply separately to the Health Sciences Center once their prerequisite courses are completed.

Upon admission to OU, grades for courses completed at foreign institutions are converted to neutral S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) grades.

Graduate Applicants - Consideration for graduate-level study requires the completion of a degree comparable to a United States bachelor's degree with superior grades from an accredited institution of higher education. This typically means the completion of a degree of at least four years duration beyond the 12th year of school.

Graduates of junior college programs from Taiwan are not eligible for graduate programs. We will consider these students only for undergraduate programs with up to two years of lower-division transfer credit. No transfer credit is awarded for work taken before the completion of grade 12.

Applicants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh must have completed at least an M.S., M.A., M.Com., B.Engr., or other degree of at least four years duration beyond grade 12 to be considered for graduate study.

For students from Europe and the former Soviet Union, we consider the first degree of three to four years duration under the new Bologna degree scheme to be comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

If you are applying for graduate-level study in Business Administration or Accounting, you are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Most other graduate programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These tests are conducted at centers throughout the world by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ.

For additional information on specific departmental requirements for their graduate programs please go to Graduate Degree Programs to access the department websites.

Five OU graduate programs consider applicants for the fall term only. They are the Ph.D. programs in Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Economics, and Physics (for international overseas applicants only); and the master's program in Social Work. The master's program in Community Counseling considers applicants for the summer term only.

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English Proficiency Requirements

All applicants for whom English is a second language must present evidence of proficiency in the English language in one of the following ways:

1. An official TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test (213 on the computer-based test or 79 on the internet-based test) or higher sent directly from the Educational Testing Service. Scores over two years old by the beginning of the term you wish to enter are not acceptable unless you have been attending school in the United States since the test date. Some graduate programs require a score higher than 550. Check with the individual department for more specific information. You may obtain information about the test by writing to: TOEFL, Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08541, U.S.A, or by accessing the TOEFL website.
2. An official IELTS score of 6.5. IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations .
3. Secondary school work in the United States, including completion of the high school curricular requirements required for freshman admission
4. Successful completion of 24 semester hours of college-level coursework or a bachelor's degree or higher degree from an accredited college in the United States or a country where English is the native language
5. Attendance at the University's Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) or one of the other Oklahoma State Regents-approved intensive English language programs in Oklahoma until a satisfactory level of English proficiency (determined by TOEFL or IELTS and classroom assessment) is achieved. For programs that require a 550/213/79 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS only, English proficiency can be established by submitting a TOEFL score of at least 500/173/61 or IELTS score of 5.5 and then satisfactorily completing minimum of 12 weeks intensive English language training at a Regents-approved school immediately prior to beginning regular classes. No college credit is awarded for intensive English language study.

Note to Graduate Applicants: Some graduate programs will not review an applicant's credentials for admission until the English proficiency requirement has first been satisfied. At present these programs are:
Accounting (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Aerospace Engineering
Art
Bioengineering
Botany
Business Administration (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Science
Construction Administration
Economics
Education (except for Music Education)
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Physics (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Science
Geography
Geological Engineering
Human Relations
Journalism
Management Information Systems (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Mechanical Engineering
Meteorology
Microbiology
Natural Gas Engineering and Management
Petroleum Engineering
Physics and Astronomy (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Political Science (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)
Public Administration (600/250/100 TOEFL or 7.0 IELTS required)

If you are interested in one of these major areas and have not fulfilled the University's English proficiency requirement, you may apply for CESL study only, but no decision can be made on your eligibility for the degree program until the requirement is fulfilled. For these applicants, the I-20 will indicate English study only and will not specify a major area of study.

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Admission Procedures

APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION

Applications can be submitted online, or by using the International Undergraduate Application for Admission or the International Graduate Application in PDF format. If you use the PDF format applications you will need to print the form, fill it out answering every question on each page fully and accurately, and return it to the University of Oklahoma, Office of Admissions, 1000 Asp Avenue room 127, Norman, OK 73019-4076, U.S.A.

Deadlines

Your application for admission and supporting credentials should be filed as early as possible to allow sufficient time to process your application, obtain your visa, arrange for a foreign exchange permit (if one is required), and make travel plans. We suggest you submit an application for the fall term by the preceding January 1.

For applicants outside the United States, applications and all credentials required for admission must be received by:

APRIL 1 for a fall (August) term,
SEPTEMBER 1 for a spring (January) term and
FEBRUARY 1 for a summer (June) term
For graduate applicants in the United States, there are no University application deadlines, but many departments have their own particular application deadlines and requirements for admission to their graduate programs. For further information, contact the graduate liaison of your major department, or go to Graduate Degree Programs in the OU Graduate College site.

For undergraduate applicants in the United States, application deadlines are April 1 for fall semester or summer session, and November 1 for spring semester.

All application materials are filed in our office alphabetically under the "last" (family) name on the application. If this is not the final word in your name, please underline, circle or capitalize it. It is extremely important that all correspondence, forms, transcripts, etc., use the same name and spelling. Materials often cannot be matched when use of the name is inconsistent. If you have a passport, please send a photocopy of the name page along with your application.

