Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022

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International Admission

Admission requirements for undergraduate International Students are found in the UNC Undergraduate catalog at: http://catalog.unco.edu and www.unco.edu/international-admissions. You may also contact International Admissions at 970-351-2831 or international@unco.edu.

An international student is a student who is not a citizen of the United States or classified by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements, as well as academic requirements prior to being admitted to the University without additional stipulations. Application for admission for an individual holding refugee or asylee status is also processed by International Admissions. Legal Permanent Residents and undocumented applicants, if it is determined Intensive English Language training is needed, are also processed by International Admissions. There are specific application requirements for students with any of the aforementioned statuses. Please contact the International Admissions Coordinator at 970-351-2831 for assistance, or visit the International Admissions website at www.unco.edu/international-admissions.

All applications must be submitted 90 calendar days before the semester start date. Supporting materials and related credentials must be received by the Graduate School & International Admissions no later than 60 calendar days before the semester that the student wishes to enroll (see www.unco.edu/international-admissions for deadlines). Upon application approval, international applicants will be sent a letter of admission and the proper immigration forms will be issued.

International applicants must take these steps to be considered for admission:

  1. Complete the online Undergraduate International Application.
  2. Pay the non-refundable application fee. 
  3. Submit official transcripts. Official high school transcripts and graduation certificates need to be submitted in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution or local ministry of education, unless:
    1. you have completed more than 30 semester hours of college/university coursework 
    2. you have taken external examinations to complete your secondary education (e.g. GCSE, A Levels, GCE, etc.) – please request the official results to be mailed directly to us by the external examining body
  4. Official transcripts, mark sheets, graduation certificates and degree certificates from all colleges/universities attended need to be submitted in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution or local ministry of education. Official transcripts from US colleges/universities need to be sent to us directly from the institution’s Registrar’s office. 
  5. All documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified literal and complete English translation. 
  6. Provide evidence of English language proficiency. Submit official minimum scores of one of the following:
    1. TOEFL iBT: 72 - with cut scores no lower than: Listening (16), Reading (16), Speaking (18), and Writing (18)
    2. IELTS: 6.0 - with subscores no lower than 5.5 in each of the following proficiency areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
    3. Please refer to www.unco.edu/international-admissions for information about requesting a waiver of the English proficiency score requirement.
    4. Some academic programs on campus may have higher or additional English proficiency requirements including screening or testing for English proficiency. The applicant is responsible for determining whether the program they are applying to has additional language requirements.

Insufficient GPA

International applicants whose US GPA equivalent is between 2.0 – 2.49 may be admitted with a stipulation that they obtain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on the first 12 credit hours of academic coursework at UNC in order to remain enrolled. No student will be permitted to register for an additional semester unless the specified requirement is met. Failure to meet the requirement within the specified timeframe will result in the closure of the student’s program by International Admissions.

Insufficient English Proficiency

International applicants whose academic record meets the minimum International Admissions requirements but whose English language proficiency scores are insufficient or not provided may be considered for admission to UNC. However, as the provision for admission, they must first complete the Intensive English program or provide required scores on one of the following English proficiency tests: TOEFL or IELTS.

IEP students in upper levels in the program may also be simultaneously enrolled in academic courses. Concurrent enrollment applies to students who have been granted conditional or provisional admission to the university. IEP-only students are not eligible for concurrent enrollment at any time during their studies in the Intensive English Program. IEP students in levels 1 through 5 are not permitted to take any UNC undergraduate or graduate academic courses. Students who reach level 6 in the program may concurrently enroll in up to 3 credits of academic courses. Students who reach level 7 in the program may concurrently enroll in up to 6 credits of academic courses. Concurrent enrollment credit limit is regulated by the office of the Registrar and its policies on the maximum credit load per semester.

Intensive English Program

Admission

The Intensive English Program (IEP) serves as a pathway for non-native English speakers to enhance linguistic and cultural competencies required for full admission. Applicants must have completed high school or the equivalent to be considered for admission into the Intensive English Program at the University of Northern Colorado. Both resident and international applicants are considered for admission. IEP students with F1 or J1 visas are required to register as full-time students. Students are full-time if enrolled in 18 classroom hours per week. F2 visa holders are not allowed to be full time. All applicants must submit a UNC Intensive English Program application, copies of their most recent transcripts with English translations, and the application fee. International students must also provide copies of the bio page of their passport and financial documents. Documents must be submitted to the Center for International Education Office.

Program Structure and Length

The Intensive English Program (IEP) consists of 7 levels: from Low-Basic to Graduate. IEP levels correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). There are four cores courses in the program: Speaking & Listening, Writing, Grammar, and Reading & Vocabulary. In addition, there are several skill courses available, such as English Pronunciation and Academic Vocabulary. For more information about each course, please refer to the catalog course deceptions.

The Intensive English Program at the University of Northern Colorado offers five 8-week sessions throughout the year in accordance with UNC's academic calendar: Fall 1 and Fall 2 sessions coincide with UNC's fall semester, Spring 1 and Spring 2 sessions coincide with spring semester, and the 8-week summer session coincides with the 8-week academic session. In accordance with rolling admission, applicants may choose to begin in any of the 5 sessions. The number of sessions students need to complete the program successfully is based on their initial proficiency and placement assessment.