APPLICATION PROCEDURE

For anyone who needs a student visa to enter the U.S.: UNC Charlotte can issue the I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for student visa) which is necessary to apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a student visa.

To join ELTI using a student visa with an I-20 showing that you will study English (only), send the following items:

• The completed ELTI application form that appears on this website. (Fill in the online form, then make a copy to send us also).
  
  
• Official bank documents showing that a balance of $17,000.00 or more is available.  If your family is accompanying you, an additional $5,000.00 per person will be necessary. Proof of financial ability is required by the U.S. government for student visa applications. (Keep a copy of your official bank documents and letters of sponsorship to show Embassy or consulate officials.)
  
  
• Personal sponsor letter: Whoever is providing your support while you are in the U.S. must state so in writing.
  
  
• $35 application fee. You can pay by credit card, check, or money order (in U.S. dollars, payable to "UNC Charlotte"). If you want to pay by credit card, please print out a credit card information form and send it by secure fax (704-687-3168) or as an email attachment (elti@uncc.edu).
  
  
• If you want to receive the I-20 by express mail, please send an additional $55.

Please send your application materials as early as possible before the term you wish to begin. It may take 2-3 months to be accepted, apply and receive a visa, and make travel plans. If you are accepted, ELTI will send your acceptance information and the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20), which will allow you to apply for a student visa (F-1) at a United States Consulate or Embassy.

NOTE: you can send these documents by email, using attachments in .pdf format.

To join ELTI with conditional admission to UNC-Charlotte with a Conditional I-20 listing your intended field of study (undergraduate programs, only):
Conditional admission means that the student has met all the requirements for admission to the University except the required entrance test scores (official scores of 64 on IBT or 507 on PBT, OR IELTS band score of 6.0). Conditional admission is available for undergraduate (Bachelor's) study only, not for graduate (Master's, Ph.D) study.

Students admitted conditionally will first study in ELTI until they have received passing TOEFL scores or until they satisfactorily complete the highest level of the ELTI program.

(You may also apply for admission to UNC Charlotte after you arrive; however, some students find it necessary to obtain conditional admission to the University in order to secure a student visa.)
 

If you want to apply for conditional admission to UNC-Charlotte, please send the following items to the ELTI Office:

• ELTI application package described above.
  
  
• UNC-Charlotte International Undergraduate Application Form
  
  
• $50 application fee, payable to UNC Charlotte. Send a check or money order payable to UNC Charlotte or fill out a UNC-Charlotte Credit Card Information Form.
  
  
• Original or original certified copies of your transcripts (in the original language and English) for all high school and university coursework. (If you have completed two or more years of university study, you do not need to provide high school transcripts.) IN ADDITION: you must have your school records evaluated by an outside evaluation organization which is a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. You can use any member of NACES, as listed at www.naces.org.  Some of those evaluation services are:
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.   email:  eval@ece.org   http://www.ece.org 
• International Education Research Foundation, Inc.    email:  information@ierf.org    http://www.ierf.org
•   e-ValReports    email:  brad@e-valreports.com    http://www.e-valreports.com 
• World Education Services, Inc.    email:  info@wes.org    http://www.wes.org

        You may use any of the organizations listed on the naces.org website.

The ELTI Office will send the UNCC application materials to the Admissions Office for review. The Admissions office will make their final decision once they receive the evaluation service's reports (most of them take 1-2 weeks). If you are admitted, the ELTI Office will issue the appropriate I-20. This I-20 will identify your undergraduate field of study and will be valid for up to five years.

To join ELTI without getting a student visa
If you do not need a student visa (you are already in the U.S. or have another visa type which will allow you to study here), please complete the ELTI application form, send the application fee, and contact us with any questions about your visa type and how you will study here.
Please note that U.S. government regulations say that you should not study full-time using a B-1/2 (tourist visa) or an F-2 (dependent of F-1) visa. If you want to enter the U.S. and study for more than one term, it's best to enter with an F-1 student visa.

ELTI TUITION AND FEES
Tuition and University fees for each session must be paid during the registration period. Checks, money order, or cash must be in U.S. dollars. You may also use a valid MasterCard, American Express or Visa credit card. Late payments incur extra fees of $75.
Sponsoring agencies must provide an official letter of sponsorship covering the period of enrollment.

Estimated Expenses per Session (from fall, 2009. Fall and spring sessions are 14 weeks long; summer session is 10 weeks long with more classes per day)

Costs for fall 2010 are not yet set but will be very similar to the above costs.