You must indicate a specific major on the application. 

A non-refundable processing fee must be paid for each application. Under no circumstances will this fee be waived nor will any action be taken on your application until the fee is received. The fee is payable by certified check to "The University of Oklahoma" in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank, by international money order in U.S. dollars, or by credit card. Please do not send currency. If you have difficulties in paying the fee because of currency exchange restrictions, we suggest that you request that a friend or relative in a country where exchange restrictions are less stringent send the fee for you. Please have them indicate for whom the payment is being made.

Financial Support Documentation

In addition to completing the Confidential Financial Statement you must also submit financial documentation to verify your support. You must submit a bank statement less than 90 days old showing the total amount of support available. If the bank account is not in your name, include a letter from the account holder verifying that s/he will be supporting you. If the bank statement does not show the money in U.S. dollars, please include a conversion of the balance into U.S. dollars. If you are being supported by a business or organization, provide a letter less than 90 days old stating the U.S. dollar amount of their support.

Academic Records

Undergraduate applicants must submit official transcripts from all secondary or middle schools and all universities, colleges or professional schools attended. If secondary school in your country includes standardized graduation exams and certificates, official copies of these should be submitted. You should also submit a syllabus or description of your classes for all work taken after secondary school. Graduate applicants must submit official transcripts from all universities, colleges or professional schools attended since secondary school. Transcripts should show the individual subjects studied, the marks or grades and number of credits received in each subject for each year, and any certificates, diplomas or degrees awarded.

Official copies of all academic records are required. If only the original is available and it would be difficult to replace, a certified copy may be submitted. To be official, this copy must bear the original stamp or seal and signature of a school officer from the original issuing institution or examining board. The seal, stamp and signature must be placed on the copy after photocopying. Copies certified by a consulate, embassy, military, notary public or other parties are NOT acceptable. For Indian applicants we accept only certified copies of the original, complete University marksheets, not marksheets that have been retyped and consolidated by affiliated colleges. Individual transcripts from each school attended are required. If the original language of the record is not English, a certified English translation must be attached.

Application Checklist

• Make sure you are meeting the deadline for the term you want.
• Submit the application for admission, including the application processing fee.
• Send an official TOEFL score report directly from the Educational Testing Service or official IELTS score report, or you may satisfy the English proficiency requirement in one of the other ways listed in English Proficiency Requirements.
• Submit bank statements and letters of financial support, less than 90 days old, to verify your financial support.
• Send official, complete academic credentials (i.e., marksheets, degree certificates, transcripts, etc.).  All transcripts, test scores, correspondence, or other materials submitted in conjunction with an application for admission become the permanent property of the University and will not be returned. Should you need copies of your transcripts for other purposes you must obtain them from the originating institution(s).
• If you are in the United States at another school, you must have your international student adviser complete our Transfer Recommendation Form (link opens in new window).
• If you have a passport, please include a clear photocopy of the biographic page and expiration date. If dependents will accompany you to OU, provide clear copies of your dependents’ passport biographic page and the expiration date, along with marriage and birth certificates, as applicable, to verify your family relationship.
• Graduate applicants should submit the Graduate Program Application. Many graduate programs require applicants to complete a departmental application and submit other supporting materials, such as GRE scores and letters of recommendation. For more information about these requirements,visit Graduate Degree Programs.

submit official transcripts, TOEFL scores, bank statements and letters of financial support to:
University of Oklahoma
Office of Admissions
1000 Asp Avenue room 127
Norman OK 73019-4076

submit official transcripts, TOEFL scores, bank statements and letters of financial support to:
Office of Admissions
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa
4502 E 41st ST room 2C11
Tulsa OK 74135-251

submit graduate program applications, letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT scores, portfolios, etc., directly to the academic department to which they are applying.

You may send these items separately, but all items are required to be in the Office of Admissions by the deadline and are needed to make an admission decision. No exceptions for any of the listed requirements will be made, so be sure you are sending everything required.

Only the Office of Admissions is authorized to notify applicants of their acceptance by the University. If you are outside the U.S., this office issues a Certificate of Eligibility (United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Form I-20) when you are officially admitted. If you are inside the U.S., the Form I-20 is issued by our Office of International Student Services. You should interpret no statement made in correspondence with any University faculty member to mean that you have been accepted, unless you have received official notification of admission from the Office of Admissions. Upon receiving the Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20), you should take it to the appropriate U.S. consulate to complete your application for a U.S. visa.

When you submit an application for admission, you are applying for a specific term. If you wish to be considered for a term later than the one for which you initially applied, you must submit a new application for admission and application fee. You should also let us know if you have been attending school elsewhere and submit official transcripts for any work that you had not previously submitted. Please remember that TOEFL scores must be less than two years old by the beginning of the term you wish to attend, and your financial support documentation must be less than three months old.

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You must be prepared to finance your study with no financial help from the University. Average expenditures for a single student for one year (12 months) are listed on the Confidential Financial Statement. All enrollment fees and initial housing expenses are due at the beginning of each semester. Therefore, it is necessary for you to have at least $10,000 available upon your arrival at the University of Oklahoma.

