International Student Requirements

Welcome prospective International Students! We are pleased that you are considering continuing
your studies in the U.S. at WKU.

We are committed to promoting international understanding through intercultural exchange. The admission of qualified
international students from countries throughout the world allows WKU to offer a uniquely diverse student body. WKU
hosts over 700 international undergraduate and graduate students from 60 different countries. From our wide array of
programs of study to our beautiful hilltop locale, we want to give you every opportunity to succeed both in career and in
life.

Thank you for visiting our website. Please click on the following links to learn more about our International Admissions
process and more.


Academic Admission Requirements

All prospective International students must meet the WKU standard academic requirements for international admission

All necessary documents including academic records and proof of English language proficiency must be received
before an admissions decision can be made.

International students must also provide financial documents in order to obtain an I-20.


If your official transcript is not in English, you must have the document translated before the admissions office can
determine if you meet our admission requirements. If you currently reside in the United States, you may contact the
embassy/consulate of the document’s issuing country or a certified translation service.

The following will apply:

• All translations must be prepared using the same format as the original document
• All information must be translated
• Translation must be verbatim
• No interpretation or evaluation of information should be included
• Translation must be typed, signed, and dated by the translator. Contact information for the translator must be listed including address, phone number(s), fax number, and e-mail address (if available)
• Each applicant is responsible for any altered documents submitted; the applicant will be denied admission and the issuing board or institution will be notified

Western Kentucky University reserves the right to request professional credential evaluation by a third, independent party

International Checklists:

| General Checklist (PDF)
| Beginning Freshman (PDF)
| Transfer Students (PDF)


Financial Admission Requirements

Financial ability must be demonstrated by completion of a financial certificate including signatures of the sponsor and
a bank official. Persons receiving a scholarship may demonstrate financial ability by sending an original or certified
copy of the award letter, including the amount of the scholarship or the expenses it covers.

| Financial Certificate (downloadable PDF document)

TOEFL Requirements

All applicants from non-English speaking countries are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL), offered by the Educational Testing Service. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain the necessary
information and application forms, and to arrange to take the test by a date that assures the results are reported to the
University by the required deadlines. A score of 525 on the TOEFL, or a 197 computer based TOEFL, is required for
admission.

Forms and Related Links

Applications received from international students will be reviewed on a competitive basis. Fulfillment of the minimum
requirements does not guarantee admission to the University. An effort will be made to admit students from a variety of
countries. Undergraduate international students may print the following four required forms:

• Undergraduate Online Admissions Application
• International Admissions Checklist
• International Admissions Questionnaire
• International Financial Certificate

The following are related links to additional information:

• Tuition Costs
• TIP Information
• International Checklist (downloadable/printable PDF)
• Interactive International Viewbook

 

Tuition Costs

Approximate WKU 2008/2009 International Student Expenses Per Academic Year

	Undergraduate	NIAS	Graduate
Tuition/Fees	$18,778	$18,778	$20,094
Books/Supplies	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000
Personal	$3,693	$3,693	$3,693
Housing/Meals	$6,351	$6,351	$6,351
Travel	$2,192	$2,192	$2,192
Funding from WKU	$0	$9,120	$9,540
Funding Type	N/A	National/International Academic Scholarship	Tuition Scholarship
TOTAL	$32,014	$22,894	$23,790

For planning purposes, students may expect an average increase in expenses of 7% per year. Personal figures are
approximate and tuition and fees include $994 for Health Insurance.

National/International Academic Scholarship (NIAS)

International students may be eligible for the National/International Academic Scholarship (NIAS) based on their
academic achievement. The National/International Academic Scholarship reduces tuition by approximately 45%.

Eligible students include:

+ Beginning freshmen with a 3.4 un-weighted GPA and a ACT 24 or SAT 1090 and
+ International transfer students with at least 24 earned hours and a 3.4 GPA

To retain eligibility for the NIAS award, recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater.  The cumulative
GPA will be reviewed at the end of each spring semester for determination of eligibility for the upcoming fall semester.
There is no application for the National/International Academic Scholarship.  Eligibility for this program will be
determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Deadlines

Contact Us

For additional information, please feel free to contact the WKU Office of Admissions via telephone 1-270-745-2551 or
1-800-495-8463 or via email to intladmission@wku.edu. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CST) M-F. The
University will be closed on all U.S. nationally recognized holidays; including Christmas. 


Facebook Group: WKU International Admissions, WKU Class of 2014
Twitter: WKUAdmissions

SKYPE Chat (by appointment only): wku.admissions

Interactive International Viewbook

About Bowling Green

WKU ISSS Department