International Requirements

To apply for international First Year or Transfer admission, the following requirements must be met:

Credentials

• Meet First Year or Transfer admission requirements
• Submit English proficiency test scores, if required, or qualify for an exemption to the English proficiency requirement. See UIC’s English proficiency requirements below for more details.
• Transcripts, marksheets and other academic credentials must be official and submitted from all post-secondary schools attended. They are considered official if issued in a sealed document from the school. 
  • If new transcripts cannot be submitted, a photocopy of your version should be sent to the school to be attested, and then sent to UIC in an enveloped sealed by the school.
  • Transcripts and marksheets issued in a language other than English require an ATA-certified translation. 
  • All documents submitted to UIC become the property of the University. Documents will not be released to the applicant or forwarded to other institutions or agencies. Please do not submit your original or only set of academic credentials. No documents will be returned to you.
• Syllabus of international coursework - showing subjects with course descriptions. (Syllabus must be in English or a translation must be provided.)

​​​Fees

First-Year applicants

To apply, international applicants must submit a mandatory, nonrefundable total of $160 in application fees. This total reflects the standard $60 application fee, and a $100 international evaluation fee. The fees are paid together upon submission of the Common Application.

Transfer and Second Bachelor's Degree applicants

A mandatory, non-refundable $100 International Evaluation fee is assessed for all Transfer and Second Bachelor undergraduate applicants with coursework from outside of the U.S. This fee is in addition to the standard application fee of $60 and is paid upon submission of the UIC Application. Study abroad coursework by U.S. students is excluded from this policy.

Some applicants may need to meet these additional requirements:

• Transfer applicants must submit a syllabus for all coursework.
• Applicants whose English Proficiency test scores do not meet minimum requirements may also apply to study English at the Tutorium in Intensive English.

Requirements for English Proficiency

Below are the only tests accepted as evidence of English proficiency at UIC along with the minimum scores* indicated for each.  Only one of the following tests is required to complete your application.

If you are unable to take any of the following tests, the UIC Tutorium in Intensive English (TIE) offers an assessment that we will accept. Learn more about the UIC TIE Assessment here.

*Note that colleges may set higher minimums for consideration of admission to certain programs. Please refer to the college’s requirements for additional information.

Applications with scores below the published minimums are not automatically denied and will still receive consideration from the college.

English Proficiency Test Score Submission

• TOEFL scores must be reported* to UIC directly from ETS.
  
  • Use our Institutional Code 1851.
  • All programs are able to access the test scores regardless of department code, as long as our institutional code is used.
• PTE Academic scores must be reported* to UIC directly from Pearson.
  
  • Select University of Illinois Chicago from the institution selection menu.
• IELTS Academic
  
  • IELTS results must be delivered to our Electronic Download account by the IELTS test center.
    
    • Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent to our E-Download account using the IELTS system with the following information: 
      
      • Institution: University of Illinois Chicago
      • Department: Office of Admissions
      • Address: 1200 West Harrison Steet
      • Address2: Suite 1100
      • City: Chicago
      • State: IL
      • Zip: 60607

*Note that it can take up to two weeks from the process/ship date for reported scores to be reflected as received within our application system.

English proficiency test scores are considered valid for two years from the test date and must be valid at the time of application.

Exemptions to the English Proficiency Requirement

The following applicants may qualify for an exemption to the English Proficiency requirement:

• Applicants who have completed two consecutive years of full-time high school or university study in the U.S. or other country where English is the only official language. This exemption is granted only based on official transcripts.
• Applicants who have a minimum of one year full-time employment in the U.S. or other country where English is the only official language. (Remote work where either the applicant or the company/organization is physically located in a non-qualifying country does not apply.) Applicants must submit a letter from their employer verifying at least 12 consecutive months of employment and describing the applicant’s English language ability.
• Test-based exemptions based on official score reports include:
  • SAT Critical Reading score of 530 or higher (SAT prior to March 2016) or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 570 or higher (SAT taken March 2016 or later)
  • ACT English sub-score of 24 or higher
  • AP English Language and Composition score of 4 or higher
  • IB score of 5 or higher on the English Language and Literature exam
• IGCSE and O level English. A minimum of 5 subjects in either IGCSE or O levels with grades A, B, or C is required.

English proficiency requirements are not waived based upon the medium of instruction at a previously attended institution. This includes attendance at a branch or campus of a US or UK institution which is physically located in a country or territory from which an English proficiency test is required.