FINANCIAL AID

International students are not eligible for U.S. federal student financial aid programs.

The limited number of undergraduate scholarships available are awarded to students already in attendance at the University. International students may be considered for scholarships after they complete one year of attendance at the University.

A graduate student may apply to the department in which he or she intends to study for an assistantship. This aid is payment for work as a teaching or research assistant or for some other form of work related to the student's academic career. You should not interpret approval for an assistantship to mean that you have been accepted for admission, unless you have received official notification of admission from the Office of Admissions. Address all questions about graduate assistantships directly to the department to which you are applying.

The following programs ordinarily do not offer assistantships for students during their initial enrollment: Accounting, Architecture, Drama, English and History.

Since graduate assistantships often do not cover all of one's yearly expenses, it is important that you specify on your Confidential Financial Statement how much money you can provide when you initially apply.

A student from abroad is not permitted to work off campus during his or her first year at the University. After the first year, permission to work off campus part-time or full-time must be granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The number of part-time, on-campus positions is limited. Therefore, you should not anticipate financing your educational program with income from employment.

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Transfer of Funds

Certain countries limit the amount of money that can be forwarded to the United States. Because of this situation, it is very important, before leaving your country, to inquire into your country's regulations on forwarding money. You should also bring enough funds with you to cover transportation, enrollment fees, and living expenses until funds can be transferred from your home country. To avoid unnecessary complications and frustrations, you should have such funds in the form of traveler's checks. Money brought in the form of bank drafts or cashier's checks require longer to transfer. If you should bring money by cashier's check or bank drafts, the funds should be payable through a U.S. bank. We strongly suggest that you bring one check made payable to the University of Oklahoma to pay for fees and housing (if living on campus) and one check made payable to yourself to use for other expenses. Major credit cards are also an acceptable form of payment.

Enrollment fees for each semester are due at the beginning of classes. It is therefore particularly important to have sufficient funds at the beginning of each semester or summer session to pay these charges and to purchase necessary books and supplies. A number of banks in Norman and Oklahoma City will cooperate with foreign banks to have funds transferred. Dollar funds may also be sent in your name in care of the University of Oklahoma.

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Living Accommodations

Living accommodations are not arranged for you as a result of your admission. Therefore, you must make your own arrangements. If you are a single freshman student under the age of 20 by the beginning of classes or have fewer than 24 semester hours (one year) of college work, you will be required to live in one of the University's residence halls. Other students may select their own housing, including university apartments. At times, university housing (both residence halls and apartments) must maintain a waiting list, so you should apply for housing as early as possible. The University of Oklahoma Housing and Food Services website URL is http://www.housing.ou.edu/. You can also write to University Housing and Food Services, 1406 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019-6091, U.S.A., contact them by phone at (405) 325-2511, or by e-mail at housinginfo@ou.edu.

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Student Services

OU courses can be rigorous, but help is available if you need it. The University has free tutoring, test files, study skills seminars, computer labs and the Writing Center to help students succeed academically. Counseling Services has professional counselors available to assist with personal problems.

Each student in the University is assigned an academic adviser who meets with you during the registration periods to discuss general academic matters and specific requirements for your course of study. During the academic year you are welcome to consult with your adviser on any academic issues that may arise.

The University Counseling Center provides students with testing services, advice and counseling. The Counseling Center maintains a staff of trained counselors to help you with educational, vocational or personal issues. You may, at your request, take a variety of tests to help evaluate your interests, aptitudes and abilities.

The University has a complete, well-staffed health service on campus and students are urged to use its facilities. A portion of each student's fees goes to help maintain the health services, thus making it possible to charge students at reduced rates. While you are enrolled at the University you are required to purchase and maintain a health plan that includes medical expenses payable at least 75% including hospitalization, evacuation and repatriation insurance. The University of Oklahoma Student Association endorses a health plan that you will be charged for with your tuition and fees. With the University plan, you may purchase additional insurance for your spouse and children. If you have another plan and wish to have the charges removed from your account, you should notify the Student Health Insurance Office by the insurance waiver deadline date each semester. To find the deadline dates and other information concerning student health insurance, go to www.ou.edu/ohr/shp.

During the two or three days prior to registration, the International Student Services Office conducts a mandatory orientation program for new students. This program is designed especially to meet the needs of international students. It includes information about enrollment procedures, academic programs, governmental regulations, life in Norman, etc. It is extremely important that you attend the sessions. Upon your arrival at OU, you should contact the Director of International Student Services for information about the orientation program and other services for international students. This office serves as liaison among you, the University, the government, and the many agencies with which you may be concerned.

Getting involved in student activities and organizations will enhance your academic pursuits. Clubs and organizations provide opportunities to strengthen long-held interests and to try new avenues for learning and recreation. International student organizations help provide a home away from home for OU students from overseas. Many organizations hold special events and banquets through the school year, culminating in the Eve of Nations Banquet in April, which is designed for the whole international student body. An international bazaar is also held each year, allowing students to set up national exhibits and sell small items typical of their countries.

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