Admissions – Requirements

International Student Admissions Requirements

Francis Marion University is committed to promoting international understanding through intercultural exchange. The admission of qualified international students from countries throughout the world allows FMU to offer a uniquely diverse student body.

Francis Marion University welcomes applications for admission from international students. To ensure ample time for all required documentation to arrive at Francis Marion, it is important to apply as early as possible. International degree-seeking students must be accepted to FMU by: July 1 to begin classes in the Fall Semester; November 1 to begin classes in the Spring Semester and April 1 to begin classes in the Late Spring and Summer Semesters. Students applying for undergraduate study (to receive a bachelor’s degree) are responsible for all expenses. The University does not award financial aid to international students for undergraduate study although some scholarships are available for qualified students.

International students must be proficient in the English language and must be good students in their own country before they are accepted to FMU. The course of study must include course selections from English, history, mathematics, and science as well as appropriate test scores. International students should complete the educational equivalent of an American High School diploma to be considered for admission to FMU. Further information about these requirements can be obtained from the educational system in the applicant’s own country or from the Admissions Office at Francis Marion University.

Some international students may qualify for in-state tuition under the South Carolina Sister-State initiative. Students from Brandenburg, Thuringen, or Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, state of Queensland, Australia and province of Taiwan, Republic of China could be eligible. Once you’ve applied for admission and you think you may be eligible to receive the waiver please contact our Residency Officer in the Admissions Office.

In addition to all other admissions materials, students must complete an Einwohnermeldeamt certificate of residency (translated into English) or send, in English, a letter from the Education Ministry in Germany confirming residence in one of the states listed above. Certificates are available from the FMU admissions office. For more information on the Sister-State initiative, consult the SC Commission on Higher Education web site at http://www.che.sc.gov/.

The following steps must be completed in order for international students to be considered for admission to FMU:

1. Online Application
2. Financial Certification Applicants must provide proof of their ability to pay expenses. This support can come from the applicant’s family or sponsor. The cost of attendance is approximately U.S. $33,139.00 per year. This total includes tuition, room, food, books, and miscellaneous expenses. For a copy of an itemized breakdown of expenses, please reach out to the Admissions office Admissions@fmarion.edu. The University requires an official statement from a bank, employer, sponsor, or some other official affidavit of support. Financial certification must be sent to the University before an I-20 can be sent to the student. Applicants can expect to use one-half of the total each semester. Financial certification should come directly from the source. To complete the certificate of financial support, please click the appropriate form here: Undergraduate Students or Graduate Students.
3. School Records Applicants should request transcripts or certificates of satisfactory study from each institution attended. Examples of this include “A” or “O” levels, baccalaureate, bachillerato, Reifezeufgnis, or other school certificates. These records should include an English evaluated translation of the subjects studied, grades received in those subjects, and degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned. An explanation of the school’s grading system should accompany the transcripts. To be considered official documents, all transcripts must come directly to FMU from the educational institution attended.Students who have completed university work from institutions located outside the U.S. must have those transcripts certified by the World Education Services (WES). More information is available at www.wes.org.
4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Test System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Proficiency exam. The TOEFL is required of all international students except those whose native language is English. An acceptable score is at least a 500 (61 on the internet based version) on the TOEFL. Information about the TOEFL can be found at many schools or at US Embassies, Consulates, or offices of the United States Information Service. If information is not available in the applicant’s country, it can be obtained by writing: TOEFL, Box 6161, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6161, USA. The IELTS or Duolingo may be used in lieu of the TOEFL. Information about the IELTS or Duolingo exams can be found at www.IELTS.org and https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants. In some instances students who are transferring from other postsecondary educational institutions in the United States may be accepted for admission to Francis Marion University without TOEFL scores. This could occur if the student has a high verbal score on the SAT or good grades on Freshman English course at the institution from which the student is transferring.

ADMISSION STATUS

When the FMU Office of Admissions receives official copies of all required credentials, a letter of acceptance or denial will be sent. If an applicant is accepted, the University may require additional proof of financial status before an I-20 is issued. Immigration laws of the United States require every institution to certify that each international student has adequate finances to cover expenses incurred while pursuing a baccalaureate degree. Please note that all documents such as TOEFL scores, financial information, and transcripts must be sent directly from the applicable institution to the Francis Marion University Admissions Office. Facsimiles of documents except for the admissions application, will not be accepted nor will copies mailed directly from the applicant or his family.

Included with the acceptance letter will be a student health form. International students are required to complete a health history form, supply dates of previous immunizations, and have a current PPD, which is a TB skin test. The current immunization form must be presented to FMU Student Health Services before the student will be allowed to register for classes. Additionally, International Students are required to provide proof of insurance. Questions regarding the immunization form should be directed to the FMU Student Health Center at 843-661-1844.

HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION

All international students must have health insurance for the duration of enrollment at FMU. If an international student has insurance that meets these requirements below, they must submit a copy of the policy coverage and proof of validity in English to the International Student Advisor upon arrival in the United States.

Students with a F-1 Visa

• $50,000 or greater major medical benefit (per accident or injury)
• $25,000 repatriation benefit
• $50,000 medical evacuation benefit  (to his or her home country)
• Medical deductible not to exceed $100 (per  accident or illness)

Students may acquire insurance coverage from the following vendors:

• Health Insurance Marketplace 
• ISO Med
• Compass Benefits Group
• The Harbour Group
• HTH Worldwide

VISA INFORMATION

1. Passport
2. I-20
3. Current financial certification (official documents should be obtained by the student and taken to the Embassy at the time of application for a Visa)

Applicants who are already in the United States will not need to obtain a new Visa but are still required to submit Visa information to get a new I-20. These applicants should request a transfer in SEVIS before the new I-20 will be issued by FMU. International students must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 hours) during the Fall and Spring semesters in order to maintain student immigration status.

The Bridge to Francis Marion University Program is a distinctive academic transfer program available to students throughout the state. Beginning with a strong first-year academic experience at one of the technical colleges listed below, the Bridge program includes dedicated academic advising and student support services — all of which are designed to help students succeed in meeting Bridge academic requirements and transferring to Francis Marion University. Advisers from both institutions assist students with selecting courses that transfer to Francis Marion University. The successful collaboration between the technical colleges and Francis Marion allows Bridge students to make progress in their intended Francis Marion major during their freshman year while preparing to enroll at Francis Marion beginning their sophomore year. The Bridge program staff is committed to providing students with the educational tools and services they need to succeed.

• Central Carolina Technical College (CTC)
• Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC)
• Greenville Technical College (GTC)
• Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC)
• Northeastern Technical College (NETC)
• Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCTC)
• Trident Technical College (TTC)
• Williamsburg Technical College (WTC)

Bridge students enroll at one of the above technical colleges for their freshman year and start their course work in the fall semester. To be admitted to Francis Marion University for the sophomore year, Bridge students are required to earn a minimum of twenty-two (22) transferable semester credit hours and a 2.0 grade point average during their freshman year. Students who satisfy Bridge academic requirements will be admitted to Francis Marion for the subsequent Fall semester without being required to resubmit a Francis Marion University admission application. Students who do not satisfy the Bridge academic requirements will be encouraged to apply for admission to Francis Marion University at a later date. A list of transferable courses may be found here.

In addition to the technical college application, students must complete the Francis Marion application as well as the Bridge Enrollment Form to be admitted to the Bridge Program. Once a student is ready to transfer to Francis Marion, the Bridge Update App Request Form will need to be completed and submitted to the Admissions Office at Francis Marion University.

While grades earned at technical colleges will not subsequently be included in a student’s Francis Marion grade point average (GPA), the grades and credit hours a student earns at the technical school will count toward determining the student’s eligibility for the South Carolina LIFE scholarship.

Special Benefits for Bridge Students

• Access to FMU Rogers Library
• Access to athletic events
• Access to Smith University Center (bookstore, indoor pool, fitness room, and weight room)
• Special FMU student discounts for events and performances held at the FMU Performing Arts Center
• Dual academic advising by professionals at the technical college and FMU
• Guaranteed transferability of courses taken at the technical college when Bridge Student adheres to a Program Pathway or FMU Transfer Guide
• Courses selected through the Program Pathway will also coincide with academic program requirements for that specific major at FMU
• FMU representative will visit each technical college partner institution at least once a semester and will be available during that visit to meet with Bridge Students to answer any questions or concerns the student may have
• Specific transfer orientation sessions are available for Bridge Students prior to enrolling at FMU

Technical College Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for the technical college are located on each institution’s website. Technical college tuition and fees vary based on residency classification and the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled. Please visit the website of the technical college you wish to attend for the current tuition and fees for full-time students.

Financial Aid

Each technical college processes and awards all federal and state financial aid during the Bridge students’ freshman year. Students should complete and submit the FAFSA (available online at FAFSA.gov) and enter the technical college for which they want to attend. Students who have already submitted their FAFSA coded to Francis Marion University should log in to their submitted FAFSA form at FAFSA.gov and add the selected technical college’s federal code.

Advisement

Each Bridge student will have access to the Degree Pathway of their desired major at Francis Marion University. The student is advised to follow the Pathway in order to make the transition to FMU a smooth one. The Pathway is not a binding schedule but an extra stepping stone to assist across the Bridge.